Foreword
Maharaj Jagat Singh Ji, Sant Satguru, Radha Soami Satsang Beas (1948–1951) was born on 27 July 1884 at Nussi, a small village not very far from Beas. He received his education in the Mission School at Jullundur and later at the Government College, Lahore, where he took his M.Sc. degree in Chemistry. He joined the Punjab Agricultural College, Lyallpur, in 1911 as Assistant Professor of Chemistry and retired as Vice-Principal of the institution in 1943.
He was initiated in 1910 into the mystic practice of Surat Shabd Yoga or Nam Bhakti by Huzur Maharaj Baba Sawan Singh Ji. He practised it very assiduously and conscientiously and, even as a professor, he was popularly known among the staff as well as students as ‘Guru Ji’. He had only two interests – his official duties and his spiritual practices, both of which were performed with unusual fervour. His faith in the Satguru was unshakeable. Once, while in Lyallpur, he called on Sain Lasuri Shah, a highly evolved ascetic, with a message from Huzur Maharaj Baba Sawan Singh Ji. He used to carry such messages frequently between the two mystics. The ascetic was so pleased with this particular message that he embraced Sardar Bahadur Ji and offered to open up the inner vision immediately. The offer, to which anybody would have succumbed, was politely but firmly declined with the words that his own Master would do this as and when he thought proper.
Unremitting in the discharge of his duties, he left the imprint of a masterly mind on whatever he undertook to do; and it would be no exaggeration to say that much of the reputation of the Lyallpur College was due to his painstaking efforts. His help and guidance was sought by all, irrespective of their position, and he was a tower of strength to the administration. Although extremely tender at heart, he was a strict disciplinarian whose sound judgement, humane methods and efficient handling of situations won him high esteem and honour.
Always ready to pass on to others the credit due to him, never standing for any show, he was unostentatious to an amazing degree. Many are the instances when he anonymously paid fees for students, even educated some abroad, without their having ever known who the donor was and without himself knowing the donees.
Throughout his long service he had made it a point to spend most of the weekends with his Satguru (Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj) at the Dera, and many a person in Lyallpur owes initiation from Huzur Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji to his solicitude for them.
After his retirement in 1943, he spent practically all his time in meditation and Shabd abhyas (practice) till he assumed charge of his Master’s work at Beas in April 1948 and engrossed himself fully in carrying out the functions and duties entrusted to him, despite his indifferent health.
He talked little, used words sparingly, went straight to the point – often quite bluntly. At such moments, his quiet brown eyes would light up with a flash.
He attracted quite a large intelligentsia in India and abroad and, being both a scientist and a practical mystic, was able to satisfy their intellectual and spiritual hunger and make them abiding followers.
He passed away quietly early on the morning of 23 October 1951. The day before, he had dictated his will and given instructions about his funeral. He wanted no show, no waiting for people to attend the cremation. The body was to be cremated within a few hours and the remains were to be consigned to the river on the same day. There is a custom in this country to bathe the dead body, anoint it with perfumes, etc., and cover it with a clean, new sheet of cloth. He completed this process very simply the night before his death by asking the doctor to give him an enema, getting his body rubbed with a wet towel and changing into a clean suit. He had his bed moved from the centre of the room to a corner near the window, and ordered everybody out. There was a feeble knock on the window at about 3 a.m. He asked for a glass of water and then slept to wake up permanently into the higher worlds, to which he belonged.
His life was exemplary and one of absolute detachment from all material cravings. A true karma yogi in every sense of the word, he waded unruffled, almost with cynical indifference, through the muddy waters of the world, intent upon his own inner realization and on carrying out the mission of his great Master.
Simple in his habits, frugal in his diet and faithful to his work, he invariably emphasized the practical and human side of life, and seldom missed a humorous situation. He would insist on ‘vacating the body’ as he termed it; that is, drawing the currents of consciousness up to the centre behind and above the eyes, and described it as the panacea for all ills of mind and body.
Such was Sardar Bahadur Maharaj Jagat Singh Ji, whose selected discourses, talks and excerpts from letters are now being placed before the reader of this book.
R. D. Ahluwalia
1959