Kirpal Singh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kirpal Singh |
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Kirpal Singh in 1972
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| Religion | Sikhism |
| Lineage | Uttarī Bhārat kī Sant Paramparā |
| Philosophy | Nirgun Bhakti |
| Known for |
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| Other names | Kirpal Singh Duggal |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Born | 6 February 1894 Syed Kasran, Punjab, British Raj |
| Died | 21 August 1974 New Delhi, Delhi, India |
| Religious career | |
| Based in | Delhi |
| Title | Sant |
| Predecessor | Baba Sawan Singh |
| Works |
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| Initiation | Surat Shabd Yoga, Sant Mat 1924 Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, Beās, Pañjāb, Indian Empire by Baba Sawan Singh |
Kirpal Singh (born February 6, 1894 – died August 21, 1974) was a respected spiritual teacher, often called a satguru. He followed the traditions of Radha Soami, which focuses on inner spiritual experiences.
Kirpal Singh was born in Sayyad Kasran, a place now in Pakistan. He lived in Lahore for many years. He worked as a high-ranking accountant in the military government.
He became the President of the World Fellowship of Religions. This group was recognized by UNESCO, a part of the United Nations that promotes peace and understanding. This fellowship included leaders from all major world religions. Kirpal Singh wrote many books and messages that were translated into different languages.
His main teaching was called Surat Shabd Yoga. This is a spiritual path where people learn to connect with inner light and sound through meditation. He taught that this inner light and sound is a powerful expression of God. It is known by different names in various religions, like "Word" in the Bible or "Naam" in other scriptures. Kirpal Singh believed that meditating on this "Divine Word" was a core spiritual practice found in all religions.
Contents
Kirpal Singh's Life Story
From a young age, Kirpal Singh had special experiences. He would see visions and sometimes knew about future events. He searched for a spiritual guide among different teachers, like sufis and yogis. However, he didn't choose any of them as his master right away. He kept praying for the right teacher to appear.
Finding His Spiritual Teacher
In 1917, Kirpal Singh began to see a spiritual form that he believed was Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion. Seven years later, in 1924, he met Hazur Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji. He was a famous Saint from Beas, living near the Beas River. Kirpal Singh immediately recognized him as the luminous form he had seen for years.
Hazur Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji taught Kirpal Singh about Surat Shabd Yoga. From that moment, Kirpal Singh dedicated his life to his spiritual master's mission. He continued his spiritual practices even while being married, raising children, and working in a government job. His teacher asked him to meditate for six hours every day, a practice he kept up faithfully.
Writing and Mission
In the 1930s, Kirpal Singh's master, Hazur, spoke highly of his spiritual progress. Around this time, Kirpal Singh began writing a two-volume spiritual work called "Gurmat Siddhant," meaning "The Philosophy of the Masters." He asked for it to be published under his master's name. Later, in the 1960s, it was published in English in five volumes.
On October 12, 1947, Hazur Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji chose Kirpal Singh to continue his spiritual work. The next month, Hazur approved Kirpal Singh's plan for "Ruhani Satsang," which means "School of Spirituality" or "Science of the Soul." Hazur Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji passed away on April 2, 1948.
After his master's passing, Kirpal Singh went to Rishikesh, near the Himalayan Mountains. He spent five months there in deep meditation, feeling very close to God.
Returning to the World
After this time of deep meditation, Kirpal Singh received an inner message from his master. It told him to "Return to the world and bring my children back to me." He then moved to Delhi, where many people from Punjab were seeking safety after the division of India and Pakistan. There, he started his spiritual and humanitarian work.
Kirpal Singh guided over 80,000 people on their spiritual journeys.
Ruhani Satsang: A School for the Soul
In Delhi, Kirpal Singh started his new spiritual school called Ruhani Satsang. This school focused on spiritual research and inner realization. Soon, it had branches in many countries around the world. In 1951, he built the Sawan Ashram in Delhi. Thousands of people came to listen to his spiritual talks, called satsangs, there.
People from Western countries also began to visit him. The first was Rusel Jacque, whose book about his time at the ashram in 1959 encouraged others to come. In the early 1960s, about 40 to 50 students would stay at the ashram for weeks or months.
Healthy Eating: Vegetarianism
A healthy, vegetarian diet was an important part of Kirpal Singh's teachings. He suggested a simple lacto-vegetarian diet. This diet included fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables, along with dairy products. He believed this diet was good for spiritual reasons. Foods like meat, eggs, and certain spices were avoided. He also taught against eating too much.
Working for World Unity
In 1957, Kirpal Singh was chosen as the first president of the World Fellowship of Religions. This important organization was recognized by UNESCO. It brought together representatives from all the major religions worldwide. He served as president until 1971 and led four World Conferences.
In 1962, he received a special award called the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. This award is usually given to Christians, but he received it for his spiritual and humanitarian efforts. India's prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, congratulated him. Kirpal Singh also formed spiritual connections with later prime ministers, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi.
Traveling the World
First Spiritual Journey Abroad
Kirpal Singh's mission grew quickly. In 1955, he made his first trip outside India to share his teachings. He spent months in the United States and Europe. This was a significant event because he was the first Indian spiritual master to visit the West. At that time, many Westerners were not familiar with Eastern spiritual practices. Kirpal Singh helped hundreds of Westerners begin their meditation journeys. He taught them how to connect with the Divine Light and Harmony within themselves.
Later World Tours
In 1963, Kirpal Singh went on his second world tour. This time, he traveled as the president of the World Fellowship of Religions. He met with many important political and religious leaders, including Pope Paul VI and the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, Atenagora I. During these travels, he continued to teach new people about the Way of the Masters, also known as Sant Mat.
On August 26, 1972, Kirpal Singh made his third and final tour to the West. During this trip, he welcomed and taught more than 2,000 new students interested in the spiritual path.
Final Years and Unity Efforts
In February 1974, in Delhi, Kirpal Singh organized a major event called the World Conference on Unity of Man. More than 2,000 leaders, including religious and political figures from India and around the world, attended. Over 100,000 people came to the conference in total.
On April 2, 1974, at the Kumba Mela (Festival of Religions) in Haridwar, Kirpal Singh brought together sadhus (traveling monks) and other holy people. This meeting was called the Conference of National Unity. Its goals were to encourage cooperation, break down religious barriers, and help improve the lives of India's poor.
In 1974, Kirpal Singh also started the Unity of Man conference. This event aimed to bring religious and political leaders together to find common ground and improve relationships. This conference, now called the Human Unity Conference, still continues today.
His Legacy and Teachings
Kirpal Singh passed away on August 21, 1974, at the age of eighty. His teachings continued to spread through many groups. As of 2002, about 200,000 people were part of groups connected to Kirpal Singh's spiritual path.
Kirpal Singh wrote many books on spirituality. Some of his well-known works include The Crown of Life (which compares different religions and yogas), Prayer, Its Nature and Technique, Spirituality: What It Is, and Godman (about finding a spiritual teacher).
You can find PDF versions of Kirpal Singh's books online for free. There are also audio recordings of many of his talks in English and Hindi/Punjabi.
Books by Kirpal Singh
- The Coming Spiritual Revolution
- The Crown of Life: A Study in Yoga
- The Philosophy of the Masters
- Godman
- A Great Saint: Baba Jaimal Singh, His Life and Teachings
- Heart to Heart Talks (2 volumes)
- His Grace Lives On
- The Jap Ji: The Message of Guru Nanak
- Life and Death (combines The Wheel of Life and The Mystery of Death)
- The Light of Kirpal
- Man! Know Thyself
- Morning Talks
- Naam or Word
- The Night Is a Jungle and Other Discourses
- Prayer: Its Nature and Technique
- Seven Paths to Perfection
- Spiritual Elixir
- Spirituality: What It Is
- The Spiritual Path
- Surat Shabd Yoga: The Yoga of the Celestial Sound Current
- The Teachings of Kirpal Singh
- The Way of the Saints
- The Wheel of Life and The Mystery of Death
Images for kids
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Kirpal Singh in 1972
