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| AMMA's Satsang |
What is Satsanga?
1. To get oneself established in Brahman is real Satsanga. Company of the
wise is also Satsanga. Study of religious books written by the realised souls
is also Satsanga. Satsanga or association with the wise removes the darkness of
the heart, leads you to the right path and causes the sun of wisdom to shine in
your head.
2. Satsanga is association with the wise. Live in the company of sages,
saints, Sadhus, Yogis and Sannyasins; hear their valuable Upadesa (instructions)
and follow them implicitly. This is Satsanga.
God and the Saint
3. God is the great purifier. A saint also is a great purifier.
4. God incarnates as saints and sages when their need is felt most.
5. God works through sages and saints.
6. God reveals Himself in a saint in His full glory, infinite power, wisdom
and bliss.
7. The saints are the heart of the Lord and the Lord is the heart of the
saint.
8. It is extremely difficult to come in contact with a saint and to be
benefited by his company. It is
through divine grace only one will get his
Darshan (Presence) and Satsanga.
9. Divine grace works through saints.
10. Saints are the living symbols of religion and are the true benefactors
of humanity.
11. The sage or saint or Yogi is a magnet. He is a centre of power and
wisdom.
12. A sage is a sustainer of the world. He is a source of perpetual
inspiration. He is an instrument through which divine grace is transmitted to
the unregenerated men.
13. A sage is the salt which preserves the society from decay and
degeneration.
14. A saint is a beacon-light in the stormy sea of this Samsara. He
prevents many ship-wrecks in the lives of many human beings.
15. A realized sage or saint is a fountain of delight, joy and
illumination. Seek his company and evolve. Serve him with faith and devotion.
16. A sage is a fountain of spiritual wisdom. Approach him with all
humility and reverence. He will impart to you divine wisdom.
17. Learn wisdom from saints. They are your saviours. Know them to be
saints who possess godly qualities.
How Holy Company Transforms
37. The human mind is a very receptive instrument. If you place it in evil
company, it will acquire evil tendencies. If you place it in holy company,
it will acquire divine traits.
38. Bright ideals infuse an urge to grow into their likeness. Evil examples
also have a similar effect if the mind is not guarded.
39. If you go to a sage, there will automatically come a feeling of purity
and peace within you.
40. Just as cold, fear and darkness depart from one who approaches fire,
so does weakness, worldliness and ignorance depart from him who keeps himself
near to the saints.
41. Saints at once purify those who go near them, whereas Ganga purges
the sins of only those whom its water comes in contact with in ablution.
42. Saints cleanse the sinners at once at the very sight of them.
43. The sight of a sage is delightful. To live with him is always peaceful.
To converse with him is blissful.
44. The moment the mind thinks of a sage, immediately all evil desires,
base passions are brushed aside.
45. At the time of thinking of saintly personages, the mind gets moulded
into the shape of the qualities of which it thinks, and thereby becomes
pure.
46. Meditation on the lives of saints is equal to holy company. Study of
their teachings is equal to holy company.
47. To think of the lives of saints, to live in their company, to have
the good fortune of receiving their blessings, is to draw forth upon yourselves
a shower of purity, inspiration and divine consciousness.
48. The very company of sages and saints has a tremendous transforming
effect on the lives of true seekers. It lifts them up to the heights of
sublimity, purity and spirituality. It does not fail to affect even the
rank materialists.
49. By association with saints even for a short time, the aspirants acquire
strong faith in the Lord.
50. The sage is very silent. He speaks a few words. These words produce
a tremendous impression. They give a new life and joy to all who understand
him and his message. In his presence alone all the doubts of the aspirants
are cleared, though he remains mute.
51. The company of saints generates love for God. The love for God brings
salvation.
52. One moment of company with the holy builds a ship to cross this ocean
of life.
How to Benefit from the Company of Saints
53. Jivanmuktas (the liberated sages) are ever ready to help those who are still climbing to reach the peak of wisdom. This is their work in this world. It is the duty of the aspirants to seek their aid and have a receptive attitude.
54. To benefit from the
company of saints, you have to prepare yourself first. Do not go with any
preconceived notion or prejudice. Go with an open, receptive mind. Go without
expectations. Approach them humbly, respectfully.
Assimilate what appeals to
you. If some of their teachings do not appeal to you, do not form a hasty
opinion. If you do not like them, you need not take them to head. What may be
suitable to another may not be suitable to you. Yet, with regard to broad
fundamentals, there can be no difference of opinion.
55. One should possess the
right desire to cross the ocean of Samsara and to attain Knowledge of Brahman
through Satsanga.
56. When you go before a
sage, do not ask him questions out of mere inquisitiveness. Sit in his presence
humbly. Observe him. Listen to him without prejudice. Ask him only such
questions about which you really need clarification.
57. Ask him only pertinent
questions. Do not draw him into politics or public bickerings.
58. Meditate in the
presence of a sage. You will get inner light which will clear your doubts.
59. An intelligent man only
will understand and realize the Truth in the company of a sage.
Source: http://www.dlshq.org/download/satsanga.htm