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Science of the Soul
COLLECTION OF ILLUMINATING DISCOURSES FROM LETTERS AND TALKS FROM THE MASTER; DOWNFALL OF THE SOUL.
310 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1982
2 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Jagat Singh
20 books6 followersMaharaj Sardar Bahadur Jagat Singh was a Professor of Chemistry and later Vice Principal of Punjab Agricultural College, Lyallpur. After his retirement, he attained renown as the spiritual successor of Hazur Maharaj Sawan Singh, becoming thereby the third successive guru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, an organization associated with the Sant Mat movement within the Sikh community.
He was granted the Sikh honor Sardar Bahadur by the British, who ruled India at the time, for his 32 years of "meritorious service to the Empire" as an educator, and is frequently afforded the honorific Maharaj (literally "great king") in recognition of his secular and religious accomplishments.
He was granted the Sikh honor Sardar Bahadur by the British, who ruled India at the time, for his 32 years of "meritorious service to the Empire" as an educator, and is frequently afforded the honorific Maharaj (literally "great king") in recognition of his secular and religious accomplishments.
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January 26, 2018
The Science of the Soul is a collection of the illuminating discourses and excerpts from letters and talks by Maharaj Jagat Singh Ji, the Master at Beas from 1948 to 1951. It is a masterly exposition of the teachings of the Saints and speaks vividly of who the Masters are, the downfall of the soul and how it can return Home ... the entire teachings can be summarised as:
There is a God; the universe is not without a creator, Sustainer and Protector. He is the Ocean of Bliss.
Our soul is, in essence, a drop from the Ocean of the Lord, whence it separated so long ago as to have totally forgotten its Divine origin. All its woes and miseries will end only when it returns to its original Home and merges with the Ocean.
God is within us and cannot be realized anywhere outside. He is close to us, but then physical eyes cannot see Him, nor can these physical ears hear His voice. Only when the seeker receives instruction from a real Adept and listens to the Divine Melody within, does he become capable not only of seeing and hearing Him but also of merging in Him, thereby fulfilling human destiny.
"THE AUTHOR
Maharaj Jagat Singh Ji obtained his M.Sc. in Chemistry from the Government College, Lahore and soon afterwards joined the Punjab Agricultural College, Lyallpur as Assistant Professor, retiring as Vice Principal of the Institution. He came under the influence of the Great Master, Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji, when He was only twenty-six years of age and was initiated into the mysteries of the Surat Shabd Yoga - the Science of the Audible Life Stream.
He took to meditation assiduously and wholeheartedly. Even as professor, he became to be popularly known among the staff as well as the students as 'Guru Ji'. He had throughout only two interests - his official duties and his spiritual practices, both of which he performed with rare zeal.
Brought up in the scientific tradition, his whole approach to the path was practical; he would test out the veracity of all transcendental phenomena by actually experiencing them. He often used to say that the truths underlying 'The Ancient Wisdom' were as easy to demonstrate as mixing the colorless contents of two test tubes and seeing with one's own eyes the resultant colored precipitate. Instead of going to a laboratory of brick and mortar, one has to retreat within the human body and carry out one's experiments there.
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 through the muddy waters of the world intent upon his inner realization and on carrying out the mission of his Great Master."
" "Others speak only from hearsay. Saints see Him face to face." He cannot be approached by Yoga (of the breath, the centers of the intellect). What can I say? How should I describe Him? He is not describable. Only Saints know what He is. The Path of the Saints is not that of the yoga of the breath or of the six chakras (meditation at the six lower centers). Saint do not waste the time of their disciples by starting them at the lowest centers of the body. Besides, what does one get there?
The first or lowest center, the Mul Chakra, is presided over by Ganesh. The second, the indri Chakra, is governed by Brahma, the creator of the bodies. The third or Nabi Chakra is controlled by Vishnu, the nourisher or sustainer. The fourth, which is the Hirday or Heart Chakra, is ruled by Shiva, the destroyer. The fifth is the Kanth or Throat Chakra, presided over by the goddess Shakti, the source of the three gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The sixth Chakra, which is the highest stage ever reached by the yogis, is the "Tisra Til" or the "Third Eye", situated in the center behind our two eyes, and is the "Seat of our Soul and mind", the "Center of Consciousness" and the "Thinking Center". This is the center from where all our thoughts and energy go out. Our creator, the Lord, is above in the twelfth chakra. Thus we have to cross six more chakras above the seat of our soul, behind the eyes, to meet Him.
Would it be wise step for us to first descend to the lowest chakra and then to commence the long and arduous journey upward from that lowest rung of the ladder?
And what does one gain by starting at the lowest chakras? One meets only the deity or the power stationed at a particular chakra for the purpose of management of that particular function in the body (the microcosm). Moreover, this journey through the six chakras is so very difficult, hazardous and tedious that it is quite unsuited to the conditions of the present age. The "Dharma" (method to be adopted) of each Yuga or Age is different. In this KaliYuga you cannot successfully adopt the yogic methods that were in vogue in the Sat or Treta Yugas, when the life's span was longer and the struggle for existence negligible. The population was small and the land yielded all its requirements without much toil. Besides, men were strong, celibate and pure-minded. Would the young men of the modern age be able to carry through the hard exercises of the Pranayam, Dhoti, Neti, Vasti and the difficult Asanas and Mudras? Even if they could, what a long time it would require. And where would that take us in the end? At its best, no farther than the eye center. No, my friends, we are living in an age of automobiles and airplanes. We should not stick to the old methods or transportation.
The method of the Saints is Surat Shabd Yoga. The Mohammedian Saints called it "Sultan-al-Azkar" (The King of Methods). It is the "Anahad Marg" of the Upanishads. This is the most natural and harmless method. You are not to renounce the world or become a "Sanyasi", nor are you to change your mode of dress. It calls only for some time daily for carrying out meditation, while doing your other duties. It may be stressed that your primary duty is that of God-realisation while in human form.
The Satguru will give you the techniques at the time of Initiation. He will then tell you how to "go within" the Palace of the Ten Doors, through the eye center, by the withdrawing your attention from the nine outlets and concentrating it at the "Third Eye". Here the Heavenly Music resounds day and night. This melody comes direct from the feet of the Lord. By attaching yourself to It, in accordance with the instruction of the Master, you will reach the Place where It issues forth. This is the sum and substance of the Teachings of the Saints (Sant Mat). Only a fortunate few come in contact with a True Saint."
There is a God; the universe is not without a creator, Sustainer and Protector. He is the Ocean of Bliss.
Our soul is, in essence, a drop from the Ocean of the Lord, whence it separated so long ago as to have totally forgotten its Divine origin. All its woes and miseries will end only when it returns to its original Home and merges with the Ocean.
God is within us and cannot be realized anywhere outside. He is close to us, but then physical eyes cannot see Him, nor can these physical ears hear His voice. Only when the seeker receives instruction from a real Adept and listens to the Divine Melody within, does he become capable not only of seeing and hearing Him but also of merging in Him, thereby fulfilling human destiny.
"THE AUTHOR
Maharaj Jagat Singh Ji obtained his M.Sc. in Chemistry from the Government College, Lahore and soon afterwards joined the Punjab Agricultural College, Lyallpur as Assistant Professor, retiring as Vice Principal of the Institution. He came under the influence of the Great Master, Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji, when He was only twenty-six years of age and was initiated into the mysteries of the Surat Shabd Yoga - the Science of the Audible Life Stream.
He took to meditation assiduously and wholeheartedly. Even as professor, he became to be popularly known among the staff as well as the students as 'Guru Ji'. He had throughout only two interests - his official duties and his spiritual practices, both of which he performed with rare zeal.
Brought up in the scientific tradition, his whole approach to the path was practical; he would test out the veracity of all transcendental phenomena by actually experiencing them. He often used to say that the truths underlying 'The Ancient Wisdom' were as easy to demonstrate as mixing the colorless contents of two test tubes and seeing with one's own eyes the resultant colored precipitate. Instead of going to a laboratory of brick and mortar, one has to retreat within the human body and carry out one's experiments there.
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 through the muddy waters of the world intent upon his inner realization and on carrying out the mission of his Great Master."
" "Others speak only from hearsay. Saints see Him face to face." He cannot be approached by Yoga (of the breath, the centers of the intellect). What can I say? How should I describe Him? He is not describable. Only Saints know what He is. The Path of the Saints is not that of the yoga of the breath or of the six chakras (meditation at the six lower centers). Saint do not waste the time of their disciples by starting them at the lowest centers of the body. Besides, what does one get there?
The first or lowest center, the Mul Chakra, is presided over by Ganesh. The second, the indri Chakra, is governed by Brahma, the creator of the bodies. The third or Nabi Chakra is controlled by Vishnu, the nourisher or sustainer. The fourth, which is the Hirday or Heart Chakra, is ruled by Shiva, the destroyer. The fifth is the Kanth or Throat Chakra, presided over by the goddess Shakti, the source of the three gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The sixth Chakra, which is the highest stage ever reached by the yogis, is the "Tisra Til" or the "Third Eye", situated in the center behind our two eyes, and is the "Seat of our Soul and mind", the "Center of Consciousness" and the "Thinking Center". This is the center from where all our thoughts and energy go out. Our creator, the Lord, is above in the twelfth chakra. Thus we have to cross six more chakras above the seat of our soul, behind the eyes, to meet Him.
Would it be wise step for us to first descend to the lowest chakra and then to commence the long and arduous journey upward from that lowest rung of the ladder?
And what does one gain by starting at the lowest chakras? One meets only the deity or the power stationed at a particular chakra for the purpose of management of that particular function in the body (the microcosm). Moreover, this journey through the six chakras is so very difficult, hazardous and tedious that it is quite unsuited to the conditions of the present age. The "Dharma" (method to be adopted) of each Yuga or Age is different. In this KaliYuga you cannot successfully adopt the yogic methods that were in vogue in the Sat or Treta Yugas, when the life's span was longer and the struggle for existence negligible. The population was small and the land yielded all its requirements without much toil. Besides, men were strong, celibate and pure-minded. Would the young men of the modern age be able to carry through the hard exercises of the Pranayam, Dhoti, Neti, Vasti and the difficult Asanas and Mudras? Even if they could, what a long time it would require. And where would that take us in the end? At its best, no farther than the eye center. No, my friends, we are living in an age of automobiles and airplanes. We should not stick to the old methods or transportation.
The method of the Saints is Surat Shabd Yoga. The Mohammedian Saints called it "Sultan-al-Azkar" (The King of Methods). It is the "Anahad Marg" of the Upanishads. This is the most natural and harmless method. You are not to renounce the world or become a "Sanyasi", nor are you to change your mode of dress. It calls only for some time daily for carrying out meditation, while doing your other duties. It may be stressed that your primary duty is that of God-realisation while in human form.
The Satguru will give you the techniques at the time of Initiation. He will then tell you how to "go within" the Palace of the Ten Doors, through the eye center, by the withdrawing your attention from the nine outlets and concentrating it at the "Third Eye". Here the Heavenly Music resounds day and night. This melody comes direct from the feet of the Lord. By attaching yourself to It, in accordance with the instruction of the Master, you will reach the Place where It issues forth. This is the sum and substance of the Teachings of the Saints (Sant Mat). Only a fortunate few come in contact with a True Saint."
April 3, 2022
My late uncle was a devotee and lifetime follower of the Radha Soami Satsang Beas. His own uncle had earlier produced an excellent book of Bulle Shah's poetry on behalf of the Radha Soami Satsang. I have been deeply influenced by the Satsang and visited their town as a child with my parents decades ago.
This book, a collection of Maharaj Jagat Singh's discourses and essays provides good commentary on the way to self-discovery. However, as a lay-person and particularly absent a "living Master" it is very difficult to understand and assimilate complex subjects like Naam ("the Word") and how to progress through the various "chakras" towards self-enlightenment. My own grandparents, parents and other "evolved" persons who have influenced my thinking over the years insisted that one only needs to be compassionate, accepting, loving and caring towards all others. Bulle Shah, Kabir and many other Masters who influenced the Bhakti tradition over the centuries also repeatedly state that all else leads to egoistic behaviour. I am therefore left confused by the very detailed methodology described and prescribed in this book to help attain one's "true self". I am incapable of questioning an erudite scholar of the stature of Maharaj Jagat Singh, but am more confused than ever after reading this excellent book.
This book, a collection of Maharaj Jagat Singh's discourses and essays provides good commentary on the way to self-discovery. However, as a lay-person and particularly absent a "living Master" it is very difficult to understand and assimilate complex subjects like Naam ("the Word") and how to progress through the various "chakras" towards self-enlightenment. My own grandparents, parents and other "evolved" persons who have influenced my thinking over the years insisted that one only needs to be compassionate, accepting, loving and caring towards all others. Bulle Shah, Kabir and many other Masters who influenced the Bhakti tradition over the centuries also repeatedly state that all else leads to egoistic behaviour. I am therefore left confused by the very detailed methodology described and prescribed in this book to help attain one's "true self". I am incapable of questioning an erudite scholar of the stature of Maharaj Jagat Singh, but am more confused than ever after reading this excellent book.
August 8, 2011
First step to enlightenment is realizing your worth out of all odds, judging oneself may lead to self torture thus leading to disrespecting 'The Temple'.The Temple is our pathway to receiving all the guidance we need to reach the state of enlightenment.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews