Imagine you are transported in time back to northern India of the last century ………. to the early 1870s. We go to the most populous part of India; the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plain of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh ( now known as Uttar Pradesh) that sits below the great Himalayas.

The Ganges flows down from the hills onto this plain, and comes to the small town of Fatehgarh, not far from the larger township Farrukhabad. The town is mostly composed of mud huts and cottages all huddled together. It is a local village atmosphere, where everyone knows everyone else. Hindus and Moslems live side by side in this part of the world, and have done so for hundreds of years. There is no running water, no electricity. Winters are cold, summers are hot. Transport is by foot, horse or cart. In all directions there is farmland. Fresh produce is colourfully displayed on stands by the side of the road. Monkeys scamper on the outskirts of town. In the swampy wetlands out of town, beautiful birds sit majestically in the thick early morning mist. Birds so large, it is easy to think they are people. The elegant Siberian herons, that fly south during the Arctic winter.

Smell the dusty, earthiness of village life: of food cooking, of cow and horse dung in the streets, and of the sweet incense, oils and spices. Walking along the Ganges River, we come to a part of town that is more prosperous, and eventually to a house that is quite grand for this small town.

There sits a lovely lady. Soft, serene, and singing as she works. Her voice is beautiful, and we can see by the way she speaks with others that she is much loved and admired. There is a glow of saintliness about her. Although it does not show in her demeanour, this lady carries a sadness: she longs for a son.

As we watch, a holy man comes to her door and asks for food. Ever charitable, she welcomes him and feeds him. Surprisingly, he asks for fish. Because of her religious beliefs, she does not have fish in the house, and has to ask her maid to help. The maid searches and finds two fishes, and the serves the saint. He seems very pleased and eats well.
When he is about to leave, he turns back and asks the lady: "What ails you?"
The lady says nothing, but the maid replies: "My noble mistress has everything except a son."
"Oh!" exclaims the saint. He looks beyond the deep blue of the sky. After a few minutes he smiles, and raising his two fingers towards heaven he says: "One … two …one … two". Then he takes his leave, never to be seen again.

The saint's blessing resulted in two sons for our dear lady. On the 2nd February, 1873, the day of Basant Panchami, was the joyous and prophetic birth of Ram Chandra, whom we have come to know as Lalaji. Lalaji's younger brother, Chachcha Ji, was born in 1875.

Lalaji's life is shrouded in obscurity, but it is clear that it was not an easy one, especially by our modern standards. But he never ran from difficulty. His life was full of courage, patience and compassion. His mother died when he was only seven years old. He was then brought up by another lady who loved him dearly. Lalaji had a deep regard for her all his life.

He sang beautifully like his mother, and her spiritual life had a deep effect on him. Lalaji learnt Hindi from his mother, and was also taught Urdu, Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit. He later learnt English at the Mission school in Farrukhabad. While at school, he lived in a small room next to a teacher who helped him, and was very fond of him. During this time, his love for God increased. It is said that the teacher recognised the great spark of divinity that shone from Lalaji, and encouraged him to recognise his spiritual calling.

Lalaji was very graceful. His face was beautiful. People often noticed his eyes: they were like two bright stars, and appeared to see through everyone and everything. They were very deep, like deep pools of water. He kept his eyes down. He did not laugh aloud, but smiled with such goodness and sweetness that it brightened others.

If someone gave him something with love, he would use it. He did not like to be flattered, and was strict with his followers, whom he loved. He was against rituals. He was always calm, but was affected by the pains and pleasures of others. He didn't get angry very often. He spoke only when it was necessary, but when someone asked him a question he explained very carefully and clearly. If the person could not understand him, he gave the person the state of awareness to have the knowledge.

He wore simple, clean clothes - kurtas, shirts, pyjamas and dhotis - and sometimes a waistcoat over his kurta, and a buttoned-up coat reaching down to his knees. He had a coloured cap and wrapped a shawl around his shoulders in winter.

He ate simple food, like bread, pulses, chutney, vegetables and pickles. He did not eat meat, ice or tea. He did not eat breakfast.

He was an example to his followers of how to live a family life. His servants were treated like members of the family, and were always paid properly. He respected his elders, was humble with those his own age, and loved those who were younger.

He started to train others after moving back to Fatehgarh in 1908, and began to have regular satsangh in 1914. He woke before sunrise, and did his spiritual practice and trained others before he went to his office. On returning home from work, he again trained others. After dinner he walked, and then again trained others before going to bed at 10 pm. He then stayed awake, transmitting his spiritual life force up to 2 am. When he retired in 1929, he devoted all his time to his spiritual work. He spent two-three hours a day dictating books, articles and letters to his followers. Sadly, most of his writings are unavailable.

He became very sick, and eventually one day in August 1934 he said: "Many liberated souls are present around my bed. This is sure proof that the hour to be with my beloved is come."
On the day he passed from his body, he walked to the meditation room, lay on his bed and closed his eyes, never to be opened again.

It has been said that Lalaji was loved by many people, and that is still true today. On his birthday, every year, people from all over come to his burial place in Fategharh to remember him. Others celebrate his birthday, in all parts of the globe as Basant panchami.

Lalaji was always a model for his disciples, and practised what he preached. Following are some of his teachings:

Never offer advice unless asked, or it might turn out badly. If you see any faults in a person, pray for them to change and be free of the faults. Lalaji never talked about anyone's faults.

Live so that you have fewer and fewer wants. Do not buy something new if you can manage to carry on with your old belongings.

It is OK to earn money by honest means, as long as it is spent on others. He did not like greed. He did not allow drugs, alcohol, and adultery among his disciples. He did not allow displays of miracles or powers.

He did not like idol worship, and would not allow his followers to worship his photo. He did not like self praise. He taught that meditation on the heart is the real practice. Also, that prayer is very important, as long as it is not for material gain. He prayed for the soul of the world.

He liked truth. A person should only say what is in their heart. The inner and outer condition of a person should be the same.

Spiritual perfection included three things:
(1) love for the Master
(2) satsangh with the Master
(3) obedience to the Master
He taught that a serious spiritual seeker should have a teacher (Master or Guru), and that care should be taken to select a teacher.

Reprinted with permission from the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, from the Teachers' Guide for Value-based Spiritual Education. Curriculum for Classes I to X, 2000, Sahaj Marg Research and Training Institute of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Chennai, India. For information contact Santosh Khanjee, Secretary of International Affairs at info@srcm.org.

Q: What do we learn from the life of Lalaji and his teachings? Think about how you would apply some of these principles in your own life.

O, Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life.
We are yet but slaves of wishes
Putting bar to our advancement,
Thou art the only God and power
To bring us up to that stage.