Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Story 26 – Kapila Upadesha – Satsanga
Srimad Bhagavatham - A Spiritual Insight - Story 26 – Kapila Upadesha
Satsanga – association with wise or spiritual people
Explanation
Kapila Muni explains to his mother that a person who wants to realize the Purusha or the ultimate reality of God by overcoming the insentient matter or Prakrithi or Maya should always engage in satsanga.
Satsanga is a very vast topic and we will try to analyze into it today.
The word meaning of Satsangh or satsanga is “association with wise, true or good people”. Sanga means association and Sat means Truth, reality and can be extended to people following the truth, people associated with the reality, people established in the reality etc.
Satsanga means any activity which leads the seeker towards the ultimate reality of God whether it be just chanting of a name or learning the scriptures. Any work which when done leads to the reality is Satsanga alone. There are always two things a seeker needs to do in the spiritual path. One is anukoola sevanam – doing actions or activities which will give progress in the spiritual path. Second is Prathikoola nivartanam – removal of things which will lead one far away from the reality. These two are very important for a seeker & a seeker should always keep in mind these two things & should progress in the spiritual path. There are some things which are always obstructions to the spiritual path (for any seeker). These include the very famous dual material of Kaamini (women) and Kanchana (wealth). These are two very great passions which attack the seeker and thereby obstruct his spiritual progress. Thus a seeker should always remember that WOMEN or the physical body itself is made of flesh, fat etc. & there is nothing special pleasure in attaining it. Wealth never gives a person eternal happiness as it always is changing. Here wealth is not just money but it includes all sense objects. Sense objects are transitory, always changing and temporary. Hence a seeker can never get eternal and ever-lasting bliss out of it. Instead the seeker should always try to be content with what he has and instead of going after the illusory women and wealth, he should seek the ultimate reality of God which is permanent and eternal. The path or the means through which a seeker seeks the ultimate reality of God comes under satsanga.
Satsanga in its fullest meaning is ASSOCIATION with the REALITY of God. This is possible only for realized beings who are always established in the ultimate reality of God. For seekers, they are not yet established in the reality of God, hence satsanga is the various means through which the seeker tries to fix his mind on God.
Bhajans, pooja, chanting, discussing about God, reading spiritual books, hearing discourses-lectures, attending spiritual yajnas and classes all these come under Satsanga. All these are external Satsanga – the pressure and outcome being from the external world. The real Satsanga is fixing of the mind on the ultimate reality of God. All these external activities are meant for fixing the mind on God. If these do not lead to fixing of the mind on God, then these cease to be Satsanga instead they become mere mechanical activity which will not give any spiritual output.
Thus through all these activities, the real Satsanga of constant remembrance of the ultimate reality of God is what is to be achieved. If a person is able to constantly dwell on the ultimate reality of God, then even though he doesn’t perform any of these activities, even though he doesn’t go to any saint or avatar, still he is completely in Satsanga only.
Whatever is being discussed through mails, whatever about God is being discussed through the daily postings, through interaction etc. are all activities which help in fixing the mind on God. When the mail is being read, at least the mind will be fixed on God. Yes, the world that we are living in is a tough place indeed for fixing the mind on God. There are temptations in each and every direction. There are temptations each minute in the life of the seeker. But we have to remember that even Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan. Hence, these will always be there for the spiritual aspirant. If a person has to attain the ultimate reality of God, then he has to undergo tough times. Everyone is willing to stand in hot sun and in long queue in the hospital or outside theatres but when it comes to God, there is no time!!! J Isn’t this impartiality towards God??? A seeker has to constantly remember that God doesn’t require devotion as he is perfect and complete. But devotion, surrender, satsanga all these are for the welfare of the seeker alone. These purify the mind of the seeker wherein he becomes eligible to realize the ultimate reality of God who resides in his very heart as his own very nature of Consciousness and Bliss absolute.
Thus it rests on the seeker as to whether he wants the illusory things in the world (which seem to give happiness in the beginning but will give sorrow alone in the long run) or the eternal ultimate reality of God knowing which there remains nothing to be known, realizing which one rejoices in the eternal bliss which is the very nature of God.
This is the reason why Sri Krishna beautifully says in Gita Chapter 7 3rd Sloka
Manushyaanaam sahasreshu kaschit yathathi siddhaye
Yatataam api siddhaanaam kaschit maam vetthi tattvatah
Out of thousands of people, only a few (Kaschit means very few) strive for perfection (to realize the ultimate reality of God). Out of such striving people, very few really know Me (the ultimate reality of God) in essence (as their own very nature of Consciousness).
Thus, the path of spirituality is not very easy. The objects in the world are very tempting indeed and the sense organs along with the mind is always looking for a moment of lack of concentration from the seeker’s part so that it may run behind the sensual pleasures. Thus, it is very tough indeed to constantly remember the ultimate reality of God and be focused on it at all points of time. Therefore, the simple way of Satsanga is put forth to the seeker. IF a person meets a spiritual person, the spiritual person will talk about God – thus the mind will automatically be dwelling on God. Similarly when there is bhajan or chanting, automatically the mind will be fixed on God (whether one likes or not). The biggest and most advantageous of the various forms of Satsanga is that in which the seeker associates himself with Mahatmas or realized saints. Realized saints are people who have realized the ultimate reality of God – thus their very presence & surrounding emanates with vibration of God. In such a vibration, a seeker has no choice but to dwell on the ultimate reality of God.
Thus, a seeker has to make sure that atleast some part of a day (24 hours) he spends time of Satsanga. This alone can make his conviction and contemplation on the ultimate reality of God stronger so that he realizes the ultimate reality in this very birth itself (instead of entering into the vicious circle of birth and death).
What happens through Satsanga (the various activities that help a seeker to progress in the path of spirituality)?
Sankaracharya explains this clearly, crisply and beautifully in Bhaja Govindam
Satsangatve nissangatvam
Nissangatve nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve nishchalatattvam
Nishchalatattve jeevan mukthi
Satsanga leads to disassociation with the things in the world. Dis-association with the sense objects leads to removal of delusion (delusion that the world is real and it will give eternal bliss). Removal of delusion leads to removal or stilling of all thoughts in the mind. When there are no thoughts in the mind, then the seeker always stays or resides in the ultimate reality of God or Self. This is termed as jeevanmukthi wherein the seeker rejoices, rejoices and rejoices alone. He is not at all affected by the activities in the world but is always happy and content with whatever is there in the world as he doesn’t see anything other than the ultimate reality of God.
When association with good is there, then disassociation with the things in the world happens. Slowly the seeker gets established in the Self alone & the association with the worldly objects is completely stopped. When there is no association with the worldly objects, then the seeker is not deluded into the sense objects. Only when there is thought or association with the worldly objects can they delude the seeker which would make him seek them earnestly thinking that they are real and will bestow eternal bliss. When there is no delusion, there are no thoughts & the mind becomes still. Here stilling doesn’t mean the state of voidness but stilling due to the mind being established in the ultimate reality of God. When the mind is stilled & the seeker merges into the ultimate reality of God or Self, then there is nothing but God alone. This state of non-dual bliss and contentment is stated as jeevan mukthi. Such a person is realized even while living in the body (he never lives in the body but he is seen as living in the body by the ignorant seeker). Thus, he doesn’t have any grudge, any desire, any delusion, any lust but just has bliss and peace alone.
Not only that he is blissful, but those who go near him or seek him also will be able to get that bliss & realize the ultimate reality of Brahman or God. This realization is the final goal of life & thus it is achieved through Satsanga.
Satsanga – association with wise or spiritual people
Explanation
Kapila Muni explains to his mother that a person who wants to realize the Purusha or the ultimate reality of God by overcoming the insentient matter or Prakrithi or Maya should always engage in satsanga.
Satsanga is a very vast topic and we will try to analyze into it today.
The word meaning of Satsangh or satsanga is “association with wise, true or good people”. Sanga means association and Sat means Truth, reality and can be extended to people following the truth, people associated with the reality, people established in the reality etc.
Satsanga means any activity which leads the seeker towards the ultimate reality of God whether it be just chanting of a name or learning the scriptures. Any work which when done leads to the reality is Satsanga alone. There are always two things a seeker needs to do in the spiritual path. One is anukoola sevanam – doing actions or activities which will give progress in the spiritual path. Second is Prathikoola nivartanam – removal of things which will lead one far away from the reality. These two are very important for a seeker & a seeker should always keep in mind these two things & should progress in the spiritual path. There are some things which are always obstructions to the spiritual path (for any seeker). These include the very famous dual material of Kaamini (women) and Kanchana (wealth). These are two very great passions which attack the seeker and thereby obstruct his spiritual progress. Thus a seeker should always remember that WOMEN or the physical body itself is made of flesh, fat etc. & there is nothing special pleasure in attaining it. Wealth never gives a person eternal happiness as it always is changing. Here wealth is not just money but it includes all sense objects. Sense objects are transitory, always changing and temporary. Hence a seeker can never get eternal and ever-lasting bliss out of it. Instead the seeker should always try to be content with what he has and instead of going after the illusory women and wealth, he should seek the ultimate reality of God which is permanent and eternal. The path or the means through which a seeker seeks the ultimate reality of God comes under satsanga.
Satsanga in its fullest meaning is ASSOCIATION with the REALITY of God. This is possible only for realized beings who are always established in the ultimate reality of God. For seekers, they are not yet established in the reality of God, hence satsanga is the various means through which the seeker tries to fix his mind on God.
Bhajans, pooja, chanting, discussing about God, reading spiritual books, hearing discourses-lectures, attending spiritual yajnas and classes all these come under Satsanga. All these are external Satsanga – the pressure and outcome being from the external world. The real Satsanga is fixing of the mind on the ultimate reality of God. All these external activities are meant for fixing the mind on God. If these do not lead to fixing of the mind on God, then these cease to be Satsanga instead they become mere mechanical activity which will not give any spiritual output.
Thus through all these activities, the real Satsanga of constant remembrance of the ultimate reality of God is what is to be achieved. If a person is able to constantly dwell on the ultimate reality of God, then even though he doesn’t perform any of these activities, even though he doesn’t go to any saint or avatar, still he is completely in Satsanga only.
Whatever is being discussed through mails, whatever about God is being discussed through the daily postings, through interaction etc. are all activities which help in fixing the mind on God. When the mail is being read, at least the mind will be fixed on God. Yes, the world that we are living in is a tough place indeed for fixing the mind on God. There are temptations in each and every direction. There are temptations each minute in the life of the seeker. But we have to remember that even Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan. Hence, these will always be there for the spiritual aspirant. If a person has to attain the ultimate reality of God, then he has to undergo tough times. Everyone is willing to stand in hot sun and in long queue in the hospital or outside theatres but when it comes to God, there is no time!!! J Isn’t this impartiality towards God??? A seeker has to constantly remember that God doesn’t require devotion as he is perfect and complete. But devotion, surrender, satsanga all these are for the welfare of the seeker alone. These purify the mind of the seeker wherein he becomes eligible to realize the ultimate reality of God who resides in his very heart as his own very nature of Consciousness and Bliss absolute.
Thus it rests on the seeker as to whether he wants the illusory things in the world (which seem to give happiness in the beginning but will give sorrow alone in the long run) or the eternal ultimate reality of God knowing which there remains nothing to be known, realizing which one rejoices in the eternal bliss which is the very nature of God.
This is the reason why Sri Krishna beautifully says in Gita Chapter 7 3rd Sloka
Manushyaanaam sahasreshu kaschit yathathi siddhaye
Yatataam api siddhaanaam kaschit maam vetthi tattvatah
Out of thousands of people, only a few (Kaschit means very few) strive for perfection (to realize the ultimate reality of God). Out of such striving people, very few really know Me (the ultimate reality of God) in essence (as their own very nature of Consciousness).
Thus, the path of spirituality is not very easy. The objects in the world are very tempting indeed and the sense organs along with the mind is always looking for a moment of lack of concentration from the seeker’s part so that it may run behind the sensual pleasures. Thus, it is very tough indeed to constantly remember the ultimate reality of God and be focused on it at all points of time. Therefore, the simple way of Satsanga is put forth to the seeker. IF a person meets a spiritual person, the spiritual person will talk about God – thus the mind will automatically be dwelling on God. Similarly when there is bhajan or chanting, automatically the mind will be fixed on God (whether one likes or not). The biggest and most advantageous of the various forms of Satsanga is that in which the seeker associates himself with Mahatmas or realized saints. Realized saints are people who have realized the ultimate reality of God – thus their very presence & surrounding emanates with vibration of God. In such a vibration, a seeker has no choice but to dwell on the ultimate reality of God.
Thus, a seeker has to make sure that atleast some part of a day (24 hours) he spends time of Satsanga. This alone can make his conviction and contemplation on the ultimate reality of God stronger so that he realizes the ultimate reality in this very birth itself (instead of entering into the vicious circle of birth and death).
What happens through Satsanga (the various activities that help a seeker to progress in the path of spirituality)?
Sankaracharya explains this clearly, crisply and beautifully in Bhaja Govindam
Satsangatve nissangatvam
Nissangatve nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve nishchalatattvam
Nishchalatattve jeevan mukthi
Satsanga leads to disassociation with the things in the world. Dis-association with the sense objects leads to removal of delusion (delusion that the world is real and it will give eternal bliss). Removal of delusion leads to removal or stilling of all thoughts in the mind. When there are no thoughts in the mind, then the seeker always stays or resides in the ultimate reality of God or Self. This is termed as jeevanmukthi wherein the seeker rejoices, rejoices and rejoices alone. He is not at all affected by the activities in the world but is always happy and content with whatever is there in the world as he doesn’t see anything other than the ultimate reality of God.
When association with good is there, then disassociation with the things in the world happens. Slowly the seeker gets established in the Self alone & the association with the worldly objects is completely stopped. When there is no association with the worldly objects, then the seeker is not deluded into the sense objects. Only when there is thought or association with the worldly objects can they delude the seeker which would make him seek them earnestly thinking that they are real and will bestow eternal bliss. When there is no delusion, there are no thoughts & the mind becomes still. Here stilling doesn’t mean the state of voidness but stilling due to the mind being established in the ultimate reality of God. When the mind is stilled & the seeker merges into the ultimate reality of God or Self, then there is nothing but God alone. This state of non-dual bliss and contentment is stated as jeevan mukthi. Such a person is realized even while living in the body (he never lives in the body but he is seen as living in the body by the ignorant seeker). Thus, he doesn’t have any grudge, any desire, any delusion, any lust but just has bliss and peace alone.
Not only that he is blissful, but those who go near him or seek him also will be able to get that bliss & realize the ultimate reality of Brahman or God. This realization is the final goal of life & thus it is achieved through Satsanga.
# posted by vedanta : 8:41 AM
