Gobind Sadan
God's house Without Walls

Memorial Press Releases

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Gobind Sadan, New Delhi
26th December

Songs of praise filled Gobind Sadan’s auditorium as everyone’s eyes filled with tears. On the stage where leaders from all over the world had convened conferences to highlight Babaji’s mission for peace, Baba Virsa Singh ji’s body lay in state. All day and night, devotees gathered to pay their farewells and take a final glimpse of the one who had changed their lives. An honor guard stood with swords drawn before the clear casket, as people filed by to shower petals, lay wreaths and garlands, and wave Chauri Sahibs over their beloved spiritual Master.

The Ford Bronco that had carried Babaji through the rough roads as he spread his message of love and developed countless acres of wastelands into productive farm lands was decked out with flowers to carry him on his final journey. As the time approached, Babaji’s body was escorted by a procession led by the honor guards dressed in saffron colored clothes, followed by women singing praises and carrying trays of oil lamps. Anyone who could get near enough through the throngs, rushed to touch the car, shower flowers, or just walk along the path leading down from the auditorium to the field below.

In the assembly ground below Babaji’s home, a beautiful site had been prepared to offer Babaji’s body back to God in thanks for allowing those who were fortunate enough to be in his presence. Sacred melodies tempered by tears greeted the body as it was laid on a pyre of fragrant woods placed by long-time devotees and family. Then after a prayer of thanks for his life, family members lit the pyre as is traditional. The prayers and hymns grew louder with the crackling flames licked the body and leaped high in the air. The Light that Babaji had brought to the world, and the light that burns in Gobind Sadan’s sacred fires,

All night long, devotees kept a silent prayer vigil while the fire burned down. Tomorrow the ashes and remains will be collected and interred on that spot. Next Sunday the 6th his memorial service will be held at 1 pm.. People from all over the world will flood Gobind Sadan to pay tribute and sing his praises.

His Holiness Baba Virsa Singh, internationally renowned spiritual leader, founder and preceptor of Gobind Sadan, had left this world on Monday morning the 24th, after a brief illness, to continue His battle for Goodness on another plane. Throughout His life on this earth, Babaji was an outspoken defender advocate and champion of inter-communal harmony, he was a Healer and Spiritual teacher to countless individuals throughout the world. He was known for his prophetic statements about major world events such as the break up of the Soviet Union and the impact on the gulf war on American life, and countless miracles of sight to the blind, healing leprosy, allowing the cripples to walk have been documented since his childhood. But Babaji himself always felt the greatest miracle was changing the human mind towards good. Known as “God’s House without Walls,” Gobind Sadan has devotees in all the major countries of the world.

“What impresses me most is that Babaji has offered us a practical example of how we as a nation and a world can overcome our religious differences by respecting all religions. Babaji himself worked and linked people to the land and showed the way for our country to progress. He will be greatly missed.”
Kuldip Nayar, Eminent journalist and fmr. Rajya Sabha member, Fmr. High Commissioner to England

Most notably, Babaji’s impact on Russia has been remarkable.

“The world needs spiritual directions, which we have found at Gobind Sadan. Here we find what is missing in Russia in our grey everyday life. No doubt, we must get rid of poverty. Poverty is not an isolated problem. If we solve the problems from a spiritual perspective and transform human consciousness, then we will receive the wisdom to solve all our . The teachings of Baba Virsa Singh are the real mechanism of transformation. Though there are no words to express our loss, we know his teachings and spiritual presence will continue to inspire and change our nation and the world.
Yuriy Ageshin, Pro-rector Russian School of Private Law and legal advisor to the Duma

“In 2004 Babaji together with his delegation were in Russia and met with deputies of the State Duma, with Luzhkov, the mayor of Moscow, and I am sure that the fact of the better and faster development of economy in Russia, happened due to Babaji as well. Because Babaji helped so many people who met him for the first time to rethink the way we are living today and point us in the right direction.” We are committed to carrying on his legacy for the benefit of our people and the world.”
Svetlana Smirnova, Deputy, State Duma and Member PACE

“Maharaj ji will be with us forever and it is our great responsibility to carry on His mission,”
Marypat Fisher, long time devotee and author of “Living Religions”

Babaji’s discourses have transformed people’s lives throughout the world. They have been translated into many languages and published in newspapers and magazines around the world. They have been compiled into books, “Loving God,” and “Words of Wisdom.”
Sterling Publishers

“While the entire Gobind Sadan family is united in grief, we continue to be uplifted by Babaji’s spiritual presence and legacy. Great spiritual beings are not limited by their bodily presence, and we know He is always with us. We are all committed to carry forth his mission of love and uplift of all humanity throughout the world.”
Ralph Singh, on behalf of Gobind Sadan

Background Information

Born on 20 February 1934, in what is now Rajajung, Dist Lahore, Pakistan. In 1947, during partition, he was uprooted and moved with his family to Sarawan Bodla, Mukhtsar District, Punjab. From childhood, he was recognized with great visionary and healing powers of Biblical proportion.

Obeying the command of God, Babaji moved from place to place, from Karnal in Haryana, North of Bareilly in UP, to Simla, Amritsar, Chandigarh and finally Delhi, reminding people of dharma, the Eternal Truths of all religions beyond any sectarian divisions. He was directed to some dry, thorny, rocky land at the south end of Delhi offered by a devotee, Sardarni Nirlep Kaur. And in June of 1968 he began to develop that land into what is now Gobind Sadan, “God’s House Without Walls”—a paradise of peaceful gardens, tree-lined paths, round-the-clock devotional centers, and a free community kitchen for people of all faiths and all social levels where miracles are everyday occurrences. He developed farms elsewhere as well, including the huge model farm known as Shiv Sadan, reclaimed from a dangerous flood-prone wasteland on the banks of the holy river Ganges.

People of all faiths and many countries come to Babaji at Gobind Sadan for his blessings and guidance, for practical spiritual training, for devotional worship, and for seva (voluntary service). Those working on the farms do strenuous manual labor from dawn to dusk, raising lush productive crops with yields far exceeding those in surrounding areas. The sevadars do not tire; they say they feel invigorated and blessed by the work. As they work, Babaji encourages them to silently recite God’s Holy Name in loving remembrance (“Ik Onkar Sat Nam Siri Wahe Guru”—”There is One God whose name is Truth, Praise the Ever Greater ,ever more wondrous God”) and Jaap Sahib – Guru Gobind Singh’s empowering Hymns of Praise.

The work supports Babaji¡’s mission to overcome poverty and religious conflict and bring peace to both individuals and the world. To heal those poor in spirit, prayers are offered round the clock. To uplift the deserving poor, langars (free community meals where people of all castes sit side by side on the ground), free medical care, schooling for children, are offered free of cost. And to teach reverence for all those who bring God’ message and their teachings, Babaji holds interfaith gatherings and celebrates the major holidays of all religions.

Baba Virsa Singh makes no claim to being a guru; he does not seek fame, followers, or money. He says, “I am just trying to be a better human being. What I say is not new. I just repeat the commands of God so that people will remember them.” The lives and teachings of the Sikh Gurus are the model for his practical work, yet he continually refers to the timeless teachings revealed by all Prophets. He stresses that sectarian divisions have been created by humans, not by God or God’s Messengers. His basic program is the same for everyone: Recite Nam, read Jaap Sahib (Guru Gobind Singh’s empowering Hymn of God’s praises), do seva and rise early in the morning to begin thanking God and looking within yourself to battle with your own evils.

Babaji is highly respected as a world class leader, by scholars (though he has not received any formal worldly education), by government officials (though he seeks no one’s favor), by scientists (who find truth in Babaji’s words and presence even if they have been religious skeptics), and by religious leaders and devotees of all faiths (for he sincerely loves and encourages appreciation of all Prophets and scriptures). Although multitudes have been blessed, healed and personally transformed through his influence and by following the practical program he recommends, Babaji continually says, “God is the only Doer, the One who gives you everything. Give all your love to God.”

Baba Virsa Singh is a holy person of Biblical proportion. A world-class leader who seeks no worldly position, he does not refer to himself as a Guru or miracle-worker. He comes from a mud-brick village in Punjab, does not read or write in any language but those of great intelligence, wealth, and worldly power bow at his feet, seek his guidance, and attribute many miracles in their lives to his influence. In his spontaneous talks, he quotes extensively from the scriptures and stories of all religions. His special mission is to bring people of all religious paths closer to God, and bring peace by overcoming the conflicts that plague the world. He has worked hard all his life to set an example of how one can rise out of poverty and stresses that without work any philosophy remains just a theory. He is an inspired farmer who communicates with the crops and the land, and they respond with record-breaking bounty. When asked, he says only, “I am just trying to be a better human being.”

Babaji’s Path to World Peace focuses on:

Healing the Human Mind—“When a river overflows its banks it does great damage to the surrounding areas. But when a person’s mind is not controlled, he can destroy entire countries. Anger and hatred are out of control. You must control your anger. Leadership must speak responsibly. Media must deliver messages that soothe the people, not pour more gas on the fire. When our thoughts are poisoning us, how will worldly medicine help? First look to God, then look within and find peace. “Worry afflicts ninety percent of the world. If this disease is eradicated from the mind, all physical diseases will also end.”

Overcoming Religious Conflict“Celebrate each other’s holidays and share each other’s scriptures.”

To build interfaith understanding, Babaji teaches everyone to show reverence to each other’s traditions and the Messengers. Gobind Sadan is a practical demonstration, where the major holy days of all traditions are celebrated. On a daily basis, while continuous readings from Guru Granth Sahib go on, prayers are offered at the sacred fires (havans) 24 hours a day. People come to pray at Jesus’s place, the Sh’ma Place, the Mosque, and the Mandirs that dot the hillside. Babaji also defends the good name of all God’s messengers and speaks out against those who would malign another’s religion or prophet.

Overcoming Poverty—“Poverty is not a permanent state. There is no such class or nation we can call “the poor”. Work hard and thank God and He will lift you out of poverty. That is my own personal experience. World policies are wrong. There should be no poverty!”

For the past 40 years, Babaji has repeatedly transformed barren land into productive farms to show how, through hard work and God’s blessings, poverty can be eradicated. He doesn’t feel that poverty should exist. Despite his great spiritual prowess, he at heart considers himself a farmer.

Overcoming Terrorism—“There is no such thing as a ‘Terrorist’,”

Babaji goes so far as to say. He has practically demonstrated how to transform those we consider terrorists into productive citizens, in both the Indian states of Mizoram and Punjab. He feels that the current methods to stamp out terrorism have just increased its spread. He condemns violence in the name of religion, stating that religious fundamentalists are the real atheists who turn people away from God.

Science and the Mystical Experience—“Dharam is the greatest science”

“The scientist and the dervish are both lost in their search – one for the key to creation and the other in their love for the Creator. When they sit together, the scientist discovers that spiritual enlightenment is the greatest science and his research can actually progress more rapidly for the benefit of all humanity.

Everyday Miracles—At Gobind Sadan, what some may consider miracles are everyday occurrences. Diseases are cured, business and personal problems, and even social conflicts solved almost immediately through prayer at the various Holy places.

Baba Virsa Singh has touched and healed people at all levels of society and personally demonstrated how to solve the most intractable problems that plague the world. Here are some testimonials to his work.

Impact on India

“What impresses me most is that Babaji has offered us a practical example of how we as a nation and a world can overcome our religious differences by respecting all religions. Babaji himself worked and linked people to the land and showed the way for our country to progress.”
Kuldip Nayar, Eminent journalist and fmr. Rajya Sabha member, Fmr. High Commissioner to England

“If we want to strengthen the fabric of Indian society, then we should all adopt the teachings of Baba Virsa Singh. Babaji has had a great role in uniting our nation. If the leadership of India would listen to Baba Virsa Singh then we would not have any problems.”
Sri Ashok Singhal, Int’l Chairman, Vishwa Hindu Parishad

Impact on Russia

“The world needs spiritual directions, which we have found at Gobind Sadan. Here we find what is missing in Russia in our grey everyday life. No doubt, we must get rid of poverty. Poverty is not an isolated problem. If we solve the problems from a spiritual perspective and transform human consciousness, then we will receive the wisdom to solve all our problems. The teachings of Baba Virsa Singh are the real mechanism of transformation”
Yuriy Ageshin, Pro-rector Russian School of Private Law and legal advisor to the Duma

“In 2004 Babaji together with his delegation were in Russia and met with deputies of the State Duma, with Luzhkov, the mayor of Moscow, and I am sure that the fact of the better and faster development of economy in Russia, happened due to Babaji as well. Because Babaji helped so many people who met him for the first time to rethink the way we are living today and point us in the right direction.”
Svetlana Smirnova, Deputy, State Duma and Member PACE

Overcoming Religious Conflict

“Baba Virsa Singh reminds us of and indeed belongs to the chain of the great saints and sages of India who have brought the people together through their extraordinary powers, which include the power of love. We should learn from him the vital lesson of loving and helping not only people within a particular religious community but all those outside it and establish the religion of humanity which is the cornerstone of all great religions and the only road to survival.”

Dr. S. A. Ali, Founder member of Hamdard University:

“I want to say that I deeply appreciate and admire Babaji as the presence of God to me. The light that comes from him washes away all my darkness. We must thank God that someone like Babaji is living in our midst. The presence of one holy soul is a great blessing to the world.”

The Late Father Paulos Mar Gregorios,Fmr Metropolitan, Past-President World Council of Churches

“Whatever theological interpretation one may give to the role and message of Baba Virsa Sing and to what is happening under his inspiration at Gobind Sadan, one cannot deny the power of this man’s example and message: he and his community show us how persons of all religions can transcend their differences and come together to work for the poor and the transformation of this world.”
Paul F Knitter, Professor of Theology, Xavier University

Overcoming Poverty

“In my international development career, when working with the poor to help them get out of poverty I have always started with what they had rather with what they needed. It is a self- empowerment approach. The work is worship approach pioneered by Babaji at Gobind Sadan is the spiritual soul mate of my work. My transition to this type of thinking was certainly though subtly influenced through my first encounter with Babaji 14 years ago.”
Dr. Naresh Singh, Exec. Director, UNDP Commission, Legal Empowerment of the Poor

Overcoming Terrorism

“Unlike today, this was a period of relative calm in India and the term ‘terrorism’ was virtually unheard of. So the violence in Mizoram, especially the triple assassination was a real shock. Baba Virsa Singh ji’s role in providing vision and counsel, through I.G. Gurnam Singh Randhawa and the guidance he gave me personally can not be overstated. His spiritual presence was indeed the determining factor in bringing peace. But the lessons we have learned and model we have gained are definitely transferable.”
S.K. Chhibber, Former Governor, Indian State of Mizoram

Inspiring the Ideals of Khalsa and the legacy of Guru Nanak

“For over 40 years, Babaji has been working very quietly behind the scenes in order to remove the conflicts that are taking place among religions, among families, within villages, and between political and religious groups. Babaji’s aim in life is to teach people to think of peace and not of conflict. This is message is badly needed today. In the way that a pious soul, God’s messenger does it, Babaji has been teaching us who live in one world but in so many different ways how to live as one nation and as one human family.”
Late Dr. Bhai Mohan Singh – Fmr. Chair, Gobind Sadan Society for Interfaith Understanding

“Even though Babaji himself had never been to school, he was able to answer even my most difficult questions. Babaji’s personal example of honest hard work and loving God, set the model of Khalsa for me throughout my life.”
Ranjit Singh Kalha, Member, Human Rights Commission, fmr Foreign Secretary, Gov’t of India

“What Babaji has accomplished in teaching meditation and bringing everyone together to demonstrate the equality of humanity, and bringing all religions together in one place in Gobind Sadan is a great work. Now he is focusing the world, especially India and Russia on the scourge of poverty. This is such an enormous contribution to the legacy of Guru Nanak. He has given practical shape to his teachings, and demonstrated how to work hard, thank God, and share with those in need.”
Tarlochan Singh, MP and fmr. Chair, National Commission for Minorities

“Keep growing in love for your Master. Do not look to this side or that or even at the path ahead, because people will always be criticizing you.”

Baba Virsa Singh

“Trees do not wear crosses, but the great spiritual beings see God in trees. Water has no symbols, but Guru Gobind Singh says, ‘My God is in water.”

Baba Virsa Singh JI

"We do spiritual practices to gradually prepare the way for enlightenment. It does not come immediately."

Baba Virsa Singh JI

"Management does not change things. It is God who changes people."

Baba Virsa Singh JI

"Our mind is not controlled. It is a fire fed by wood from the whole world."

Baba Virsa Singh JI

"Think that everything in this world exists with God’s blessings, whether we regard it as pleasant or unpleasant."

Baba Virsa Singh JI

"First look within yourself, and then you will see God everywhere."

Baba Virsa Singh JI

"If we keep faith and love in difficulties, and pray for those who abuse us, we will always remain happy & free."

Baba Virsa Singh Ji

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