Virtues of Satsanga

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Dear Satsanghies in TBP,

 

Love and Love alone...

 

Hereunder I am reproducing a small write up on the " Virtues of

Satsanga " from Sri Ramana Jyotrhi of February 2007 issue. Kindly

enjoy.

 

Satsanga is a gathering of like-minded people trying to hone their

spiritual instincts. Any activity which puts one into association

with the divine in any form qualifies as Satsanga. The Bhagavata

says that Satsanga is the first step towards developing faith and

devotion in God. It sharpens spiritual hunger and invites

introspection and correction. Its primary motive is the awakening of

God consciousness. It is the information centre and training place

for the journey to the Lord. This 'information' may be disseminated

in any form -- spiritual talk, song, recitation, or even pure

silence. Sitting in the presence of a realised soul who maintains

perfect silene is the highest Satsanga and confers amazing

benediction. Ramana Maharshi hardly uttered words, yet devotees got

immense benefit by just sitting and soaking in his divine

vibrations. The vibrations of peace and goodwill generated through

Satsanga provide shade for souls weary with the heat and dust of

worldly life. Ultimately, the purest and most distilled meaning of

Satsanga is company of Self or Sat. When one acquires the attitude

of constant awareness of God's presence, it becomes the holiest

Satsanga. Life's journey becomes not only less fearful but also

infinitely more edifying and blissful.

 

The doyen of Hindi poets Tulasidas in his celebrated classic

Ramacharitmanasa describes at length the benefits of Satsanga. In

brief, he says: Association with the assemblage of holy persons is

like dip into a pool which can transform even a crow into a cuckoo

and a heron into a swan. Such a dip gives all the four rewards of

human existence, namely, Dharma (religious merit), Artha (material

riches), Kama (sensuous enjoyments) and Moksha (release from worldly

bondage). He goes on to say: wisdom can dawn upon a person only

through Satsanga, which is the root of joy and blessings and which

constitutes the very fruit and fulfilment of all endeavours. Just as

the base metal is transmuted by the t ouch of the philosopher's

stone, a wicked can become virtuous through Satsanga.

 

Love and Love alone......

 

P. Gopi Krishna

Gopi Krishna <gopi