Baba
Gurinder Singh Dhillon became the successor to Maharaj
Charan SinghMaharaj Charan Singh Ji was a Sant Satguru from India. He became the fifth Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas in 1951 following the death of Sardar Bahadur Jagat Singh, and served until his death at the age of 73....
at the age of 36 years on June 1, 1990. He is the second youngest person to be appointed to head the
Radha Soami Satsang BeasRadha 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....
headquarters, (Charan Singh was 35 yrs old at the time of appointment, and Jaimal Singh was 38 yrs old).
Gurinder Singh Dhillon was born to a
SikhA Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
family of the
Dhillon clan who were followers of the
Radha SoamiRadhasoami is a philosophical organization originating in 19th century India, and considered by adherents as a true way to attain God realization...
gurus at Beas. His family is from a traditional agricultural community of Punjab, India. He was educated at one of the finest Public schools in India (Lawrence School, Sanawar, Simla Hills, Himachal Pradesh), and obtained his Bachelors of Commerce from Punjab University, Chandigarh. He began his career in the hotel industry and later worked for DCM in the yarn division. He was in Spain working as a salesman before he came back to India to accept his nomination as the next spiritual head of RSSB in 1990. He lives off his own income and in keeping with the policy for all volunteers (
sevadars) , he does not receive any money or honorarium from the Society. As with his predecessors, he has dedicated his life to serving the Society and guiding its members on the spiritual path.
The headquarters of the society, called Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, are located beside the river Beas near the town of Beas Punjab in northern India and has been a centre for
satsangSatsang in Indian philosophy means the company of the "highest truth," the company of a guru, or company with an assembly of persons who listen to, talk about, and assimilate the truth...
since 1891.
Radha Soami Satsang BeasRadha 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....
or (RSSB), has centres located worldwide. It is a registered non-profit, charitable society, independent of any political or commercial affiliations.
Philosophy and teachings
The philosophy that Baba Gurinder Singh represents, claims to be based on the common experiences of mystics from many religions and is also known as
Sant MatSant 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...
. Sant Mat means 'Teachings of the Saints'.
Radha Soami Satsang BeasRadha 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....
(RSSB) says it is a philosophical organization based on the spiritual teachings which lie at the core of all religions and it is dedicated to a process of inner development under the guidance of a spiritual teacher.
In the Indian language,
Radha SoamiRadhasoami is a philosophical organization originating in 19th century India, and considered by adherents as a true way to attain God realization...
means ‘lord of the soul’ (radha = soul; swami = lord,)
satsangSatsang in Indian philosophy means the company of the "highest truth," the company of a guru, or company with an assembly of persons who listen to, talk about, and assimilate the truth...
describes a group that seeks truth, and
BeasBeas may refer to:* Beas, Punjab, a town in Punjab, India* Beas River, a river in the northwestern region of India...
refers to the town near which the main centre is located in northern India. There are a number of other contemporary movements that use the name ‘Radha Soami’ but
Radha Soami Satsang BeasRadha 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....
is not associated with any of them.
RSSB was established in India in 1891 and gradually began spreading to other countries. Today RSSB holds meetings in more than 90 countries worldwide. It is a registered non-profit society with no affiliation to any political or commercial organizations.
The philosophy teaches a personal path of spiritual development which includes a vegetarian diet, abstinence from intoxicants, a moral way of life and the practice of daily meditation. There are no rituals, ceremonies, hierarchies or mandatory contributions, nor are there compulsory gatherings. Members need not give up their cultural identity or religious preference to follow this path.
The meditation method imparted at the time of initiation is known as
Surat Shabd YogaSurat 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...
and is practiced according to the teacher's instructions. It is a solitary practice where the disciple concentrates within with eyes closed, usually sitting cross-legged, and performs
simranSimran is a Punjabi word derived from the Sanskrit word स्मरण , thus 'realization of that which is of the highest aspect and purpose in one's life', thus introducing spirituality...
: repeating the five holy names (which may be looked upon as a '
mantraA mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
'). This is followed by
bhajan: an attempt by the disciple to listen to the divine Sound or 'Word' (also known as
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:...
) within. Both these practices form the complete method of meditation as prescribed by
Surat Shabd YogaSurat 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...
within
Sant MatSant 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...
.
Spiritual discourses
Baba Gurinder Singh Ji gives discourses on three continuous Sundays of most months (except January, July, and August) at the RSSB headquarters in Beas, Punjab. Many people from India, as well as other countries, come to hear these discourses. A simple satsang is also held on Saturdays in his presence. He also gives satsang at other major centers of RSSB in India. He goes on tour to the various RSSB centres outside of India during the months of April-August.
See also
- 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....
- Charan Singh
Maharaj Charan Singh Ji was a Sant Satguru from India. He became the fifth Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas in 1951 following the death of Sardar Bahadur Jagat Singh, and served until his death at the age of 73....
- Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
- 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...
- Beas
Beas may refer to:* Beas, Punjab, a town in Punjab, India* Beas River, a river in the northwestern region of India...
External links