Russell in Sebastopol 3/30/08

Kirpal Singh: Chapter 8 Crown of Life Disparity between spiritual impulse and the way it plays out in the world Love and law/ love and power - physical universe small part of much larger whole - everyday existence small fragment of complex life - behind physical world there is absolute reality beyond change or destruction - this reality, this state of perfect being, may be approached by the divine stream - core of every religion has mystic, teaching high ethical life according to social practices of the day - most people fail to grasp the point of inner oneness as basis of all religions - great religious leaders guided by first hand innner experience - after leaders leave, religion goes from universal to particular - priesthood turns from inner to outer life - inhabitants of lower planes seldom aware of higher planes - Surat Shabd Yoga - quickest, easiest way to highest plane - this path is a science Kirpal Singh's circular "On Ends and Means" found in The Way of the Saints - necessary to distinguish clearly between ends and means - to put too much emphais on means is not productive - offending others for eating meat is worse than eating meat - hate the sin but love the sinner - if you want to meet God, never molest the heart of anybody, which is the seat of God - the goal is to use every means possible to rise into God-consciousness - Master says, "thus far and no further" - Master has to do His job, the initiates their own - act up to His commandments and He will never leave us until the end of the world - unfoldment of spirit - long and laborious - ignorance only disease of soul - path is slippery and full of traps - when we lay much emphasis on means, more emphasis should be placed on ends Tape: on hymn of Swami Ji Maharaj no problem with Giver; only problems are with receivers