Radhasoami was founded as an Indian religion which derived its teaching from the Sant Mat tradition under the leadership of Shiv Dayal Singh who also taught the self realization method of Surat Shabd Yoga which culminates into a God realization.
This movement is considered moral in character and humanitarian in its efforts along with being environmentally friendly. Their primary goal is the betterment of society regardless of background.
Philosophically and to some degree practically this is considered a nice cult but does it measure up to being the ultimate spiritual reality?
Moreover many of its goals and propositions center around achieving peace. Yet the element of strife still remains in that these 100 or so individuated Radhasoami groups are a result of schisms among their followers. This division among the groups started at the onset of Param Sant Shiv Dayal Singh ji’s death and still continues today among many of these Radhasoami sects who fight over the succession of their gurus or even over the rightful owner ship of the gravesite of (Swamiji) Soamiji Maharaj regarding property rights and worship privileges. So if the original or first disciples and elite members were not able to live under the idealism of this philosophy of peace and unity then what hope is there for the other adherents? Also do these actions or reactions convincingly provide enough evidence to reassure the brotherhood of mankind? Thus if the different Radhasoami groups can not obtain a cohesion between all their followers then what about dissimilar movements who are supposed to be received regardless of their religious views?
Now concerning the egalitarian view of its members regardless of caste is a falsehood because it basically recognizes a priestly caste which is guru or swami centered and furthermore among the Beas they even make another distinction of discrimination based on the religious background of their spiritual leadership which has been solely retained by the Sikhs which in turn has also created political and religious disharmony among the orthodox Sikhs due to their devotion of a living guru. Additionally some of these groups have not only deified their supreme spiritual master, Shiv Dayal Sing, believing him to be the unique and supreme incarnation of the highest lord Aanami Purush but they also recognize their present day swami or guru as being a manifestation of deity as well. Therefore how can there be equality with such spiritual elitism?
Also some of these RSSB groups are presented as being “scientific” but have unscientific methods which deal with concepts of the mystical and metaphysical beliefs and practices which is supposedly an efficacious way of developing the spiritual faculties of man.
Anyway I known all this skepticism may seem as if I am being overly critical of this group as in reality all religions have their own problems to deal with due to the fallibility of mankind but anytime a person or group puts forth something of supreme significance such as an ultimate reality in my opinion it deserves to be scrutinized. Not only that but present day Beas leader Gurinder Singh Ji goes as far as to encourage people to search other arenas of faith to ensure themselves that they are on the right path of truth before becoming a practitioner of the Radha Swami faith. My question to you is have you done your homework and have you equally considered other avenues and expressions of faith to the point that you would be willing to follow the facts no matter where they lead you even if it was against your own human inclination or preference? I think to research all religious knowledge without bias is fundamentally impossible and thus there always remains the potential of there being another reality which is beyond this movement and it would behoove you as an individual who is set out on discovering truth to continue seeking it out.
Concerning Radha Soami have you really critically asked yourself if this is the quintessential aspect of divine truth and experience which is accomplished by tuning into the voices and sounds one hears. Also can a person really come “to see the light” through the continual repetition of a mantra or by meditating 2 1/2 hours a day? Maybe you are already disillusioned with the promised payload of achieving the riches of a spiritual inheritance only to know that deep down your true state is moral bankruptcy. Furthermore what do you do with the guilt that you carry if you have failed in living up to the expectations of the gurus? How can you really be assured that you are pleasing to the Supreme Being you are showing devotion to? Perhaps you are not sure about these questions and would at least be willing to explore other resources of which I would like to present to you the personification of truth.
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
Jesus is the embodiment of truth as He alone is able to free you completely unto salvation, moksha or niravana.
John 8:31-32
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Finally Jesus is able to do for you what you can not do or achieve for yourself in giving you an easy yoke which you will be able to bear.
Mt 11: 28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
In closing I would like to share with you some of my testimony in which I came to the realization of Jesus as the Lord of my Soul.
Jesus is one of the most influential persons who ever graced the earth with His presence and it was through His influence that the landscape of the world would be forever changed. This messianic movement started out as a small and insignificant group which was locally situated in the geographical region of the East but has now fully enveloped the globe as being universal in scope. Today there maybe over 70 million inhabitants in India alone who embrace Him as Lord and Savior and here are some of their stories
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/2010/02/23/hindu-resources/
www.cbn.com/700club/features/Amazing/
Also I am including some links and I would encourage you to research and consider the biblical truth claims. In addition to this I would challenge you to just ask God or the Supreme Being in your quite time of meditation if Jesus really is the source of salvation and in turn may you hear His voice speaking to your heart as you respond by faith in calling upon His name.
Religions of the world: a comprehensive encyclopedia of beliefs and practices/ J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, editors; Todd M. Johnson, World Religious Statistics; Donald Wiebe, Introduction-2nd ed., Copyright 2010 by ABC-CLIO, LLC. Reproduced with permission of ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, CA.
Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.6, pgs.3986-3987, John Stratton Hawley