Here’s another guest blog post from Anon, an ex-RSSB initiate. RSSB stands for Radha Soami Satsang Beas, an India-based religious organization headed up by a guru that I belonged to for 35 years, which explains my interest in sharing criticisms of the faith that I also found lacking.
This post strikes me as being less of a criticism of RSSB, and more as a history lesson that illustrates how RSSB grew out of longstanding Sikh tradition, rather than being a unique mystical faith. Of course, this is obvious to most RSSB initiates, since passages from the Sikh scripture (Adi Granth, or Guru Granth Sahib) are often chanted at RSSB gatherings, especially those aimed at Indian audiences.
The way I understand the situation is that Sikhism believes that Guru Nanak was the last authentic human guru, so now the Sikh scripture serves as the guru, whereas RSSB believes that its line of gurus are just as authentic as the Sikh gurus. Well, my belief is that both Sikhism and RSSB are religions that have no basis in demonstrable evidence, possessing as much validity as any other supernatural religion based on belief in God. Namely, no validity at all.
Here’s what Anon has to say.
RSSB secret initiation meditation is public Sikh scripture
RSSB MEDITATION
RSSB gives you initiation from its Guru which is a secret and you must chant this mentally for 2.5 hours a day. You can Google it.
It is these five Punjabi words: Jyot Niranjan, Onkar, Rarankar, Sohang, Satnam.
SIKH SCRIPTURE: THE “GRANTH” 1700s.
The words are are from the Sikh holy scripture the Guru Granth Sahib (aka Sikh Bible). This was compiled by Sikh Gurus in 1700s.
1. Jyot Niranjan: Jyot = “Divine Light”, Niranjan = “Taintless”
2. Onkar = “One Supreme Reality”
3. Rarankar = NOT in Sikh scripture but in writings of Tulsi Sahib.
4. Sohang = “I am that”
5. Satnam = “Truth Is His Name”
These are just words used to describe God.
TULSI SAHIB: “GHAT RAMAYANA” 1800s
Tulsi Sahib came after this and wrote the Ghat Ramayana in around 1800s. He reinterpreted Sikh scripture.
Tulsi Sahib said these words represent the lords or rulers of the five inner spiritual planes that a soul must cross to reach the true home (Sat Lok).
Jot Niranjan (Jyoti Niranjan): The ruler of the first spiritual region (Sahas-dal-kanwal). He is the creator of the physical universe and is often associated with the “pure light” that still exists within the realm of time and matter.
Onkar (Oankar): The ruler of the second region (Trikuti). He represents the primal sound or vibration from which the lower mental worlds are formed.
Rarankar: The ruler of the third region (Daswan Dwar). Tulsi Sahib described this as the “void” or the stage where the soul sheds its mental coverings and realizes its own divine essence.
Sohang: The ruler of the fourth region (Bhanwar Gupha). The name means “I am That,” signifying a state of deep soul-realization and unity where the soul recognizes its kinship with the Divine.
Satnam: The ruler of the fifth region (Sat Lok). Tulsi Sahib taught that this is the “True Name” and the first region of pure spirit, beyond the reach of dissolution or the “negative power”.
Crucially, in the Ghat Ramayana, Tulsi Sahib warned that the first four names (and sometimes even the fifth, depending on the interpretation) actually belong to Kaal (the Negative Power or Lord of Time). He taught that these names are milestones, not the final destination. The lower rulers (like Jot Niranjan) keep the soul trapped in the cycle of birth and death by masquerading as the Supreme Being. A true seeker must use these names only as a ladder to reach the Shabd (Inner Sound) that lies beyond them to find the “Nameless One”.
TULSI’S STUDENT – SOAMI JI: RSSB FOUNDER
Tulsi Sahib allegedly had a number of students including Shiv Dayal Singh, also known as Soami Ji or the founder of modern day RSSB (succeeded by gurus over time to the present day guru).
RSSB states Soami Ji had no guru. The teachings of RSSB are identical to Tulsi Sahib’s teachings.
RSSB means Radha Soami Satsang Beas.
Radha: Shiv Dayal’s wife
Soami: Soami/Guru – Shiv Dayal
Satsang: “Company of Truth” or “Public Sermon”
Beas: Location in North India Punjab where this movement originated
Radha Soami Satsang Beas literally means: “Shiv Dayal and his wife’s public sermons in beas”. That’s it.
It was later called “Sant Mat” which means “Path Of the Saints”.
It is now also called “SOSBI – Science of the Soul” in English.
This is all public knowledge and available through a basic Google search.
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Seems some people are looking for a group or religion to follow and some are looking for a group to lead. That Soamiji Shiv character sounds like the latter. Maybe his teacher had some toe sucking faults that he couldn’t see past so he just took the best and left the rest and didn’t want to claim him . It’s a way of life not a religion. Some people think the Beatles started something but if they go back they can see it was Chuck Berry. Music is my religion and you need living music to be a success through living artists. And just like rock and roll has become diluted beyond recognition so has RSSB. Music is my religion but Sat Mat is my way of life. If I told you the inner experiences I had upon initiation by waiting 35 years to get initiated you might think Grok created it and it’s just bs , followed by jealousy . And envy waits close behind. You’re guaranteed four more lives , at least be happy for that..
I find it extremely funny how RSSB panders to all religions, saying they are actually the same and what not. That religions were created by humans. Then he goes on and creates his own religion…
Everybody knows, SOSBI actually stands for Southeastern Ohio Society for Bigfoot Investigation.
No Saint comes here to start a new religion. They are here to help people connect with the Holy Word, The Name of God, the audible Holy Spirit within themselves. Part of that practice is listening to the Word of God within.
“Listen O Israel. The Lord is One.”
The Schema, the great prayer in Judaism
“The Lord IS His Name.”
To connect with this Holy Name we learn to withdraw from the distractions of the outside world into that place of peace and harmony within each of us.
The Master is there to help us do this. They provide a method to discipline the mind and uncover the audible Word within. That method can be culture-specific, but always includes listening to the sound of that divine Word.
Same teachings throughout all recorded history and in widely different geographies, buried under ritual and superstition.
What is your opinion of the financial scandal?
Hi BK
I took a very serious approach to this when it came out. It seemed very straightforward. But I also knew that a single piece of information can entirely reverse any logical case.
And so much of the information is missing.
What we do to fill in the missing pieces says more about each of us then it says about the legal cases and the actual missing information.
So it’s a Rorschach test. A treat of you and I.
To see it the way everyone else does, without my own personal experience of Baba Ji, without His presence, without His towering wisdom, became impossible.He raised my special needs son when I could not.
So I’m the wrong person to ask that question if you are looking for an opinion.
But I can say two things.
1. With the information available an opinion is all you will get, probably just a reflection of your own sentiments, same the sentiment of the person advertising their opinion.
2. One piece of evidence did come to light that has stayed n with me throughout.
Baba Ji sent a letter to his cousin saying something to the effect that if you cannot meet your obligations, hand this all over to me and I’ll clean up the mess.
Today, I see that letter was if it were written for me personally. I struggle to hand everything over to Him. And every day He cleans up my mess.
The world isn’t what you think it is. Thinking is terribly overrated and entirely limited to very small pieces of information that is also largely opinion.
Thinking is overrated?
I think the evidence is that baba ji was asked to appear in court and he skirted it because he thinks he is above the law
Where did his billions come from?
@BK please do not argue with Spencer. He is here to fight till dealth for RSSB. Many people here believe perhaps he is GSD himself with his pseudo name.
When the atheism, religious rituals and superstitions of the time become so onerus that they become another artificial distraction keeping people from the truth of what is within them, then a Saint arrives on the scene to provide clear instructions and guidance within.
Many religions have so obscured the simple idea of God and the simple reality of the universal Name that they become as much an obstacle as pure Atheism. Hence the necessity of a living teacher.
Well, the question remains whether GSD is legit. In videos he’ll say meditation gives strength, courage, understanding, etc., but what about mystic transport? Off camera does he ever give a traditional this-is-not-our-real-home satsang or just more Q&A?
The other day you wrote about a moment in Petaluma. Witnessing him move through the crowd, you realized he was giving everything he had to lift the assembled, and your doubts melted in a flood of tears.
However, years ago you testified to fireside chats with GSD within. If you interacted with him within, wouldn’t you already have a sense of his authenticity?
It’s confusing. I’m not trying to put you on the spot, just seeking clarity. At the time I belive your interpretation was that inner GSD was working to find solutions for outer GSD and that they operate somewhat independently.
Hi Umami:
The mind can have doubts. And anyone at nearly every stage can fall. Then they have to reestablish that inner connection, return to it.
The life of a Satsangi has its falls and returns, as we struggle to keep our consciousness raised, even while attending to our worldly responsibilities. We just learn to return all the time.
We are bags of chemicals here. And we are sponges, easily influenced.
The Master is a single unchanging point of truth. But how would we know when our own instruments of perception are variable? And our thinking also easily influenced? Through the practice of return.
I’m a student, Umami, just like you, and not beyond having to deal with a character of personality I myself shaped without thinking long ago.
You can’t know about the Master for yourself except through your own experience. Then you absolutely can know at each one’s level of consciousness. You can know His Presence.
We are students coming to class every day, each at different levels, each with our homework assignment custom made by Master. We struggle now and then, and work to return to our place and progress. Falling can happen in a heartbeat. And so can returning to our balance. Consciousness moves through so many levels each day for everyone, but most are not sensitive enough to see it. Meditation helps you see it, same raise it so that you can see.
It’s not a problem. Return is our practice. That’s our job.
As for inner transport, Umami, be happy you don’t have to deal with it yet. There are two voids of utter darkness, far worse than the darkness we see when closing our eyes. That region swallows up the entire physical creation as if it were a tiny grain of sand. It’s relatively easy to get through the first darkness when we close our eyes. But the second and third are impossible without Master. Terrifying and impossible alone.
It is only with Master’s help that we can even think about crossing the other two. When the mind gets even a slight awareness of the second, it immediately withdraws and distracts.
Fear, terror can cause a fall, and being unconscious of mind you may only be aware that something frightened you, and then that is a fall. Or you may deny you were frightened and just say “no” to Meditation. It’s all fear. Unconscious fear. And then meditation can take time to restore your balance.
It can take a lifetime of dealing with mind just to prepare to accept and surrender to Master so he can carry one across even the first of those regions. This is a place where, alone, it’s absolutely terrifying.
So be happy not to have to deal with that right now. Focus on the coursework you have been giving, and learn to be happy with that.
It’s a way to move gradually forward.
There was Saint Gosoami Tulsi Das who lived in 16th and 17th century. A contemporary of sikh gurus and a poet. He wrote Ramayan as Ramchritmana.
Then there is Tulsi Saheb who lived in 18th-19th century, guru of Shiv Dayal Swami ji. He wrote Ghat Ramayan.
Supposedly, Tulsi Saheb was a reincarnation of Tulsi Das.
Excerpt from Spiritual Perspectives Vol 3 by Maharaj Charan Singh
Strong willpower and intellectual surrender don’t lead us very far. One moment we think we have given our mind to the master, and another moment we start revolting. That is no surrender. Only meditation helps us to surrender. When we merge back into that shabd and nam within, when we lose our own identity, when we lose our individuality and become the shabd – that is real surrender.
Great citation. What do we surrender when all belongs to Him?
We surrender the illusion of “I” and “Mine”. Only meditation, transcendence beyond Mind can do that, the Saints teach us. And only the Name of God can take us there.
Master said often when asked about this challenge or that, that he was sorry but the only answer was meditation, no short cuts.
So, return to meditation. It’s a lifelong practice. Not simply meditation, but Return to meditation. We can make peace with that, then learn to enjoy it.
Excerpt from Spiritual Perspectives Vol 3 by Maharaj Charan Singh
Here is another passage:
“In other words, just knowing yourself, becoming whole, getting release from the clutches of the mind is real surrender, and we can do that only by meditation. We cannot do that by the intellect, by austerities, by running away from situations or by strong willpower. It happens only by meditation. The mind refuses to leave the senses unless it gets some better pleasure than the sensual pleasures, and that better pleasure the Lord has kept within every one of us. Unless the mind gets into the taste of that, it refuses to withdraw from the senses.”
How do we spend our time? Time is a finite commodity allocated to us in this life. Yogis measure life in terms of the number of breaths allocated to us in this life. This life we have is precious, we have the opportunity to step out of the wheel of Chaurasi and return to our source.
You wrote:
“The way I understand the situation is that Sikhism believes that Guru Nanak was the last authentic human guru, so now the Sikh scripture serves as the guru, whereas RSSB believes that its line of gurus are just as authentic as the Sikh gurus.”
As per my understanding, Sikhs do not believe that Guru Nanak was the last Guru. Guru Nanak appointed Guru Angad as the next Guru, and the line continued until the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. As per Sikh belief, Guru Gobind Singh said that after him, the way to achieve enlightenment is through the Guru Granth Sahib, and there is no need for a human Guru, as all guidance is already there. Guru Granth Sahib also says that Bani (the Word) is the real Guru.
It is like in today’s AI age—why use old methods when better ones are available? If GPS is there, why use maps? In the same way, maybe earlier a human Guru was needed, but now it is not required. Things change with time. One Day GPS will also get obsolete and replaced by new technology
Also, Radha Soami was not started by Soami Ji. It was Saligram who shaped and promoted it, and later Jaimal Singh (l heard he was kicked out from Agra) started RSSB in Punjab. He initially preached in a Gurdwara and got land registered in the name of Guru Granth Sahib.
It is also said that Jaimal Singh did not use the same method as Agra for initiation. He used five names, four of which were from the Guru Granth Sahib. I believe that, being in Punjab, he used those words to attract people in his organisation
I have read a bit of the Guru Granth Sahib and found it very interesting. It does not tell stories like the Bible—it mainly praises God. The interesting part is that it includes writings from Hindu and Muslim saints along with Sikh Gurus. In that sense, it can be seen as Sant Mat (teachings of saints), which RSSB seems to claim in its own way.
What I see is that when any religion moves away from its core teachings, it becomes more about rituals and loses its real spirit.
I am not sure whether Soami Ji was genuine or not. I have heard that he used to smoke a hookah, and the word “hookah” appears in Sar Bachan, though some say it was later removed in RSSB literature.
RSSB has now become a very large organisation. Faith and belief are its main strengths, and no proof is usually enough to break them. It may decline over time, but until then, one can only hope that people remain sensible and do not harm their own or their family’s lives because of it.
I know few families got destroyed as one partner had too much involvement in this organisation..or many kids got away from parents as parents ignored them and given more time and most of their money to this organisation…one couple even given their house to RSSB….Also many moved and bought houses near the RSSB centre and sacrificed their family life and career….In the end their kids left them and they don’t have any social circle apart from this RSSB members
No organisation has a monopoly on spirituality. In spite of the rituals and rules, pedigrees and judgements, love for God, submission to God happens, even with zero meditation and outside of any organisation. Because these things are built into us.
If you find a good organisation and people treat you nicely and encourage prayer and spirituality, exploration into truth, that support is fantastic.
But not everyone is cut out for the social scene. They already know nothing and no one but what is in them can help. When they see the Master in themselves, they have the whole package.
That can happen in any place, any time, any tribe. It’s an active principle, not a royal lineage or pedigree, not a priviledged club membership. Everyone is chosen.
There is no naughty list.
The entire path is in you and in everyone. Just find a good teacher. Follow your heart and be willing to learn.
Large organisations can work miracles on a large scale. Or not. But you just need your Master. No organisation is required for that. And being a member is no guarantee of decency.
You may find your Master in Baba Ji and Huzur Ji. Or elsewhere.
Radha Soami Evil Meditation
The Meditation of Radha Soami consists of the 5 Evil names of Kaal (Devil)
JYOT NARANJAN = IS Kaal himself (Devil)
ONKAR
RARANKAR
SOHANG
SATNAM
This is the road to hell as Chris Rhea put it .
They say God is hidden? Is he hiding or is he hidden by someone? What’s he hiding from and why? Has he a reason to hide?
These 5 names are evil and God doesn’t need your efforts of meditation to give you what is your birthright does he?
Are these 5 names from God ?
Did he send these to these Fraud baba so we can go back to him? really lol
You reckon he needs your meditation or seva for him to give what’s already yours.
Is he really such a punisher and loves to see us suffer in a hell like earth.
And has no heart?
Where have all these lies come from?
Religion has no place in Gods plan
Yup it’s these so called fake Baba like Jassdeep & Gurinder Singh Dhilion who come out with trash like this.
It’s these called fake Baba of beas who get people to do this as its them who benefit from us by getting us do do Free seva and other selfish tasks so they robb us blind as we follow them the blind.
They live to deceive us all.
For they’re God is Kaal the Devil
Jyot Naranjan is his name in punjabi, the light of lucifier the light bearer who created this simulated reality from within his light , it doesn’t even exisist.
It’s a false light reality just like it’s creator , kaal lucifier and this is also how he has created the inner realms too.
It’s him and his evil play
An Evil with no purpose but to hurt humanity in a hell we all call earth.
God is about to punish this Evil and make him pay for his Karma and he ain’t happy lol
Trez, even Lucifer is God’s employee and is entirely obedient to the job assigned to him by God.
We human beings make our own choice as to whom to follow. It’s how we spend our time. And the consequences of that become the good and bad experiences we have.
The fault, if you think there is one, is always within ourselves.
And that’s a lifelong project of cleaning, refining, and building compassion by first…
1. Accepting reality as it is…
2. Submitting oue situation directly to God at all times.
3. Experiencing, in time His presence, and the infinite love of His Presence.. And then
5. Surrendering to Him.
If meditation practice helps you move through these stages and grow closer to God’s presence, it is good.
If anything, any thought or action you undertake gets in the way, that’s not good…
Hence the lifelong process of clearing the road and moving forward with His help, towards Him. Those fine steps are a cycle we repeat over and over with every now refinement. Always returning again and again.
Our practice is Return to the practice.
Call it any religion you like.
But again, first step..
ACCEPTING what is as it is within you and around you.
Spensor
@ even Lucifer is God’s employee and is entirely obedient to the job assigned to him by God.
You are in your own admission, and I said it long ago, are a Lucifer disciple and worshiper – kaal, satan. You believe in accepting to kaal, surrendering everything, and accept him punishing humanity. Shame on you because god does not want souls to suffer. You are the puppet of kaal, and you will suffer for eternity because you knowingly are deceiving souls into take kaals path and asking them to just accept living in misery and pain. This is the trick of the satan to make you believe you are right even though you are misleading people into the web. You think you are going to heaven and picking up rewards for your so called seva but you will get shafted.
Gurinder is the drug mastermind of punjab, and has blood on his hands. He has ordered the death of Nancy grewal , in canada, for exposing the crook gurinder to humanity. Yet gurinder declares his drug dealing brother majjithia is innocent of all crimes despite not able to account for 700 crore drug money, laundering through rssb – what a twisted baba. Don’t forget gurinder initiates people to a satanic mantra , which explains his evil nature. Justice will be served by god, the scales will balance, and karma will be served
Kranvir
I am only a follower of Christ. That would be the only God, indivisible, beyond description. A God of mercy. A God of Spirit.
John 4:24 (NKJV): “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth”.
As a follower, I’m a student. That means I’m learning all the time.
The path of Sant Mat and RSSB in particular is that path. It is the path following Christ. The Master is a follower of Christ and teaches us how to find Christ, the true and only son of God, the holy spirit within ourselves.
Clearly this is at odds with how you see things.
That’s OK. But you cannot speak for me. You can speak for yourself and how you see things.
As a student I can say that what we see today may change tomorrow as consciousness is raised, as we learn new things.
@ Spence
Have some coffee, use as search command in google “Guru rampal Singh, skim the titles, open an couple of sites and you will understand.
Lucifer, be gone!
https://youtu.be/Tuj79lULpWE?si=x5eE49qNF51KG4Mi
@spensor you have become totally deluded. Rssb plagerises christianity, and twists it to a living master. This lord and master is nothing but kaal. Christ does not follow 5 satanic names or any hindu dieties. The spirt of god you see , is reallt the spirit of Lucifer, all bells and light, and totally delusional and distracts you and others from waking upn- You might as well take drugs where you can get a better trip but quicker, lol. Gurinder is going through his karma now. There’s no place to hide, justice will be served.
But it’s important to ask what is dangerous about a particular group before you dismiss them as just another religion. And RSSB is dangerous. It encourages “specialness” and the expansion of the ego through its bizarre meditation methods.
Agree. There is a peculiar air around followers, as if they’ve the only true path and the rest of the creation will burn whereas they’ll be rescued by some divine force. As I always say, if I meditate on strawberries for 2.5 hours every single day of my life (even four lives as per RSSB…), you can be damn well sure I’m going to be thinking about strawberries when I die.
Neon,
Itś not at all sure that you will think of strawberries when you die..
Everything is open.. when you/we die.
That is again such an idea about what is said..
We just dońt know..and that is alright.
Otherwise we bother about what we ´think or believe´
Just live and be ´you´
Sorry this was a stupid answer from me to Neon.
I am old and my language is not English..
The teachings were and are terrible about the´ Transmigration´ theory.
I love Strawberries so that is dangerous 😉