A Universal Message
In the iconic Hollywood film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, a pivotal moment occurs when one of the main characters says to the protagonist, Luke Skywalker: “The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us.” There’s another memorable exchange in the film when a central character, Han Solo, sceptically remarks to Luke Skywalker, “Kid, I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I’ve seen a lot of strange stuff, but I’ve never seen anything to make me believe there’s one all-powerful Force controlling everything. There’s no mystical energy… that controls my destiny.”
If we were to substitute the word Force with Shabd, Logos, or Kalma, the essence of the first quote aligns closely with the teachings of mystics, who proclaim that a divine energy envelops and permeates us constantly. More specifically, this is the interpretation that is likely to be drawn by the millions of people across the globe attending satsang. By contrast, individuals that don’t follow a spiritual path are more likely to resonate with Han Solo’s scepticism, believing that the concept of an all-encompassing conscious energy is implausible and that each individual is the master of their own fate. This raises a fundamental question: Are such teachings meant for a select few who adhere to a specific spiritual path, or do they hold universal relevance for all of humanity?
As explained in the children’s book The Journey of the Soul, all individuals will ultimately travel the same spiritual path. People become drawn to the universal teachings of saints at different stages in their lives and for any number of reasons. Some grow weary of the material pursuits they once cherished, while others experience a life-changing event that prompts existential questions about the purpose of life and what happens after death. There are true mystics who travel extensively to answer these very questions and to offer a pathway to everlasting happiness. An example of such a saint is Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, whose entire life was dedicated to teaching the path of Nam Bhakti to people of his day, some 500 years ago.
Out of love and compassion for humanity, Guru Nanak walked thousands of miles through sweltering heat to encourage people to seek salvation by meditating on the Shabd, as opposed to engaging in ceremonial worship advised by priests and other religious leaders. Accompanied by a disciple or two, Guru Nanak travelled not just across India, but ventured as far as what is now Bangladesh in the east, Sri Lanka in the south, and reportedly even to Mecca in the west, where he preached and initiated disciples onto the path of Nam Bhakti.
An incident from Guru Nanak’s time in the Middle East illustrates that God can be found in all places and by all people, regardless of their background, country, and beliefs. One day Guru Nanak was resting in a mosque with his feet, inadvertently, pointing towards the sacred Kaaba in Mecca. Viewing this to be blasphemy towards God, the mosque’s priest was furious and demanded an explanation. Guru Nanak apologized and kindly requested the priest move his feet in a direction where God didn’t exist. Further enraged, the priest grabbed Guru Nanak by the feet and attempted to point them in the opposite direction. However, no matter how often and in which direction the priest tried to position Guru Nanak’s feet, they continued to point in the direction of the Kaaba.
Those with a spiritual mindset view everything through the lens of mysticism and can therefore discern spiritual teachings in the most unexpected places, such as fairy tales or commercial films. For instance, throughout the ages, children have been inspired by fairy tales depicting the battle between good and evil. From a spiritual perspective, tales of a brave prince coming to the rescue of an imprisoned princess can symbolize a satguru coming to the rescue of individuals imprisoned by the tyranny of their mind.
Parallels to Sant Mat teachings can be drawn in a more recent Hollywood blockbuster, The Matrix. In the film, Morpheus explains to Neo that the whole world is an illusion created by a supercomputer, which keeps human beings’ minds in a comatose state and their bodies trapped in metal cages. To free himself from the prison of the supercomputer, Neo is advised to let go of fear, doubt and disbelief. From a Sant Mat perspective, our real self is the soul, which is trapped in a physical body and subjected to the grand illusion of maya that is projected by the mind. Following the instructions of a true spiritual guide enables us to become so concentrated as to raise our consciousness beyond the physical world and begin our return to Sach Khand.
In conclusion, there is but one God for all of humanity, and the path that leads back to him is open to all, irrespective of background, country, or beliefs. By opening ourselves to the universal message shared by the saints, we have the opportunity to engage in daily meditation. This practice will allow us to reconnect with the Shabd – or, in the fictional words of Star Wars, the Force – and ultimately find our way back to our true home in Sach Khand.