Radha Soami Satsang Beas

Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) is an organization dedicated to a process of inner development under the guidance of a spiritual teacher. The present teacher is Gurinder Singh, who lives with his family at the main centre in northern India. The main centre of RSSB is at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh Ji, located on the banks of the Beas River, in the northern India state of Punjab. Although RSSB is not defined as a religion, the organization's fundamental teachings are not in direct conflict with those of other world faiths.

"Science of the Soul" redirects here. For the book by Richard Dawkins, see Science in the Soul.

RSSB was founded in India in 1891 and steadily began spreading to other countries. Today, RSSB holds satsangs or teachings in more than 90 countries worldwide.[1] It is a non-profit organisation with no affiliation to any political or commercial organizations. It owns a number of properties worldwide called Science of the Soul Study Centres, where meetings are held. The centres are constructed and maintained primarily by volunteers.[2]

The group 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 do not need to give up their cultural identity or religious preference to follow this path.[3]

Name

Radha Soami is a Hindi expression meaning "Lord of the Soul" in English. Satsang means 'association with Truth' and describes a group that seeks truth.[4]

Beliefs

At the core of the RSSB beliefs is that there is a spiritual purpose to human life, to experience the divinity of God who resides within all of us. It is through this experience that we will realize the truth that there is only one God and we are all expressions of his love.[5]

Central to the RSSB philosophy is a spiritual teacher who explains the purpose of life and guides and instructs members in a method of spirituality based on a daily meditation practice. By performing the meditation practice according to the teacher's instructions, individuals can realize the presence of God within themselves. It is a solitary practice that is done in the quiet of one's own home. Members commit themselves to a way of life that supports spiritual growth while carrying out their responsibilities to family, friends and society.[6]

To build on the primary spiritual practice of meditation, members are lacto-vegetarian, abstain from alcohol and recreational drugs, and are expected to lead a life of high moral values. The lacto-vegetarian diet encourages respect and empathy for all life and acknowledges that there is a debt to be paid for taking any life both necessarily and unnecessarily. Abstaining from intoxicants improves one's ability to concentrate and calms the mind during meditation. Members are encouraged to be self-supporting and not be a burden on society. They are free to make their own choices in life and maintain any cultural or religious affiliations they choose. RSSB does not involve itself in the personal lives of its members.[7] None of the Radha Soami teaching suggests the change of one's religion.[8]

Lineage

The Beas lineage is:

See also

References
  1. "Radha Soami Satsang Beas". www.rssb.org. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  2. "Science of the Soul". www.rssb.org. RSSB. 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  3. "RSSB". www.rssb.org. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  4. "RSSB". www.rssb.org. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  5. "RSSB". www.rssb.org. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  6. "RSSB". www.rssb.org. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  7. "RSSB". www.rssb.org. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  8. "RSSB". www.rssb.org. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  • Charan Singh, Spiritual Heritage, Beās: Radha Soami Satsang Beas, 1983, 1998. ISBN 978-81-8466-107-1
  • Jaimal Singh, Spiritual Letters, Beās: Radha Soami Satsang Beas, 1998. ISBN 81-8256-129-9
  • Johnson, Julian, Call of the East, Beās: Sawan Service League, 1936. (out-of-print)
  • Johnson, Julian, With a Great Master in India, Beās: Radha Soami Satsang Beas, 1934, 1982, 1988, 1994.
  • Kapur, Daryai Lal, Call of the Great Master, Beās: Radha Soami Satsang Beas, 1972, 1975, 1986, 2005. ISBN 978-81-8256-089-5
  • Kapur, Daryai Lal, Heaven on Earth, Beās: Radha Soami Satsang Beas, 1986, 1996. ISBN 978-81-8256-122-9
  • Labour of Love, 1995, Beās: Maharaj Jagat Singh Medical Relief Society.
  • Love in Action, 1990, USA: Radha Soami Society Beas-America.
  • Munshi Rām, With the Three Masters, Beās: Radha Soami Satsang Beas, 1967.
  • Sāwan Singh, Dawn of Light, Beās: Radha Soami Satsang Beas, 1985, 1989. ISBN 81-8256-028-4
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