Actions Speak Louder Than Words

We are drawn to individuals who possess the rare ability to walk their talk. Their strength and honesty inspire us, prompting us to reflect on whether our words and actions align. The importance of matching words with actions is especially important in spirituality, where practice is paramount.

The dangers of empty spiritual talk
In A Spiritual Primer, the author observes that modern culture promotes the illusion that genuine happiness and fulfilment arise from amassing “more money, more power, more recognition, more possessions, more everything.” Embracing a way of life that seeks peace and contentment from within defies this prevailing norm. Against such a backdrop, it is only natural that when we encounter fellow seekers of the truth, our conversations gravitate toward spirituality. These exchanges not only reflect our shared interest in Sant Mat but also serve as a vital means to inspire, uplift, and support one another. Indeed, many of us can recall conversations about spirituality that have encouraged, guided, or comforted us through life’s trials.

However, conversations about spirituality lose their value if we participate in them solely to display our knowledge while neglecting our spiritual discipline. When we confine spirituality to words, we fail to grasp the essence of Sant Mat and risk deceiving ourselves about the sincerity of our commitment to its teachings. In Quest for Light, Maharaj Charan Singh warns against channelling our enthusiasm for Sant Mat outwardly, as it distracts us from quieting the mind:

Sant Mat enthusiasm is not to be expressed outwardly. In fact, outward enthusiasm makes the mind more active whereas, in Sant Mat, all our efforts are directed towards stilling the mind and making it motionless. Sant Mat enthusiasm is to be digested within and it has to take the form of deeper humility, of greater love and devotion for the Lord and the Master. Sant Mat does not want lip service or devotion merely to be expressed in words and emotions. It is the heart that must speak. Our genuine enthusiasm is gauged by the humility and gentleness that is produced in us.

In this response, Maharaj Charan Singh highlights the importance of internalizing Sant Mat teachings, suggesting that it is a path of action, a way of life to be practised. Merely speaking words of love and devotion amounts to little more than fleeting emotions that fade over time. In stark contrast, there is no purer expression of love and devotion to the Master than a steadfast commitment to meditation, day after day, especially on the occasions when one does not feel like doing it. When we ignore the mind’s excuses or pleas and choose instead to persevere in our meditation, this becomes the true voice of the heart. Even if we struggle to complete a single round of simran, the very act of battling the mind and refusing to forsake our practice exemplifies love for the Master in its most authentic form. Over time, such heartfelt dedication nurtures a humility and gentleness within us, which, as Maharaj Charan Singh indicates, are more reliable signs of our enthusiasm for Sant Mat than mere words.

Spirituality beyond the page
The tendency to externalize spirituality does not end with speech. Just as words can become hollow without practice, so too can over-engagement with spiritual literature risk descending into another form of superficiality, one that prioritizes knowledge over application. Therefore, in much the same way that we must guard against empty talk distracting us from spiritual practice, we must also guard against allowing our enthusiasm for spirituality to become solely focused on reading for knowledge. Indeed, this impulse often reveals itself in our eagerness to acquire spiritual texts. For example, whenever a new Science of the Soul book is released, we rush to buy it. Similarly, when teachings from other beliefs resonate with us, we are quick to share their insights with others. This rush indicates that we are at risk of treating spirituality like something to be consumed, highlighting our eagerness to acquire and display our knowledge to appear wise. Yet, whether we read a dozen books or a hundred, the core message remains the same: the importance of connecting the soul with the Shabd through a spiritual practice taught by a true living master.

Reading about spirituality may expand our knowledge, but it fails to deepen true understanding or reveal the truths we are seeking. In The Path, Maharaj Charan Singh shares a verse by Tulsi Sahib that highlights the risk of reading scriptures without spiritual practice:

If one read the nine, the eighteen,
The four and then the six,
He would lose the essence of Truth;
Unless the soul merges with Shabd,
He is a mere parrot,
However much may be his learning.

Tulsi Sahib cautions against confusing knowledge of scriptures with true inner transformation. Even mastering Hinduism’s core texts – the nine Vyakaranas (Sanskrit grammatical treatises), the eighteen Puranas (ancient Hindu mythological texts), the four Vedas (the foundational scriptures of Hinduism), and the six Darshanas (Hindu philosophical systems) – does not lead to enlightenment. Scriptures are meant to guide, not replace, direct spiritual experience. Unless the soul merges with the Shabd, spirituality based solely on information drawn from books is akin to a parrot that repeats words without understanding their meaning.

Although Tulsi Sahib’s verse specifically mentions Hindu texts, it applies to all scriptures. His insistence that texts are tools, not the ultimate goal, echoes teachings in other traditions, such as Zen Buddhism, which advises against mistaking the finger pointing at the moon for the moon itself. In our information age, this serves as a helpful reminder that while consuming spiritual content such as books, satsangs, and Q&A’s, it should not distract from meditation. As Tulsi Sahib emphasizes, the essence of Truth is not to be found in external sources, but through attentive listening to the inner sound current.

Embracing the practice of spirituality
Since there is little benefit in expressing our enthusiasm for Sant Mat through speech or reading, the following quotes reaffirm what we already understand: the importance of meditation.

One does not become a satsangi simply by being initiated. One must mould his life in accordance with the principles of satsang. Every thought, speech and action must conform to them. Actions speak louder than words.
_{Maharaj Jagat Singh, Science of the Soul}

Sant Mat is a path of practice and not of words. Only that time which you give to your simran and bhajan stands to your credit. All the love and affection which you express in words should take the form of meditation. Then only will it bear fruit. It will then grow manifold, bringing the grace of the Lord in abundance.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Quest for Light}

By emphasizing action rather than words, both quotes suggest that the spiritual journey is not about superficial displays of love. As Maharaj Jagat Singh states in the following quotation, we need to meditate, meditate, and meditate even more. On that note, shouldn’t we honour Sant Mat and the Master by turning our intentions into action?

The secret of success in the path is ‘bhajan, more bhajan, and still more bhajan’ (practice, more practice and still more practice).
_{Maharaj Jagat Singh, Science of the Soul}