Satsang Information

Satsang programs by the Master are held at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh in Beas, Punjab, at other locations in India, and at locations around the world. The guidelines for attending these satsangs, as well as accommodation arrangements, are different for resident Indians, non-resident Indians (NRIs), and foreigners. You may consult your local satsang secretary for specific detailed guidelines and information.

Satsang Venue Information outside of India 
Click on the link for information on satsang venues outside of India. Satsang Venues

Designated Satsang Programs at Dera, Beas 
There are typically 19 designated satsang weekends in Dera each year. These weekends occur during the months of September, October, December, February, March, and May. One designated Sunday satsang is also held in June or early July. See "Satsang Schedules" 


Satsang Tour Programs around India (outside of Dera) 
The Master holds satsang programs in many locations around India. Resident Indians and NRIs who wish to attend have to make their own accommodation arrangements. Foreign satsangis and seekers from overseas are permitted to attend Master’s satsangs only in Delhi and Mumbai, but not any other location in India. All visitors must make their own accommodations and transportation arrangements. See "Satsang Schedules" 

Satsang Tour Programs Abroad (outside of India) 
The Master often travels to countries outside of India to hold satsang. These satsang programs abroad are not openly publicized as they are intended only for people in the designated countries.

 

How to apply for Accommodations at Dera, Beas

Accommodations at Dera are available for resident Indians and NRIs only during the designated satsang periods. Accommodations for guests of Indian origin are in Hostels (rooms with beds and attached baths —bedding is provided) and Sarais (large dormitory-style rooms with communal bathrooms; guests must bring their own bedding). Accommodations are allocated based on availability so everyone must be prepared to share a room with their spouse, family member(s), or if single, another person(s) of the same gender.

Resident Indians visiting Dera 
Information concerning visits to Dera, as well as an Accommodation Request Form, can be obtained from your local satsang centre. Accommodation requests should be made a minimum of 3 to 4 months in advance. Accommodation Request Forms should be mailed to:

Accommodation Department Dera Baba Jaimal Singh Radha Soami Satsang Beas Disst. Amritsar, Punjab 143204

• Everyone must bring with them to Dera a valid photo ID containing their age and address.
• Visitors who do not book accommodations in advance will be allocated accommodations based on availability.

NRIs from outside India visiting Dera 
Every country has an NRI Accommodations Coordinator who is authorized to make online reservations for the sangat abroad. Requests for accommodations must go through the NRI Coordinator and must be made at least 60 days in advance. When checking in at Dera, NRIs must provide proof of residency and a passport in order to obtain an NRI ID card. All NRIs must have resided outside of India for at least six months. NRIs should not arrive at Dera without having made a reservation. Accommodations will be allotted depending on availability. Complete information concerning the guidelines for NRIs wanting Dera accommodation can be obtained from any satsang centre in countries outside of India.

• NRIs planning to be accompanied by relatives who live in India are advised that their relatives must apply for accommodations separately, as resident Indians, from their own address in India.

Hostel 6 Guests 

Only initiated satsangis and their spouses can stay at Dera. Accommodation reservations must be made in advance through the eReservation system. Information on how a foreign initiate can make an accommodation reservation for Dera can be obtained from any satsang centre in countries outside of India. 

OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

• RSSB’s main centre is Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, named after its founder who settled there in the late 1800’s. Located in Punjab, India, the ‘Dera’ is a self-contained community with both administrative and residential facilities. Although the centres throughout the world are affiliated with RSSB India, each country's administration is autonomous, with a Board of Management that operates under a standard constitution modified to comply with local laws and conditions. Administration is handled entirely by volunteers, and operations are funded through unsolicited donations. The organization does not engage in any fundraising activities. 

There are more than 5,000 RSSB centres throughout India, and internationally RSSB-affiliated organizations hold meetings in more than 90 countries. Meetings are held in rented halls, community centres or RSSB-owned properties. The purpose of these gatherings is to explain the RSSB philosophy. The meetings are non-denominational and open to the public. No fees are charged and there is no advertising or proselytizing.

RSSB has a publishing department that has produced more than 70 original titles on spirituality. Volunteers have translated a large selection of these books into 35 languages. A 20,000 square-metre library at the main centre in India will eventually house a collection of nearly 500,000 volumes concentrating on world religions, mysticism, philosophy and related subjects. The library will be open to scholars and researchers of all faiths.

In order to consolidate RSSB’s medical outreach and health initiatives, it has set up a sister organization, the Maharaj Jagat Singh Medical Relief Society, which operates three rural charitable hospitals: in Beas, Punjab; Sikanderpur, Haryana; and in Bhota, Himachal Pradesh. All three hospitals function as primary care facilities with fully functioning medical departments such as: ophthalmology, orthopaedics, gynaecology & obstetrics, ENT, surgery & anaesthesia, paediatrics, radiology, and dental. All medical services, including medicine and in-patient care are provided free of charge. The Beas Hospital is the largest hospital with 260 beds and treats on average 1,200 patients each day through its Outpatient Department (OPD). The Sikanderpur Hospital has 50 beds, the Bhota Hospital has 75 beds, and each treats about 450 patients each day through their Outpatient Departments. The large number of OPD patients is a reflection of the limited number of medical facilities in these rural farming communities. No distinction is made as to the background of the patients, either in regard to their economic status, social standing, or religious affiliation.

While the focus of the path is spiritual, centred on an internal meditation practice, at the same time members are encouraged to volunteer their free time in seva (service), voluntary service to others regardless of religion, caste or colour. In this context, RSSB has supported disaster relief efforts in a number of emergency situations, building multi-purpose community shelters and housing. These include the Gujarat earthquake of 2000, the Kashmir earthquake of 2005, Leh cloudbursts and landslides of 2010, and the Nepal earthquake of 2015.

The Main Centre 

Dera Baba Jaimal Singh is a mini-township with 7,000 residents. Since the Dera is the home of the spiritual leader of the organization, large crowds visit on specially designated weekends to hear his discourses. These crowds average between 200,000 to 500,000 people depending on the season. The administration has become highly skilled in managing and providing facilities for large numbers of people on a short-term basis.

The Satsang Venue

In order to provide a sheltered satsang venue for these gatherings, the Dera’s engineering department has constructed one of the largest covered structures in Asia, designed and fabricated on site using a lightweight space-frame technology. The roof provides a covered area where up to 500,000 people can be seated, and which can easily be expanded as the need arises. A computerized digital audio system was specially designed for the venue to provide the best possible sound for such a challenging environment.

Food

To feed the visitors three meals a day, several approaches are taken. The langar (a place where food is served free of charge) is the primary means. The free langar complex covers over 48 acres and operates around the clock. Capable of feeding up to 300,000 people per meal, 50,000 in a single sitting, it has a mostly volunteer staff who prepare and serve simple but nourishing food suitable to local tastes. As an example, the langar annually cooks more than 350,000 kilos of rice and uses more than 2.6 million kilos of wheat to make the traditional flat breads. Meals are also served at canteens and snack bars at a nominal price.

Shelter

The colony is visited by people from around the world and all walks of life. To provide temporary accommodations for everyone, a variety of facilities are offered, all free of charge. There are a number of guest hostels with individual rooms and attached baths, hostels with dormitory-style rooms, and other large buildings to house visitors.

The Community

The Dera seeks to be as self-sufficient and environmentally friendly as possible. Every year thousands of trees are planted. Many lawns and parks beautify the colony and provide space for visitors and residents to rest and relax. More than 1,250 acres of land are cultivated for growing vegetables and fruits that are used in the langar and by Dera residents. Organic farming methods are being adapted to local conditions. The Dera has its own water supply, water treatment plant and solid waste treatment facility. It has its own electrical sub-station and large electrical generator back-up facility to supply emergency power to the whole community. In addition, the Dera generates 19.5 megawatts (peak) electricity from photovoltaic (solar) panels mounted on the rooftops of eight large sheds.

The Pathseekers School is a recent project established for the benefit of the children of Dera residents and the staffs of the Dera and Beas hospitals. It currently serves approximately 850 students from the primary to secondary levels. The school is professionally run and equipped with up-to-date laboratories and computers, and offers a full range of arts, sports and academic programs. The students receive a well-rounded education – up to India’s Certified Board Education standard.