Satsang Tours

An excerpt from Heaven on Earth

If we look at the lives of great Saints like Guru Nanak, Kabir, and Ravidas, we find that in spite of the limited means of transportation, they travelled widely, spreading the teachings of Sant Mat and initiating seekers. We have seen how the Great Master made satsang tours until he was eighty-eight years old, often suffering great inconvenience and discomfort. And in spite of his ill health, Sardar Bahadur Maharaj Ji also undertook many tours to give satsang, darshan, and initiation. Maharaj Charan Singh has not only maintained that tradition in India but has even toured abroad, literally around the world, taking the teachings to many countries that have no record of a perfect Saint ever having visited them before.

Although Maharaj Ji did not make a foreign tour until 1961, he began his tours in India a few months after taking up the responsibilities of mastership. Visiting Dalhousie for a break from the heat of the plains in the summer of 1952, he travelled on to mountainous areas nearby to give satsang. Earlier, Maharaj Ji had given one satsang in Amritsar in March 1952, his first satsang outside the Dera. There was a record gathering of satsangis and seekers, and the open compound of the satsang hall was packed to capacity. Maharaj Ji gave two satsangs in Delhi in November 1953, this being his first satsang tour to Delhi. The satsangs were held in the open grounds under shamianas (canopies), and the gathering was over fifteen thousand.

Bakshi Maluk Chand Ji, an old disciple of the Great Master, narrates an interesting incident of Maharaj Ji’s first visit to Delhi in early 1950s:

Maharaj Ji sent for me and said, “An old satsangi of Baba Ji Maharaj, Bhai Narayan Das Ji, lives here in Delhi. Please go and tell him I will visit him tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.”

I knew Bhai Narayan Das and used to meet him quite often. I went to his house that very day. When I knocked at his door, he called out, “Come in, Bakshi Ji.” I was amazed, and after entering I asked how he knew I was the one knocking at his door. He did not answer my question, but instead asked me to deliver the message I had brought. I knew that he was an advanced soul and spent most of his time now in meditation, so I asked, “Bhai Sahib, tell me, how did you know I was the one at your door and also that I have a message for you?”

At first Bhai Narayan Das tried to avoid answering my question. When I pressed him, he finally said that the day before Baba Ji had appeared inside and said,“Narayan Das, I will come to you in the physical form the day after tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.”

After hearing this I gave him Maharaj Ji’s message. He seemed surprisingly happy and thanked me again and again for bringing him such a happy message. I protested, “Why thank me when you already had the message?” He replied, “When the inner message of the Satguru is confirmed outside, it is natural to feel joyous.”

I was present the next day when Maharaj Ji visited this aged disciple of Baba Ji Maharaj; Maharaj Ji stayed with him for half an hour. The whole time Bhai Narayan Das gazed fixedly at him, obviously beside himself with joy, for the Master had come in the physical body to meet him.