Ishwar Puri Ji: The Great Sikh Master in the West
Venerable Ishwar Puri Ji
I often like to listen to teachers of different spiritual traditions talk about their philosophies, their opinions, and about their spiritual paths. I feel that I can learn quite a lot from them. At the same time, it is very uplifting to see the similarities between various spiritual paths, even if outwardly they may seem quite different, diverse and even contradictory.
I am a person who likes to look for similarities among the different spiritual paths and religious traditions. When we understand other peoples’ spirituality better, where they derive their thinking from and how they live their lives based on their spirituality, then there is more cohesion. This cohesion leads to more tolerance and understanding, and more chances of getting along with other people.
There is always going to be a group of humans who need a religion or spiritual path, and there are going to be some that do not. Whatever group there is, it is always very helpful to understand where another person is coming from, their space, culture, background, their country, as well as their spiritual inclination and training. This has always fascinated me because I like to understand people and I want to know more about them. This helps me to get along better with people.
During this search, I came across a series of videos by a great Sikh master of the Radha Soami tradition. His name is Venerable Ishwar Puri Ji. I have watched several of his videos, and I must say that I am extremely impressed. I feel both moved and inspired. Venerable Ishwar Puri Ji speaks very clearly, eloquently, directly, and, at times, quite comically. He is a gifted speaker with great knowledge, wisdom and eloquence. At the same time, his sharing is extremely deep. Through his set of teachings, I was able to understand a little bit about the Sikh faith, their belief system, their teachings, and their lineage. I am far from understanding the full depth of the Sikh faith, but from his sharing, I see many similarities with my own spiritual path, which is Buddhism.
I enjoy listening to Venerable Ishwar Puri Ji’s talks very much because what he says can be taken in two ways. On the one hand, it can be taken as a religion, in which he teaches the light and sound meditation that brings us to higher awareness. It opens our minds and lays to rest a lot of the damaging emotions that we may have. Through this meditation, we are also able to ascend to different dimensions and perhaps even leave our body to visit other places.
The young Ishwar Puri Ji
On the other hand, his teachings are extremely progressive and at the same time, practical and applicable. They are very much based on common sense. I have enjoyed listening to his teachings and will enjoy them again in the future, so I just had to share his teachings with my friends.
This article is about the master Venerable Ishwar Puri Ji and the spirituality that his holy faith has to offer. I encourage people to watch his videos and listen to what he says a few times. I am sure the more we listen to his teachings, the more we will be able to benefit and gain wisdom within our own consciousness.
As far as I am aware, the Venerable Ishwar Puri Ji is currently 92 years old, in great health, alert and he looks absolutely wonderful. I am not surprised that he is going strong, teaching and sharing his wisdom that benefits people and the planet because he is a testament to the meditations that he teaches. He is a testament that such meditations work and bring results.
At the advanced age of 92, he is clear, precise and has perfect faculties. This is definitely the result of a lifetime of meditation. I myself have seen, in the Buddhist monasteries, monks advanced in years who are in their 80s and 90s, who are extremely alert and very quick. They are no different than the younger monks except they have much more wisdom, which is the result of a lifetime of in-depth meditation.
So, please enjoy this article, and I hope you will benefit and learn from it as I did. He has many videos on youtube, please search for them and enjoy his wisdom. I am very honoured to introduce everyone to the Venerable Ishwar Puri Ji. Thank you.
Humbly,
Tsem Rinpoche
Early Life
Ishwar Chandra Puri (Ishwar Puri Ji) was born on 26 November 1926, to a Sikh family in Punjab, India. His father was a devoted student of Baba Sawan Singh, a Sikh Master of the Radha Soami tradition. When Ishwar Puri Ji was 29 days old, Baba Sawan Singh gave him the name “Ishwar” which means “the Supreme Lord” in the Sanskrit language.
Ishwar Puri Ji’s father was a serious meditator. In one of his talks, Ishwar Puri Ji recalled:
“[My father] was a regular meditator. In fact, he meditated more seriously than I ever did in the sense that in the early morning he would take a cold shower, to make sure that he wouldn’t fall asleep during meditation. He took it seriously and had some wonderful experiences.”
Source: msia.org
Ishwar Puri Ji’s father was also a respected community leader. Due to his influence, the rest of the family also became students of Baba Sawan Singh.
Baba Sawan Singh had told the family that in his previous life, Ishwar Puri’s father was a tree. One day, a Perfect Living Master sat under the tree, broke off one of the twigs and used it to brush his teeth, a common practice in India. This event changed his father’s destiny, and because of this, his next rebirth was as a human being. Ishwar Puri Ji remembered that his father used to hit his own head and say, “I think it’s wooden still.”
Meeting the Perfect Living Master
Baba Sawan Singh (1858-1948)
Ishwar Puri Ji and his family had the good fortune to interact directly with Baba Sawan Singh from a young age. Even today, Ishwar Puri Ji remembers these precious moments with his Master and fondly shares his experiences with his many students.
He recalled that the great Baba Sawan Singh took him to the little hut that was prepared for the Master on two occasions. This was a very rare occurrence as Baba Sawan Singh did not usually take anyone with him to his private quarters. During one of those priceless occasions, Ishwar Puri Ji recalled that Baba Sawan Singh had tears in his eyes as he remembered the kindness of his Master, Baba Jaimal Singh. That day, Baba Sawan Singh commemorated the Bhandara (feast) of Baba Jaimal Singh. During the Bhandara event, food offerings are made as a form of worship to God. This food is then distributed on a large scale to the gathering of devotees.
Growing up, Ishwar Puri Ji was heavily involved in Radha Soami Satsang Beas, the place where Baba Sawan Singh held satsangs, and he witnessed its swift growth. When he was a child, attendance on Bhandara day was approximately 200 people. By 1948, that number had increased to 400,000.
Radha Soami Satsang Beas
During the building of the Satsang itself, Ishwar Puri Ji used to do voluntary work together with a fellow student of Baba Sawan Singh named Mastana Balochistani of Balochistan. Due to his young age, he carried only a brick at a time while Balochistani carried a basket of bricks. However, in the eyes of their Master, the action was considered equal seva (selfless service).
“In Great Master’s eyes, even if you picked up a little stone, it was equal seva to that who was carrying a big bag. Because seva is not what you carry, seva is what heart, the intention you do that seva. If you do seva without expecting a reward, you get the best rewards. If you do seva for reward, you may get that reward. But if you do seva without expecting a reward, you get much more than what you expect.”
Source: ishanews.org
Ishwar Puri Ji’s early education was in India, where he also learned the English language. Even during the learning process, his devotion to his Master and the Sikh faith was apparent. He recalled that when practising the English alphabet, he liked the letter “S” in particular because it is associated with many words in the Sikh tradition:
“Today I was thinking how I learned the English language. I was learning A, B, C, D, the whole alphabet. Every time I would start with A, B, C, D, I would stop at the letter S, and I wondered why. What is the significance that I should stop, read the rest of the alphabet rapidly and stop at S, then go to T, Y and so on. S… I have gone through life… I find that S contained some of the most significant words that I have ever… that have affected my life. S is significant: Sant Mat, Satguru, Sant Satguru Sawan Shah – S, S, S, S, affected my life the most – Satsang, Simran.”
Source: ishanews.org
VIDEO: Ishwar Puri Ji on Hazur Baba Sawan Singh
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/HazurBabaSawanSingh.mp4
Initiation into the Sikh Faith
Ishwar Puri Ji was nine years old when a precious and long-awaited wish was fulfilled. On 9 March 1937, Baba Sawan Singh formally initiated him into the Sikh faith. Baba Sawan Singh taught him to develop the relationship with the Master inside him, which would enable his Master to be with him all the time.
Since then, Ishwar Puri Ji has been a devoted student of his Master. In one of his meditation teaching sessions, Ishwar Puri Ji mentioned that when he was in India, he did not read books because whatever the Master advised him to do, he would follow it through.
Ishwar Puri Ji has always referred to Baba Sawan Singh as the Perfect Living Master. He defines the Perfect Living Master in the following way:
“A definition of a Perfect Living Master is one who has perfected his journey to his own self. And when you perfect your journey to your own self, you find there was only one self and that everything else was illusion, was all created. Therefore, you discover at the end that we thought we are so many. So many were merely an illusion, a reflection of the only one.”
Source: ishanews.org
Ishwar Puri Ji next to a picture of his master, Baba Sawan Singh
Ishwar Puri Ji often says that Perfect Living Masters are rare and have unique methods of doing their work to help the souls that have been marked to return to where they come from, the single totality of consciousness. Thus, the ability of the souls to merge with their consciousness is very much dependent on the Perfect Living Masters.
Ishwar Puri Ji also teaches his students that, when their Master is still alive in the physical body, they must perform enough meditation so that when the Master passes on, the students already have the Master’s radiant form inside them and, in this way, they will never be alone again. The Master will be with the student everywhere he or she goes, regardless of whether he has passed away or is still alive.
Unlike other worldly relationships, the connection between the Perfect Living Masters and their students is unconditional. According to Ishwar Puri Ji:
“A Perfect Living Master is a friend who loves you if you love Him, who loves you if you don’t love Him. He loves you if you hate Him. He loves you if you kill Him. That kind of unconditional love, I have not seen amongst people of this planet.”
Source: ishanews.org
After he completed his education in India, Ishwar Puri Ji worked for the Indian government.
VIDEO: Initiation | Self | Living Satguru | Spiritual Love
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/InitiationSelfLivingSatguru.mp4
Celebrating the Dead
Unlike many people who fear death, Ishwar Puri Ji thought of death as a celebration. When Baba Sawan Singh passed away on 2 April 1948, many people thought that they would never see their Master again. However, his students who had received initiation and were able to see their Master’s radiant form in their meditation knew that Baba Sawan Singh would be with them forever. According to Ishwar Puri Ji:
“A Master has an established relationship with us, which has started way back. An arrangement was made long ago before the creation of this universe. And once that Master has come, he’s part of that great plan, and he takes us back to our true home. He does not give up no matter how hard we try.”
Source: ishanews.org
Ishwar Puri Ji teaches that many people fear death because they do not know enough about what happens after death. When Ishwar Puri Ji’s father passed away, his family celebrated. His mother immediately called his brother who was working for the navy at the time, and said, “Great, you know your dad has reached the ultimate.” Upon hearing the news, his brother celebrated the occasion on the boat. When acquaintances and friends visited their home to lend moral support, they were surprised to see that the family was celebrating instead of grieving.
After his father’s passing, Ishwar Puri Ji decided to check where his father went through meditation. From his Master, he learned what happened to his father:
Baba Sawan Singh: You can’t see him.
Ishwar Puri Ji: Why not?
Baba Sawan Singh: Because the moment he passed from his physical body, he merged completely with me and he is in the same place where I am, where totality is.
Ishwar Puri Ji: Did he meditate so much?
Baba Sawan Singh: No. It’s not meditation that takes you beyond a certain point, it’s love and devotion.
Source: ishanews.org
Through that exchange, Baba Sawan Singh re-emphasised the key spiritual path that he taught, which is love and devotion. Ishwar Puri Ji learned about the importance of love and devotion from his Master and his father – that one “cannot go beyond the regions of the mind except with love and devotion.”
The Shifting Axis of Spirituality
When Ishwar Puri was 11 years old, Baba Sawan Singh predicted that the centre of spirituality would shift from the east to the west, most notably to the United States. Baba Sawan Singh conveyed this prediction to Julian P. Johnson, a devoted American student of his, in 1937:
“Johnson, you have come from a great country, United States of America, and the spirituality you have come to the East to find will one day move over to your country. You are, in fact, taking spirituality to the West.”
Source: ishanews.org
In another 1937 letter to his American students, Baba Sawan Singh wrote:
“I am pleased that you are getting together a fine group of seekers on the Path of Sant Mat in your section of the country. May that number increase, for the foundation must be laid in America for a very Great work. That country is to make great advances in spiritual things, leading the whole world of Western civilisation. You who are in the vanguard now are doing a greater work for humanity and especially for America than you perhaps fully realise. Large numbers there are simply waiting for the matter to be properly presented to them. The inner preparation has been made. When the Western World has accepted the Science of the Masters as their inner guide to all that is worthwhile, then a new civilisation must spring up. A new age must be born.”
Source: ishanews.org
VIDEO: The Changing Spiritual Axis From East to West
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/SpiritualAxisFromEastToWest.mp4
VIDEO: Julian Johnson – Path of the Masters
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/JulianJohnson.mp4
A Great Sikh Master in the West
In the early 1960s, Ishwar Puri Ji came to the United States to study at Harvard University. Upon graduation, he returned to India to resume his service to the Indian government. However, remembering his Master’s prophecy, he always wanted to return to the United States to witness first-hand the development of spirituality in this country.
Therefore, in 1982, shortly after his retirement from the Indian government, Ishwar Puri Ji decided to move to the United States permanently so that he could be a living witness to his Master’s prediction. He eventually obtained American citizenship.
Ishwar Puri Ji has made it his life’s purpose “to carry out the work of Great Master in the West and especially in the United States of America.” In line with Baba Sawan Singh’s prediction that the axis of spirituality will move from the east to the west, Ishwar Puri Ji predicted that, in the future, the people of China and India would come to the United States to obtain spiritual knowledge.
On one particular occasion, Ishwar Puri Ji told his students that Baba Sawan Singh’s prediction is coming true and that he would give his life and his last breath for this purpose:
“I have seen … you came and took prashad from me. I saw in your eyes and I saw the love and devotion there you already have. It has touched me that Great Master’s prediction is already coming true in this part of the world. When you came to me, I could see what was happening within you. And that is why I congratulate all of you; that you are in very good shape at this time on your spiritual journey. And any help more that I can give, I will give you till the last breath of my life here. That’s what my job is.”
Source: ishanews.org
Ishwar Puri Ji continues to travel around the world to carry out his Master’s work and to teach a variety of subjects to truth seekers including human awareness, art, morality, human relations, philosophy, science, human consciousness, health, and the scope of the human experience.
Today, more than 60 years since his Master’s passing, Ishwar Puri Ji has become a beloved Master to many students. His Western students are attracted to his down-to-earth and realistic teaching style which evolved from his own unique experiences and self-realisation. The following is an excerpt of his teaching on detachment that shows how he skilfully uses his personal experiences to relay his message:
“Friends, welcome back. I hope you had a good treat with the feast they had here. I got a sampling of it myself, and I know how lucky people are to have those kinds of pizzas. As you know, pizza has been a favourite food of mine ever since I came to this country. In fact, I got so worried when I came that I might get attached to pizza. I was trying to practise detachment. In the east I was doing detachment, and here I come and practise attachment even to a pizza! Of course, it was better than just pizza. It was called Shakey’s Pizza. I don’t know if any of you remember. There used to be Ye Olde Shakey’s Pizza. Then I remembered that when you take pizza and try to detach yourself, it is the most difficult thing to do. Once you get attached, there is no way you can detach. Not only to pizza … to anything! If you try to say, “I don’t want pizza. I don’t want pizza,” pizza remains in front of you all the time.”
Source: ishanews.org
VIDEO: Attachments | Meditation | Perfect Masters
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/AttachmentMeditationMaster.mp4
The Institute for the Study of Human Awareness
While at Harvard University, Ishwar Puri Ji founded The Institute for the Study of Human Awareness (ISHA). The purpose of the Institute is to help individuals and organisations gain a better understanding of human capacity. Currently, ISHA is a non-profit institution incorporated in the state of Minnesota.
Through the hard work of ISHA members, 40 years of Ishwar Puri Ji’s teachings, meetings, lectures, and advice have been compiled into various materials such as books, PDF files, YouTube videos and other formats.
Ishwar Puri Ji during a teaching session
The teachings of Ishwar Puri Ji are designed to encourage individuals from different backgrounds to know themselves better, to pursue their spirituality, and to develop their potential.
Like his Master, all of Ishwar Puri Ji’s talks and teaching sessions are given free of charge. Any payment received is immediately returned. Books and teaching materials are either free or made available at cost. His students are encouraged to donate one-tenth of their net income to a charity of their choice.
ISHA Construction Projects
Ishwar Puri Ji often speaks of the pleasant experiences he has had at Radha Soami Satsang Beas, which is also known as Dera Baba Jaimal Singh. To him, a Dera is a sanctuary from the pressures and problems of daily secular life and an oasis where people can get together to pursue their spiritual goals.
To this end, Ishwar Puri Ji decided to develop a Dera in the United States in honour of his beloved Master, Baba Sawan Singh. But, first, he and his students had to find a place for it. They eventually found a piece of land that suited their needs in Bruce, Wisconsin.
A sketch of the Dera in the USA
![Early concept of ISHA Meeting Hall]](https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Ishwar014.jpg)
Early concept of ISHA Meeting Hall]
There is an interesting story about how this piece of land was found. It began when Ishwar Puri Ji remembered how Baba Jaimal Singh found the location for Radha Soami Satsang Beas many years ago. Near the Beas River in northern India, Baba Jaimal Singh encountered a crazy man who was jumping and dancing while uttering the words, “This is it. This is it. There will be a big place here.” After observing the crazy man, Baba Jaimal Singh said, “This will be the place where the Dera will be.”
In their search for an appropriate location, Ishwar Puri Ji and his students went to the area where the Chippewa River flows into the state of Wisconsin. When they arrived, he and his students found a madman by the name of Sam Borde waving his hands. Taking this as a sign, Ishwar Puri told his students that they had found the correct place to build the Dera and shortly after, they bought the land with ISHA sponsorship.
Since then, Ishwar Puri Ji and his students have been working on the construction plan to build the Dera, which consists of two stages:
- Stage 1: The development of a meeting hall that can seat 400 people on ISHA Hill. This stage will also include a 200-seat dining hall and a kitchen
- Stage 2: The development of a great auditorium, a large commercial kitchen, and another dining hall.
On 18 September 2014, ISHA members reached an important milestone. They witnessed their beloved Master lead a ground-breaking ceremony for the ISHA Meeting Hall. The event became a commemoration of Ishwar Puri Ji’s devotion and love for his Master, Baba Sawan Singh.
Ishwar Puri Ji and his students during the Dera’s ground-breaking ceremony
Following the ceremony, Ishwar Puri Ji gave a teaching about Baba Sawan Singh’s 1937 prediction about the shifting axis of spirituality to the West, how he and his close students found the land in Bruce, Wisconsin, and the importance of seva. The Dera project is purely supported by donations. To learn more, please visit https://ishanews.org/ishwarsprojects2/the-construction-chronicles/
Below is a short video of Ishwar Puri Ji explaining his guidelines for the Dera construction’s seva:
VIDEO: Three Kinds of Seva
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/ThreeKindsOfSeva.mp4
VIDEO: New Spiritual Center USA
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/NewSpiritualCenterUSA.mp4
Continuing His Master’s Legacy
Now at the advanced age of 92, Ishwar Puri Ji continues to carry on the legacy of his beloved Master, Baba Sawan Singh. Although retired, he continues to hold prestigious positions as board chairman, senior advisor, and consultant to several companies worldwide while continuing his Master’s work of spreading spirituality in the West. He is still actively giving teachings and remains involved in various ISHA projects.
Ishwar Puri Ji truly lives up to his words when he said, “And any help more that I can give, I will give you till the last breath of my life here. That’s what my job is.”
VIDEO: The Real Master is Always Inside
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/TheRealMasterIsAlwaysInside.mp4
Attachments Are Mistaken To Be Love
I originally came across Venerable Ishwar Puri Ji on YouTube and his teaching that really caught my attention was titled “Attachments are Mistaken to be Love“. In the video, Ishwar Puri Ji explains that the outer guru, which he calls the ‘perfect living master’ or Satguru in Hindi, is actually your own true self (or inner divinity) appearing as a human being to guide you. I highly recommend everyone to please watch this video. The clarity and logic of the teachings are easy to understand. You can watch this powerful video below:
Must watch VIDEO: Attachments are Mistaken to be Love
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/AttachmentsAreMistakenToBeLoveIshwarPuri.mp4
Recommended Reading (Free Download)
The texts above were sourced from legitimate book-hosting services offering these texts for free download. They are made available here for purely educational, non-commercial purposes.
Sources
- “AccountIshwar Ji’s Projects”, ISHA: Institute for the Study of HumanAwareness, [website], https://ishanews.org/ishwarsprojects2/home/(accessed 15 June 2018).
- “Ishwar C. Puri”, ISHA: Institute for the Study of HumanAwareness, [website], https://www.ishanews.org/ishwar-c-puri/(accessed 15 June 2018).
- “ISHA Library”, ISHA: Institute for the Study of HumanAwareness, [website], https://ishanews.org/ishalibrary/(accessed 15 June 2018).
- “The Construction Chronicles”, ISHA: Institute for the Study of HumanAwareness, [website], https://ishanews.org/ishwarsprojects2/the-construction-chronicles/(accessed 15 June 2018).
- Puri, Ishwar, ‘Navigational Plans for the 90s’, ISHA: Institute for the Study of HumanAwareness, https://www.ishanews.org/media/transcripts/eng/Navigational_Plan_for_the_90s.pdf (accessed 15 June 2018).
- “Ishwar Puri”, [website], http://plmishwarpuri.com/about-us/ishwarji(accessed 15 June 2018).
- Taylor-Young, Leigh, “An Interview with Ishwar Puri”, 18 July 2016, [website], https://www.msia.org/newdayherald/archives/60867-interview-ishwar-puri(accessed 15 June 2018).
For more interesting information:
- His Holiness Baba Sawan Singh: The Charismatic Sikh Saint
- Rumi: The Legendary Sufi Poet
- Rabindranath Tagore: A beacon for humanity
- Alexandra David-Néel
- S. N. Goenka: The 20th Century Authority on Vipassana Meditation
- H.H. the Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso’s prediction
- Lama Anagarika Govinda: The Pioneer Who Introduced Tibetan Buddhism to the World
- Kazi Dawa Samdup: a Pioneering Translator of Tibetan Buddhist Texts
- Ekai Kawaguchi – Three Years in Tibet
- Agvan Dorjiev: The Diplomat Monk
- Bill Porter (Red Pine): The Translator of Chinese Poems and Promoter of Zen Buddhism
- Herbert Guenther – Master of Languages & Buddhism
- George Roerich – Light of the Morning Star
- Danzan Ravjaa: The Controversial Mongolian Monk
- John Blofeld and His Spiritual Journey
- Professor Garma C.C. Chang -The Illustrious Pioneer
- Incredible Geshe Wangyal
- Nicholas Roerich & art (1874-1947)
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Today, when I searched for the latest new of this Master Ishwar Puri, I found out that this Master has left his physical body…
I find this notice is very relevant and would like to put it here. Although it’s a notice but it contained the essence of this great master’s teaching.
: On 23rd December 2020, our beloved Eternal Friend, Ishwar Puri Ji, left his physical body to be reunited with His Loving Master – Great Master, Hazur Maharaj Baba Sawan Singh Ji – in his eternal home.
His last loving instructions to us were to look for him on the inside. The body was not the Real Form and the Real Guru is the “Shabd“.
Ishwar ji always used to mention regarding the spiritual path that “Seeking is the Secret and Love & Devotion is the key!“
Hi Everybody
This is amazing to know shifting of spiritual axis from East to West. Thanks to Teacher Ishwar Ji for letting me know this because this was unanswered question in my mind when I feel spiritual people in West with in depth knowledge and self realisation.
How come ishwar ji never went back to beas in India? Why has he cut off from them?
The radha soami base in India is active and has a living master, was ishwar represtative of sawan and still initiating in his name?
Dear Harry,
his Master, “Great Master Baba Sawan Singh” predicted in 1937 that the Axis of Spirituality will shift from East to the West.
He wanted to take a Ringside-Seat.
You can find the Video where he talks about that here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ACFe5G7m4
I really enjoyed while reading the story of ishwar ji…..he is very lovely person I have been ever met…….I just request him whenever he vill come to India I really want to meet him……Radha soami ishwar ji
Does ISHWAR PURI JI do initiation ?? Or recommends any perfect living master??
Hi Abhi,
I’m afraid we do not have further information in that regard. It would be best if you contacted any organisations affiliated with Ishwar Puri Ji to make your enquiries.
Good luck!
Pastor Jean Ai
Yeas Abhi, he gives initiation AND recommends perfect living. He is living near Chicago. Due Corona he could not start his world tour 2020 yet. You find hsi webside here: Ishanews.org
With Master is gone, what left are ❤️ and DEVOTION.
Miss you, Rinpoche… Thanks for everything.
Love,
Jacinta.
Sikh religion have its roots from Hinduism itself and so does the Buddhism. Both were Hindu saints born to hindu family and later achieved enlightenment- people and disciples who followed them gave birth to a new sect and today that is called Sikhism and Buddhism. Same goes for Jainism by mahaveer
Don’t call Ishwar Puri or Baba Sawan Singh Sikh masters. If your parents are Sikh, you don’t automatically become a Sikh. They are spiritual masters, not Sikh masters. Never mind Baba Sawan Singh’s turban. Wearning a turban was and still is a tradition in India. Please remove this false label with their names.
Thank you for sharing so much on spiritual insight of sant math. Every master has different ways to express spiritual path that is futher based on his back ground perticularly his education and profession. When this back ground is combined with the essence of spirituality, it helps people with similar backgrounds very much to understand and then practice.
This article has helped me for having put your efforts though you practice Buddha’s teachings.
Sikh means anyone who meditates in early morning , showers his soul in meditation, when sun sets in he sing praises of his guru. Than during all day he is doing simran. Such a person is called a sikh
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing with us this wonderful master from the Sikh religion. I have seen a video of his giving teachings and it was profound. The way he talks and his logic does not fit his age of 93 at all. This is truly a result of his meditations which kept his mind crisp and alert.
I also found out that a lot of teachings from the Sikh faith is similar to what we believed in Buddhism especially on Master/Guru. They believe that the master comes from another world that operates differently and his job is to pull us up away from our normal thinking and the normal world to see what is beyond our world, and then he will bring the disciple back to the true home.
In Buddhism, we believe our Gurus are enlightened masters that give us Dharma for us to practice and reach enlightenment. Gurus operate in different ways than us and sometimes it is difficult to see what their true intention is. So it is very important for the disciple to have absolute faith in the Guru because the Guru will never harm the student No matter how hard and difficult and illogical it is, the intention of the Guru is not to harm but to help.
Rinpoche always gives us teachings and insights into other traditions and spiritual paths, and spirituality or wisdom can be expressed in different manner and using different terms. So one hand we understand others much more and on another level, we connect to dharma using different pathways and methodology.
Nice short video of a new LED signage reminding us of who we can go to for blessings in case of need: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwrkaKUoH0
Listening to the chanting of sacred words, melodies, mantras, sutras and prayers has a very powerful healing effect on our outer and inner environments. It clears the chakras, spiritual toxins, the paths where our ‘chi’ travels within our bodies for health as well as for clearing the mind. It is soothing and relaxing but at the same time invigorates us with positive energy. The sacred sounds invite positive beings to inhabit our environment, expels negative beings and brings the sound of growth to the land, animals, water and plants. Sacred chants bless all living beings on our land as well as inanimate objects. Do download and play while in traffic to relax, when you are about to sleep, during meditation, during stress or just anytime. Great to play for animals and children. Share with friends the blessing of a full Dorje Shugden puja performed at Kechara Forest Retreat by our puja department for the benefit of others. Tsem Rinpoche
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzgskLKxT8&t=5821s
Thank you for this sharing on Guru-Disciple relationship from the Sikh faith perspective. The guru, known as the Perfect Living Master, will love the student unconditionally, and the disciple should meditate the Perfect Living Master when he is alive so that he will radiant in the disciple’s mind even after his passing.
Dear Rinpoche,
I’m glad I’ve finished listening to all the videos above although it has taken me this long. I love the two last videos.
1. The second last video “The perfect living master “, he talks about the things that we will experience in each of the meditation stages. He talks about lights, mantras, the experiences and how it will transmute that into enlightenment, sprinkled with love and devotion towards the Guru. Not too deep but he did explain certain “technical” things in simple term which is easy to understand whereas John Blofeld’s explanation is a bit deep. People like me who have difficulty to grasp the deep and extraordinary meaning of the words used by John Blofeld, I will suggest try listening to this teaching. With his simple words, his facial expression and the gestures, it exudes clarity. On the other hand, the words that this master used throughout the teachings, although is a bit different but I find the similarity of it with Buddhism.
2. The last video is like the essence of all the teachings he gave above. He mentioned about love and devotion many times and lastly when he mentioned that spirituality is actually the effortless of it, I was awestruck. To explain, each time when I was struggling with difficulties, I will try to face the situations as if I know the best! As if I know Dharma well and try to apply it and yet that is what make me more miserable after that. However, the moment I gave up, accepted the situation that was happening at that moment, it will be okay. Remembering Rinpoche’s advices is the best reliance. For example, when my mind is unstable, I will try to recite the Kangshag, then the problem seemed as if dissolved by itself. Hence, nowadays I will always throw my problems to Buddha and but at the same time letting Buddha knows that “I will do my part and you do yours?. ”
3. There are many important points from his teachings. There’s another one where he mentioned that at different level, we will meet Guru that matches our level of thought. The perfect living master will appear and we just have to continue seeking it. It’s all in our mind. Even the type of gurus that we will meet is manifested through our thoughts. Although I couldn’t comprehend well the meaning our own true self appearing as human being to guide us, but hopefully with time, I can understand that point. By the way, speaking about time and spaces, it’s a bit difficult for me to comprehend that well although intellectually I know some of it points from reading.
Thank you Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche,
Last few days, I’ve watched some videos whereby people chose to live in tune with nature and how they are determined to live there for the rest of their life and how they attracted others to live as such too. However, I was thinking if this wish were to combine with the highest motivation to attain enlightenment for the sake of others, it will be the best?. Then I read from Alexander David-Neel’s book (Magic and mystic in Tibet) that some Tibetan have attained certain powers whereby they generate income through healing others, and again I was thinking that will be the best if got the highest motivation.
However, somehow when I think about this Master Ishwar Puri, again is the best of all. Why?
He must have attained certain powers and definitely he can “use” that to attract people. But, he chose just to share the teachings with others and let people how great His Master was! Simply by listening to his teachings, I was convinced that pursuing spirituality is the best and it has somehow increased faith in me through his teachings. Hence, this is in line with what Rinpoche has mentioned that the highest and the best generosity in Dharma is to teach. This was what Lama Tsongkhapa did and He didn’t like people to show “powers”. Just look at what this Master Ishwar Puri has done too! By teachings, he has attracted thousands and thousands of people to pursue the path of spirituality. His students in turn will change the lives of many others, isn’t this is the best if they are pursuing Buddhis path?
I wanted to write this down here to remind myself of this too. Thank you Rinpoche for turning the Dharma Wheel. Although I may not be able to grasp Buddhist teachings in full, however it has turned my life for the better. And I hope the same for many more… this blog is the best virtual temple! A temple of knowledge.. ?
I’m so happy I wrote my feelings in this blog. Whenever I read it again, I will be amazed by my ‘self’ 😂.
THANK YOU SO MUCH RINPOCHE FOR SHARING WITH US SUCH AN INSPRING AND ENLIGHTENED ARTICLE TO LET US LEARN AND BENEFIT FROM THE ESTEEM WISDOM OF THE GREAT VENERABLE ISHWAR PURI JI. AT THE AGE OF 92 , HE IS SAID TO BE STILL “CLEAR , PRECISE AND HAS PERFECT FACULTIES, DEFINITELY
A STRONG AND EFFECTIVE TESTIMONY OF HIS RESULTS OF STRINGENT PRACTICE OF SPIRITUAL MEDITATION EXERCISES.”
ISHWAR PURI HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PERFECT AND DEVOTED STUDENT OF HIS MASTER, THE GREAT BABA SAWAN SINGH , WHOM HE CLAIMED SUCH PERFECT MASTER WAS RARE AND HAS UNIQUE METHOD OF DOING THEIR WORK TO HELP THE SOULS, WHICH ARE VERY MUCH DEPENDANT ON THEIR PERFECT LIVING MATERS.
WITH INTENT TO TRULY CONTINUE HIS MASTER’S WORK LEGALLY , NOW AT THE ADVANCED AGE OF 92, ISHWA PURI JI, STILL CONTINUES TO HOLD POSITIONS AS BOARD CHAIRMAN , SENIOR ADIVISOR AND CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS IN MANY COMPANIES.
LIKE A TRUE BODISATTVA, ISHWAR PURI JI WANTS TO LIVE UP TO HIS WORDS WHEN HE SAID ,”AND ANY HELP MORE THAN I CAN GIVE , I WILL GIVE YOU TILL THE LAST BREATH OF MY LIFE HERE. THAT’S WHAT MY JOB IS
A truly inspiring story of a great Sikh master. And a very profound quote!?
“A Perfect Living Master is a friend who loves you if you love Him, who loves you if you don’t love Him. He loves you if you hate Him. He loves you if you kill Him. That kind of unconditional love, I have not seen amongst people of this planet.”
Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for this inspiring write up and the meaningful video sharing by Ishwar Puri Ji ???
Nice to see the legacy of Baba Sawan flourish. There are so many similarities between the two philosophies. What really caught me was how the guru can change the destiny of the soul. There are various vedic legends about this as well.
Different paths, same destination!
Thank you for sharing!
My heart always has some space for the beautiful Sikh teachings. What I admire about them is that they have this “warrior” mindset sort of equivalent to the the Chogyam Trungpa Shambala tradition. They practice compassion in a very practical way but unlike many Buddhists, who tend to be sometimes too passive and idealistic. Sikh will not hesitate to use “wrathful” method when the situation is required. Sikh were heavily prosecuted by the Mohammedans during the India conquest. But they stay strong in spite of that. Just a sharing of one of the “legends”, Battle Of Saragarhi – Where 21 Sikh Soldiers Killed 600 Afghans. https://www.thequint.com/news/india/battle-of-saragarhi-when-21-sikhs-faced-14000-pashtuns-and-won
What impresses me most in this most impactful article is what Ishwar Puri Ji says about the “Perfect Living Master “. He says that the Perfect Living Master is rare and has unique methods of doing his work to help the souls that have been marked to return to where they come from, the single totality of consciousness. This is very similar to our Tibetan Buddhist belief of the role of our rare living Spiritual Guide,or Guru, who guides us his students (using rare, unique and unconventional methods) on the spiritual jouney of finding the Inner Guru- that Inner Guru being our innate potential Buddha nature of kindness, clarity and commitment.
Again he says that the Perfect Living Master is a friend who loves you (his students) unconditionally. This is again similar to how our Guru showers us with love , no matter what or how and regardess of our positive or negative response to his love for us.Furthermore, he says that his Guru(Baba Sawan Singh) taught him to develop a relationship with the Master inside him, which would enable his master to be with him all the time. That is also what our Guru has taught us to develop and cultivate.Last but not least, what Ishwar Puri Ji says about the key spiritual path being “love and devotion” is also what we ae taught to practice on our path of Guru Devotion.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article on the great Sikh Master, Ishwar Puri Ji.
Ishwar Puri is a devoted disciple of the Great Master Hazur Sawan Singh Ji. For more than forty years he has conducted lectures, workshops, and other events in the west. Ishwar Puri Ji spoke on the nature of consciousness and human awareness. His lectures and teachings have been recorded and transcribed into numerous books and other materials. His range of lecture topics include a number of subjects from science, to art, religion philosophy , human awareness, consciousness and so forth. Fantastic even at his age of 92, he still continuing his Master’s work of spreading spirituality in the West.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring post.