Householders and Satsanga
The word ‘Satsanga’ is the combination of the two words ‘Sat’ and
‘Sanga.’ ‘Sat’ means existence absolute, which is Brahman. ‘Sat’ is the
essential nature of Brahman which is permanent in things that change, which is
the only reality that upholds the world of appearance.
The same ‘Sat,’ with the accidental attributes of omnipresence,
omniscience and omnipotence is called Isvara or Paramatman. In brief, ‘Sat’
refers to Isvara as well as Brahman, both ultimately being the one and the same
reality.
‘Sanga’ literally means company or union. To be always in the company
of the Lord, or to be established in Brahman, is the literal meaning of the
word ‘Satsanga.’ But, as long as ignorance or Avidya remains, the direct
realization of Brahman is impossible. When ignorance is destroyed by wisdom,
the real nature reveals itself. This is the highest Satsanga.
Householders and Satsanga
This world appears to be very beautiful,
charming and attractive. Delicious drinks, luscious fruits, fragrant flowers,
sweets and toffees, tea and coffee, beautiful women and magnificent
gardens,—and the mind is attracted to them. The man who has no discrimination
and dispassion is attracted. He lives in Maya, thinks always of Maya, dwells
constantly upon sensual objects, and is filled with Asubha Vasanas. He leads an
Asuric life in this world.
But, reflect for a moment on
the true nature of this world. With all these beautiful things, there is a
constant undercurrent of Janma, Mrityu, Jara and Vyadhi—birth, death, old age
and disease. Loss of property, death of near relatives and dear friends,
dishonour and defeat, these are the things that you experience daily, even
though you run after the beautiful objects thinking they will give you
unalloyed happiness. You are immersed in sorrow. You are sorely disappointed.
You have misunderstood the nature of the world. This is a world of pain, sorrow
and death. You cannot get real peace, happiness or bliss in this world, from
these sense-objects. Where can you get them?
Realize Your Real Nature Through Sadhana and Satsanga and Attain
Immortal Bliss
Behind these names and forms,
behind these fleeting sense-objects, behind these perishable phenomena, there
is the Satchidananda Para Brahman, full of bliss, full of eternal peace and
wisdom, illumination and enlightenment. Attain this Atman through study of
sacred scriptures, meditation, Japa, Kirtan and Satsanga. You will be freed
from the trammels of the flesh, from slavery to the mind, from the shackles of
transmigration.
Avidya, Kama and Karma bind
you to this wheel of birth and death. You have forgotten your real essential
nature. You are ignorant of your Satchidananda Svarupa. Therefore you feel that
happiness lies in the external objects of the senses. And, desire arises in you
for them. Then you exert to obtain them, and Karma results. Karma brings about
birth and death.
Therefore, if you want to free
yourself from birth and death, free yourself from desires, from attachment,
from Asubha Vasanas, and ultimately, from this primordial ignorance, develop
discrimination, dispassion, serenity of mind. Practice the Ashtanga Yoga of
Patanjali Maharshi, Bhakti Yoga of Devarshi Narada, Jnana Yoga of Sankaracharya,
Karma Yoga of Bhagavan Krishna or the Yoga of Synthesis which is most suitable
to this modern age. You will be freed from birth and death. You will enjoy
eternal bliss. This is the goal. This is your Dharma. You have taken birth here
as a human being in order to reach this goal here and now, in this very birth.
If you do not strive to reach the goal, you are wasting your life and
neglecting this precious gift of human birth.
Satsanga Guards You Against the Unreal Glitter of Worldly Objects
Forget not the goal. In order
not to forget the goal, Satsanga is most essential. Satsanga keeps the fire of
aspiration alive in your head. It is a shield to protect you from lapsing into
lethargy, from gliding back into the old grooves of sense-cravings, from
forgetting your goal. Satsanga is your best friend, your spiritual nourishment.
Satsanga is greater than your parents; your parents gave the body, but Satsanga
gives you spiritual illumination. Satsanga is one of the fundamental means for
attaining God-realization. Where there is Satsanga, Mahatmas and great saints
assemble. They remind you of the Reality; they guard you against the unreal
glitter of worldly objects; they save you from the formidable ocean of Samsara.
Their glorious example inspires you; their soul-elevating Upadesa is your
guide. From Satsanga you get practical lessons in control of mind,
concentration and meditation.
Satsanga is, therefore,
indispensable for householders who have to engage themselves in their worldly
duties, important for spiritual aspirants who are treading the path of
renunciation, and highly beneficial even for advanced Yogis and students of
Vedanta. It spiritually awakens the householders, inspires the spiritual
aspirants, and sustains the spirit of the advanced Yogis. To the great saints
and Mahatmas, Satsanga is a pleasure, delight, joy and Loka-sangraha Seva.
Mahatmas wish to share their spiritual experiences with struggling souls and
rescue those who are caught in the snare of Samsara. They are the soul of Satsanga.
The very purpose of convening Satsanga is to enjoy the company of these Holy
Ones.
The Real Satsanga Bhavan is in Your Own Heart
The Satsanga Bhavan, the place
where Satsanga is held, is Vaikuntha, Kailasa or Param-dham, in reality. The
real Satsanga Bhavan is in your own heart. There dwells the Sat, the Supreme
Reality, that Existence Absolute or Brahman. Control the mind by the practice
of Yama, Niyama, Asana and Pranayama. Make the mind one-pointed by the practice
of Pratyahara and Dharana. Then meditate on the Self, the Atman dwelling in
your heart. You can enter into your own Satsanga Bhavan daily through
self-analysis, introspection, enquiry into the nature of the Self. This will
lead to Self-realization, when you will forever be one with that Sat, the
infinite eternal Existence.
This is your goal. Forget not,
Maya is very powerful. With all your good intentions, you will forget this
foremost duty. Therefore, come to the Satsanga Bhavan and associate with saints
and Yogis who will instruct you how to control the mind, how to practise
Pranayama and Brahma-vichara, how to wean the mind from sensual objects, how to
fill the mind with Sattva.
Identification with the body
and the mind is the cause for all sufferings. In reality, you are
Satchidananda-svarupa; identification with this real Svarupa is the key to
perennial peace and supreme bliss. Ajo Nityah Sasvatoyam Purano: this
Atman is unborn, eternal and ancient. Be regular in your meditation, Japa,
Kirtan, prayer. People do Kirtan for some time, attend Satsanga for some time;
and then they leave off. This is a sad error. Regularity is of paramount
importance in Sadhana. Whatever you do, do regularly. Increase the period of
meditation gradually. Do not be attracted by the tantalizing tinsels of this
world. Nobody has been benefited by material possessions. You may have crores
of rupees in the bank, you may have a hundred motor-cars and a dozen bungalows:
but, peace of mind you cannot have from these. You can have peace of mind only
if you are regular in Japa, meditation, Kirtan and Satsanga. Only when you realize
the Self will you enjoy perennial peace. Construct the Satsanga Bhavan in your
own heart through regular and systematic spiritual practice and realize Him,
not in the unknown future, but right now this very second. Forget not the goal.
Let me remind you of the last
word of the Upanishads. Tat Tvam Asi: thou art that supreme, infinite,
immortal Satchidananda Brahman. Have constant Nama-smaran; even when you are working,
mentally repeat Sri Ram, Sri Ram. Sri Ram is not only the Avatara of
Lord Vishnu, consort of Sita, but He is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent
Para Brahman. Constantly meditate on Sri Ram. Be good. Do good. Be noble. Be
gentle. Be generous. Attain Self-realization through Satsanga, Svadhyaya, Japa,
Kirtan and meditation. May Lord bless you all!
Excerpts from:
Householders and Satsanga - Satsanga and Svadhyaya by Swami
SivanandaArchives - Blog
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