Good company. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

Man is Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram - Truth, Beauty and Goodness. Have the Name of God on your tongue, in your breath, ever. That will evoke His Form as the Inner Core of every thing, thought, or turn of events. That will provide you with His company, contact with His unfailing Energy and Bliss. That is the Satsanga (good association) that gives you courage and consolation from Him. He is the Guru most interested in your progress. Do not seek a Guru outside you, in hermitages or holy places. The God in you is Father, Mother, Preceptor, and Friend. God is Love; Live in Love. (SSS Vol.7, pp. 10/12)

Non-attachment alone can grant Prashanti. Satsanga promotes that attitude and habit. (SSS Vol.3, p. 163)

You must cultivate good qualities, and in order that these may develop, you should desire the company of the good, Satsanga. (DhyV, p. 49)

It is only those who have that implicit faith in God, who will deign to communicate only with the Lord and none else, who deserve Amrita. The Sthula deha should be ever immersed in Satsanga; the Sukshma deha, that is the thoughts and feelings, should be ever immersed in contemplation of the glory of the Lord. That is the sign of the devotee. (SSS Vol.2,  p. 15)

The conference is just a chance for you to move for a day or two in good company, and charge your batteries, for further stages of the journey to God. When one is added to one, it becomes two; when one is placed by the side of another one, it reads as eleven! That is the measure of Satsanga, the companionship of the wise and the good. (SSS Vol.8, p.25)

Those who assemble here come for Satsanga or good company so that they can advance in the spiritual path. They should shed some undesirable habits like smoking which retard their progress in the spiritual path. The fire in the cigarette is so mild that if you pile up two or three pieces of firewood on it that fire will be put out. But, when a huge jungle-fire is raging, it can burn even green banana plants that are thrown into it. The power of the physical body is like the fire of the cigarette tip while spiritual power is like the forest fire. Once you are advanced in spirituality even the association with evil persons may not affect you. But, when you have not developed your spiritual power you should avoid bad company just as you spit out unpalatable food even at the first taste. (SSS Vol.26, pp.124-125)

By associating with people who use bad language, indulge in bad deeds, young men take to bad ways, students should eschew totally bad company of every kind. You need a lamp to find your way through a dark jungle. Likewise, in the jungle of life, you need the light and guidance of good men to keep you company on the right path and to take you to the right goal. Even a bad person, by association with the good, gets reformed. But a good man, by falling into bad company, becomes bad. If you add one litre of milk to ten litres of water, the milk becomes so diluted that it is valueless. But one litre of water added to ten litres of milk acquires additional value. When you wish to cultivate friendship, ensure that you join a group of good students, who are good in their speech, behaviour, and actions. Maintain only formal relations with others. (SSS Vol.20)

Oh spiritual aspirants! Whether one is renunciant or a householder, whether one is attached to the world or not, whether one performs actions or not, when one realizes that the same Atmic principle is present in himself as well as others, he will always experience and enjoy the company of God in all the three states of existence. (Sanskrit Shloka)

Devotees should recognize the unity of the Atmic principle that exists in all beings. Satsanga (good company) is very essential to understand the oneness of Atmic principle. Satsanga does not mean association with good people, devotees or spiritual aspirants. ‘Sat’ is that which is changeless in all the three periods of time. It is the Atmic principle. When ‘Sat’ and ‘Cit’ come together, what results is ananda (Bliss). Sat-Cit-ananda is the very form of Atma. This is referred to as Transcendental Truth. In order to understand this truth, three mantras are to be practiced. They are Bhadram Truvantu, Bhadram Sruvantu and Bhadram Kurvantu. When you practice these three principles, you don’t need to search for God.

Bhadram Turvantu means, ‘I am not different from the Atma.’ There is no entity in this world other than the Atma. Bhadram Sruvantu means, ‘I do not listen to anything else.’ Bhadram Kurvantu means ‘I don’t need to perform any Sadhana.’ When one recognizes the oneness of the Atmic principle, where is the need for him to undertake any Sadhana? Every sound that is heard is a resound of the Atmic principle. One who realizes this will not listen to anything other than the Atma.

Divinity is the essence of all actions. Bhadram Truvantu, Bhadram Sruvantu and Bhadram Kurvantu means that the Divine Darshan, Divine Sambhasana and Divine activities are embodied only in God. Hence, to live always in the company of God is true Satsanga. God is one. He is referred to as sat. Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti (Truth is one, but the wise call it by different names). That which is changeless in all the three periods of time is sat. You should live in the company of the One who is changeless, with unwavering mind and steady vision. Your thoughts, words and deeds should be steady and sacred. But due to the impact of the Kali Age, modern youth find it difficult to control their thoughts, words and deeds. They do not have a steady vision. They do not keep up their word. Their actions belie their thoughts and words.

mansya ekam vachasya ekam karmanya ekam mahatmanam

manasya anyat vachasya anyat karyam anyat dura atmanam

(Those whose thoughts, words and deeds are in complete harmony are noble ones; those who lack harmony are wicked ones.)

Your deeds should be in consonance with your thoughts and words. Harmonizing thoughts, words and deeds is true Satsanga. To experience the oneness of Self is true Satsanga. The Atma is only one. It attracts the entire world. What is Prakriti (Nature)? It consists of objects that delude man. All objects in Nature are transitory. You do not find anything permanent. They attract man and delude him. The objects which are temporary in nature, will only give momentary happiness. The Vedas speak about the principle of Ritam. It symbolizes the truth that is changeless. All worldly objects undergo change. When you develop Ritam, you will be able to understand the changeless and eternal Divinity.

You may question, ‘How can I have the vision of God?’ Oh simpleton! You don’t need to search for God. Wherever you see, He is there. He is imbued in every object. You are unable to see Him because you are deluded by external appearances. Pashyati Iti Pashuhu (that which goes purely by external vision is an animal). Whatever you see, whatever you experience is but the manifestation of God. In fact, you are God yourself. Hence, the Veda exhorts man the faith that ‘I am God and God is none other than myself.’ Names and forms are many, but God is one. Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma (verily all this is Brahman). Such unity in Divinity is to be realized. There is underlying unity in apparent diversity. Satsanga means the experience of unity. Today people think that Satsanga means a congregation of spiritual aspirants. But it is not Satsanga in the true sense of the term because whom you think to be good may turn wicked. They are bound to change. How can such temporary association confer everlasting happiness? It is impossible. Till this day, people have not understood the true meaning of Satsanga and its significance. Tell me your company and I shall tell who you are. When you associate yourself with ephemeral things, the results are also bound to be transitory. You should develop friendship with Divinity, which alone is true and eternal. Divinity is very much present in you. You cannot find it outside. The external world is subject to change. The world is nothing but a combination of matter. Everything in this world is transitory. Nothing is permanent. All that is seen in this world is illusory. The unseen Atmic principle is true and eternal.

If you pose a question as to ‘Where is God?’ some people will say, ‘He is in me’, pointing to their body. Body is not permanent. Hence, this is not a proper answer. (Swami holding a rose) When I say the flower is in My hand, the flower is smaller than me. In the same manner, when you say God is in you, you are bigger than God! In fact the whole world is in the hands of God. Hence, it is not proper to say God is in you. You are in God. All are in God. The world itself is a manifestation of God. This is the Transcendental Truth. This is the changeless truth. The word Shivam symbolizes truth. Here truth does not correspond to your body. It corresponds to the eternal and changeless Sat. Today people go by the physical and worldly meanings and, as a result, spoil their mind.

You should strive to attain Atmic bliss right from a young age. That should be your only endeavour. Your thoughts, words and deeds should be aimed at this. This can be termed as true Satsanga. Worldly experiences, however long one may enjoy, cannot confer eternal bliss. You can experience eternal bliss only in the company of God. All the worldly activities and experiences are bound to change. The Atma alone is changeless. This is referred to as Ritam in Sanskrit. In order to experience this eternal principle, you should give up body attachment and understand the truth that the Atma in you is same as the one in others. Just as the same electric current flows in different bulbs, the same Atma is present in all beings. Ekatma Sarva Bhutantaratma (the one Atma is present in all beings). But, today man doesn’t have such broad-mindedness. In order to experience divinity, which is the very form of love, you have to become the very personification of love. Divinity and love are not separate. As man is endowed with such sacred divine principle, it is said, Jantunam Nara Janma Durlabham (out of all living beings. Human birth is the rarest).

Today man does not enquire as to what is gamyamu (goal of life). Instead of trying to know the goal of life, he is worried about janmamu (worldly life). Even animals and insects are concerned about their worldly existence. It is not essential to know the secret of life; one should know the purpose of life. That is very important. The goal of our life is truth, which is symbolized by the principle of the Atma. Instead of enquiring into the goal of life, man is trying to know the secret of life. It is a futile exercise. Any number of births will not be sufficient to know this. Fix your mind on the gamyamu (goal).do not worry about the janmamu (life).

Adi Sankara said,

पुनरपि जननं पुनरपि मरणं

पुनरपि जननीजठरे शयनम् ।

इह संसारे बहुदुस्तारे

कृपयाऽपारे पाहि मुरारे ॥ २१॥

Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam,

Punarapi janani jatare shayanam,

Iha samsare khalu dustare,

Krupayaa pare pahi murare.

(Bhaja Govindam, 21)

(Oh Lord! I am caught up in this cycle of birth and death; time and again, I am experiencing the agony of staying in the mother’s womb. It is difficult to cross this ocean of worldly life. Please take me across this ocean and grant me liberation.)

You are born again and again seeing, doing and experiencing what you have already seen, done and experienced. You should realize that you are born; not to be born again. You should see and experience that by which your life will find fulfilment. This is the oneness of the Atmic principle. Once you have experienced the Atma, you do not need to experience anything else. Thousands have gathered here today. Each of you has a different form and behaviour. But the Atmic effulgence that shines in all of you is one and the same. When a bulb is glowing, one may sit and do his homework. Another person may write accounts with wrong calculations. Yet another person may write a letter with evil motives. Whatever one may do, the light remains unaffected and untainted. It remains a witness. Likewise, the Atma also remains an eternal witness to all that a man does. External activities undergo change, but the eternal truth of Atma remains the same at all times.

Life is like an ocean with the waves of Samyoga (union) and viyoga (separation). You should treat this duality with equanimity. The principle of Atma is beyond union and separation. To Me, there is neither Samyoga nor Viyoga. Viyoga results only when there is Samyoga. They are but your imagination. In order to realize the principle of Atma, you have to get rid of such imagination and develop faith Ekam Sat. It is only one and not two. It is changeless and remains the same at all times and in all states of existence. You should join Satsanga to know this truth. (SSS Vol.36)

Everyone aspires to get rid of sorrow and enjoy happiness. In order to rise to the level of Divine from the level of human, Satsanga is very essential. Life becomes meaningless if one does not join Satsanga. What is the meaning of Satsanga? Many are under the mistaken notion that Satsanga means joining the company of devotees. ‘Sat’ symbolizes the principle of Truth, which is changeless in all the three periods of time. Man should constantly contemplate on such eternal principle. What is the purpose if human birth? It is not merely to eat, drink and make merry. Paropakarartham Idam Sariram (human body is meant to serve others). Man should dedicate himself to the service of society. God has endowed man with all powers. Human body is bound by senses, which are responsible for both good and evil. Hence, it is the foremost duty of man to make proper use of the senses. Lord Krishna taught the same to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. One who lacks sense control is worse than an animal. Even animals exercise some control over their senses. But man, in spite of being endowed with Vijnana, Sujnana and Prajnana is not making any effort to control his senses. Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsalya (desire, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and jealousy) are bestial tendencies. Today man is cultivating such tendencies and becoming an animal himself. Man is neither a Mruga (animal) nor a Mrunmaya Swarupa (made of inert matter). He is in fact Chinmya and Chidananda Swarupa (embodiment of consciousness and bliss). (SSS Vol.36)

We use a mosquito net to escape from the bite of mosquitoes. Similarly, Satsanga is the mosquito net to avoid being bitten by the mosquitoes of bad company and bad thoughts.  Even a powerful magnet cannot attract a piece of iron thickly coated with rust and dust. If there are mosquitoes inside the mosquito net, the net cannot protect you. Similarly if you let your defects remain without any transformation, then no matter what holy places you dwell in, or which temples you visit and what holy company you keep, it will be of no use at all. (NNSG Vol. 5, p.51)

A newspaper used for packing jasmine flowers acquires the fragrance of jasmine, but if it is used for packing dried fish, it emits the repulsive odour of dry-fish. (NNSG Vol. 5, p.51)

Mix one litre of water in ten litres of milk; water acquire the value of the milk. Mix one litre of milk in ten litres of water, the milk loses its value. So, too, good company enhances your worth, while bad company makes you worthless. (NNSG Vol. 5, pp.50-51)