II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जाति न पूछो साधू की, पूछ लीजिए ज्ञान I
मोल करो तलवार का, पडा रहन दो म्यान II

Who is a Sant? Does anyone who wears saffron, or a red, or an ochre, or a white robe, or even lives without any clothes deserves to be called a Sant? The answer is a simple ‘No’. A person does not become a Sant only based on the color of the apparel that he wears. Only a person who is engrossed in the divine or the eternal, who is free from egoism, likes and dislikes, selfishness, vanity, the duality of ‘mine and yours’, or ‘I and the other’, lust, greed and anger, who is endowed with equal vision, balanced mind, mercy, compassion, tolerance, righteousness and cosmic love, and who has divine knowledge, is a Sant. A true Sant rejoices in God alone. He feels lowly, helpless and humble before Him and constantly seeks refuge in Him. Even while engaged in worldly activities he keeps repeating God’s name. He feels surrounded and enveloped by God everywhere. A Sant has an equanimous attitude towards everyone — may they be men or women, animate or inanimate, birds or animals, plants or trees. His attitude is the same in all circumstances, be they happy or sad. It is because their mindset is that of renunciation, an attitude of detachment from the
world. A Sant judges, what is happiness and sorrow in all beings by the same standard as he would apply to himself. He imparts his knowledge and experience to those who earnestly desire it. His discourse is in a lucid language without any technical jargon which the seekers easily understand and practice. Infinite benevolence and complete absence of malice, prejudice or secrecy characterize the way of his life. The life they live is virtuous, idealistic and brimmed with selflessness. They are exemplary models and extraordinary teachers. They have no caste or creed. Their teachings and life are a constant source of inspiration and solace to the troubled world. Their very existence inspires others and goads them to become like them and attain the same state of bliss achieved by them. It is the unfathomable wisdom, the absolute commitment to the welfare and spiritual uplift of all human beings as well as detachment from the mundane worldly objects which make a person a Sant.

"Kabir says, just like a sword is tested by the sharpness of its cutting edge, how effective it will be on the battlefield and not by the diamond encrusted scabbard that holds it, a Sant is known by His Virtuousness, Compassion and Wisdom and not by the cast, creed, social status or the family background he belongs to."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II