Abducted by Aliens?

Following Sant Mat can sometimes feel alien since its values, goals and way of living often stand in stark contrast with those of mainstream society. As children, many of us followed our family traditions and attended church or visited the temple or mosque each week. Who could have predicted that one day we would encounter a saint?

When we reach adulthood and embark on a career, we consider our lives from every viewpoint. We may search for social connections and friendships, and our horizons widen as we look at who and what is around us. We are encouraged by social media, advertising and our peers to acquire experiences, possessions and money, to pursue professional achievements and status. All of this, however, is created by the mind. It’s an illusion. We don’t bother to consider our mortality; we live for things in this world. The mind – as has always been the case – distracts us, misleads and tempts us. As recorded in the Adi Granth, Guru Nanak stated:

Running about after worldly affairs,
You have become bound to the creation;
You have not realized the Truth.
You fool, you are a slave of the mind:
You ignore that you are subject
To life and death.

Some of us, however, aren’t so caught up in the worldly glitter, though we don’t know why. Perhaps we feel sidelined, a little different and somewhat restless. We might have started to consider how we live our lives or thought about the prospect of death. As Goswami Tulsidas says, “Every being in the creation is in pain and distress.” We don’t necessarily understand why this world is one of pleasure and pain or, as many religions have described it, a vale of tears. We see things this way because our material life lacks spiritual meaning and purpose.

Then, one day, our universe seems to shift on its axis. We find ourselves drawn to something or someone, and our spiritual journey begins. There may have been subtle changes already, such as giving up alcohol for Dry January, reducing meat consumption for environmental reasons, or showing more kindness in the face of societal unrest. But it’s when we encounter a true saint that a more profound transformation begins. This is an otherworldly, ‘outer space’ moment. Soami Ji Maharaj captures this beautifully:

When one meets a master who knows
The secret of the Shabd,
He implants the pain of longing
In the disciple; the soul
Starts listening to the Shabd
And the mind begins to come
Under control.

So, we encounter no aliens, simply the love of a true master. Inspired by him, we agree to abide by the foundational principles of Sant Mat: adopting a lacto-vegetarian diet, abstaining from alcohol and mind-altering drugs, and living a life of the highest moral and ethical standards. Then, at the time of initiation, we promise to meditate for a minimum of two and a half hours a day for the remainder of our lives. Our master offers us certainty, a way home to the peace and bliss our soul yearns for. In Sar Bachan Poetry, Soami Ji Maharaj says:

He who gives the message of Shabd
Is the true Guru;
For Shabd is the real truth.
He who practises Shabd
Is the perfect Guru,
Be thou as dust beneath his feet;
Look not for any other marks,
Care not for any other qualities.
Seek instruction into the secret of Shabd
From such a master
And practise it
With wholehearted devotion.