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1 THE path OF THE MASTERSThe Science of Surat Shabd YogaSANTON KI SHIKSHAA comprehensive statement of the Teachings ofthe Great MASTERS or Spiritual Luminaries ofthe East. Also an outline of their scientificsystem of exercises by means of which they attainthe highest degree of spiritual of the Audible Life StreamByJULIAN JOHNSON, , , SOAMI SATSANG BEAS after living almost seven years withone of the Greatest of the MastersRADHA SOAMI SATSANG BEAS(PUNJAB) INDIATHE AUTHORA typical Kentuckyan, adistinguished artist, a devouttheologian, an ardent flier, anoutstanding surgeon andabove all a keen seeker aftertruth, Dr.

2 Julian Johnson,sacrificing his all at a timewhen he was at the heightof his worldly fame, came to answer the call of the East for thesecond time. The first time was when he voyaged to India topreach the true gospel of Lord Jesus Christ in his inimitable came to enlighten her but eventually had to receive enlighten-ment from her. Caesar came, saw and conquered; the author came,saw and was conquered. It was a day of destiny for him when hecame the second time. He was picked up, as it were, from a remotecorner and guided to the feet of the master . Once there, he neverleft.

3 He assiduously carried out the spiritual discipline taught by oneof the greatest living MASTERS and was soon rewarded. He had thevision of the Reality beyond all forms and ceremonies. He learnt ofthe ancient wisdom which all messengers of God come to unmistakably discerned the same essence of spirituality under-lying all world religions. In an otherwise divided and strife-tornworld he clearly perceived complete unity and utter calm at thebase. Thus convinced, he acclaimed to the world that 'the path ofthe MASTERS ' is not a theory. It is not a system of beliefs ordogmas. It is not even a religion, although it embraces all thevalue of religion.

4 It is an actual way, a genuine road to be traveled,involving of course a certain preparation and training as onegoes along. The path is really "el Camino Real" or the KingsHighway. It belongs to the royal MASTERS and it leads the travelerfrom earth upwards through kingdom after kingdom, from countryto country, one more splendid than the other, in an advancingseries until the upper terminus lands the traveler at the feet of thesupreme Lord of all by:S. L. Sondhi, SecretaryRadha Soami Satsang BeasPunjab, India 1939 First Edition (Printed in France)Second Edition (Reprint in )Third Edition (Revised)Fourth Edition (Reprint in )Fifth Edition ( Revised & primed in India)Sixth EditionSeventh EditionEighth Edition (Revised)Ninth EditionTenth EditionEleventh EditionTwelfth Edition2000 copies2000 copies1000 copies1000 copies2000 copies3000 copies3000 copies5000 copies5000 copies5000 copies7000 copies8000 copies1939195119571958196319651969197219 74197519771980 Printed at Rekha Printers Private Limited, New OF CONTENTSPAGE1, Dedication.

5 Xi2 Preface to the Eighth Edition .. xi3. Preface to the Third Edition .. xii4. Preface .. xv5. Author's Foreword .. xxxvCHAPTER ONETHE PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND1. The noble birthright of ,. 12. Man's first duty to know himself .. 53. The new social order .., 84. A great spiritual awakening .. 105. No democratic government known . 18 CHAPTER TWOA REVIEW OF WORLD RELIGIONS : THEIRMEANINGS AND ANALYSIS1. The spiritual plight of mankind.

6 232. Does the remedy cure the disease? .. 283. The religions of China .. 364. What is the meaning of Tao? .. 405. The Zoroastrian faith .. ' 446. Buddhism in India .. 567. An unnecessary sacrifice .. 598. Islam, the religion of Mohammed .. 659. The Bhagavad Gita .., 7510, Quotations from the Gita ,.. 76VI THE path OF THE MASTERSPAGE11. The Yoga of the Gita .. 8212. The four Vedas of the Hindus.

7 8713. An epitome of Vedic philosophy 9214. The YogaofPatanjali .. 9815. Jesus Christ and the Christian religion .. 10416. Teachings emphasized by Jesus .. 10717. Paul, the founder of Christianity .. 11218. The substance of the teachings of Jesus .. 11619. The Church needs a living master .. 12420. Theosophy .. 12921. Christian Science as a religion .. 13822. Modern spiritualism .. 14323. The Rosicrucians .. 15024.

8 The Jewish religion .. 15425. The Sikh religion of India .. 17026. The basic elements of all religions .. 17427. Love, the essence of religion .. 17828. Key to the analysis of religions .. 18429. Guarding one's own mental processes .. 18930. Analyzing religious movements .. 195 CHAPTER THREETHE MASTERS AND THEIR DUTIES1. Who and what are the MASTERS ? .. 1992. What is a genuine master ? .. 2023. The master more than super-man .. 2094. The master and the Supreme One.

9 2135. Time limit of the master 's work .. 2186. How shall we recognize a master ? .. 2237. Objective indices of mastership .. 2278. Very difficult to find a master .. 2309. Positive knowledge versus beliefs .. 233 TABLE OF CONTENTS VIIPAGE10. The duties of the MASTERS .. 23611. Why surrender to a master .. 23912. The MASTERS 'change of policy .. 24213. The function of the spiritual master .. 246 CHAPTER FOURTHE CREATION AND ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE1.

10 The cosmogony of the MASTERS .. 2542. The four grand divisions of Nature .. 2563. Sat Desh, the highest region .. 2624. Brahmanda, the second grand division .. 2655. Anda, the lowest of the heavens .. 2666. The grand division of Pinda .. 269 CHAPTER FIVEGOD AND THE GRAND HIERARCHY OF THE UNIVERSE1. The perplexing question of God .. 2722. A word of caution to scientists .. 2783. Who, or what, is God? .. 2814. Names of the Supreme Being .. 2835. Monotheism, polytheism, monism andpantheism.