SATSANG AND SPIRITUAL DISCOURSES
Often people wonder “ Why should I attend Satsang or listen to Spiritual discourses” “ What good would it do to me ?” The one who is asking this question should consider themselves very lucky that this question has arisen in them. To most people such a question does not even arise in their minds so engrossed in the worldly things. Most people don’t even have any idea that such opportunities as Satsang and discourses exist. They are going about their own merry ways until the last day of their lives. So if this question has arisen in the mind, that is a very good thing. We are inherently divine and pure but our divinity and pure nature has been obscured by the materialistic and externally oriented awareness.
For an average worldly individual, awareness is object oriented and looks for happiness in the outside world. Although the outside does provide moments of happiness, no doubt, but these are not long lasting, we all know that, but at the same time we also know that the availability of these moments or opportunities of happiness in the outside world are not in our control. We think we can control them, but we know we can not because often we see that even though we did everything like it was supposed to be, but the happy moment that we were looking for did not materialize. If the environment or the people around us are not favorable or the resources are not adequate, no matter how much we try these moments of happiness may materialize only partially or not at all.
Why we look for happiness outside ? Our true nature is that of happiness and therefore we are looking for what we truly are: “happiness” or “Ananda” But we have forgotten that there is an in-exhaustible source of happiness that lies within us. This inexhaustible source is not only within ourselves but it is also accessible any time and anywhere without being dependent on the external factors. This is a very important point to remember. It is available any where and all the time without being dependent on any thing outside. But we have forgotten this fact and we continue to look outside. Like the Kasturi Mrig ( Musk Deer), who is looking for the fragrance all over the forest not realizing that the fragrance is right within himself. Ignorance of this fact makes this Kasturi mrig go round and round everywhere looking for what is within himself.. Same is the condition of human beings. They have forgotten their true state of being, they have forgotten that the source of happiness is within. They have forgotten their true nature.
When we attend Satsang and spiritual discourses delivered by realized saints, we are able to get over our ignorance, we are able to dispel our prejudices, preconceived ideas etc and get on the path of sadhna that leads us the discover, within ourselves, what has always been there but was enveloped by the clouds of ignorance. Through these discourses and satsang we are able to see and experience our true divine and transcendent self, which is the source of unlimited happiness.
But we have also seen that many people come to the discourses and satsang but not everyone is able to get in touch with their true self and experience that true happiness. So the next important point to bring up is: How does one attend these satsangs and what is required in a sadhak so that he or she can derive the most benefit ? Scriptures say:
Shravan Manan and Nidhidhyasan:
This is the sequence to be followed to get the most from satsang. Shravan is listening, we all know that. But what kind of listening ? Just sitting there and catching a few words here and there interspersed by other random thoughts arising in a fleeting mind which is going all over the place ! No this is not the kind of listening that helps. Shravan and listening has to be with enthusiasm, concentration and intense interest. One can not be casually sitting in satsang and not paying 100% attention to the speaker. Listen with lot of interest and enthusiasm. This is the key point to remember. So you are listening with interest and enthusiasm, is that going to be enough ? No !
Shravan has to be followed by Manan or reflection on what you have heard. Even if we listen intently but as soon as we get up and leave the place and go back to our usual random mental thought patterns, what ever we have heard, no matter how useful, it will be of no benefit unless we have reflected on what we have heard. We need to ponder, analyze, reflect and think over and over again and try to get to the core message, the true message and the real intent contained in the teaching. Only when we do that continuously we will reach the next stage called Nidhidhyasan. Than we become one with the message and the messenger. We attain unity with the knowledge contained in the message. If we do not follow these three steps while attending the satsang, we will not get anywhere in our spiritual path.
Teachings contained in the spiritual discourse are like a seed. Not just an ordinary seed but a seed that, if it sprouts and grows, has the potential to completely transform ourselves. But like any other seed, this seed requires the right kind of soil, the right amount of sun, water and fertilizer and tending. We won’t just throw a seed anywhere, be it a concrete surface or poor quality soil and hope that it would grow into a healthy fruit bearing tree. Similarly simply sitting through a satsang and being give the seeds of spiritual teachings and not providing that seed a healthy supportive environment that would be most conducive to growth, than not only how many satsangs we attend, not only how many pilgrimages we take, not only how many saints we come in contact with, none of that would help that seed to grow unless we prepare the soil. That is where the teaching comes: “The teacher will appear when the student is ready” Teacher is always there throwing seeds but the soil, the student is not ready and all those seeds simply wither away.
Teachings obtained in a satsang act like a shilpi or a sculptor. Just like a sculptor starts with a stone and gradually chisels away tiny pieces of stone one little bit at a time and creates a beautiful statue, perfect in so many ways, similarly we can become a sculptor ourselves and gradually chisel away our ignorance, impurities etc using the teaching received in a satsang as a tool. Just as a statue is not created in one day and not just with one strike of the hammer and chisel, similarly the task to unleash the real us from the stone takes a sustained chiselling over a period of time.
Often people wonder “ Why should I attend Satsang or listen to Spiritual discourses” “ What good would it do to me ?” The one who is asking this question should consider themselves very lucky that this question has arisen in them. To most people such a question does not even arise in their minds so engrossed in the worldly things. Most people don’t even have any idea that such opportunities as Satsang and discourses exist. They are going about their own merry ways until the last day of their lives. So if this question has arisen in the mind, that is a very good thing. We are inherently divine and pure but our divinity and pure nature has been obscured by the materialistic and externally oriented awareness.
For an average worldly individual, awareness is object oriented and looks for happiness in the outside world. Although the outside does provide moments of happiness, no doubt, but these are not long lasting, we all know that, but at the same time we also know that the availability of these moments or opportunities of happiness in the outside world are not in our control. We think we can control them, but we know we can not because often we see that even though we did everything like it was supposed to be, but the happy moment that we were looking for did not materialize. If the environment or the people around us are not favorable or the resources are not adequate, no matter how much we try these moments of happiness may materialize only partially or not at all.
Why we look for happiness outside ? Our true nature is that of happiness and therefore we are looking for what we truly are: “happiness” or “Ananda” But we have forgotten that there is an in-exhaustible source of happiness that lies within us. This inexhaustible source is not only within ourselves but it is also accessible any time and anywhere without being dependent on the external factors. This is a very important point to remember. It is available any where and all the time without being dependent on any thing outside. But we have forgotten this fact and we continue to look outside. Like the Kasturi Mrig ( Musk Deer), who is looking for the fragrance all over the forest not realizing that the fragrance is right within himself. Ignorance of this fact makes this Kasturi mrig go round and round everywhere looking for what is within himself.. Same is the condition of human beings. They have forgotten their true state of being, they have forgotten that the source of happiness is within. They have forgotten their true nature.
When we attend Satsang and spiritual discourses delivered by realized saints, we are able to get over our ignorance, we are able to dispel our prejudices, preconceived ideas etc and get on the path of sadhna that leads us the discover, within ourselves, what has always been there but was enveloped by the clouds of ignorance. Through these discourses and satsang we are able to see and experience our true divine and transcendent self, which is the source of unlimited happiness.
But we have also seen that many people come to the discourses and satsang but not everyone is able to get in touch with their true self and experience that true happiness. So the next important point to bring up is: How does one attend these satsangs and what is required in a sadhak so that he or she can derive the most benefit ? Scriptures say:
Shravan Manan and Nidhidhyasan:
This is the sequence to be followed to get the most from satsang. Shravan is listening, we all know that. But what kind of listening ? Just sitting there and catching a few words here and there interspersed by other random thoughts arising in a fleeting mind which is going all over the place ! No this is not the kind of listening that helps. Shravan and listening has to be with enthusiasm, concentration and intense interest. One can not be casually sitting in satsang and not paying 100% attention to the speaker. Listen with lot of interest and enthusiasm. This is the key point to remember. So you are listening with interest and enthusiasm, is that going to be enough ? No !
Shravan has to be followed by Manan or reflection on what you have heard. Even if we listen intently but as soon as we get up and leave the place and go back to our usual random mental thought patterns, what ever we have heard, no matter how useful, it will be of no benefit unless we have reflected on what we have heard. We need to ponder, analyze, reflect and think over and over again and try to get to the core message, the true message and the real intent contained in the teaching. Only when we do that continuously we will reach the next stage called Nidhidhyasan. Than we become one with the message and the messenger. We attain unity with the knowledge contained in the message. If we do not follow these three steps while attending the satsang, we will not get anywhere in our spiritual path.
Teachings contained in the spiritual discourse are like a seed. Not just an ordinary seed but a seed that, if it sprouts and grows, has the potential to completely transform ourselves. But like any other seed, this seed requires the right kind of soil, the right amount of sun, water and fertilizer and tending. We won’t just throw a seed anywhere, be it a concrete surface or poor quality soil and hope that it would grow into a healthy fruit bearing tree. Similarly simply sitting through a satsang and being give the seeds of spiritual teachings and not providing that seed a healthy supportive environment that would be most conducive to growth, than not only how many satsangs we attend, not only how many pilgrimages we take, not only how many saints we come in contact with, none of that would help that seed to grow unless we prepare the soil. That is where the teaching comes: “The teacher will appear when the student is ready” Teacher is always there throwing seeds but the soil, the student is not ready and all those seeds simply wither away.
Teachings obtained in a satsang act like a shilpi or a sculptor. Just like a sculptor starts with a stone and gradually chisels away tiny pieces of stone one little bit at a time and creates a beautiful statue, perfect in so many ways, similarly we can become a sculptor ourselves and gradually chisel away our ignorance, impurities etc using the teaching received in a satsang as a tool. Just as a statue is not created in one day and not just with one strike of the hammer and chisel, similarly the task to unleash the real us from the stone takes a sustained chiselling over a period of time.
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