Post by Amritha Varshini on Oct 12, 2013 7:27:38 GMT 5.5
Satsang - Article by Sri V.S. Krishnan (vsk1940@gmail.com)
A young student was learning Vedas from his master at the banks of river Ganga. Finding many devotees eagerly taking bath at the holy Ganga, the student raised a doubt to the master. "They believe that by taking bath in this river all their dirt and sins would get washed off. This has been happening for many years now. By taking a dip in this sacred river, all those would have shed their dirt and sin in this water. Having consigned all their sin and dirt here, this water would have become contaminated. With so much accumulation of sins and contamination, how can the water here continue to hold its sanctity or purity"? The student queried. The master smiled and said: "Those are saints who lived a life of perfection. By virtue of their sacrifice and meditation, they have experienced the God within. In the midst of the multitude of devotees, these holy saints also immerse themselves and by virtue of their inherent spiritual power, the water attains its pristine state of purity. While on one side, the water gets polluted by all kinds of people, on the other side, it gets purified by the mere touch of saints".
Just at the touch of a saint, the whole water becomes purified and similarly just by the presence of saint, all the impurities of the seeker is also washed away. Just by association with saints, the seeker is elevated to the high state of spiritual perfection. The saint or the Guru uplifts the seeker from darkness and enlightens him with knowledge. Adi Sankara says: "From Satsang comes non-attachment, from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, from freedom comes self-knowledge and from self-knowledge comes liberation even while living. (Satsanghatve Nissangatvam, Nissangatve Nirmohatvam, Nirmohatve Nischala Tatvam, Nichala Tatve, Jeevan Mukhti (Bhaja Govindam 9).
The word Sath refers to truth and Sang means assembly of devotees in quest for truth. It is the assembly of seekers who participates in discussions on what is the ultimate reality. They debate on what is the best way to reach and realize. It is an assembly where the seeker gets the opportunity to listen to the discourse of accomplished sages, seek clarification to his doubts and enlighten himself. Sankara said: “In all the three worlds there is no boat like Satsang to carry one safely across the ocean of births and deaths.
According to Yoga Vasishtam, the great spiritual treatises which details the conversation Sri Rama with his spiritual teacher, Vasishta Maharshi, a seeker has to pass through four gates successfully to enter the realm of freedom. At every gate he will be tested whether he is qualified to enter that gate. These qualifications are; peace (Santhi or self-control or peace of mind), the earnestness for enquiry and contemplation, an outlook of contentment (Santhosha) and a yearning for Satsang, Satsang, the company of wise, holy and enlightened persons leads to knowledge. Satsang is the most effective way for purification of mind. Satsang provides the right environment for the spiritual seeker to detach himself from the world of Maya (illusion), to cease his identity with body and mind and attain self-realization.
Let us seek the company of saints and seers. The Acharyas are everywhere, in the forest, in the temple premises, in Mutts. They come to us in the form of scriptures, songs and discourses. We may not be able to spot them unless we seek them. So, let us seek them, find them, converse with them, get our doubts cleared, ever maintain their company and serve them with veneration.
Just at the touch of a saint, the whole water becomes purified and similarly just by the presence of saint, all the impurities of the seeker is also washed away. Just by association with saints, the seeker is elevated to the high state of spiritual perfection. The saint or the Guru uplifts the seeker from darkness and enlightens him with knowledge. Adi Sankara says: "From Satsang comes non-attachment, from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, from freedom comes self-knowledge and from self-knowledge comes liberation even while living. (Satsanghatve Nissangatvam, Nissangatve Nirmohatvam, Nirmohatve Nischala Tatvam, Nichala Tatve, Jeevan Mukhti (Bhaja Govindam 9).
The word Sath refers to truth and Sang means assembly of devotees in quest for truth. It is the assembly of seekers who participates in discussions on what is the ultimate reality. They debate on what is the best way to reach and realize. It is an assembly where the seeker gets the opportunity to listen to the discourse of accomplished sages, seek clarification to his doubts and enlighten himself. Sankara said: “In all the three worlds there is no boat like Satsang to carry one safely across the ocean of births and deaths.
According to Yoga Vasishtam, the great spiritual treatises which details the conversation Sri Rama with his spiritual teacher, Vasishta Maharshi, a seeker has to pass through four gates successfully to enter the realm of freedom. At every gate he will be tested whether he is qualified to enter that gate. These qualifications are; peace (Santhi or self-control or peace of mind), the earnestness for enquiry and contemplation, an outlook of contentment (Santhosha) and a yearning for Satsang, Satsang, the company of wise, holy and enlightened persons leads to knowledge. Satsang is the most effective way for purification of mind. Satsang provides the right environment for the spiritual seeker to detach himself from the world of Maya (illusion), to cease his identity with body and mind and attain self-realization.
Let us seek the company of saints and seers. The Acharyas are everywhere, in the forest, in the temple premises, in Mutts. They come to us in the form of scriptures, songs and discourses. We may not be able to spot them unless we seek them. So, let us seek them, find them, converse with them, get our doubts cleared, ever maintain their company and serve them with veneration.