Power Unlimited (Relation of Man with God)

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About the Book

Power Unlimited, or Relation of Man with God, points out a way of solving our modern, practical, day-to-day problems by reference to the spirit within us. The book talks of certain tools for the development of greater potential through discovery of a latent power inherent within each one of us. It shows that it is not only possible, but it has become imperative, to pursue higher values in life without abandoning right worldly responsibilities.

The author, D. N. Saraf, feels that true spirituality embraces the whole of life health of the physical body, the mind and the life energies. It accepts life, seeks to improve and perfect it.

D. N. Saraf is intensely inspired by the teachings of his spiritual master, Mahatma Mangat Ram, the story of whose life and spiritual attainments forms fascinating part of the book. Through some of the most reverting quotations, Saraf has drawn on the wisdom of many great saints, sages and philosophers, both of the East and the West, to supplement the line of approach recommended by his master.

Although Saraf has relied on the wisdom of great saints, his is not the path of a yogi or a renunciate. A top former government manager responsible for development of handicrafts in India, Saraf tries to traverse a middle path useful for people like householders or career persons. A book rewarding for both men of the world and seekers of the spirit.

About the Author

Simple and full of humility, D. N. Saraf Hails from Samba in Jammu & Kashmir (India). He did his M. A. (Economics) and B. Com. From Punjab University, and took a special course in marketing at Harvard Business School USA. In his professional field he has been associated with such prestigious bodies as the Crafts Council of India, the American Marketing Association and the Institute of Management, UK.

From his home state, where he held the high office of director of Industries & Commerce, Mr. Saraf moved to the Central Government at Delhi holding several positions in the handicrafts field from 1956 to 1976. he retired as Development Commissioner for Handicrafts. He has also held several UN assignments.

Widely travelled and author of several books (the last one being 'in the Journey of Craft Development 1941-91') Mr. Saraf has delved, for over half a century, into unfathomable reaches of the beauty and creativity of Crafts. At the same time he has been deeply interested in the 'Spirit' which lends a unique special dimension to his life and work, and which passion has culminated in the present volume.

In my early thirties, while working in the Department of Industries, Kashmir, I heard a saying from a colleague of mine: "You and God can do anything and you are not alone." Little did I then understand its full implication. But after initiation by Mahatma Mangat Ram Ji (1952), and with a degree of effort towards self-realization, 1 can now say how true the saying is. It dawned on me how unaware we are of the remarkable potentialities which are within us, and that to make life's most exciting and constructive discovery was to know our real self and our own latent self-worth. This journey into self-discovery has been the sum of my studies and the story of my struggle for over half a century.

With economics as my subject in university, marketing as my special discipline and development of handicrafts as my profession, I had all along an innate urge of self-enquiry, a quest of spirit, a search into the hidden layers of my own being. Relationship of matter and spirit in practical life has intrigued as well as encouraged me to understand that life has a purpose, it could not be compartmentalised as material or spiritual. However, it could be a full life. Glorifying the outer manifestations of life by the light of the inner-self - as a practical and desirable combination - this has been almost an obsession with me. I continue to study, contemplate and try to apply these precepts.

The reason in putting together material for this book is basically my own continuing interest in this subject as an aspirant. I am writing primarily for the simple joy of self- communion. At the same time I have a call of conscience to share with the modem youth some thoughts on the spirit, on meditation and allied subjects, which are wrongly consid- ered the preoccupation of the old and retired people. Often people have not been exposed to considerations of the spirit. We must know that it is very much a part of life. And, it is this life which holds so much for each one of us if we believe in and actually experience the presence of divinity in us - that power which sustains all life.

The younger generation may regard religion as repre- senting fads and decadent dogmas, and rituals which are not compatible with the present-day realities, not even with the real science of the spirit. Most of them seem the opposite to spirituality. At the same time nothing is more barren than to be obsessed with the present and forget the past with its meaningful values and traditions. It is important that old scriptures should be reviewed, rediscovered and re-inter- preted.

Side by side, as a result of disillusionment with and reaction to the supposed pre-eminence of materialistic rationalism which more or less dominated the intellectual horizon of the so-called enlightened world, from the 19th century till about the middle of the 20th, a desire for redis- covery and re-interpretation of mankind has now become a universal phenomenon. With our material development, unfortunately regression appears to have overtaken progress in areas of integrity, ethics, spiritual compassion and altru- istic feelings for others.

It is, however, now being increasingly realized that it is the Supreme Life that shines in and through all life . Believing in the Supreme Being, and experiencing His presence within us could convince anybody that matter and spirit are two parts of an integral life; they are not separate. And, we can with perfect confidence build up an inner life which would enable us to live in constant communication with the spiri- tual realm, understanding and following the all powerful- 'Overself, Teacher and Guide' in us-while pursuing our normal worldly activity. Understanding our real-self, our full and complete self, enables one to act in the world from a deep sense of inward peace and fulfilment. Self-knowledge transforms human motivations.

Everyone of us, more particularly young people, face in life crisis of one type or the other. How to overcome a crisis? A spiritually-oriented person will draw strength from within to overcome or endure any type of crisis. Adversity and suffering may sometimes turn out to be the greatest help and purifier of the soul; surprisingly very often they turn out to be opportunities in disguise. If even a great calamity over- takes us we should remain still and remember God, says Mahatma Mangat Ram. Remaining still with trust in God's will does not imply the helpless stillness of inertia which heralds dissolution, but the stillness of assured sovereignty which commands the harmony of life. The attitude of equality, sameness - Samata (this concept has been fairly explained in the book) transforms consideration of all things. Here both success and failure lose their apparent meaning and the soul takes an equal passive or active composure in all happenings as the steps and formulations of the divine will. Everything depends on the inner condition and the outward condition is useful only as a means and a help for expressing or confirming the inner state and making it dynamic and effective.