Dr. Bhagat Singh Thind was clearly influenced by Julian P. Johnson's writings, specifically With a Great Master in India. As we saw in Chapter Four, Thind's Radiant Road to Reality includes several appropriations--although sometimes flavored with his own style and choice of words--from Johnson's material. The following are five more significant examples, which include colorful descriptions of spiritual regions. These comparisons, which I discovered along with Dr.Lane, were first published in Understanding Cults and Spiritual Movements (Volume 5, 1987).

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Gather together mind and soul, again and again, and bring them inside. Then behold a window; and beyond that an open maiden, o field. Concentrate the attention upon that and hold it there. You will see a five-colored flower garden, and inside of that, behold the Joti (candle or light) Enjoy this scene for some days. Then see the blue-colored sky appearing like a chakra (circular disc). Impelled by love and longing, pierce through this. Then gaze at the Joti with detached mind. Hear the unending bell sound and become absorbed in it. Next you will her the conch. Let yourself become saturated with it...In that region are suns and moons and stars...

Gather together mind and soul and bring them inside. You will behold...a window and through its narrow passage a vast field. Steadily set your fixed gaze upon it, and keep it there until you are able to see a five-colored flower garden, and inside of it, you shall see Joti--candle or light...See the blue-colored sky appearing like a circular disc; with intense longing...pierce through it. Keep looking and enjoying it (Joti) with detached mind. Soon you will be hearing an unending bell sound. Get yourself absorbed in it...Next you will hear the conch. Let yourself become saturated with it. In this region (of Sahasdal Kanwal) are seen innumerable galaxies of suns, moons, stars...

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Prepare to enter the second stage. Behold Tirkuti, where the sound of Onkar is perpetually resounding...Then you cross high and low hills...he passes into a fort-like region which he enters and becomes master of it. Here the soul becomes adorned with the attributes of devotion and faith. Here the seed of all karma is burned. You will see thick dark clouds, from which pearls of thunder constantly resound. When rising above these dark clouds, behold, the entire sphere is red, with the beautiful red sun in the center imparting its color to everything. This is where the Guru really gives Nam; for the Master's Shabd Rup is here. The Shabd is, in fact, the Fifth Veda. Here you will see the red four-petaled lotus spoken of by the Saints (the detail and colors becoming visible as one comes closer to it). Here the bell and the conch sounds are left behind and the sound of a mardang (like a drum) is heard. Now comes the sound of a huge drum, beaten incessantly. The soul has grasped the Primal Current which all creation emanates, Innumerable sums and moons are seen here and many kinds of skies, filled with stars...He sees and traverses deserts and mountains and gardens. Flowers are arranged in artistic designs. Canals and rivulets of transparent water are flowing in abundance. Then one approaches an ocean, which he crosses by means of a bridge. He beholds three mountains, called Mer, Sumer, and Kailash. After this, he passes on to a region of unalloyed delight.

The second religion...is Tirkuti. Here the sound of onkar is heard perpetually resounding. High and low rolling hills are crossed, until a fort-like structure is sighted, which he enters and takes possession of. Here (in this region) the soul is filled with faith, beams with devotion. (Here)...burns up all seeds of Karma. You will see dark dense clouds from which pearls of thunder perpetually resound. Soon clouds are left behind and ...behold sphere redolent with the beautiful red sun in the middle, giving its radiation all around, making everything aglow. It is right here, where the Sat-Guru gives Nam, for the Saviour's Shabda Ray is here, the four-petaled lotus, red in color, is highly spoken of by Saints, is seen here. One becomes familiar with colors and details as one approaches it. Here the sounds of bell and shell (conch) are left behind...and the sound of Mardang (very much like a drum) is heard...The sound increases in intensity until it resounds like the ceaseless beating of a huge and massive drum. Here the soul contacted the Primal Current, which gives birth to all creation. Innumerable endless processions of suns and solar systems are beheld here...Variegated scenery, desert, hills and dales, valleys and gorgeous gardens are witnessed and traversed. Finest flowers...are arranged in artistic designs. Canals and streams of serene and transparent waters flow magnificently and in profuse abundance. Then one nears an ocean and negotiates it by means of a bridge. Three high mountains, three prominences, called Mer, Sumer and Kailash, are seen...he comes to a region named after them, where unalloyed, unmixed, Pure delight.

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Now, the soul goes up and opens the third veil and hears the voice of the Sunna region. This is Daswan Dwar, with very brilliant light...The soul here bathes in Mansarover and joins the group of Hansas (swans). The soul then circles bout and rises to the top of Sunna, and there hears the kingri and sarangi (stringed instruments, something like a guitar). After hearing this sound one penetrates in and crosses Tribeni (a place where three streams meet), there entering the vestibule of Maha Sunna, where he picks up the secret knowledge...In this sphere there is at first pitch darkness. Four Sound Currents are heard emanating from invisible sources, the music varying, every minute changing in tone. The sound of Jhanar predominated and it indescribable in mortal language. One hears them and is entranced by their sweetness. Here are five egg-shaped regions or worlds all full of a variety of creations and each is permeated and governed by a Brahm...Each has its own predominating color like green or yellow or even white. They are quite vast in extent in comparison with which the entire universe below Tirkuti appears very insignificant. Being now free from all impurities, the soul here attains a brilliancy equal to twelve of our suns...We traverse almost measureless space

After this the soul goes higher up and opens the third veil and listens to the Sound of the Sunna Region. It is known as Daswan Dwar, with exceedingly brilliant lights...The soul here bathes in the lake of Immortality, the Mansarover, and enjoys the association of other souls...called Hansas-Swans...Here then the soul circles and soars to the top of this Sunna Region and there hears the Kingri and Sarangi (musical, stringed instruments like the guitar) sounds. After hearing this the soul penetrates into and crosses over Tribeni (a place where three rivers meet), and there it enters the vestibule of Maha-Sunna region and acquires the arcane knowledge. It is a vast region covered with thick impenetrable darkness at first...the soul hears four Sound-currents issuing forth from unseen, invisible sources. The celestial music changes and varies in tone every minute, and the Sound of Jhankar predominates and is quite indescribable in any human language. Hearing of these...enraptures the soul by their sweetness. Five egg-shaped regions--worlds teeming with their vast varieties of creations, each full of eternal splendor--are seen. Each of these five egg-shaped regions has a predominant color like green or yellow or even white, and is quite wide and vast in extent--much greater than the universe below Tirkuti would appear in comparison...Being free from all taints and impurities, the soul shines in its own majesty--its radiance more brilliant than of several suns...Measureless space is traveled and traversed...

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Now...catch the sound. Cross the pass above the Hansni tunnel and enter the Rukmini tunnel, where you will see a strange an beautiful mark, or structure...On the right side there are bright islands, and on the left are many continents covered with palaces, appearing as if made of pearls, having their top stories made of rubies and studded with emeralds and diamonds. Only the brave spirit may venture this far. I then saw the Bhanwar Gupha mountain, approaching which I heard the Sohang Shabd. The sound emanating from there like that of a keen flute. Here the soul beholds the white sun above, with immense light. The region is most beautiful and sweet and full of light. The souls there live on the Sound Current, as their food. Playing about...are groups of hansas and many devotees, sojourners in that region, on their way to Sach Khand. Here are vast and innumerable planes and worlds...with a variety of creations, and inhabited by numberless devotees, living on the nectar of Nam...(Here are)...thousands of continents, all set with beautiful palaces. In this regions is truly the gateway to the mansion of the Lord of Sach Khand...

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It catches the Sound of this regions and crosses the Pass above the Hansni and enters the Rukmini Tunnel, and there sees a strange and beautiful structure, seeing which the Surat (the power to hear) and Nirat (power to see) both attain to unspeakable peace and rest and feel satisfied. On the right side there are bright islands, and on the left ar many continents covered with palaces appearing as if made of pearls, and the upper stories studded with resplendent red rubies, emeralds and diamonds. Rare, brave spirits venture this far. Bhanwar Gupha mountain is seen here, and as the soul approaches to it, Sohang-Shabda is heard. The sound emanating from there is like that of a keen flute. Here the soul sees the white Sun above, with immense Light. This region is blissfully beautiful, serenely sweet, and full of luster and light. The souls living here subsist on the Sound-Current as their food and enjoy themselves in happy mastery...and in utter playfulness. Along with them are many devotees--Sojourners on their way to Such Khand. Vast innumerable worlds with varieties of creatures and creations belong to this region, with numberless devotees living on the Nectar of the Holy Name...Thousands of islands and continents are seen all set with beautiful palaces--this region is the gateway to Such-Khand.

In the fifth region is a fort-like place wherein is situated the throne of the King of kings...The soul now advances to a great and wonderful field, or park, the scenery of which is absolutely indescribable. There is also a great reservoir, from below which flow abundant streams f the most delicious nectar, and this nectar flows out through large canals, to supply distant regions. Golden palaces are set in open fields of silvery light. But the landscape is indescribable... The soul then passes on up to the real entrance, the watchers of the gate are the hanas…The soul then pushed on and enjoys the darshan of Sat Nam, and rejoices with an exceeding great joy. A voice then emanates from within the lotus, saying: "Who are you…?" He answers, "I met the Sat Guru and he gave my full instructions. Through his kindness I now have the privilege of your darshan." From this darshan the soul derives immense pleasure.

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In the fifth region is a fort-like structure, wherein is situated the throne of the King of Kings. You should know him as the true King. The soul now advances to a great and wonderful park, whose scenic wonders are absolutely indescribable. There is also a great reservoir from which flow abundant streams of the most delicious and delectable Nectar through large canals to supply distant regions. Golden palaces are set in open fields of silvery light. The entire landscape is extremely bewitching... The soul passes on up to the real entrance. The watchers of the gate are souls (hanas), entering within, the soul enjoys the darshan (sight) of Sat Nam and rejoices with an exceeding great joy. A voice then emanates from within the lotus saying: "Who are you, and whither bound? The soul answers, "By the grace of the Sat-Guru, who granted instructions for ascension.." From this seeing (darshan), the soul derives uttermost delight...