Kirpal Singh
Encyclopedia
Sant Kirpal Singh http://www.kirpalsingh-teachings.org/index.php/en/sant-kirpal-singh (6 February 1894–21 August 1974) was a spiritual teacher ("Sant
") who was born in India in the village of Sayyad Kasran, in the western part of the Punjab
which now belongs to Pakistan
. Further biographical information is available. http://ruhanisatsangusa.org/indian/index_sant_kirpal_singh.htm
His Mission: "To fill the human heart with compassion, mercy and universal love, which should radiate to all countries, nations and peoples of the world. To make a true religion of the heart as the ruling factor in one's life. To enable each one to love God, love all, serve all, and have respect for all, as God is immanent in all forms. My goal is that of oneness. I spread the message of oneness in life and living. This is the way to peace on earth. This is the mission of my life, and I pray that it may be fulfilled."
He taught the unity of all religions and the birthright of man to attain self-knowledge
and God-knowledge. Under the guidance of his guru Baba Sawan Singh
, of Radha Soami Satsang Beas
, Sant Kirpal Singh was initiated into Surat Shabd Yoga
, the spiritual path of Sant Mat
. Through this method, and "by the grace of (his) Master", he says that he experienced what is described in the world scriptures about God. According to his disciples, he dedicated his whole life to the ideal of unity: the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God
.
PURPOSE OF HIS ORGANIZATION - RUHANI SATSANG: "My Master, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, a perfect Saint, had a great desire to form a common forum or platform, Ruhani Satsang [the words mean literally "spiritual gathering"-no denominational or sectarian connotations of any kind], at which all persons, even though professing different faiths and religious beliefs, could be imparted the principles of Spirituality and encouraged to practice spiritual disciplines, in order to gain salvation and peace here and in the Beyond." - Kirpal Singh
The booklet: "RUHANI SATSANG - Science of Spirituality" http://ruhanisatsangusa.org/pdf/SoS.pdf gives further details on the nature and function of this organization.
(See also "A brief life-sketch of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji" http://web.archive.org/web/20030513153545/http://www.unity-of-man.org/newsletters/n2000_08.html and "How I met my Master" http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/howimet.htm)
He attracted disciples with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds from all over the world to his ashram
in Delhi
, India
.
Kirpal Singh wrote an extensive collection of books on the general subject of spirituality. They range from "The Crown of Life" which is a comparative study of religion to such subjects as prayer ("Prayer, it's nature and technique), the nature of spirituality ("Spirituality: What it is"), finding a spiritual teacher or guru ("Godman") and karma ("The Wheel of Life"). All of these books are available in their entirety as PDF files. http://ruhanisatsangusa.org/books.htm
Many recordings of talks given during his lifetime are available as MP3 files. English http://ruhanisatsangusa.org/audio.htm and Hindi / Punjabi http://ruhanisatsangusa.org/HP-mp3.htm
especially intended for Westerners, called Man, Know Thyself http://www.kirpalsingh-teachings.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:man-know-thyself&catid=39:talks&Itemid=64. The principle teaching expounded the underlying thread of the esoteric Sound Current (Shabd
, Naam
, or Word) as the root experience of the Saints, which is discussed in the scriptures and continues to be available. He also stressed the importance of a living Master or Guru, as one can derive spiritual principles from past Masters (Saints or Masters who have died) but not initiation whereby the 5 charged words are given that link a guru to an initiate and can guide this soul home.
He expressed no interest in creating a new religion (see "No New Faith, Mind That" http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/nonew.htm) and would generally quote his Master
who said "plenty of wells have already been dug. There is no need to dig another." His self-stated intention was to
revive the original knowledge, which is to be found in the core of all religions, and gave an experience of the true nature of man whose aim it is to return to his Source - God
. By this experience every individual regains his inherent value and dignity and can reach the highest goal of human life.
During fourteen years he was repeatedly elected president of the World Fellowship of Religions which came into being in 1957. On three world tours in 1955, 1963, and 1972 He visited major cities in the Western world, where he met religious leaders, politicians, and personalities of society. He preached about the importance of self-knowledge
and knowledge of God|God-knowledge and emphasized the need of selfless service
as a form of devotion.
He convened the first World Conference on Unity of Man, which took place in Delhi
from 3 to 6 February 1974 (see also His talk "The Remodeling of our Destiny" delivered at the Inaugural Session here http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/destiny.htm). Religious, political, and social leaders from all over India
, and delegates from approximately 18 countries participated in the conference. This World Conference was the beginning of the Unity of Man movement (see also last circular letter "On the Unity of Man" issued on May 15, 1974 here http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/unityman.htm or here http://www.kirpalsingh-teachings.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=124:on-the-unity-of-man&catid=45:circular-letters&Itemid=65). As a result of the conference Sant Kirpal Singh was invited by the government to address to the Indian Parliament. When he spoke to the members of the Lok Sabha
on 1 August 1974, it was the first time that a spiritual leader
was given that honour.
(Kirpal Singh's son), Sant Thakar Singh
, Sant Ajaib Singh
, Sant Sirio Carrapa
.
In physical and material contribution, Sant Kirpal Singh's legacy may lie chiefly in the wealth of books he wrote during his lifetime; the Master made all of these works available without copyright, saying "the gifts of God, like sunlight, are all free." Many of these works are mentioned below and are available in full on the internet. Arguably these are the most extensive introductions available to Sant Mat
as a contemporary spiritual path.
Sant
Sant is an Indian term derived from a Sanskrit verb that means both "to be good" and "to be real". From the fifteenth century the term has often referred to those who sing the name of God and worship Him, particularly the bhakti poets of Marathi...
") who was born in India in the village of Sayyad Kasran, in the western part of the Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
which now belongs to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Further biographical information is available. http://ruhanisatsangusa.org/indian/index_sant_kirpal_singh.htm
His Mission: "To fill the human heart with compassion, mercy and universal love, which should radiate to all countries, nations and peoples of the world. To make a true religion of the heart as the ruling factor in one's life. To enable each one to love God, love all, serve all, and have respect for all, as God is immanent in all forms. My goal is that of oneness. I spread the message of oneness in life and living. This is the way to peace on earth. This is the mission of my life, and I pray that it may be fulfilled."
He taught the unity of all religions and the birthright of man to attain self-knowledge
Self-knowledge
Self-knowledge is a term used in psychology to describe the information that an individual draws upon when finding an answer to the question "What am I like?"....
and God-knowledge. Under the guidance of his guru Baba Sawan Singh
Baba Sawan Singh
Baba Sawan Singh , also known as "The Great Master" or "Bade Maharaji" was an Indian Saint. He was the second Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas from the death of Baba Jaimal Singh in 1903 until his own death on April 2, 1948....
, of Radha Soami Satsang Beas
Radha Soami Satsang Beas
Radha Soami Satsang Beas is a spiritual society founded by Jaimal Singh in 1891 at a site called Dera Baba Jaimal Singh on the West bank of the Beas River, Punjab, India....
, Sant Kirpal Singh was initiated into Surat Shabd Yoga
Surat Shabd Yoga
Surat Shabd Yoga or Surat Shabda Yoga is a form of spiritual practice that is followed in the Sant Mat and many other related spiritual traditions...
, the spiritual path of Sant Mat
Sant Mat
Sant Mat was a loosely associated group of teachers that became prominent in the northern part of the Indian sub-continent from about the 13th century...
. Through this method, and "by the grace of (his) Master", he says that he experienced what is described in the world scriptures about God. According to his disciples, he dedicated his whole life to the ideal of unity: the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
.
PURPOSE OF HIS ORGANIZATION - RUHANI SATSANG: "My Master, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, a perfect Saint, had a great desire to form a common forum or platform, Ruhani Satsang [the words mean literally "spiritual gathering"-no denominational or sectarian connotations of any kind], at which all persons, even though professing different faiths and religious beliefs, could be imparted the principles of Spirituality and encouraged to practice spiritual disciplines, in order to gain salvation and peace here and in the Beyond." - Kirpal Singh
The booklet: "RUHANI SATSANG - Science of Spirituality" http://ruhanisatsangusa.org/pdf/SoS.pdf gives further details on the nature and function of this organization.
(See also "A brief life-sketch of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji" http://web.archive.org/web/20030513153545/http://www.unity-of-man.org/newsletters/n2000_08.html and "How I met my Master" http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/howimet.htm)
He attracted disciples with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds from all over the world to his ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Kirpal Singh wrote an extensive collection of books on the general subject of spirituality. They range from "The Crown of Life" which is a comparative study of religion to such subjects as prayer ("Prayer, it's nature and technique), the nature of spirituality ("Spirituality: What it is"), finding a spiritual teacher or guru ("Godman") and karma ("The Wheel of Life"). All of these books are available in their entirety as PDF files. http://ruhanisatsangusa.org/books.htm
Many recordings of talks given during his lifetime are available as MP3 files. English http://ruhanisatsangusa.org/audio.htm and Hindi / Punjabi http://ruhanisatsangusa.org/HP-mp3.htm
Teachings
In 1955, Sant Kirpal Singh wrote an introduction to his teachingsSant Mat
Sant Mat was a loosely associated group of teachers that became prominent in the northern part of the Indian sub-continent from about the 13th century...
especially intended for Westerners, called Man, Know Thyself http://www.kirpalsingh-teachings.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:man-know-thyself&catid=39:talks&Itemid=64. The principle teaching expounded the underlying thread of the esoteric Sound Current (Shabd
Shabd
' is the Sanskrit for "sound, speech"In Sanskrit grammar, the term refers to an utterance in the sense of linguistic performance.-In Indian linguistics:...
, Naam
Naam
Nāma is the Sanskrit for "name". Spiritually, it is the principal method or tool of meditation, which is meant to unite the soul with the Supreme Soul....
, or Word) as the root experience of the Saints, which is discussed in the scriptures and continues to be available. He also stressed the importance of a living Master or Guru, as one can derive spiritual principles from past Masters (Saints or Masters who have died) but not initiation whereby the 5 charged words are given that link a guru to an initiate and can guide this soul home.
He expressed no interest in creating a new religion (see "No New Faith, Mind That" http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/nonew.htm) and would generally quote his Master
Baba Sawan Singh
Baba Sawan Singh , also known as "The Great Master" or "Bade Maharaji" was an Indian Saint. He was the second Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas from the death of Baba Jaimal Singh in 1903 until his own death on April 2, 1948....
who said "plenty of wells have already been dug. There is no need to dig another." His self-stated intention was to
revive the original knowledge, which is to be found in the core of all religions, and gave an experience of the true nature of man whose aim it is to return to his Source - God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. By this experience every individual regains his inherent value and dignity and can reach the highest goal of human life.
During fourteen years he was repeatedly elected president of the World Fellowship of Religions which came into being in 1957. On three world tours in 1955, 1963, and 1972 He visited major cities in the Western world, where he met religious leaders, politicians, and personalities of society. He preached about the importance of self-knowledge
Self-knowledge
Self-knowledge is a term used in psychology to describe the information that an individual draws upon when finding an answer to the question "What am I like?"....
and knowledge of God|God-knowledge and emphasized the need of selfless service
Selfless Service
Selfless service is a commonly used term to denote a service which is performed without any expectation of result or award for the person performing it.-Religious significance:...
as a form of devotion.
World Conference on Unity of Man
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
from 3 to 6 February 1974 (see also His talk "The Remodeling of our Destiny" delivered at the Inaugural Session here http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/destiny.htm). Religious, political, and social leaders from all over India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and delegates from approximately 18 countries participated in the conference. This World Conference was the beginning of the Unity of Man movement (see also last circular letter "On the Unity of Man" issued on May 15, 1974 here http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/unityman.htm or here http://www.kirpalsingh-teachings.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=124:on-the-unity-of-man&catid=45:circular-letters&Itemid=65). As a result of the conference Sant Kirpal Singh was invited by the government to address to the Indian Parliament. When he spoke to the members of the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
on 1 August 1974, it was the first time that a spiritual leader
Spiritual leader
Spiritual leader is a form of title that is used to refer to religious leaders.In Buddhism, spiritual leaders are usually the people who have attained high level of spiritual awareness. Those spiritual teachers can guide people on their path toward spiritual awakening.Spiritual Leader may be a...
was given that honour.
Legacy and Successors
He died on 21 August 1974 without publicly naming a successor. Several individuals came forward in the following years to continue the work of Naam Initiation: Sant Darshan SinghSant Darshan Singh
Sant Darshan Singh was a guru in the Sant Mat lineage. He studied Sant-Mat under his spiritual guru Baba Sawan Singh, of Radha Soami Satsang Beas and his father Sant Kirpal Singh....
(Kirpal Singh's son), Sant Thakar Singh
Sant Thakar Singh
Sant Thakar Singh was a spiritual teacher in the Sant Mat lineage of contemporary saints.Initiated by Sant Kirpal Singh in 1965, he began work as a Satguru himself in 1976, following the passing of his beloved Master...
, Sant Ajaib Singh
Sant Ajaib Singh
Sant Ajaib Singh known to his disciples as Sant Ji was born on the 11th of September 1926 in Maina, District Bhatinda, Punjab, India. He is considered a Sant of Surat Shabd Yoga. His Master Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj of Delhi was a disciple of Sawan Singh...
, Sant Sirio Carrapa
Sirio Carrapa
Satguru Sirio Carrapa is an Italian mystic. He was a disciple of Sant Kirpal Singh and Sant Ajaib Singh, and is a spiritual Master of Surat Shabd Yoga. He is also an expert in Ayurveda and teacher of Ayurvedic massage .- Biography :After his childhood, he went to live in Milan where he lived for...
.
In physical and material contribution, Sant Kirpal Singh's legacy may lie chiefly in the wealth of books he wrote during his lifetime; the Master made all of these works available without copyright, saying "the gifts of God, like sunlight, are all free." Many of these works are mentioned below and are available in full on the internet. Arguably these are the most extensive introductions available to Sant Mat
Sant Mat
Sant Mat was a loosely associated group of teachers that became prominent in the northern part of the Indian sub-continent from about the 13th century...
as a contemporary spiritual path.