APPENDIX
EMPIRICAL CORRELATIONS #3:
The Influence of a Radhasoami Text on Gary Olsen
and MasterPath
Like many other shabd yoga gurus, Gary Olsen is dramatically influenced by Radhasoami literature. In Chapter Five, numerous comparisons were made illustrating this, specifically focussing on the similarities between Olsen's MasterPath Book II and Charan Singh's Words Eternal. Another Radhasoami Beas Satsang guru Olsen draws from is Jagat Singh, author of The Science of the Soul. Here Olsen's MasterPath Book II will be compared to a section of Jagat Singh's work. Notice the delicate changes Olsen makes, like replacing satsangi with chela (an Eck term), referring to the "principles of Satsang" as the "principles of Light and Sound," and avoiding reference to Radhasoami's specific dietary injunctions.
Empirical Correlations
|
Radhasoami Literature: Jagat Singh's Science of the Soul (first published in the early 1950s; this edition was published in 1972) |
MasterPath Literature: Gary Olsen's MasterPath Book II (published 1988) |
|
Example One One does not become a Satsangi simply by being initiated. One must mould his life in accordance with the principles of Satsang. Actions speak louder than words. Thoughts are even more potent. A Satsangi's daily conduct must bear the hall-mark of excellence and must reveal that he is the follower of a True Master.
(p.193) |
Example One One does not become a chela or student of the Master simply through receiving the discourses or by being initiated...effort includes moulding and fashioning his life with the true principles of Light and Sound, and being a pillar of strength to those around him in thought, word, action, and deed. His conduct must bear the hallmark of excellence and must reveal that he is a follower of a True Master. (p. 90) |
|
Radhasoami Literature:
Example Two An ounce of practice is better than a ton of knowledge. What use is it to know the principles if one does not live them...It is infinitely better to practice than to preach.
(p. 193) |
MasterPath Literature:
Example Two The chela must see that an ounce of practice is better than a ton of knowledge...What use is it to learn the cosmic laws and not live them? Example is always better in teaching the eternal truths, for actions do not speak louder than words... (p. 90) |
|
Example Three Our body is the temple of the living God. It must not be polluted with the intake of meat, eggs, alcoholic drinks, etc. [my italics]
(pp. 193-94) |
Example Three Our body of man is the temple of the Living God. Proper worship cannot commence without the untimely presence of the passions of the mind...
(p. 90) |
|
Radhasoami Literature:
Example Four If you wish to tread the Path of the Master, be prepared to surrender your body, mind and possessions. Still your desires...If you cannot bring yourself up to these ideals, you can hardly except to succeed...There is no gain without pain. Gold you must dig out of a mine and for pearls you dive into a deep sea. No child is born without labor. What sacrifices does a man make to achieve his objects of love?Then how do you expect to realize the Lord without paying the proper price for it?
(pp. 195-96) |
MasterPath Literature:
Example Four If you wish to walk the path of the Masters, then be prepared to surrender your body, mind, and attachment to worldly possessions. Our only purpose is to still the mind and know that we are God...If you cannot bring yourself to these ideals, you can hardly expect to succeed...There is no pain without gain, for everything is metered justice. The gold is dug from the mine; pearls lie at the bottom of the sea; a child is born through labor. What sacrifices does man not make to achieve his objects of love? Likewise, what price is expected for self and God-Realization? (p. 91) |
|
Radhasoami Literature:
Example Five Your fort is your Guru. Always remain under His protection. Never step out of His commandments and always remain within the four walls of His teachings. Make Him your rock of refuge and your only street-anchor...Within that fortress you should build a "tower of safety" for your residence. Its four walls would be (1) silence; (2) eating only a small amount of food; (3) wakefulness; (4) solitude. (p. 197)
|
MasterPath Literature:
Example Five The Master is your Fortress and you should always remain within the four walls of His teachings. Never step out of His commandments. Make Him your rock of refuge and your only Ace in the back pocket. Within that Fortress you should build a tower of safety for your residence. Its four walls would be silence, wakefulness, solitude, and serene detachment.
(p. 92) |
|
Radhasoami Literature:
Example Six Impure thoughts are a great hinderance to spiritual uplift. They act as poison.Keep alert...always keep your mind in Simran. Does it cost anything?
(pp. 201-01)
|
MasterPath Literature:
Example Six Impure thoughts are a great hinderance to spiritual unfoldment. They act as poison spreading their influence throughout the body. Always keep your mind in simran. It does not cost anything... (p. 92) |
|
Radhasoami Literature:
Example Seven Does worry ever solve any problem? it is born of confused thinking. Form the habit of clear thinking always and laugh away your troubles and sorrows...It is as easy to laugh as to worry and fret. It becomes a habit after a time. Your worrying shows that you have no faith in the goodness of God or even in God Himself. Let Him accomplish things in His own way rather than in the way you desire. Try to adjust yourself to all that He does and you will never be unhappy.
(p. 202) |
MasterPath Literature:
Example Seven Did worry every help to solve any problem? Worry is born of confused thinking. The chela must form the habit of clear thinking and always laugh away his troubles and sorrows. It is as easy to laugh as to worry and fret...It becomes a habit after a short time. Your worrying shows that you have more faith in the Kal than in the goodness of God or even God Himself. Let Him accomplish those things in His own way rather that in the way that you desire. Adjust yourself to all that He brings you and you will never be unhappy. (p. 93) |
|
Radhasoami Literature:
Example Eight Do not indulge in idle, frivolous talk....Extravagant spending of precious time and energy is incompatible with pleading for Grace. Think more and talk less.
(pp. 207-08)
|
MasterPath Literature:
Example Eight Do not indulge in idle and frivolous talk. Extravagant spending of precious time and energy is incompatible with your pleading for more Grace. Contemplate more and talk less. (p. 93) |
|
Example Nine The Astral Form of the Master is so Radiant, Beautiful and Magnetic that, after seeing It, one does not find any form or figure as beautiful in this world and so gives up all attachments. A deep consuming love for the Lord and a burning pang of separation from Him are most essential for His Darshan. (p. 206) |
Example Nine The Radiant Form of the Master is so luminous, beautiful, and magnetic that after seeing It, one does not find any form that can equal It and, therefore, gives up all lesser forms and attachments. A deep and all-consuming love springs up in the heart of the chela, and he finds that he no longer seeks. (p. 93) |
|
Radhasoami Literature:
Example Ten Our prayers and pleadings are quite useless, unless there are supported by all the effort on our part to push the door open. The Master knows that we are only feigning thirst and desire for Nam. Our prayers are not sincere and true. Our mind is still steeped in cravings for the world and its objects. It is submerged in cravings for the world and its objects. It is submerged in lust and greed. It is running after name and fame. It constantly lives in vanity and prides. Remember that a Master cannot be deceived or cheated. Unless the yearning to meet Him is intense and true, He remains silent and inattentive. (p. 211) |
MasterPath Literature:
Example Ten Our prayers and pleadings are quite useless, unless these are supported by all the effort on our part to push the door open. The Master knows that we are only parroting thirst and feigning desire for Him. Our minds are still steeped in cravings for the world and its objects. They are submerged in lust and greed. They are running after name and fame. They constantly live in vanity and pride. Remember that a Master cannot be deceived or cheated. Unless the yearning to meet Him is intense and sincere, He remains silent and inattentive to the seeker.
(p. 93) |