by
Neil Tessler
- The major exception is the publication of the first English translation of Kabir's Anurag Sagar by the Sant Bani group. Russell Perkins offers an extensive commentary in which he mentions Gnostic and other connections to the Kabiran myth. In several published talks, Perkins has commented on this myth of the gnostics, as well as similar ideas in the writings of William Blake, who specifically drew a distinction between God the artificer, the Lord of Time and Space as it were, and the True God of Eternity.
Sant Darshan Singh periodically recounted Kabir's tale of the "three boons" given to Kal (the Negative Power) by Sat Purush (God) in order to help preserve the lower creation.
- One must not forget that by the time of the Christian era, the Egyptian civilization had maintained a more or less consistent structure for at least three thousand years. Yet, the deeply foreign appearance of Egyptian religious symbolism led to a history that eulogized the Greeks as the ancient source of modern Western culture.
This is true in some respects, as with the Greeks we eventually see the breakdown of enchantment, the emergence of doubt, and the rise of rationalism. Perhaps most importantly ancient Greek art and literature appears more comprehensible to the modern. However, most of the great Greeks, as one voice, point to Egypt as the source of their knowledge and mysteries. A tour through the National Archaeological Museum in Athens followed by a journey to the major antiquities museum in Cairo is most revealing. After fulfilling this task in 1987, it is this writer's opinion that the Greek antiquties, for all their beauty and elegance, appear almost trivial by comparison.
The last active Egyptian temple was the temple of Isis on the island of Philae, about six hundred miles south of modern Cairo. It was closed by the Romans around 400 C.E. It is a fact that there were cults of the Egyptian Goddess Isis all along the Mediterannean, holding much influence in Rome and penetrating deeply into France, as far north as Switzerland (See The Golden Ass Lucius Apuleus Penguin books). The impress of this faith can be directly related to the gradual rise of Mary as a figure of unique importance in the Church.
As for Judaism, the fundamental corpus of esoteric knowledge known as Kaballah, must certainly have been born from Egypt. The Ka and the Ba in the term Kaballah are the spirit and the soul respectively in Egyptian terminology. The structure of Jewish and Chrisitian scripture and the basic Christian story rely heavily on initiatic knowledge and mythic allegory derived from Egypt. (See The Dimensions of Paradise Harper and Row 1988 or The City of Revelation Garnstone Press 1971(out of print) both by John Michell. Also Mystery Religions of the Ancient World by Jocelyn Godwin, Harper and Row 1981 and The Egyptian Mysteries Aruthur Versluis Arkana Books 1988. These will surely slay any clinging High School notions about ancient Egypt.
- The Five Names are the names of the Lords of the inner divisions of creation. The repitition of these names serves to carry the life impulse of the one who has conveyed them, ie; the Master or the Alien man, and they act as passwords and protection against the Archonic lower powers.
"He who possesses the Five Seals of these particular names has stripped off the garments of ignorance and put on a shining Lightl And nothing will appear to him that belongs to the Powers of the Archons.....And I proclaimed to them the Five Seals in order that I might abide in them and they also might abide in me." (The Trimorphic Protennoia, The Nag Hammadi Library, page 470)"Repeat the Five Names and fix your surat (attention) in the illumined darkenss within" (Sar Bachan Poetry XXVI, as translated by R.K.Khanna in Truth Eternal). "...they are charged with a tremendous spiritual power whcih negative powers can hardly put up with and from which they flee as from an enchanter driven. Immortal and everlasting as these words of the Master are, they bestow life everlasting to the soul in which they sink and take root." (Kirpal Singh, Way of the Saints, page 110)
- See "The Trimorphic Protennoia" from The Nag Hammadi Library ed. James M. Robinson Harper & Row San Franciso 1981. pp.461-470.
The meeting of cosmic metaphor and esoteric technique, of gnosticism and Sant Mat, is found in this revelation poem more plainly than in any other gnostic document. However, one significant point here is that the speaker, the Protennoia, or Primal Thought, who also identifies herself with the creative Sound, is feminine. This though is quite consistent with gender metaphor in much metaphysical literature where the 'male' prinicple is the seed, or otherwise the Uncreated aspect, whereas all that brings creation into being is 'female'.
Since Naam, the Word, or the Sound Current is regarded as the substratum of creation, it too is spoken of in some gnostic literature as female. She says,"I cast a Sound into the ears of those who know me. And I am inviting you into the exalted perfect Light."An essay on the relationship between the Trimorphic Protennoia and Sant Mat titled The Gnostic Universe: Connecting Ancient and Modern Mysticism was written by Katherine Grace and published in 1988 in David Lane's now defunct research journal, "Understanding Cults and Spiritual Movements. This is the only other discussion of the connection with which I am familiar.
- "hy-pos-ta-sis: Gr. hypostatis,substance, nature, essence. A phenomenon or state of things conceived of as a real substance. One of the ..real and distinct subsistences in the one undivided substance or essence of God." - from New Webster's Dictionary
- The Crown of Life Kirpal Singh Sat Sandesh Books Franklin New Hampshire 1974 p.10 7
- The Gnostic Religion Hans Jonas Beacon Press Boston 1963 Page 181
Enough praise cannot be heaped upon this brilliant volume which, despite the many books that have been written since, and the great developments of scholarship in the field, still remains one of the most succinct and coherent discussion of essential Gnostic doctrines. Without the aid of the Nag Hammadi texts or an esoteric training, Jonas was able to put together a vivid interpretation that plainly echoes Sant Mat principles in detail. It is also beautifully written in an elegant and fluid prose particularly marvelous for the fact that Jonas was not a native English speaker.
- Sar Bachan Radhasoami (Poetry) Part 2 Soamiji Maharaj translated and published by S.D. Maheshwari Soami Bagh Agra 1970 pp.428-429
These volumes were originally published in Hindi long after the passing of Soami Ji. Although they contain many writings from the discourses of Soami Ji, Rai Sailgram added couplets at the end of many verses and dozens of his own devotional verses. Unfortunately these are integrated in the text to an extent that makes it difficult to differentiate them.
- The Ocean of Love: the Anurag Sagar of Kabir Sant Bani Ashram, New Hampshire 1984
The Anurag Sagar has a most interesting history in the line of Masters from Tulsi Saheb onwards. One of the few English translations of Tulsi's writings is a long interpretation of aspects of this text (Param Sant Tulsi Saheb Soami Bagh, Agra 1979). It was recommended by Baba Jaimal Singh to the questioning Sawan Singh at their first several meetings. Baba Sawan Singh referred to this book in glowing terms, saying that it was essential for understanding the difference between the "Negative Power", as Kal is referred to, and the path of the Saints.
Nevertheless, scholars contest the authenticity of the volume, stating that it is a later work of the Kabir Panth, a religious sect loosely based on Kabir's writings. Yet, in so many respects, it accords very closely with Sant Mat as taught by Tulsi, Soami Ji, and his successors giving it a ring of authenticity that defies the opinion of scholars.
- The Gnostic Religion ibid footnote p. 151
All unreferenced quotes are from this text.
- A Very Intricate Matter Kirpal Singh Sant Bani Magazine Feb. 1978 page 17
This was a radio interview with Kirpal Singh in Mexico City in 1972 in which he was asked about the devil. His insistent reply, in which he swept aside the interviewers attempts to change the subject, was a potent discourse on the the nature and function of the Positive vs. the Negative Powers. In essence he focuses on the fact that both ultimately function under God serving essential though polarized roles.
- Fragments of a Faith Forgotten G.R.S. Mead New York University Books 1960 p.188
- Sar Bachan Radhasoami (Poetry)
Sophia's Passion: Sant Mat and the Gnostic Myth of Creation, by Neil Tessler
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