Adherents believe Surat Shabda Yoga has been expressed through the movements of many different masters. However, a basic principle of Surat Shabd Yoga's tradition is the requirement for an outer
Living Master to initiate followers onto the Path. The movements whose historical Satgurus have died and their successors do not purport themselves to be Surat Shabd Yoga Satgurus, usually are not considered currently to be Surat Shabd Yoga movements, either by their own leaders or by movements with current Living Masters. Satguru Maharshi Mehi Paramahansa Ji Maharaj is considered the movement leader in the 20th century. He came to an isolated cave of Kuppaghat, Bhagalpur (Bihar, India) and practiced Surat-Shabda Yoga from March 1933 - November 1934. He achieved self-realization and attained ultimate salvation during his practice. He wrote books "Moksha-Darshan (Philosophy of Salvation), "Satsang-Yoga", "Shri Gita-Yoga Prakash", "Raamcharit Maanas Saar-Satik", "Maharshi-Mehi-Padaawali" and "Maharshi-Mehi-Padawaali". The
Radha Soami movement of Surat Shabda Yoga was established by
Shiv Dayal Singh (1818–1878) in 1861 and named "Radhasoami Satsang" circa 1866. Soamiji Maharaj, as he was known, presided over the
satsang meetings for seventeen years at Panni Gali and Soami Bagh in
Agra, India, until he died on June 15, 1878. Accounts of his guru and successors vary, although he gave verbal instructions on his last day as to how his followers should be cared for. According to
Radha Soami Satsang Beas, his guru was Tulsi Sahib of Hathras. According to the successors Soami Bagh and Dayal Bagh, Tulsi Sahib was a contemporary guru of the same teachings; but being a natural born Satguru, Shiv Dayal Singh himself had no guru. After his death, six immediate successors carried on Shiv Dayal Singh’s teachings, including Huzur Maharaj
Rai Salig Ram of Peepal Mandi, Agra, and Babaji Maharaj
Baba Jaimal Singh of
Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB). More information on living masters related to Shiv Dayal Singh's lineage can be found in the
Contemporary Sant Mat movements article.
Sant Kirpal Singh, a
contemporary Sant Mat guru, stated that "Naam" ("Word") has been described in many traditions through the use of several different terms. In his teachings, the following expressions are interpreted as being identical to "Naam": :*"Naad", "Akash Bani", and "Sruti" in the
Vedas :*"Nada" and "Udgit" in the
Upanishads :*"
Logos" and "Word" in the
New Testament :*"
Tao" by
Lao Zi :*"
Music of the Spheres" by
Pythagoras :*"Sraosha" by
Zoraster :*"Kalma" and "Kalam-i-Qadim" in the ''
Qur'an'' :*"
Naam", "Akhand Kirtan", and "Sacha ('True') Shabd" by
Guru Granth Sahib The more recently promulgated
Quan Yin Method of meditation espoused via the spiritual teachings of Supreme Master
Ching Hai has notable similarities to Surat Shabd Yoga.
Eckankar, an American movement, has many links to Surat Shabd Yoga including terminology, although its American founder
Paul Twitchell disassociated himself from his former teacher Kirpal Singh. also teaches a similar form of active meditation called
spiritual exercises. This movement uses the Sound Current and ancient Sanskrit tones in order to traverse and return to the higher realms of Spirit and into God. The MasterPath is another contemporary American movement of Surat Shabda Yoga. Gary Olsen, the current Living Master of this branch, contends that several historical figures are
Sat Gurus of Surat Shabda Yoga as representatives for the eternal Inner Shabda Master. A few of these Living Masters of their times include
Laozi,
Jesus,
Pythagoras,
Socrates,
Kabir, the
Sufi Masters, and mystic poets,
Hafez and
Rumi, the
Ten Sikh Gurus beginning with
Guru Nanak, Tulsi Sahib, and the Radhasoami/Radha Soami and offshoot Masters, including
Shiv Dayal Singh,
Baba Sawan Singh,
Baba Faqir Chand, and
Sant Kirpal Singh. The ten Sikh Satgurus (Nanak Panthis) discuss the inner sound and inner light a lot in their scriptures. The first Sikh Satguru was
Guru Nanak, but his master (guru) was
Waheguru. These masters teach these two techniques. There is a master,
Satpal Maharaj, that teaches four techniques that include these two of inner light and inner music. Altogether He teaches inner light (sight), inner music (hearing), primordial vibration (sense of touch), and nectar (taste and smell). These correspond to the five senses, and this is how a student turns them inward to experience what is inside of himself. See
Vishnu with his four arms and they correspond to these. One hand is holding a circle (chakra) of light, one holding a conch shell for the inner sound (hold it to the ear and a sound is heard), one holding a lotus flower to refer to nectar, and finally the fourth hand is holding a metal club (mace) for the inner vibration (if you hit something with it, it vibrates like a tuning fork). Some people refer to this inner energy as the soul. ==The Line of Succession of sikhs==