Meditation, penance and austere self-discipline are found by surrendering to the True Guru’s Will. By His Grace this is received. (Page 88)
Normally when a person gets baptized, he feels that he doesn’t require any further teaching. Baptism is assumed to be the ultimate teaching by such persons and they think it is an end in itself and that they do not need further training.
Let it be clearly understood that the ceremony of baptism does not mean that all knowledge about leading a spiritual life has suddenly become available. Acquisition of this knowledge is a very gradual process and is often a lifelong exercise. It is true that a new life starts after baptism. However the climb up the steps to the attainment of the Almighty requires great discipline, constant effort and vigilance against lapsing into the world of maya. It also requires guidance from a spiritual master.
The disciples and followers of Sant Baba Harnam Singh ji Maharaj were increasing day by day. His disciples needed spiritual education and disciplining to rise in the divine life.
On many occasions, Sant Baba ji would leave his abode and go towards the seasonal rivulet known as Rajni. He would make the disciples sit in two rows. He himself would sit between the two parallel rows. Sometimes instead of the rows, he would make the disciples sit in a circle and would himself sit in the middle of the circle.
He would then ask the disciples of one row to recite Rehras Sahib (The evening prayer). One row recited one Shabad and the second row recited the next Shabad. (If they were in a circle, half of them recited one Shabad and the other half the next Shabad.) This would continue till the end of the prayer.
In case any one made a mistake in pronunciation or otherwise while reciting, he would ask for the same to be corrected. This exercise ensured that everyone was vigilant in remembering the correct hymns for the entire Rehras Sahib. By this device Sant Baba ji would involve all the disciples in simultaneous recitation, while closely focusing on what they were uttering. It greatly improved their levels of concentration as also the understanding of Gurbani.
Sometimes Sant Baba ji would ask the disciples to stand in the flowing water of the seasonal rivulet of Rajni and recite Sukhmani Sahib. The water in the rivulet was clean and pure and was half a meter high.
Two beloved disciples of Sant Baba ji – Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan and Sant Baba Hari Singh ji Maharaj of Kaharpur would often remain in the rivulet with other disciples for as much as six hours at a stretch.
Sant Baba Harnam Singh ji Maharaj on one occasion decided to rouse everyone at around 2.00 am. He gave just one clap in the early morning around 2.00 am. Every disciple got up in a trice and joined Sant Baba ji for going towards the rivulet. No one talked to each other. Everyone remained in his samadhi and Sant Baba ji also meditated. Such was the level of devotion and the discipline that his followers had imbibed.
On completion of the worship, a clap was again sounded and everyone started back for the hut.
Many times after the recitation of Rehras Sahib, Kirtan was performed on the instructions of Sant Baba ji who listened and enjoyed the same. Half of those present sang the hymns and the other half repeated the same verse. This continued late in the night. Around 1.00 a.m. at night Sant Baba ji gave one clap and everyone came back to the hut.