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* '''Indian Mysticism: Rigveda to Radhasoami Faith''', by Madan Gopal Gupta. Published by M.G. Publishers, 1993. ISBN 81-85532-15-X.
* '''Indian Mysticism: Rigveda to Radhasoami Faith''', by Madan Gopal Gupta. Published by M.G. Publishers, 1993. ISBN 81-85532-15-X.


==References==nkt
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
*{{note|Larson}} Larson, Gerald J. ''India's Agony Over Religion'' (1995). p. 136. SUNY Press (State University of New York) ISBN 0-7914-2411-1
*{{note|Larson}} Larson, Gerald J. ''India's Agony Over Religion'' (1995). p. 136. SUNY Press (State University of New York) ISBN 0-7914-2411-1

Revision as of 06:10, 22 May 2012

This page is about Radhasoami Satsang, for others see: Radha Swami Satsang Dinod, or Radha Soami Satsang Beas.
Radha Soami
Formation1861
HeadquartersAgra (Uttar Pradesh), Dinod (Haryana), Ganganagar (Rajasthan), Beas (Punjab), Taran Taran (Punjab).
Location
Official language
Hindi, Punjabi
Main organ
Radhasoami Satsang

Radhasoami (Radha Swami) is a philosophical organization originating in 19th century India, and considered by adherents as a true way to attain God realization. The Radhasoami faith is also referred to as Sant Mat, the "Path of the Saints." The word 'Radhasoami' itself is actually a combination of two words: 'Radha' (referring to the soul or spiritual essence, either of an individual or of the whole) and 'Soami' (referring to the spiritual master; cognate to the Sanskrit term swami or svami); the combined word thus refers to the "Lord of the Soul" or God. It also can be interpreted to mean the "Master Soul" or "Spirit Master" who guides the disciple to higher states of consciousness. Like its sister Sant Mat sects, Radhasoami emphasizes the use of listening to inner sound accessed by (mantra/simran), combined with personal loyalty to a given living Master, for devotees to attain desired states of spiritual advancement.

Soami Shiv Dayal Singh was a khatri seth by caste who descended from Choora clan (popularly known as Sobly) in Agra, India. He used to insist that anyone who chose to follow him must give up non-vegetarian food, abstain from alcohol and intoxicants, lead a high moral life and engage in over two hours of shabd yoga (sound-current yoga) meditation per day.

In the mid-1850s, Swamiji Maharaj had a handful of followers in Agra. However, his teachings eventually attracted disciples from across India and by the time of his death in 1878, Swamiji had several thousands of followers. He died on 15 June 1878 in Agra, India.

Soamiji's wife Radhaji, Rai Salig Ram, Sanmukh Das, Gharib Das, Partap Singh (Soamiji's younger brother) and Baba Jaimal Singh are some of his prominent followers around whom individual satsang groups formed. This splintering off, led to the propagation of Radhasoami teachings to a wider audience although with slightly varied interpretations.

Baba Jaimal Singh established his satsang on the banks of the river Beas in undivided Punjab. And today this satsang is the most famous of the Radhasoami satsangs across the world. In fact, its followers number more than the followers of the rest of the satsangs put together.

The Central Satsang at Dayalbagh, Agra, is also the home of a private university, DEI, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, deemed a University (1981), which is known for teaching science, engineering, technology, liberal arts, theology, etc., with an influence of systems science.

Spiritual Meditation

Radhasoami teachings centre upon a type of meditation practice known as surat shabd yoga. Shabd is referring to a spiritual current which can be perceived in meditation as inner light and sound. Yoga is referring to the uniting of our real essence (soul) through an inner listening with focused mental concentration (surat) upon an inner sound (shabd) which it is maintained emanates from Radhasoami the Supreme Being. It is therefore taught as the unchanging and primordial technique for uniting the soul with the supreme being via the power of Shabd.

Following the practice of meditation under the guidance of a spiritual teacher who is himself in contact with Shabd, is considered of paramount importance.

Pre-requisites for successful achievement of the meditation practice are a lacto-vegetarian diet, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and maintaining a pure and moral lifestyle.

Bani Soami Ji Maharaj

This section tagged 26 February 2012, as non-English, for removal.

Karoon benati do kar jori, Araz suno Radha Swami mori,

Satpurush tum Satguru Data, Sab Jiwan ke Pita aur Mata,

Dayadhar Apna kar leje, Kal Jal se nayara keje,

Satyug Treta Dwapar beeta, Kaahu na jaani sabad ki reeta,

Kaliyug me Swami daya vichari, Pargat karke sabd pukaari,

Jeev kaaj Swami jag me aaye, Bhau-saagar se paar lagaae,

Teen chhorr chautha pad deenha, Sattnaam satguru gat cheenha,


Jagmag jot hot ujiyaara, Gagan sot par chandra nihaara,

Set singhaasan chhatra biraaje, Anahad shabd gainb dhun gaaje,

Kshar akshar nihakshar paara, Binati kare jahaan daas tumhaara,

Lok alok paa'oon sukh dhaama, Charan saran deeje bisaraama,

Lok alak paa'oon sukh dhaama, Charan saran deeje bisaraama.

Radha Soami Satsang Beas Lineage of Successors

The Beas Satsang was founded by Shivdayal Singh's disciple Jaimal Singh. The Beas lineage is:

At the core of the RSSB philosophy is a belief that there is a spiritual purpose to human life – to experience the divinity of God who resides in all of us. It is through this experience that we will realize the truth of the concept that there is only one God and we are all expressions of his love.

Central to the RSSB philosophy is a living spiritual teacher who explains the purpose of life and guides and instructs members in a method of spirituality based on a daily meditation practice. The present teacher Gurinder Singh Dhillon lives with his family at the main centre in Beas.

Science of the Soul Research Center

Science of the Soul Research Centre is a registered charitable Society based in New Delhi, India. Its main objective is to promote a sense of brotherhood and communal harmony for the betterment of humanity. One of the ways the Society tries to meet this objective is to conduct research into the spiritual literature of various systems of belief and schools of thought. The Society's aim is to help eradicate bias, prejudice, ill-will, and acrimony between people by revealing their common spiritual heritage and thus forging bonds of empathy and fellowship, the building blocks of love and understanding.

Science of the Soul Research Centre also acts as the international mail order book seller for Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB). A non-profit charitable Society, RSSB publishes books about a path of inner development under the guidance of a spiritual teacher. The path is non-sectarian and incorporates a meditation practice, adherence to a vegetarian diet, abstinence from intoxicants, and a moral and ethical lifestyle.

Books From SSRC

  • Adventure of Faith
  • A Treasury of Mystic Terms (6 volumes)
  • A Soul's Safari
  • The Divine Romance
  • The Gospel of Jesus
  • The Odes of Solomon
  • The Prodigal Soul
  • The Song of Songs
  • Vaishnav Bhojan I (Hindi)
  • Vaishnav Bhojan I (Punjabi)

See also

Further reading

  • Radha Soami Mat Prakash, Or: A Brief View of Radha Soami Faith : Being a Message of Eternal Peace and Joy to All Nations, by Huzur Maharaj. Published by Chandraprabha Press, 1896.
  • Radhasoami Faith: A Historical Study, by A. P. Mathur. Published by Intl Book Distributors, 1974. ISBN 0-686-20296-1.
  • Bhaktmal of the Radhasoami faith: being short biographical sketches of some past devotees of the Radhasoami faith, by S. D. Maheshwari. Published by Radhasoami Satsang, 1980.
  • Indian Mysticism: Rigveda to Radhasoami Faith, by Madan Gopal Gupta. Published by M.G. Publishers, 1993. ISBN 81-85532-15-X.

References

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