Loyalty – Not the Scheme We Think

Many of us fly frequently. We have often enrolled in airline loyalty schemes so that we earn frequent flyer points for every mile we fly. It does not matter whether the passenger enjoys flying or hates every minute of it, each passenger earns the same points. Master is also operating a loyalty scheme. Each disciple earns frequent meditator points for every minute of meditation. Like the airline scheme, it does not matter whether the disciple is grumpy or keen; as long as the disciple shows up and makes the effort, the points are earned. Whether you experience bliss or a struggle makes no difference to the Master; every single minute of effort counts.

So whatever time you devote to meditation, that is always to your credit, whether it is repetition of the five holy names or whether it is listening to the sound. Every minute that we devote in his love, in his devotion, that is always credited to our account and we definitely get the advantage of that in one way or another.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. II}

Just as frequent flyer points allow you to fly for free, frequent meditator points will allow your soul to fly into the inner heavens. There, no plane or helicopter or other contraption is required. The soul can soar free as a bird. The reason we cannot fly there now is that we are burdened with the karmas collected over countless lives – the vast store of sinchit karmas. For everyone, the only way to pay off this particular karmic account is by going through endless lives of suffering in this world.

However, the true guru offers a second way – for the first time in all the ages, we can pay off karma without going through it – this second way is by meditation. Our meditation is actually not about sound or light. Maharaj Charan Singh has said:

All this meditation – 99.9 percent of it – is meant for the store of karmas, our sinchit karmas.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. I}

So just as a criminal pays his debt to society by serving time, we too can pay off our sinchit karma by meditation. This is why every bit of struggle actually counts. How much better is this? In the comfort of our own bedroom, we can discharge the debts of ages. What a great deal – we should be so keen to bank such valuable points to our ‘karmic offset account’.

Disciples face a mind which whispers to them: “This meditation of yours is so pathetic, your concentration is so useless, you should give this up.” Taking advice from the mind about meditation is like asking a criminal what sentence he deserves. We should tell the mind that since it did the crime, now it must serve the time. Every bit of effort is worthwhile; Master never complains about quality – he just begs us to put in the quantity. Great Master also says: “This body is a shop where we have to purchase Nam.”

There is shopping in the mall and shopping online, but for the saints the most valuable shop has always been inside the human body. If we can achieve ‘gold’ status as a frequent meditator, then ultimately we will get access to the premium lounge located in the human body at Gate 10 – also called the Eye Centre lounge. In that lounge, they are serving nectar which will satisfy our thirst forever and they are playing the enrapturing melodies of Shabd endlessly which will thoroughly soothe our bodies and our minds. It is worth dying while living to experience the rewards of the Master’s loyalty scheme.

You are quite right when you say that the Master rewards disciples according to the amount of effort they put in with the proper attitude. The more we strive on the path, the more help we receive from the Master. Those who do not make an effort of their own have no idea of the blessings that are being showered on us every day of our life. The rewards that are received by a disciple are far greater than one could ever expect or even dream of, and this realization comes only when we are doing our part of the duty. Then our heart is full of gratitude to the Master. Those who do not do their best in the spiritual practice and in living the life according to the high principles of Sant Mat belong to a class of sluggards who keep on expecting everything from the other party. Sloth has never achieved anything in any field of life.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Quest for Light}