The Master Answers

A selection of question and answers with Maharaj Charan Singh

Q: Maharaj Ji, I haven’t been initiated because I am still a scholar, but I believe and have faith in you as my master. I would like to know whether you guide and protect me like you guide and protect the already initiated souls?
A: My dear child, the Lord is in every one of us and he protects all his devotees. If you are filled with his devotion, with his love, naturally it is his grace which is pulling you from within, and if he’s creating that pull he will not forsake you, he will not ignore you at all. He will always be guiding you.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. II}

Q: Maharaj Ji, in the initiation I remember there were several things towards the end of the initiation that the Master said – that if we follow those things we would be saved from returning to the world again. There were five or six prescriptive things the master said, like reading the books, keeping good company …
A: At the time of initiation, we are told only about meditation, nothing else. We are told that this is not a religion. Now you know the art of simran and dhyan and hearing the sound. You should not feel that you have to cut yourself off from all your worldly activities, that you have become superior or better than everyone else or that you have to separate yourself from your worldly obligations. Then we are told to digest whatever we achieve within, not to divulge or to vomit outside but to digest all this within ourselves. We are told that we should try to attend the meetings to derive strength from each other. There are many problems which come in meditation which are generally solved in satsang. And if we have no opportunity for satsang, we should read the books. Then if you still don’t find the answer, you can write to me. That is all in the initiation instructions. Only these things will help you and nothing else. The instructions are very simple.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. II}

Q: Master, how can we possibly clear all our karmas?
A: By meditation. That is the only way. You see, brother, the Lord’s grace is not lacking; our efforts are lacking, our sincerity is lacking, our faith is lacking. The Lord’s grace is not lacking. He is more anxious to pull us than we are anxious to go back to him. But for that we would not be on the path at all today. It is because of his pull that we find ourselves on the path.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. II}

Q: Well, is it correct to assume then that once you are initiated everything that happens to you is for your own spiritual good? That everything that happens is helping you to go back to the Father?
A: At least we should take it in that light. It may be a bitter pill to swallow sometimes. Because, you see, it’s good from the Father’s point of view, not from the worldly point of view. Our concept of his grace is something very different. We think that if he gives us a very good partner and a good house and a lot of money and a good reputation in this world, if we are worshipped by people, then the Father’s grace is very much on us. But his grace may come in a different way. He may take your wife from you or your child or your friend. And you may become frustrated by this world and turn back to the Father. That may be his grace, to pull you out of all the attachments of the world and make you realize the reality, which you never would have thought about otherwise. You were so much engrossed in your own love, your achievements and your own wealth that you have practically forgotten him. That is not his grace. His grace is what pulls you back to him, and that may be a very bitter pill. Our concept of his grace is something very different – it is always from the worldly point of view.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}