The Meaning of Satsang
Everything starts with the Master’s grace. And by his grace we have satsang. Satsang means the company or association of the Truth or God, without or within: being in his physical presence, or being at the eye centre during simran or bhajan. Therefore, when we do simran we are actually having satsang.
Whether we are aware of it or not, Baba Ji never misses any of our satsangs. The fact that we don’t always see him and are not aware of his presence makes no difference – he is always there. Maharaj Charan Singh used to say: “How do you know I am not there, when I am not there?”
We know that the company we keep influences us, either for better or worse. Being in the Master’s presence or in his company, either physically or at the eye centre, influences us strongly to become like him. This happens automatically, with no effort on our part, as when we put something into a warm oven, it will automatically begin warming. We cannot always be in the Master’s physical presence, but we can be at the eye centre. We are free to go there every moment of the day and night, and in so doing, hasten that change within ourselves. We only need to sit for meditation, be present at the eye centre and start our simran. We need do nothing else. Baba Ji tells us that everything else will follow automatically, as a natural consequence of simran – our personal satsang.
Goswami Tulsidas says that the company of a saint is hard to obtain in this world even once, be it only for a moment or for an hour, and that there is no blessing in the world equal to that of meeting a saint. And Great Master tells us that satsang is so unique that even God is enamoured with it. What a privilege and blessing we have been given!
Constant simran is possible for us every moment of the day. Just do it, lovingly and with gratitude. Very few souls ever have this incredible privilege. And then when we sit for meditation, to hear the Shabd inside is the highest form of satsang. One should try to attend to both forms of satsang, outer and inner satsang, whenever possible.
Satsang is our defence against worldly influences. Great Master describes it as a fence around the crop of meditation. And Baba Ji says we should enjoy doing our simran, then it will become easy.
If we were to realize that our attempts to focus at the eye centre while doing simran actually bring us into his presence, we would enjoy it so much more, just as we enjoy being in his physical presence. Baba Ji says that 95 percent of spirituality is being constantly aware of the divine One within us. Is this not the same as having the blessing of his satsang constantly?
By granting us initiation and teaching us the method of simran and bhajan, the Master has given us the opportunity to be in his company every second of the day. Why not drop everything else and enjoy that constant remembrance – let him take care of our lives while we become absolutely carefree.
There is a beautiful story to illustrate the meaning of satsang. A perfect Master and a few of his disciples were walking towards a small village. The disciples asked their Master the purpose of this visit. He answered that he was going to give the people satsang. When they reached the village the Master did not stop; he kept on walking.
A disciple questioned the Master, saying that he thought the Master was going to give satsang.
The Master answered that he’d done just that. In other words, the inhabitants were blessed with inner satsang.
Let’s not waste any more time. Let us be with him every second of the day – through constant, loving simran, done with deep gratitude.