World Religions Conference November 1957

Author(s): Sushil Muni
Publisher: Achal Singh Seth

Page 58

Talk by Sant Kirpal Singh ji
All countries are dreading the danger of the atomic war. Is there any remedy to escape the danger of atomic war and to gain permanent peace?
The Rishis and other great men who came in the past gave out- Man! You are fortunate, you have got a human birth, the highest in all creation. It is thy turn to meet God. In order to know God you should know yourself first as it is the soul that has to experience God. He cannot be known by intellect, mind or the outgoing faculties. So knowledge of the self precedes, or as it were, is the knowledge of God.
They, therefore, laid down certain laws to go by, to help on the Way to Realisation of God, and called that Dharma.
What is Dharma ? The deed of an individual, is called, Karma and the deed of a class of people, is called, Dharma. Dharma was given out in the form of teachings by all the great Masters-viz. the Ten Commandments of Moses, the Eight Fold Path of the Buddha and Five Fastings of Jains and the ten Beatitudes of Christ-and the s most important of them being-thou shalt not kill,-'kill not' and observe Ahimsa. Not even to think of it. The Vedas also enjoin, 'injure no living being'.
There are so many aspects of Dharma. The potent and the highest of all is Ahimsa. 'Ahimsa' means non-violence. All Rishis and great men have enjoined this.
What you cannot give, how can you take it away, Is the question. Guru Arjan says,
'Why O Man you kill animals and birds. Do'nt you know you also have to die? They are sentient beings like you, going round in an endless series of transmigration.
The Tenth Guru also gave out,
'God is not pleased with those who kill'.
Dharma born of compassion and contentment is supporting and holding all creation in harmony, for thus spake Guru Nanak,
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"A man without compassion is not a man, But a veritable butcher."