SATSANG
SATSANG
The following writings are taken exclusively from emails I wrote during the period of Feb - June, 1997. I have not written much after that till now (June 1998). It is amazing that though I do not talk very much, I have written so much in this period. Satsang (being in the company of the wise) is the most satisfying thing in life. And for that I have to thank several of my friends (who are more knowledgable than me, though they often pretend to be not) for patiently listening to my ramblings, to various sannyas who spoke sweet words of encouragement. Thank you. Thank you. I have also used around ten sentences from my friends in these pages, without directly quoting them.
Finally, but most importantly, this page contains numerous quotes from Shankara and Ramana. To their Lotus feet, whose teachings are the rays of sun evaporating the water of ajnana, this page is humbly dedicated.
I have divided this page into sections.
As a glance of the page shows, there is a possibility of wrong ideas, suggestions etc. Please forgive me for mistakes. Further, let the page not give you an idea that I am free from faults, or that I have conquered my senses. A home page written on my faults alone would be too big, and this is not said due to false modesty. However, due to the Grace of the Lord, I hope to overcome them.
Some verses from bhaja govindaM
satsaN^gatve nissN^gatvaM nissaN^gatve nirmohatvam.h . nirmohatve nishchalatattvaM nishcalatattve jiivanmuktiH .. 9..
From Satsangh comes non-attachment, from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, which leads to self-settledness. From self-settledness comes Jeevan Mukti.
kaate kaantaa dhana gatachintaa vaatula kiM tava naasti niyantaa . trijagati sajjanasaM gatiraikaa bhavati bhavaarNavataraNe naukaa .. 13..
Oh mad man ! Why this engrossment in thoughts of wealth ? Is there no one to guide you ? There is only one thing in three worlds that can save you from the ocean from samsara. Get into that boat of satsangha quickly.
Sat sangh means the company of Sat (Truth). Though sitting at the feet of an "enlightened person" is a great satsangh, the best satsangh is abiding in the Atman, which is Sat-chit-ananda.
You see, people approach God to seek for this or that, and even when visiting a friend or a Guru, then think of "what good it will do to me ?" It is indeed rare to find someone who is in search of Brahman alone. As Shankara says "pare brahmaNi ko.api na saktaH" "There is hardly anyone who wants to experience Brahman alone." Even some monks say 'I want to read this, know this better than someone. I want to memorize sandhi rules, memorize bhagavad gita. etc.' Noble motives, but still falls short of only one true motive - Look for the Self, and that alone. The rest are mere details.
My Lord is Giridhari Gopaal, Union with Govinda is joy Separation from the Lord is sorrow. That’s the essence of life. Sitting at the feet of saintly souls, who sing your praise, I have watered the creeper of your love with my tears. With mind drinking the nectar of worshipping you constantly Let me become imbibed in you. Constantly wandering among things may I always remember whatever may come and go, you are always with me and I in you. Let me wander only within you, As one with you. In the marsh of my mind, may the bliss of your form and name remain. And may the lotus feet of yours bloom in the heart captivated by your Love. Let there be not one moment when I am not one with you. O Gopala, may I, your devotee, forever rest in the cool shade beneath the tree of Supreme devotion ?
Do not think about the world. Do not spend time thinking about the world or about your relationships in the world. These are all impermanent. They will not last. Pay attention to that which lasts, that which is permanent. All things involving the world have to do only with the body. The body is like a water bubble. The mind is like a mad monkey. Do not follow the body. Do not follow the mind. Follow the voice of God. It is the voice of unchanging truth inside. It will direct you. Atmavichara is not designed to produce an 'understanding' or even any answers. Rather its purpose is to help us destroy all questions, along with the full range of relative logic. The whole business of 'understanding', 'recognizing' or even 'witnessing' is based on the assumption of duality. or experiencing. How can there be an experiencer, experience etc when there is no duality ? In fact there is none, I AM.
Bhakti and raja yoga are indispensible applications that lead to the mother, jnanayog which, when fully engaged, thrives as the sruti note that is automatically recognized to have been always there. The first three D's, dedication (of the fruits of one's action), devotion (to Guru/God/Brahman - all are I), discipline (of the senses and mind) leads to the MOST important D of all - Discrimination (viveka). By constant Discrimination one becomes the Truth [Not attains the Truth - since one has to attain something only what one does not already have]. Surrender the works of your mind and body (being the fruits of prarabda karma) to the God of this world (Isvara). There are actions you must (are destined to) perform and others you choose to add to the mix. The latter--whether good or bad actions--are still agami karma, and therefore add to the overall sanchita, of which additional portions must consequently be later worked out. Therefore it benefits one to surrender without further judgements or concerns about the affairs of jagat, letting the Divine Plan work its mission, using us as tools, while our effort is restricted to upholding dharma. The best course is to remain silent in the mind.
May the eternal couple, Lord Shiva and the Divine Mother remove all my associations with the unreal, and limited imaginations. O Lord Shiva, present in every being, with the splendour of million suns, please penetrate the darkness of my ignorance. Like iron attracted to a magnet, Make all my mental activity drawn and centered forever at Thy lotus feet. O Divine Mother, place me in the cradle of divine meditation, bathe me with the tears of ecstasy which washes away the remnants of avidya, clothe me with chitta suddhi, feed my mind with Thy ever-present grace and embrace me so that I lose the individuality and realize my true nature.
|| AUM shaanti shaanti shaantiH ||
