Radha Soami Teachings - As Given in Soami Ji's Book Sar Bachan Poetry

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In the introduction to the book Saar Bachan Chhand Band (Sar Bachan Poetry), it is stated that it contains a true record of the utterances of Radha Soami Ji Maharaj (affectionately known as Soami Ji, and referred to throughout this translation as Soami ji), so that it gives us his teachings in an unalloyed form. All the quotations given here have been taken from that book. Thus they are authentic and reliable.

Although Soami Ji has explained the method and philosophy of saints and given an account of the inner transcendent stages that they attain in a much clearer manner than perhaps any other saint, it appears that even then some of us have failed to grasp the fundamental points of his teachings. Hence this treatise, in which an attempt has been made to give the teachings of Soami Ji in a clear, precise and lucid manner, more or less in his own words. It has not been our intention to be completely exhaustive, but we have tried to cover all the main aspects of his real and fundamental teachings, and the quotations given here suffice to make out definitely and exactly all the points dealt with.

The quotations have been put in their original Hindi script with English translation, which (so far as possible) is literal. Of course, the meaning and import of the words of the Saint have not been impaired in any way, but if at any place a free rendering is given, the sense of the original has been scrupulously preserved.

Saints testimony to spiritual experiences in subtle transcendent planes is dependable, for they say what they see with their own inner eye. For their knowledge of their own soul, God, and all other subtle entities, they do not rely on books or transcendent vision, they behold Reality or God, and realize their oneness with Him. Therefore, laying aside our frail intellectual reasoning, we should accept the true testimony of saints.

o give up thou thine intellectual cleverness
And accept thou the word of the saint,
For saith he what he himself doth behold.
Why dost thou, on hearing him,
strain thine intellect in vain?
To derive full benefit from Radha Soami Teachings, the reader should study these pages with an unbiased and open mind and try to get at the meaning of the writer without deviating into any criticism of the manner of expression or the superficial niceties of language and style.

Readers might find some repetition in this book. We frankly plead guilty to this charge. However, most of this repetition is intentional, and we had recourse to it with a view to making the real teachings of this saint transparently clear and convincing.

Moreover, there is so much repetition in the writings of Soami Ji, as of all other saints (for they must give us their divine message again and again in different forms and ways), that any treatise on them must of necessity reflect the same trait to a considerable extent. But we shall not be sorry for this repetition if it helps the readers to grasp the fundamental points of his teachings. He says:

Again and again do I say, to make thee understand,
That the path of saints is the highest.
Again and again do I tell thee,
And try to make thee understand (my message),
For my feeling of sympathy for thee doth pain me.
Saints feel keenly for us and want to save us from the bond- age of Kal (the negative power) and karmas. Therefore they give us their message over and over again, and in various forms and ways they go on repeating it for our benefit. For our good alone do they do so. Hence no repetition of their message can be considered too much. Their message is so sublime and profitable to us that it can stand any number of repetitions.

Let us see for ourselves what the great saint, Soami Ji, tells and exhorts us to do, so that by following his teachings we may be able to achieve the real object of our human existence on this earth, namely to know the reality of our Self as well as of this world and of God, and finally merge in that Absolute Reality. Thus, by reaching our true home, Sat Lok Radha Soami Dham (the true or imperishable region and the abode of Radha Soami, the Lord of the soul), we may attain everlasting bliss, real transcendent knowledge and purest love. In this way we shall realize our inseparable union with our true Heavenly Father, Sat Nam Anami (the nameless true Lord) or Radha Soami (the Lord of the soul), the highest Absolute Lord.

Radha Soami Teachings was written by Professor Lekh Raj Puri, professor of philosophy at Punjab University, in the context of a debate during Great Master's time on the real meaning of Soami Ji Maharaj's teachings.

What is unique to this book is that it conveys a perspective of the teachings of the saints gained from the long hours Pro£ Puri spent at the feet of Great Master. In those days the sangat was small and disciples had close contact with and easy access to the Master. The Great Master welcomed seekers and debate, and spent many hours in small gatherings explaining Soami Ji's teachings and the inner esoteric path. This book reflects the understanding Prof Puri gained from the Master's satsangs and his responses to the doubts and queries of seekers and disciples about Soami Ji's teachings.

Prof Puri describes in some detail the esoteric elements of Soami Ji's teachings, and has clarified some commonly held confusions between the outer and inner paths and the requisites for a true Guru. In our fast-paced modern age it may be worthwhile for the seeker of spiritual truth to take the time to ponder the mystical underpinnings of Soami Ji's teachings set forth in this book.

This revision has been altered as little as possible, so as to retain Pro£ Puri's intent, style and idiom. Soami Ji's verses have been translated by Prof. Puri, and while the language may feel archaic to the modern reader, it will be appreciated that each writer brings his own style of expression to his work. Italics were used to emphasize important points that Prof Puri made. A glossary has been included to explain some of the Indian-language terms that Prof. Puri used.