A vegetarian diet encourages respect and empathy for all life and acknowledges that there is a debt to be paid for taking any life unnecessarily. To build on the primary spiritual practice of meditation, members are vegetarian, abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs, and are expected to lead a life of high moral values. Members need not give up their cultural identity or religious preference to follow this path. There are no rituals, ceremonies, hierarchies or mandatory contributions, nor are there compulsory gatherings. Members commit themselves to a way of life that supports spiritual growth while carrying out their responsibilities to family, friends and society. It is a solitary practice that is done in the quiet of one's own home. The present teacher is Baba Gurinder Singh, who lives with his family at the main centre in northern India.īy performing the meditation practice according to the teacher's instructions, individuals can realize the presence of God within themselves. It is through this experience that we will realize the truth of the concept that there is only one God and we are all expressions of his love.Ĭentral to the RSSB teachings 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. At the heart of the RSSB teachings is a belief that there is a spiritual purpose to human life – to experience the divinity of God who resides in all of us. Despite its extensive outreach activities, RSSB tries to maintain the integrity of its spiritual core and preserve the simplicity of its teachings. With the passage of time and changing social values, the basic spiritual teachings often become embellished with extra rules and rituals, and eventually take the shape of a formal religion. The basis of every religion is spirituality. It is a non-profit organization with no affiliation to any political or commercial organizations.
Today RSSB holds meetings in more than 90 countries worldwide. RSSB was established in India in 1891 and gradually began spreading to other countries. There are a number of other contemporary movements that use the name ‘Radha Soami’ but Radha Soami Satsang Beas is not associated with any of them.
In the Indian language, Radha Soami means ‘lord of the soul’, satsang describes a group that seeks truth, and Beas refers to the town near which the main centre is located in northern India. Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) along with its international affiliates is a spiritual organization based on the teachings of all religions and dedicated to a process of inner development under the guidance of a spiritual teacher. Automatically there will be humility in it. Seva is our intention to please another person. Seva is not mechanically working with our hands. So, seva is always done with love, otherwise it is not seva. The pleasure that you get by helping somebody, making somebody happy in life – nothing can compare with that pleasure. More happiness in helping somebody than in getting help from anybody. More happiness in donating than in accepting. There’s more happiness in giving than in taking.
When you please another person, you'll be happy to do seva. Seva is not done so much to please yourself. That is love, and that is humility before another person. Love means that you want to do what pleases the other person rather than what pleases yourself. Love makes you humble, love makes you meek. If there is love, automatically there will be humility. Seva is always done with love and humility.