Chapter 1 [Pita-Poot — Father and Son]
“Beyond the cycle of birth and death are They;
these Benefactors of humanity come,
Giving the gift of Eternal Life and extracting devotion,
They get us to meet the Lord.”
— Guru Arjan Dev (SGGS: page 749)
In other words, Sants (perfect Masters) are beings who are liberated from the cycle of birth and death. They come into this world specifically for the benevolence of souls. They give us the gift of Shabd (Word), the Nectar of the Eternal Ocean of Spirit flowing within them, through the power of their attention, so that we, the beings bound by the duality of mind-matter, may rise beyond body and senses and connect with the Divine Creative Power (Naam) that resides in each and every speck of creation. By His Grace, the mortal beings are enabled to see the Divine Light of God and to hear the True Sound, Shabd, Kalma, Naam or Word within themselves. In this manner, the Sants draw people towards God, by giving them buoyancy through their attention or sight and engaging the beings into devotion and love, and eventually merging them with the divine. They come into the world in human form to perform this specific task.
Carrying forth this tradition, the Universal Benefactor, the Ocean of Mercy, His Holiness Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji took birth on 6th February, 1894 in the village of Saiyyad Kasran, District of Rawalpindi, Punjab (now in Pakistan) in a distinguished Khatri Sikh family. It was a winter night when around 9 o’clock, piercing the darkness, the radiant child made his appearance on earth. The child was aptly named Kirpal (merciful), for He was to gift away the treasures of mercy and spiritual grace with both his hands. Fortunate indeed was the father, Sardar Hukum Singh Sahib, in whose house — by the Supreme Creator’s Hukum (Order) — this True Form (Sat Sarup) arrived Himself in the body of man, and blessed was the mother, Smt. Gulab Devi (meaning, “goddess of roses”), who brought into the world the flower whose fragrance spread throughout the world, in all its ten directions and four pegs.
The Saintly Child
It is said:
“Obstacles do not stick to those who are talented and brave.”
Coming events cast their shadows beforehand. Those who are destined to accomplish great tasks begin to show their mettle from childhood itself. When we ponder over the events of Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji’s childhood, it becomes amply clear that Sants are not made in this world, but come ready-made from the Divine Source. Do take a glance at any Sant’s biography, the truth above shall be confirmed. His childhood was full of wondrous and incredible miracles, seeing which, the residents of Peshawar (now in Pakistan), where his childhood was spent, began to call him “Sant Kirpal”.
Unlike normal children, He had no inclination towards frolic and games, instead preferring solitude, remaining absorbed within himself for hours together. The pocket money and the eatables that He received from home, He distributed among his friends, and would go far away in solitude and meditate. The internal bliss and absorption was a divine gift to him from his very birth onwards. When someone remarked to Him that little children, four to five years of age, are unable to sit idle even for a moment, He said that “I never got to participate in children’s games. Even at that age, I would prefer to close my eyes and stay absorbed.” He was asked, “Surely, you must’ve been seeing something within, which is why you would remain with eyes closed.” He replied, “I would see the sights and lights of the Divine Planes within. The scenario of one inner region or the other would always remain within my eyesight.” He was gifted with access into the Divine Regions from childhood, in the manner of Shiv Dayal Singh Swami Ji Maharaj, and as He grew up, his spiritual powers too grew and blossomed.
He had an unsullied mental makeup, and an inner perception, on account of it, since early childhood. There is an incident from his early childhood, when He was a young student of fourth standard. One day, in his school He suddenly stood up in his class and told his teacher, “Kindly let me go home as my maternal grandmother is breathing her last.” The teacher heard his strange plea and scolded Him, saying, “How come, while sitting here in the class, you are seeing your grandmother dying! Just sit down and learn your lesson.” But after a while, his teacher began to wonder that this was no ordinary child, who never refrains from his lessons or is fond of playing pranks; then, why would He make-up such stories? Meanwhile, a person from Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji’s home came with a message — “Kirpal is needed at home as his grandmother is dying and wishes to see him.” When the teacher heard this news, he was most astonished and like others, realized that this was no ordinary child.
There is yet another event of this kind. A theft took place in his village; Kirpal heard about it from the others. He went to his father and said that so and so has stolen the goods and also where the stolen goods have been stored. His father advised him never to reveal such things in the future. Thereafter, He refrained from speaking about future events. Referring to his childhood, He would say, “I always had the realization as to what I have to accomplish in life. During my very early years, I used to say that one day I will go to America. I distinctly remember each and every childhood event and every book that I read at that time.” The result of this realization was that He was not affected by the environment around Him, instead, his brilliant personality greatly influenced the environment around Him.
His family belonged to the frontier, the North Western Frontier Province of the undivided India. Meat was cooked and consumed in his household with regularity, which both young and old consumed. The entire family used to sit together for the meal. But Kirpal Singh used to sit in seclusion taking bread in hand and eating it with little or no vegetables upon it. His father would ask lovingly, “Pal, why don’t you consume all the items? Meat is good for health.” (“Pal” was his family pet name). He would simply reply, “Father, meat is dead food and I don’t want to make my stomach a graveyard.” After listening to this argument, his father never compelled young Kirpal to consume meat. Since very early times, He had full realization that non-vegetarianism and a spiritual life do not go hand in hand. For a spiritual life, our food intake must be pure.
Family Traits
In his Satsangs, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji always emphasized that those who wish to make their children honest, pure and virtuous, should themselves set an example before their children by being honest, pure and virtuous. Spirituality was bestowed upon Him by birth and the family environment was also most conducive to it. His father, Sardar Hukum Singh Ji was himself a wealthy person endowed with esoteric powers; he was a devotee of Lord Shiva. His life was full of devotion and sacrifice. He used to pray to Shiva the entire night, standing in a pond in cold water; in hot or cold weather, he would never miss his prayer. Other members of his family were also Shiva devotees (later on, the entire family was initiated into Naam or the holy Word). About his mother, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji says that she always recited “Bhagavad Gita” before entering her kitchen for household duties. Following in his father’s footsteps, Kirpal Singh Ji also became a devotee of Lord Shiva. He was blessed with the appearance of Lord Shiva, and even had a discourse with the deity, but the actual thing that He was after—the encounter with God—was yet something else.
In the very early days He used to practice Pranayama or breath control exercises. In Peshawar (where his childhood was spent) at Punj Tirath, there was a big pond, where He would stand in the water the entire night doing his practice. In 1912-13 when these events took place, his age was just 18 years. During his practice, a divine deity appeared before Him. It had curly hair, large black eyes full of such effulgence that one could not look into them. In its torso, the entire universe could be seen functioning (in appearance exactly as described in Gurubani and in Bhagavad Gita as the Universal Form shown to Arjuna by Lord Krishna). The divine personality spoke to Him, “I am pleased easily by the simple remembrance.” Thereafter, Kirpal Singh Ji discontinued his breathing exercise.
Student Life
Kirpal Singh Ji remained interested in studies from the very beginning. Such was his interest in books that in addition to the regular course material, He finished reading an entire library. Once He laid a book in his hand, He would never leave it unfinished. He would read late into the night at home. Those days, there was no electricity and all reading was carried out in the light of an oil lamp. His father, in consideration of his health, had ordered him to sleep by 10 o’ clock at night, but He would continue to read, lying beneath a quilt. It was on account of his extensive reading that his knowledge and comprehension was amazingly ahead of his companions. He always stood first in his exams.
Once, his teacher awarded 54 marks out of 55 in a history paper; the student who came second got just 37 marks. He complained to the teacher, saying that he had answered all the questions correctly, but received only 37 marks, while Kirpal Singh got 54 marks. The teacher replied with a smile, “You have written only what I taught you, but Kirpal Singh has written what the prominent world historians have written. I have had to deduct one mark just because there is a tradition of not awarding one hundred percent marks in the history paper; otherwise I would have awarded him full marks.” All his teachers adored Him due to his extensive and in-depth learning.
One day, the boy who used to come in second in the class did not bring his homework. The headmaster gave instructions that everyone in the class will come prepared with difficult words and their meanings from the dictionary, from the chapter that was to be taught the next day. That boy did not do as instructed, and was scolded by the headmaster on that account. He complained saying that this is my first mistake, but Kirpal Singh never makes notes in his notebook. The headmaster replied saying, “Kirpal Singh does not need to do that. He has already learned the course books and He also has knowledge considerably beyond his course work.”
In his Satsangs, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji often gave hints about his student life. He often said that when the teacher is teaching with effort, and the student is also taking interest in his studies, then the teacher is motivated to teach him with greater interest. Presenting an example from his student days, he would explain that in those times, there was no school fees as such. The teacher would teach students lovingly, and when he would see a student taking keen interest, he would ask him to come to his home as well. Kirpal would to go to his teacher’s house and also help out with household chores such as filling up water and other such service. In return, the teacher would also teach Him lovingly.
Once Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji fell severely ill in Lahore. His teacher from childhood learned about it. Of all his childhood teachers, only this teacher had remained alive at that time and he came to enquire about Kirpal’s well-being. He could not even get up from his cot, but even so, He touched his teacher’s feet out of respect. The aged teacher was immensely happy and said fondly, “I am proud of you, Kirpal, that the entire world is being benefitted on Your account.”
Kirpal Singh studied in a mission school. He had an innate habit to reach the root of any matter that interested him. One day, He asked one of his missionary teachers, “Why do you refer to Jesus Christ only as Christ and not add any title beside his name?” The teacher replied, “How can we possibly attach a title before the name of God, who is the Creator, Protector and Supporter of life? Have you ever heard anyone say ‘Janab Khuda Sahib’, ‘Hazrat Allah Miyan’, ‘Shri Waheguru Ji Maharaj’, etc.? Christ is the son of God. As we cannot speak of God’s qualities, so how can we praise His Son?” Kirpal Singh greatly appreciated this reply. Years later, during a large event in America, He stopped the anchor midway while he introduced Kirpal Singh Ji with great accolade, and said to the audience, “I am merely a human being like you. I have merely received something with the grace of my Master, which I am now presenting it to you.”
A bishop once visited his school for inspection. He came to his class and asked a question to the students, “Children, what is the purpose of your study? What is the goal in your life?” All students gave various replies to this question. One said, “After studies, I wish to become a doctor.” Another said, “I wish to join civil services and become a tehsildar (a district subdivisional revenue collector), hence the study.” Yet another stated, “I shall become an engineer.” Kirpal Singh said in his turn,
“I am studying for knowledge’s sake.”
The bishop was very impressed with his answer and said, “This boy will become famous one day.” Thereafter, the bishop addressed the students for a full one hour on this very topic.
The Squanderer of Spiritual Wealth
Kirpal Singh was keenly interested in reading biographies of great personages, of which, He had read over three hundred. When He was in seventh class and about twelve years old, He read about an event from the life of Shri Ramanuja, which left a great impression upon his life. The story went like this:
When Shri Ramanuja returned home after receiving spiritual initiation from his master, he assembled the villagers and began to share with them the secret mantra (“Guru Mantra” or charged words) that was given by his Master. A villager objected saying, “What is it that you are doing? You should keep the Master’s mantra a secret, sharing it with others is a great sin. You will go to hell for the sin of disobeying your Master.” Ramanuja replied, “I alone will go to hell for my sin, but at least these others will be saved. For the sake of their welfare, I don’t mind going to hell.” Kirpal Singh Ji says that when He read of this event, it came to his mind that should ever the wealth of spirituality fall into his hands, He would also squander it away likewise.
In this context, Kirpal Singh Ji states, “Perhaps Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj found me for a spendthrift that He gave me the task of distribution of Spirituality (Initiation). Hazur would say, ‘The wealth of Spirituality is available aplenty, but I have not found anyone to distribute it.’ Whatever spiritual riches that are being given to the world, all credit for them does not belong to me. It is all the boon of Hazur Maharaj.”
The Soul Is Immortal
This relates to 1908-9, when Kirpal Singh Ji was 14 years old and a student in ninth standard. During that time, He made acquaintance with the son of a religious leader called, Devguru. He was invited to the in-house meeting of the Dev Society involved in social work of upliftment of society and public welfare. The organizers of the Dev Society greatly benefitted from Kirpal Singh Ji’s wisdom and competence. One day, the son of the Devguru enquired of Kirpal Singh Ji, “What is your opinion of our Society?” He replied, “I respect the work done by your society, as far as mundane life is concerned. But, I really want to know as to what you think about the soul.” Devguru’s son replied, “After leaving the human body the soul remains in existence for a while, but after that the soul is also destroyed.” Kirpal Singh Ji said, “Your opinion about the soul is not correct. After leaving the human body, the soul remains in existence in a subtle form, about which you have no knowledge as yet.” At the age of merely 14-15 years, his deep knowledge about spiritual matters goes on to prove that Sants come ready-made and are not made here. They are fully aware of their work and their mission in life and possess the necessary mastery for undertaking them. Kirpal Singh Ji’s student life is full of several examples that prove this point.
“Shahi-Bagh” — The Royal Garden Behind The Eyes
An event of Kirpal Singh Ji’s childhood is remarkable in this context, which He would often present as an example in his Satsangs. Once, while reading in the Shahi Bagh (meaning ‘Royal Garden’) in Peshawar (Pakistan), an elderly atheist, Darbari Lal came across him and asked him, “Where is the Shahi Bagh?” Kirpal replied, “Shahi Bagh is where you are standing right now.” Hearing this, he said, “There are few trees, a few plants and bushes here. What kind of Shahi Bagh is this?” Kirpal Singh Ji understood his hint and asked him, “Do you meditate?” Pointing to his forehead between the two eyes, the old man (Darbari Lal) said, “The true Shahi Bagh is here between and behind the eyebrows. Out here, there is only bliss, and even more bliss.” What he wanted to convey is that even a non-believer (atheist) can enjoy the pleasure of meditation if he concentrates on the seat of the soul or Shiva-netra and can achieve true bliss.
Meeting With Baba Kahan
During his student life, Kirpal Singh Ji often used to visit Baba Kahan, a mystic in Peshawar, who constantly used to be divinely intoxicated. Satguru Dayal Shri Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj also used to visit Baba Kahan. It is also a strange coincidence that two great Saints of our age, who squandered the wealth of Spirituality with both hands, used to visit Baba Kahan, but never got to meet each other prior to the appointed time. Baba Kahan did not like anyone coming near him; he would abuse people and sometimes even strike them. Whenever Kirpal Singh Ji visited him, however, he always enquired lovingly, “What brings you here, Sardar?” He would say, “I am here to benefit from your presence.” A while later, Baba would say, “Now, go home.”
One accomplished soul recognizes the other by the eye. At that time, Kirpal Singh Ji was well aware of the spiritual powers of Baba Kahan. Kirpal Singh Ji once told the devotees who used to visit Baba Kahan for blessings, that Baba Ji is loaded with Spiritually, but “it is difficult to crack the walnut shell and extract the nut.” Upon being pestered by one of them, Kirpal Singh Ji suggested that you may go in the evening and sit all night in his presence, and not leave him, come whatever may. He did as suggested, but Baba scolded and abused him a lot, and he ran away from there. The next day, he narrated the incident to Kirpal Singh Ji, who said, “Not to worry, go again and do not leave him this time.” The next evening, he visited Baba Ji again and when he refused to leave him even after being abused, Baba Ji become violent and struck him on the head with a burning log of wood. He received a wound on his head but stayed put. Then suddenly, Baba Ji changed his posture and lovingly asked him, “What it is that you ultimately want?” He said, “Baba, give some of the stuff that you possess.” Baba Kahan said, “Listen! What an enchanting Divine Music is resounding,” and introduced him to the Cosmic Sound or Shabd. We can learn from this event that Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji had the vision to perceive and evaluate spiritual power.
Preparation For The Great Life Ahead
It is clear as daylight, from a perusal of the childhood and the student life of Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj, that He was fully aware of the great work ahead of him and that every step that He took from childhood on was a preparation towards that great life. He had come with unparalleled traits and capabilities. As already narrated previously, even at the age of just four years, He had begun to concentrate within and journey to the divine planes within. He was a visionary par excellence from the very beginning. Over and above that, He was comfortable with very little sleep. He himself stated, “When I was in seventh standard, I used to sleep very little.”
Whether reading the entire night or spending time in prayer and meditation, He slept but very little. For those, whose souls can venture out into godly regions, where was the need to sleep! With the withdrawal of the spirit, the requirement of sleep is accomplished automatically and the body becomes fully relaxed. During his Satsangs, He would often state that when the soul leaves the body and returns to the body after traversing the inner divine regions, the body is born anew. The body is recharged i.e. acquires a new life (it was with the blessed fruit of his grace that hundreds and thousands of people achieved that state as well).
It was with the benefit of this continuously awakened state, that He made the most of; He managed to read thousands of books during his student life. These highly distinguished tendencies and traits were inborn in him, but the manner He utilized them for the great task ahead in his life and the manner in which He prepared them, is a living example worth emulating before the world.
In this respect, He would often state that everyone is in a state of continuous development, in which one is being shaped. It is after many a birth and rebirth that a being reached the peak of perfection, climbing the ladder of progress. Hence, it is said,
“Every Saint has a past and every sinner has a future”
It signifies that somebody who is a saint today was like us before and was captive of his desires, and we, who are living at the level of our sensory organs today, can become saints, given the proper direction and guidance.
Illustrating this topic in detail, Kirpal Singh Ji, in his biography of Baba Jaimal Singh Ji, writes:
“The history of a Great-being is the history of a soul’s pilgrimage. It is a story which to be spiritually evolved covers innumerable years and countless lives. The final enlightenment may seem sudden, but its preparatory stages are long and arduous.”
With these words, he would give us encouragement,
“What one man has done, another can do,
of course, with proper help and guidance.”
It certainly does take time, but there is no limit to human progress and development. There is nothing a man cannot do. In this very context, Kirpal Singh Ji says,
“By a single signal of the Almighty God, millions of regions and planes came into existence. Our soul is also an essence of the Eternal God, a droplet of the Ocean of Consciousness. If it so desires, can it not make a new world, bring about a new plane into creation?”
In order to achieve this ultimate ideal of humanity, Kirpal Singh Ji has written several books, but the greatest treatise that he has written is his life, in which one discovers, at every step, teachings pertaining to ideal living.
Diary — Importance of Day-to-Day Introspection
In order to be able to lead a spiritual life, Kirpal Singh Ji always insisted on forming an honest, pure and virtuous life, for which He prescribed introspection of one’s life through the use of the introspection diary. He started maintaining his diary from the age of seven, in which He strictly filled up the mistakes during the entire day’s activities and would make an effort not to repeat those mistakes in the future.
He always insisted upon his disciples to fill in their diaries regularly so as to keep an eye on their mistakes and try to overcome them. This was the gist of his great life. In reference to the diary, He stated that even if a person does not do anything, but starts filling the diary with truthfulness and honesty, his life would undergo a transformation altogether, and the truth would begin reflecting in the mirror of his own heart.
In this very context, He stated that . . .
It is not difficult to reach the God Almighty,
but what is certainly difficult is for a person
to become a good human being,
in the true sense of the word.
And, for becoming a good human being, he presented the experience of his life in the form of the introspection diary.
In relation to the diary, it is not necessary to present here the elaboration that He has presented in the form of the booklet, “Seven Paths to Perfection”. Here, we shall only repeat the statement of Maharaj Ji that,
“We do not know where we are headed. If only we knew that we are sitting on a rubbish heap, we shall certainly attempt to come out of that filth. We do not know our shortcomings, our faults ― unless we ruminate and do the accounting of the day-long thoughts, words and deeds, we shall never get to improving. Instead, we are engaged in pointing out the shortcomings of others. If only we ponder over our own weaknesses, we shall neither have the time nor shall we dare to look at others’ faults.”
The Love of Humanity
It is stated by Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji that anyone who loves Almighty God would also naturally get to love His Creation. In His Satsangs, He would repeatedly give instruction to “Love one and all, never to hate anyone, never to even think ill of anyone as all are the children of God. If one really loves God Almighty, one would automatically love His children (Souls or Living Beings) as well.”
“ਏਕ ਪਿਤਾ ਏਕਸ ਕੇ ਹਮ ਬਾਰਕ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਗੁਰ ਹਾਈ”
(Ek Pita Eks Ke Hum Barak Tu Mera Gur Hai)
“The One God is our Father; we are the children
of the One God. You are our Guru.”
— Guru Arjan Dev (SGGS page 611 p. 19)
An event from Kirpal Singh Ji’s childhood is worthwhile noting in this context. As a boy, He was accustomed to meeting everyone with great affection. One day, his father said to him, “Pal, my friends will be your friends and my enemies will be your enemies.” He never disobeyed his father, but when He heard this, He replied, “Your friends will definitely be my friends, but it not necessary that your enemies will be my enemies. It is possible that their enmity is on account of some misunderstanding. I have not come to hate anyone and to be their enemy; I am here to love the entire humankind.”
Years after that event, during His First World Tour in 1955, in a huge public gathering in Chicago, U.S.A. Kirpal Singh Ji repeated his ideal with the following words,
“Those who claim to love God Almighty, whom they can’t even see,
how come they hate people like themselves,
whom they can see in everyday life, and still claim that they love God?”
— 1 John 4:20
Taking reference from Jesus Christ’s message of love,
“You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your strength,
and with all your mind;
and your neighbor as yourself.”
— Holy Bible (Luke 10.27)
Then He added, “God Almighty is One and He is the Lord of all. His entire Creation is also One. It is essential that this Truth is stated today and repeated in the course of time, reminding the humanity of it.”
Ideal Life — Honest Earnings
As was the practice during those times, Kirpal Singh Ji was married at an early age, but He did not ever call his wife. He started his job in Peshawar and then he was transferred to Lahore. He began his householder phase of life in Lahore. The ideal that He had set for his life required the foundation of earning one’s income by the sweat of one’s brow and truthfulness in every undertaking. But the department that He got was one in which bribery was rampant. He joined Military Engineering Services as a clerk.
Once, a contractor came to him one day and offered a bribe in order to clear his bills urgently, as was the regular practice. He said to the contractor, “There is no need to give me a bribe, as this is my duty. I am paid a salary for this work. Please be assured, your bill will be cleared very soon.” The contractor thought that the amount offered was not good enough. He took out some more silver coins from his pocket and laid them on the table. But when, in spite of his repeated request, Kirpal Singh Ji refused to accept the money, he left the money on the table and walked off. Kirpal Singh Ji threw the money after him. When the coins fell on the floor, they rattled jarringly. A pin-drop silence engulfed the entire office. The older clerks advised Him that one should not let go of the money that has come into one’s hands. But there was no place for bribery and greed in his life’s ideals. Even the family members strongly insisted, but He clearly replied that “earning of ill-gotten money should not be expected of me. I shall hand over my entire earning to you; I do not need anything for myself.”
Those who are destined to accomplish something big in their life and desire to build a spiritual palace on the foundation of righteousness, they have to plan everything in life accordingly. Why would they beg in front of anyone? Why would they get involved in needless hassles? This is why the Great-beings have always maintained the importance of simplicity. Hence, his life and lifestyle was extremely simple. He could manage in all manner of circumstances. His needs were minimal; to manage within whatever was available was his life’s motto. At the beginning, even when He was a clerk and drew a very small salary, He would share it with others, and help the poor and the anguished. Even so, He could manage with ease ― such was the simplicity of his life.
It so happened once that seven more days remained for the salary day and Kirpal Singh Ji was left with one Anna (1/12th of a Rupee) in his pocket. His first thought was to borrow a rupee from someone, but He realized that it will lead to a bad habit of borrowing. So He spent the rest of the week on that one Anna. He bought roasted grams (Chickpeas) with it, and when hungry, would eat the grams, downing them with a drink of cold water. It may have been apparently a small matter, but little things often lead to significant results. He would say, “It is better to sleep on an empty stomach than to have a burden of debt upon waking up.” As for us, we do not pay attention to small things, which is why we end up missing on big things.
An Ideal Civil Servant
Starting from a clerk in his career, Kirpal Singh Ji reached to the high post of Deputy Assistant Controller of Military Accounts due to his diligence and hard work, and was loved and respected both by his seniors and subordinates due to his humanity. His officers not only found Him a competent worker, but also a person with high spiritual acumen, and his subordinates found Him a soft-hearted officer and their well-wisher and protector. Anybody who even had a glimpse of his virtuous and above board behavior, became his forever.
In this context, one event of his life is worth recounting. When He retired after thirty-six years of illustrious service, the staff wished to give Him a farewell party, but He declined saying that He would go and meet every one at their desk by himself. Everyone was heart-broken due to the separation from Him. In the evening, the Muslim and other staff of his office requested Him to come and sit in the garden so that they could have his darshan there. He accepted their request and the next morning, the officers and staff assembled there, with tears in their eyes. Amongst them, there was a peon who had been employed only two days ago. He began to cry loudly. Kirpal Singh Ji asked him, “These people have worked with me for years and I can understand their grief, but you just joined two days back, what have you found in me?” The peon replied, “You are the first officer who has treated even us lowly peons as human beings, while others treat us merely as peons.”
Kirpal Singh Ji was full of love and compassion for his subordinates. However inexperienced and incompetent the employee may have been, after cajoling them, He always brought them around lovingly to the right path. He would say, why should the family members be punished for the incompetence of the worker? We should give him another chance to improve. As He firmly believed, that with love and compassion, any person can be reformed, and He proved it by his own experience.
He was in charge of Administration and Co‑ordination. He would keep those clerks who had been rejected by other officers, citing them as incompetent, and sent to be dismissed from service, with himself. For a few days He would observe them; thereafter He would lovingly explain to them that should they be relieved from service, it is their family who would suffer most. They ought to work properly. They understood the sage’s advice and got working. In fact, these very unworthy clerks were found to be competent in all respects after some time. For the superior officers, it was a certificate of competence in itself for a person to have worked under Kirpal Singh Ji.
In the context of Kirpal Singh Ji’s sympathy for his subordinates during his service, many examples can be cited. Once while He was on leave, three of the clerks in his department were dismissed from service due to some misdemeanor. When He joined back after returning from leave, He was greatly pained to know about this. He made them write applications requesting them to be reinstated in their service and forwarded them to the controller, along with his recommendation. He wrote that any person can make a mistake, and for their mistakes, it would be sufficient to merely warn them. It would not be proper to put their families in great trouble by removing them from service. After his recommendation, all the three clerks were reinstated.
Again, when the First World War came to an end, for many of the employees, who had been employed during emergency on a temporary basis, most of whom were not having necessary qualifications for the post, an order was issued that those who wished to keep their jobs would have to appear for an examination. Should they clear the exam, they could keep their jobs. Many of the clerks had been in the service for the last six–seven years and possessed the requisite experience for their jobs. After long years in service, forcing them through such a condition and removing them for not clearing their exam was grave injustice. Having been removed from service, they could not even join other government departments since they had already crossed the age limit of 25 years. Fortunately, Kirpal Singh Ji was appointed as their examiner. He presented the entire matter to the Controller of Accounts and recommended that in this situation, when all the clerks had been working in the department for a long time and since their competence and experience of their jobs was fully proven, none of them need be failed. With the approval of the officers, He passed every one of them.
During that time, the Controller’s Office of Waziristan, connected to the field service, was dismantled and several of the officers and clerks were removed from service. This controller was now transferred to Lahore as controller. The clerks who had been removed from the office in Waziristan then applied in the Lahore office for service. The controller asked each one of them, “Have you worked under Sardar Kirpal Singh? If so, then in which post?” If someone said that he had worked as a superintendent under Him; he was given the appointment of the superintendent. If someone had been a clerk under Him, he was appointed as clerk. People asked him, “Why are you doing this?” He said,
“I know Him, any man who has worked under Kirpal Singh knows his job”.
All his officers had so much faith and belief in Him. Not only the controller, but the senior most officer of the department, the Accountant General of Military Accounts, and even the finance member had faith in Him. As such, even the controller was often advised by the Accountant General to take Kirpal Singh Ji’s counsel.
The overwhelming faith of the people in Kirpal Singh Ji can be gauged from this example. The soldiers going to the 1914 war used to write their allotment in Kirpal Singh’s name, so that He could pass their salary to their family. They did not even trust their own parents to be fair to their wife and children. They had more faith in Him than in their parents.
Inclination Towards Service Unto Others
Sants come into this world for the service of the people. Their life is devoted for the benefit of others, and for the entire world. Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji’s entire life presents itself as a shining example of selfless service and public welfare. Since the very beginning, He had great inclination towards doing service unto others. He used to go regularly to the hospital and serve the patients by giving them a massage to relieve their pain, providing them with edibles and even cleaning their utensils. For the welfare of the poor people, He acquired knowledge of the homeopathic system of medicine and provided primary services to the patients and medicine to the poor and destitute. He would go to the railway station and carry the luggage of the elderly and weak. He would say that for the cleansing of the soul, selfless service is essential. It cleanses the mind and expands the heart. The importance of bodily service is especially significant in this respect.
In his Satsangs, He would state, “Those who love Almighty God, would also naturally love His Creation.” and, “Love knows only giving, and not taking.” This is the very test of love. Kabir Sahib says:
“While you are alive in the body,
give unto others, and give again and again.
When you are no longer in the body,
none shall seek anything from you.”
— Kabir
In the context of his inclination towards selfless service, two events of his life are especially worth relating. In 1919, upon the First World War coming to an end, an epidemic of influenza struck in Punjab and people began to die constantly. Since it was a communicable disease, even the relatives began to abandon the patients. There was none left to even ask for their welfare. Friends and relatives all were anxious to save their own skins. Kirpal Singh Ji took up the task of doing service of the patients in his own hands, without any consideration for his own life. He took care of all the arrangements from supplying medicine and food to cleanliness.
In the same year, plague broke out in Punjab. The epidemic spread very rapidly and people started dying in great numbers. Entire towns became ghost towns. The fear of plague was so great that people lost their mind even at the mention of it. In plague, if the patient does not get treatment early, he is dead within hours. People shunned their dying relatives at home and ran for their lives. Houses after houses were left vacant and there was none left to even cremate the dead. Hence, dead bodies started decaying. Once again Kirpal Singh Ji setup a group of social workers. Initially, He began work by himself, and after seeing Him, more persons joined in to do this public service. The dead were cremated and arrangements for cleanliness ensured. In the selfless service of plague-affected people, near whom people were even afraid to go, He and his companions engaged themselves day and night.
I Belong To Everyone
The Great-beings belong to the entire humanity. They love all, and hate none. In their perspective, all human beings are considered equal. When we study the childhood of Kirpal Singh Ji, it becomes clear that He had come with the innate trait of universal love. This event relates to when He was around 18-19 years old. He was a clerk during those days. The salary was frugal and He had to manage somehow within his means. His uncle, who was very ill at that time, came to Lahore. Kirpal Singh Ji got him admitted to the hospital. It was his routine to take milk, fruits, medicines, etc. for his uncle every day. One day, He was serving milk to his uncle, when He noticed an elderly patient―a mere skeleton, who did not even possess a blanket to cover himself. Kirpal Singh Ji went to him and lovingly sought his welfare and asked him, “What would you like to have?” Learning that there was someone in the world to ask for his well-being, the old man’s eyes welled up with tears. From that day on, whatever supplies He carried for his uncle, He would also take for the old man. As a consequence, He himself had to manage merely on roasted grams. His uncle was very surprised seeing this, and said, “I am your uncle and I have a claim on you, but what relationship do you have with this old man? He will never be of any service to you, nor be able to repay you. Even so, why are you treating him, as you treat me?” He replied, “You both are alike to me. This old man has the same claim on me as you do. Moreover, all have the same claim over me. The entire humankind is a family and I belong to all. We are not two, but one, and no one is a stranger to me ― all belong to me.”
The Arena of Service Unto Others
As has been related in Kirpal Singh Ji’s childhood stories, from a very young age itself, He had begun to show signs of his spiritual prowess. The screen of the heart was already prepared. His inner self was so pure that even in 1913-14, while sitting in meditation, He began to see the past, present and future. He was able to perceive the innermost desires of whoever came before Him. But this new-found power began to create difficulties in his work. He says that He then sought two things from God. I prayed, “Thank you God for this boon of omniscience. Do take back this gift and instead, give me the boon of passing my life as a simple human being. Secondly, that if ever I am able to do good to anyone, I should remain unaware of the same.” This was indeed the heart in which the God Almighty had put the treasure of limitless Spiritual Light, so that it could be freely distributed to all. This event relates to ten years prior to his reaching the lotus feet of Satguru Dayal Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, at a time when He was himself in search of the path of Truth. Through the beneficence of his philanthropic personality, multitude of seekers were to receive spiritual benefit.
Paralysis or Samadhi?
This relates to 1915, during the period in which Kirpal Singh Ji was in service. His paternal cousin brother, Deedar Singh visited him often. He had a strange illness that even while walking, his limbs would stop working, and his entire body would suddenly get paralyzed. It was suspected to be an early stage of a paralytic attack. His father got him examined by the best doctors, but nothing provided any respite. During his stay with Kirpal Singh Ji, he had a similar attack and became very distraught due to it. But Kirpal Singh Ji consoled him saying that there was nothing to worry about as this was not a sign of any illness. Actually, the sensory organs were stopping to work as a result of past life karmic accumulations, and the spirit was beginning to focus at the eye-center. The path ahead was being blocked, and difficulty being faced. Hence, it was advised that the inner path could either be opened up or this process of withdrawal put an end to.
Who would not want his inner-eye being opened? When he gave Him his consent, Kirpal Singh Ji put him on the Path, due to which he began to be constantly in a state of wakeful meditation, absorption and ecstasy. He was finally relieved of worry and discomfort and would always be found laughing. Once, while taking a stroll, he lost his body-consciousness, as a consequence of which, he collided with a wall. His head was badly injured and began to bleed, but Deedar Singh did not feel a thing, nor experience any pain. Seeing this situation, Kirpal Singh Ji took back the spiritual boon that He had bestowed upon him so that he could lead his life like a normal person. Five years later, when his end was near, at his request, Kirpal Singh Ji restored his experience of inner Light and Sound. As he departed from this mortal world, he was in a state of ecstatic trance.
The Salvation of a Dacoit
Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji was transferred to Dera Ismail Khan, where He joined as an accounts officer in the 36th Sikh regiment. This anecdote pertains to this period (this was three years before going to the feet of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj). There was a ferocious looking and powerfully built ex-dacoit, who was also the bodyguard of the Indian Commanding Officer. He had spread terror everywhere. He would take away the meat cooked for the soldiers in front of everybody and no one had the courage to stop him. Everyone was afraid of him, but it was a strange thing that whenever Sardar Kirpal Singh Ji went out on duty, the ex-dacoit would come and clean and tidy up his room while He was away. When Kirpal Singh Ji returned, He would always find his quarter spotlessly clean. One day, when Kirpal Singh Ji returned a little earlier than usual, He found that the dacoit was cleaning His room. Kirpal Singh Ji asked him, “Brother, why do you take so much trouble for me every day?” The dacoit stood before Him with folded hands and said, “Sardar Sahib, whenever I see you, all my sins start appearing before my very eyes and I begin to tremble like a leaf. I am a great sinner, for I have killed countless innocent persons. So many have I simply throttled to death. Please tell me if there is a way for the salvation of a sinner like me?” Kirpal Singh Ji assured him, “The door of mercy of God is open to everyone, even for the greatest of sinners and for a person considered to be a terminal case, provided one repents for his past mistakes, prays for mercy and does no more.” When the dacoit took a vow to reform and refrain from sinning, Kirpal Singh Ji ordered him to always remember God. The fearsome dacoit gradually transformed into a God-fearing devotee. Even after this event, Kirpal Singh Ji initiated many dacoits with the gift of Naam and they all turned a new leaf and began to tread the path of righteousness.
Mother’s Love and Family Situation
This story about Kirpal Singh Ji’s student life would not be complete without mentioning his mother’s great love for him. Blessed is the mother who had the fortune to be called the mother of such a great personage. How indeed must she have been viewing her son! A glimpse of his mother’s love is reflected in his statements. When He first returned home from his service, upon receiving news of his arrival, his mother, in a state of excitement, got up and came running to see Him on the balcony. But being completely absorbed in her excitement, she did not realize as to where the terrace ended and fell headlong.
A little prior to when Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji was about to complete his education, He had informed his mother, stating that she was to leave this body within six months and suggested that she put all outer thoughts aside and instead, spend time in the remembrance of God. And as He had predicted, his mother passed away in six months. 17 days prior to her demise, He wrote to her that she should prepare for death, as she would have to leave this body soon. Alongside, He wrote to his elder brother, Sardar Jodh Singh, who was in Naushehra, to soon reach home to look after their mother, since He himself was unable to come. A few days after Jodh Singh Ji arrived, their mother breathed her last. This was the period when Kirpal Singh Ji was yet to reach his Master’s feet, although doors to the inner divine spheres were open for Him, on account of which, He was subsequently even able to meet his mother in the regions beyond.
There are several events of this nature that relate to his lifetime. In 1914, his elder brother, Sardar Jodh Singh had been to Basra, Iraq during the war. One day, while sitting in meditation, Kirpal Singh Ji had a vision that his brother was in a state of stupor and appeared to be extremely weak. He sent a telegram immediately enquiring about his health. When the reply came, it was confirmed that he was indeed very sick. On another occasion, He once wrote to his elder brother that his wife was going to die very soon. Sardar Jodh Singh was very surprised since his wife was healthy and quite well at that time, without a trace of any kind of discomfort. While his elder brother was contemplating upon this letter, his wife suddenly took ill and her condition became extremely serious and she passed away a few minutes later that very day.
Whenever anyone in his family was about to die, He would get to know about it in advance and would prepare that person for that “great final change” called death. He never displayed any sorrow towards the death of his near and dear ones, both younger and elder to him, and accepted it as the wish of God Almighty. He had to face the death of his two elder brothers, Sardar Jodh Singh and Sardar Prem Singh and also that of his two young children. He provided his children the best treatment, although knowing the consequence and never took their death to heart.