A study of the teachings of Baba Sawan Singh in the Gurmat Siddhant

Abstract

This study centres on the teachings of Baba Sawan Singh in the Gurmat Siddhant. Babà Sawan Singh is a Satguru of the Beas line of the Radhàsoàmi movement. The Râdhâsoâmi tradition is a twentieth century manifestation of the medieval Sant tradition. The Gurmat Siddhant contains a modern day exposition of Sant Mat. The primary aim of this study is to explain and interprete the contents of the Gurmat Siddhant. In so doing Baba Sawan Singh's brand of neo-Santism is systematically presented and the synthetic nature of his teachings revealed. The study consists of a general introduction, eight chapters and a general conclusion. The general introduction outlines the early history of the southern and northern Sant traditions. It also characterizes the main features of the Sant belief system. The structure and content of the thesis is also outlined here. Chapter I examines the early development of the Radhasoami movement from 1878 to 1948. It analyzes the growth of the Agra and Beas camps and highlights Babà Sawan Singh's role at Dera Babà Jaimal Singh. Chapter II studies the concept of God in the Gurmat Siddhant. It examines Baba Sawan Singh's concept of the divine creator and the doctrine of divine self-expression. Chapter III analyzes the cosmogony and cosmology of the Gurmat Siddhant. It provides an appraisal of Babà Sawan Singh's interpretation of the Radhasoami scheme of creation. Chapter IV appraises what is said about the status and role of the Satguru. Chapter V looks at Surat Sabd Yoga as a spiritual discipline and explains its role as an instrument of spiritual salvation. Chapter VI defines the concept of bhakti in the Gurmat Siddhant. It explains how Babà Sawan Singh perceives bhakti as a devotional response to God. Chapter VII presents a studied appraisal of the ethics of the Gurmat Siddhant. It examines the idea of the relationship between ethical values and self-transformation as perceived by Baba Sawan Singh. Chapter VIII discusses the "unity of religions" thesis as it appears in the Gurmat Siddhant. It highlights Bàba Sawan Singh's primordialist approach to religion and examines what is said about the nature of religion. The general conclusion, presents an outline of the main features of Baba Sawan Singh's thought as discussed in the main chapters. It also developes a perspective regarding Babà Sawan Singh's neo-Sant syntheticism.