Gurinder Singh

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For other people named Gurinder Singh, see Gurinder Singh (disambiguation).

Baba Ji

Gurinder Singh Dhillon
1990 to Present
Preceded byCharan Singh
Personal
Born1 August 1954
ReligionSikhism
SpouseShabnam Dhillon (deceased)

Gurinder Singh Dhillon ji, also known as Baba Ji to his followers, is the current spiritual head of Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB). He succeeded Maharaj Charan Singh, his uncle, as spiritual head, or guru, of RSSB in 1990.[1] The headquarters of this spiritual community, called Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, are located beside the river Beas near the town of Beas, Punjab, in northern India, and have been a center for satsang since 1891. RSSB has centers located worldwide.

Personal history[]

Gurinder Singh was born 1 August 1954, into a family of the Dhillon clan who were followers of the Radha Soami Satsang Beas.

He was educated at the Lawrence School, Sanawar, in the Shimla Hills of Himachal Pradesh,[2] and obtained his bachelor's degree in Commerce from Punjab University, Chandigarh. He was in Spain working before coming back to India to accept his nomination as the next spiritual head of RSSB in 1990. According to the society, he lives off his own income and in keeping with the policy for all volunteers, he does not receive any money or honorarium from the society. He has two sons Gurpreet Singh Dhillon and Gurkirat Singh Dhillon. Gurpreet is the CEO of Religare Health Trust RHT[3]

Philosophy and teachings[]

RSSB is a philosophical organization based on the spiritual teachings and dedicated to "a process of inner development under the guidance of a spiritual teacher".[citation needed]

That there is a spiritual purpose to human life - "to experience the divinity of God within all of us" is a central belief.[citation needed] In the Indian language,[which?] Radha Soami means ‘lord of the soul’ (radha = soul; soami = lord) satsang describes a group that seeks truth, and Beas refers to the town near which the main center is located in northern India. There are a number of other contemporary movements that use the name ‘Radha Soami’ that Radha Soami Satsang Beas is not associated with.

RSSB was established in India in 1891 and gradually began spreading to other countries in the mid 20th century. RSSB holds meetings in more than 90 countries worldwide. It is a registered non-profit society with no affiliation to any political or commercial organizations.[4]

The philosophy teaches a personal path of spiritual development which includes a lacto-vegetarian diet, abstinence from intoxicants, tobacco, alcohol and mind-altering drugs, a moral way of life (earning living by honest means, not participating in illicit sexual conducts outside legal marriage) and the practice of daily meditation, remembrance of god by repeating five names given by master(guru) at the time of initiation. There are no rituals, ceremonies, hierarchies or mandatory contributions, nor are there compulsory gatherings. Members need not give up their cultural identity or religious preference to follow this path.

The meditation method imparted at the time of initiation is known as Surat Shabd Yoga and is practiced according to the Living Masters instructions. It is a solitary practice where the disciple concentrates within, with eyes closed, and performs simran, meditating upon the five holy names taught/imparted at the time of initiation. This is followed by bhajan: an attempt by the disciple to listen to the divine Sound or 'Word' (also known as Shabd) within. Both these practices form the complete method of meditation as prescribed by Surat Shabd Yoga within Sant Mat.[citation needed]

Spiritual discourses[]

The Dera, located in Beas, Punjab, is the designated home of the spiritual leader of the organization. Large crowds visit on designated days, usually on the weekends, to hear discourses from him. He also gives satsang at other major centers of RSSB in India.[5] He goes on tour to the various RSSB centers outside of India during the months of April–August.[citation needed]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ The encyclopedia of cults, sects, and new religions James R. Lewis - 1998 - Page 395
  2. ^ Sardar Gurinder Singh at radhasoamiji.in, accessed 14 March 2012
  3. ^ "RSSB.org". Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  4. ^ "RSSB.org". Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Satsang Programme". RSSB Official. Retrieved 1 July 2020.

External links[]

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