Reviews of Spiritual Experiences What is SatSang? What is "Satsang".
Is it awakening training or something else?
Satsang is not teaching it is a conversation about awakening and enlightenment.
Satsang is simply exposing what is happening, highlighting what actually happens upon awakening. At satsang, you realize the clarity of vision, interpret what is happening competently, you begin to hear the voices of the commentators in your head.
Awakening arises, is born within you. It is the Lotus that blooms and begins to exude its scent. At satsang, you taste and listen to this aroma.
In satsang you start:
Realize what enlightenment is. Be aware of yourself, be aware of life, be aware of the moment.
Grace covers from head to toe - this sensation and awareness cannot be confused with anything. Isn't that so? It's like you are in the hands of God. You feel warm, you feel care, things are getting better at lightning speed, you experience completely unfounded joy inside, you look at people and marvel at their vanity and tension because of trifles, you want to live and see everything around as if illuminated by an additional light. This is awakening. All this is spoken about in Satang.
Satsang is a conversation with a person about his soul, about his pressing issues regarding states of awakening.
Conversations on how not to miss moments of enlightenment? That almost 99% happens. A person is already himself, like a divine candle and all life is illuminated by God, and he keeps saying: “How to enlighten? How can you see the situation clearly? "
This ingrained habit of yours is as old as you are now. Try to uproot it. It’s impossible. Therefore, I never condemn a person if he is identified for the millionth time in satsang and cannot come into observation.
I carefully lead him by the hand over and over again.
I am often asked, “Why are you not annoyed? Why endure for the hundredth time the Ego jumping at you or the chatty mind of a person? " To which I always answer: “Even if I want to get angry, it will not work. I always see the soul, not the mind or the ego. And only people who deliberately do not want to go out, and there are many of them, continue to conduct an arrogant conversation with the smell of rudeness and hidden humiliation dignity as seemingly invisible in the conversation. I see and feel all the shades in the voice and hear the thoughts of a person, they always run faster than speech. And I always give 10 chances to wake up and stop from the accelerated high of the ego to prick and humiliate. Then I move to his plane of communication, that is, to a person, and there we most often immediately find a line of communication, a person begins to hear, since the language of communication in a person is familiar: sharp, selfish, vibrational and motivated for personal goals. The diffused Ego cannot be stopped from there. The ego begins to hear only in its range of speech and vibration, unfortunately. "
Satsang is a space where a person should not be afraid to reveal something intimate, because he is in the right place, in the right audience. And I take it upon myself to protect him and speak tenderly to his soul, while protecting against possible attacks in the hall if they occur, which is extremely rare.
Satsang is the energy space of the Gods. They are in charge of who gets into this space, and someone has things to do (do not take anyone personally), the reasons are different, a person may simply not be ready for a strong transformation.
After all, the guru from God ALWAYS has a special energy in which a person wakes up without words, as soon as he enters the hall or approaches the place of the satsang. This is how it should be according to the laws of higher powers. Otherwise, it is not a guru or a teacher. Special energy works, not a word.
Satsang is a holy place in the literal sense. And energetically guarded by the higher Powers. Is always. I know this from my own experience.
Never be afraid to open up. Take the chance to talk and talk with the guru, if he came to your house, it means that only he and in this guise will be able to reach you, and you will accept his answers as something simple and easy, and the mind will not interfere with pure perception ...
Satsang is always a holiday for your very vulnerable Soul!
Om namaste, my dears!
I give you definition of satsang from Wikipedia.
"Satsang (Sanskrit Sadhu and Sangha) is a concept in Indian philosophy, meaning: the highest true community, the community of the highest truth;
communication with the guru; gathering people around an enlightened person, with the aim of hearing the truth, talking about it and assimilating it. "
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsang
Sadhana is a Sanskrit term that can be translated as spiritual practice, or literally, as "a means to achieve something."
This section attempts to collect practical advice for individual sadhana. They are based on the recommendations of Sathya Sai Baba and the ESSE Institute of Education, as well as the experience of the Moscow Sathya Sai Center.
Satsang, along with bhajans and meditation, is one of the most common types of spiritual work in many ashrams in India. This is always a group practice, because the word satsang in translation from Sanskrit means "communication of sages" or simply - a spiritual circle.
What is the purpose of satsangs?
Meetings of this kind are not intended to provide those present with bare knowledge. This is a whole complex of lessons affecting language, mind, will, feelings, human consciousness. These are lessons of endurance and acceptance, speech and communication, trust and attentiveness.
“The purpose of satsang is not to gain knowledge about the point of view of any author or the teachings of this or that saint. Not information, but transformation; not instructing, but constructing should be his goal. Make a decision for yourself to benefit from satsang by practicing what you learn! The main obstacle for many is: “I looked, listened and forgot”. True teaching should take place according to this plan: reading, thinking and necessarily - implementation, constant application of the knowledge gained in life. The study of the scriptures is the work of the mind. Analyzing and investigating how valuable and true what has been learned is the work of the mind. Living based on learned values and truths is wisdom. "
(PRS)
When is the best time for satsangs?
Satsangs are part of the compulsory program of meetings of many spiritual centers that take place on Sundays. Although the best day for satsang is Thursday - Guru's day.
What are the rules for conducting satsang?
The topic of the future satsang, as a rule, is determined in advance, it is entrusted to prepare one of the activists of the center. At the beginning of the satsang, there is a presentation that reveals the topic, for which 20-30 minutes are allotted. Further, for all participants of the meeting, 2-3 questions are proposed to discuss the proposed topic. After that, all those present are divided into circles of 10-12 people and discuss the proposed questions. This takes about an hour. At the end of the meeting, it is necessary to leave 10-15 minutes for summing up the results and conclusions - at this time, the leaders of each circle report to those present the generalized answers of the participants of the satsang.
Spiritual circle is not only a beautiful image, but also a certain way of communication and even sitting down during a discussion. It is desirable that all participants really sit facing each other, that is, in a circle. If satsangs are not held on a carpet (where you can sit in a circle on the floor), then you need to arrange chairs in a circle in the hall.
How many people can participate in satsang?
The optimal number of people in a circle is 10-12 people. If there are more people, then the time allotted for the meeting may not be enough for everyone present to speak, and if there are few participants in the circle, then fewer opinions and judgments will be expressed.
Let us recall that in many ashrams and spiritual centers there is a division into the female and male halves. Therefore, as a rule, there are at least two circles. But if 30-40 or more people come to satsang, then it is necessary to create 3, 4 circles or more.
Are there rules for discussing questions in such circles?
In the middle of the circle, you can put a double-sided photograph of Sadguru, and before starting the discussion, read the following rules aloud:
1. Before the start of the discussion, we are silent (1–2 minutes) and internally turn to the Lord with a request to give us the Light of understanding.
2. We express our opinion in turn (in a circle). We can skip our turn if we're not ready and get a chance to speak at the end of the circle.
3. Before taking the floor, we say our name in order to know each other better.
4. We try to keep our opinions short.
5. We try to stick to the theme.
6. When answering, we follow the principle “life experience is more important than book knowledge”.
7. We accept any opinion expressed as a gift. We do not interrupt the speaker, even if we disagree with something.
8. In expressing our opinions, we refrain from criticizing others. We understand that this is not the place for discussion or controversy.
9. We have the right not to speak out and remain only listeners.
Why has this form of satsang been adopted?
We remember from our own experience that in educational institutions there are two main forms of training - lecture, when everyone is listening to one (lecturer), and seminar, where, in addition to transferring knowledge, the teacher manages to interview two or three or four students. But in the first and second cases, there is no full involvement of the entire audience in the learning process. Someone during the lecture can read a detective story, others listen to the player, and still others - play " sea battle". That is, the effectiveness of these forms of education is not very high, since in to a greater extent there is only a formal transfer of knowledge. Consciousness of students at this time is dormant, waking up only when the teacher calls the student's surname.
Satsang is a different, more interesting and, accordingly, more effective form of teaching.
At first, an introductory 20-minute presentation is not as tiring as an hour and a half lecture, so the consciousness of the participants does not have time to dissipate. In addition, those present remember that at the end of the report, questions will be posed to which they all will need to answer. It also helps to focus attention during a thematic presentation.
Secondly, all those present participate in the discussion of the topic and the answers to the questions posed. And taking into account the fact that criticism or controversy is absolutely excluded during the discussion, then people who are afraid or do not know how to express their thoughts, over time, fear and tongue-tied language disappear and vice versa, the skill of speech develops.
Thirdly, as a rule, people's answers to the questions posed differ greatly - someone sees the answer to a question on the one hand, and someone on the other, as they say - "how many people, so many opinions." And since one of the rules when answering is to rely not on book knowledge, but on one's own experience, the generalizing answer to the question posed turns out to be very convex and voluminous. And this is very important, since life usually does not pose simple questions for us, which are required to be answered with monosyllables "Yes" or "No". Thus, the participants in the meeting not only broaden their own horizons and acquire knowledge, but often also clarify their own problems. And besides, most of the participants in satsang always have a sense of belonging and unity.
Finally, This form of training allows meeting participants not only to learn how to express their thoughts correctly, but also to listen and hear the opinions of others. Most often, in ordinary communication, we do not always hear the interlocutor, trying to defend our own point of view or win the discussion. There is no criticism, dispute or polemics here, and accordingly there is no need to appeal or defend one's own opinion. Therefore, another lesson in satsang is a lesson in the art of communication, which increases self-control, mutual understanding and trust in each other.
Please advise what topics can be discussed at satsang and what questions to ask?
As a rule, satsangs discuss topics related to the spiritual formation of a person, universal human values, bright events in the life of the country, as well as speeches, messages, speeches of your Satguru. But it is also possible to discuss other topics that are relevant to the present moment. As an example, here are some satsang topics taken from the book Into a Clear Fire.
Theme "Satya - Truth"
Questions:
1. Why do they say "God is Truth?"
2. How is truth and truth different?
3. There is an expression "holy lie", but how can a lie be holy? For what lofty purpose can you lie? Is it possible?
4. How can Truth be attained?
Topic: "Dharma - Duty and Righteousness"
Questions:
1. Does a stone, a plant, an animal, a person, or God have dharma?
2. Avatars come to earth to restore dharma, what do you mean?
3. What is the relationship between a person's dharma and his karma?
4. Give examples of dharmic and adharmic actions.
Topic: "Shanti - Peace"
Questions:
1. What is the difference between inner peace and outer peace (self-control, composure)?
2. What methods can be achieved inner peace and how to deal with negative thoughts and feelings?
3. What is the difference between generosity, indifference and cowardice?
Topic: "Prema - Love"
Questions:
1. Is jealousy a sign of love?
2. Why is love often accompanied by suffering?
3. "God is love." Does God love us? And we are his?
4. Is it possible to achieve or achieve love? What is true love?
Topic: "Ahimsa - Nonviolence"
Questions:
1. "If you are hit on the left cheek, turn your right cheek" - what does this mean?
2. Can nonviolence condone evil?
3. What is it - not causing harm in words and thoughts?
4. What harm am I doing to myself?
Sacrifice theme
Questions:
1. Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life? How?
2. “He sacrificed his life” - is such a sacrifice justified?
3. Lead specific traits sacrifice.
"Repentance and Forgiveness" theme
Questions:
1. What does it mean to forgive? Can a person be forced to forgive someone?
2. Explain the lines from the prayer "Our Father": "And forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors."
3. Is it always necessary to forgive everything and is it always?
4. What do you yourself regret?
The theme "Humility and Acceptance"
Questions:
1. What is the difference between humility and obedience, and acceptance from indifference or timidity?
2. Is humility a restriction of freedom?
3. How can you distinguish between what needs to be accepted with humility and what needs to be decisively changed?
Theme "Freedom and Responsibility"
Questions: 1. What is the difference between freedom and self-will?
2. What is the connection between freedom, responsibility and the law?
3. Is freedom a characteristic of divinity or selfishness?
4. What is a truly free person free from?
Good and Evil theme
Questions:
1. What does the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” mean? Is there evil in nature?
2. Why is the road to hell paved with good intentions?
3. Can good man do bad things and bad person- good ones?
4. What is the nature of good and evil in man?
Topic: "Faith and Trust"
Questions:
1. What does faith mean? What do you need to believe in?
2. What is the relationship between faith, trust and confidence?
3. Is the act of Thomas the “unbeliever” a positive act?
4. What can strengthen and destroy faith?
5. Is faith always necessary?
The topic is “A ceiling for desires. Resource - Time "
Questions:
1. Which gunas correspond to: delay, haste and timeliness?
2. What is the difference between rest and idleness?
3. Do you have enough time for individual sadhana and if not, why?
4. What is "boredom", from what does it arise and how to deal with it?
5. "Life must be lived in such a way that it would not be excruciatingly painful for the years spent aimlessly." How?
The topic is “A ceiling for desires. Resource - Money "
Questions:
1. What is the difference between stinginess and frugality, and generosity from waste?
2. Why is it not recommended in India to help the poor with money?
3. What is the right way to carry out charity?
4. How would you spend the million you gave you?
Topic: "Mantras and Prayers"
Questions:
1. How are mantras and prayers different?
2. Tell us about your favorite prayers and mantras.
3. Give examples of when they helped you in life.
Topic: "Who am I?"
Questions:
1. How are man and animal, man and God similar and different?
2. How does a person work?
3. Why do the Vedic scriptures say that "We are Gods?"
For many devotees, the perception of Krishna consciousness is negative character- this is a struggle with our anarthas, of which there are many, this is a material world full of suffering, we must somehow avoid suffering ... This is all true on the one hand. However, such negative perception ultimately leads a person not to the development of consciousness, but to depression. Negative perception is then useful and leads to development when, along with this, there is a strong positive perception of the meaning, the purpose of the process, otherwise it plunges a living being into a state of apathy.
We cannot practice spiritual life in a vacuum, in a state of loneliness. Our nature naturally draws us to where there is relationship. Sat-sanga - when there is a deep understanding of each other. Love is not just about being around and satisfying each other's feelings. Love is service, a natural process.
We cannot but serve what is dear to us, who is dear to us. Maintaining your consciousness is always an active process, while the unconscious comes by itself. Accumulation of claims, apathy and fatigue comes naturally. The spiritual world surrounds us. But why are we in the material world? Because we see a claim around us. We see our false ego: who and what owes us - there is a constant calculation of claims inside. It is unconscious. The world in which we live - conscious or unconscious - is our choice at every moment of time. We perceive the world depending on our position: whether we are in Krishna Consciousness or not. If we are in Consciousness, then the whole world is spiritual. If we see everything in this world connected with Krishna - people as representatives of His family, objects as His energy given for His enjoyment - then we can live in this world and use everything for serving Krishna.
Consciousness is transformed in relationships. Strength is in our ties. Our ties with relatives, with devotees, with the guru — all these are our ties with Krishna. They awaken consciousness in us.
Pure devotees are collective. Krishna consciousness is when progress is by mercy in the field of relationships.
Our philosophy is natural for any living being, it is not a sectarian philosophy, it is a philosophy for everyone. In Kali-yuga, man is completely conditioned by the environment. Why are devotees often lethargic and extinct? We are very dependent on society and this society, which has lost all ideals - the society of individualists, extinguishes us, putting pressure on our brains. If there is also a mood of individualism in the society of devotees, where no one cares about others, there is no belonging, we also become apathetic.
Sat-sanga is making a connection. Through this relationship, we can perform pure devotional service because we get inspiration. If this is not the case, then we will not be able to pass the stage of anartha-nivritti. Cleansing the heart happens naturally if you are in the atmosphere of those you trust. As soon as you find yourself among friends, among loved ones who understand you, whom you are trying to understand, then the process of purification goes very quickly, but if you practice as lonely individualists, then the process of anartha-nivritti will last 20-30 years, or maybe and the next life. Even the maha-mantra itself - we are not approaching Krsna directly, we are approaching Krsna through His devotee Hare Krsna! What is this mantra? The mantra itself shows that we approach the Lord through His family. Hare is an appeal to God through Radharani, through feminine energy, this is His family! Radharani is the Lady, She is a devotee of the Lord, and we approach God through His devotee, the best of devotees! We are reaching out to God through other devotees! But if we are chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and we have no relationship with the devotees, then what is the point of our pure chanting? We don't have pure chanting! Because Radharani is not happy, She does not feel us!
Srila Prabhupada was once asked the question:
How many pure devotees are there in your society?
How many members do we have today? There are so many pure devotees!
What is it about? Didn't Prabhupada understand that all the devotees were absolutely different levels development? How can you say of a neophyte who has been in Krishna Consciousness for 3 weeks that he is a pure devotee? Just think for yourself? How can you say that? But Prabhupada said! This can be said only if there is a strong sat-sanga in the society - sincere communication. Sat-sanga is not just the sum of sentient beings! This is the Inner Energy of the Lord! She is higher than a living entity in status - this is Krishna Himself! This is Srimati Radharani! And therefore, when we are in sat-sanga, we are pure devotees because we are under the influence of the Lord's pure energy. That's all!
I know many devotees who, being in the thick of things, do not have deep connections with everyone, connections with what is happening. They do not feel deep joy that something is happening, they do not turn on emotionally. Why? Because they are brought up that way. How impersonalists!
Krishna says to Arjuna - throw off the apathy and fight! He talks about the liveliness of perception. How is it possible to start fighting? Only if we have something to fight for. We will naturally begin to follow all the restrictions. Why? Because we will protect our family! Protect yourself from temptations to serve your family. This is only possible if you have strong connections. Life outside the ashram, without connections - anonymous life. Marginal existence leads to automatic degradation. Any dirt will stick to such a person, no matter how he throws it away - this is an automatic degradation - it's just a matter of time before it happens. And why? Because we are not protected Internal Energy Gentlemen - that's all.
The Jiva is not capable of this, it cannot withstand the energy of Kali due to its certain advancement in a certain theory. Our advancement is determined by how much we were able to create sat-sanga, how much we are responsible for this sat-sanga - this is what we can satisfy our spiritual master.
This is a certain science, it is not just sentimental things. Any person, regardless of religious belief, understands this. If we explain this philosophy in this way, it is naturally accepted by everyone. If we preach, denying all connections, denying the nature of Krishna's energy, then such a preaching is only successful among the marginalized - who simply suffer from relationships, and he wants to escape into Krishna Consciousness from his responsibility. These are the kind of people who are attracted to such preaching.
Many devotees still think that Krishna Consciousness means ending everything, because this is maya. One has to take sannyas, but that is not sannyas. The only difference between a sannyasi and a grhastha is the size of the family, for which one is responsible. Bhagavad-gita is the knowledge of how one can perform bhakti-yoga while in the material world. It is about how a person can do bhakti yoga, which outwardly can resemble karma yoga. This is Bhagavad-gita!
Bhaktivedanta Sadhu Swami
Word "satsang" consists of two Sanskrit words " sat"meaning" truth "and" sang", meaning" fellowship "or" meeting. "Thus, it means "communication of sages", but in fact it is a circle of spiritual communication, which is equated with engaging in spiritual practice, since at such meetings spiritual issues are always discussed.
This practice came to us from India, where it has been used to transmit spiritual knowledge for many centuries. It has its advantages over lectures or seminars in which the teacher can devote time to only 4-5 students asking them questions. In addition, in the lecture, data is transmitted without discussion, as a result, the topic is considered from only one angle. The teacher is not particularly interested in whether the student has applied this knowledge in practice.
Satsang eliminates these gaps, allowing you to deeply and comprehensively understand the material, broaden your horizons, develop communication skills, and realize something new.
So, the learning process is as follows:
- As a rule, training is conducted in small groups of 10-12 people. If the group has 30-40 people, then it is divided into 3-4 groups for a detailed discussion of the topic.
- The leader of the lesson gives a topic for discussion for 20 minutes and reads out the questions. During this time, the listeners do not have time to turn off their attention, and therefore are completely focused on what the presenter is saying.
- After the questions have been voiced, each group member expresses his opinion, trying to answer them, based on the text read out at the beginning of the lesson by the leader. The peculiarity of this whole process is that all points of view are accepted, there is no criticism, everyone expresses their opinion without fear. If it is difficult for him to speak out, then the rest of the group members help him in this, supporting him.
- At the end of the discussion, the moderator asks the question about how the listeners apply this in their lives, asks them to talk about their realizations, spiritual experience. This sharing of experience inspires others in their spiritual practice, helps to understand the inextricable connection of spiritual knowledge with everyday life.
This practice allows not only to gain new knowledge, it is a way of spiritual communication of people engaged in self-knowledge... A person feels powerful support from like-minded people, which gives him additional strength to follow the path of spiritual development.
This kind of communication removes fears and removes all barriers to communication. A person develops speaking skills, he becomes more confident. Also, a person learns to listen to others, show tolerance and respect for all points of view.
Satsangs are held, as a rule, on Thursdays, which is considered the day of the Guru, is under the influence of the planet Jupiter. On this day, knowledge is assimilated better.
This technique turned out to be so successful and positively recommended that it began to be used not only by persons engaged in Eastern spiritual practices, but also by Christians.
A satsang lesson is a lesson in the art of communication, increasing self-control, mutual understanding and trust in each other.
Be close to the righteous, associate with the righteous. From the knowledge of the true dharma, happiness gives way to sorrow
Kashyapa buddha
The sage's society is considered the root cause of all good
Tripura Rahasya
The term "satsang" is now in vogue. In the media, on the Internet, it is used more and more often: "We invite you to a unique online satsang conducted by a master psychologist", "satsang will be held in the tradition of ... - yoga", "virtual satsang", "satsang with a master of ... directions", " Satsang Retreat of Silence. Usually this word is used to denote communication with a spiritual teacher, conversations on spiritual topics in any community, and, gradually, its meaning is expanding and expanding. The main interpretations are based on the translation of Sanskrit roots, which served to form the words: "sat" (truth) and "sang" (communication, communication): communication on the topic of truth, society of sages, etc. Being in the company of sages is really very important:
But there is a slightly emphasis-shifting interpretation of the term satsang: "True communication." You can be in the company of the wise, but not hear or perceive what they say, in fact, not get involved in the communicative process. What could be understood by true communication, especially in such an energy-intensive language as Sanskrit? Are they just conversations with the subject of dharma? Of course, there is a deeper meaning behind this word.
A capacitive understanding of satsang is given in the Bihar School of Yoga. In the process of satsang, the mind must very much change the principles, the foundations of its work, rebuild: “The sage can say almost anything - maybe something significant or insignificant, obviously or not obviously directed at you; it may be seemingly superficial statements of facts, gossip or philosophical ideas - it does not matter what, but these words help to rock and turn the boat of psychological laziness and rigidity that exists in your mind ”(“ Bihar School of Yoga ”) ... The subject of the conversation is not so important, the processes taking place inside the consciousness are important.
The basis for understanding the necessity of satsangs is the statement: “The mind has a tendency to remain in a rut of false beliefs and conditioning; moreover, it is full of tangled knots. You can never get rid of them on your own "(Bihar Yoga School). Even great souls could not overcome their karmic limitations on their own.
Kalu Rinpoche quotes the Buddha's words: "Not a single Buddha who has ever attained enlightenment has achieved this without relying on a guru, and of all the thousand Buddhas that will appear in our kalpa, not one will achieve enlightenment without the help of a guru."("Practice of Guru Yoga"). Certain limitations can be overcome only by resorting to outside help.
Our mind tends to reproduce pre-assimilated patterns, we behave like a man or a woman, as a responsible or irresponsible person, as a head of a family or a subordinate, as a person constantly defending himself from the world, etc. - there are many such stereotypical models. And these stereotypes are perceived as an inseparable part of our personality. Some of them are relatively harmless, but others destroy both ourselves and the lives of people around.
One of the tasks of a satsang master is to show a deeply hidden problem, figuratively speaking, to press with a finger on an abscess that has formed inside the energy body, provoking this painful attack. In Buddhism, the analogy between mental and physical illness is quite clearly drawn:
“Bhikkhu, there are two diseases. What are these two? Physical illness and mental illness. Bhikkhus, you can see beings free from physical illness for one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, one hundred years and more. But, bhikkhus, it is difficult in this world to find beings who would be free from mental illness even for a minute, excluding those who have destroyed the mental polluters. "("Horns Sutta").
And in cases of illness of the body, and when the soul suffers, treatment is necessary. Realizing the problem, “you have to receive“ treatment ”from another person ... a spiritual healer, sage, yogi or saint” (“Bihar School of Yoga). A sage, a saint, a teacher, can only offer a medicine - whether to drink or not - the choice will remain with the patient.
The task of a spiritually ill person in this situation is simply to entrust himself in the hands of a doctor (guru, satsang master, sage, no matter what term we use), realizing that coping with a spiritual illness on his own is as difficult as, for example, cutting out an inflamed appendix. ... Here, first of all, the question of trust arises in the one who offers you a medicine, an operation, etc. Whom do you give yourself to? In this regard, attending satsang is a rather serious step. And can we talk about satsang with a master whose life path and values you do not know and whose closeness you do not feel? Moreover, which you see online for the first time? What will he do with your soul and do you need it? To agree to such an intervention, you need to be sure that you are ready at the end of your life path to come to the same result that this person came to, having considered all the pros and cons of this option.
The second aspect is also important. It should be noted that in Western society the problem of trust (in general, to anyone) is very acute. In Vedic culture, from a young age, the child learned to build certain relationships with the gods, learned to trust them, the warrior entrusted his life higher powers before the battle, the wife trusted her husband with her life, and the student relied entirely on the will of the teacher. If you try to interpret trust in this vein - it will mean approximately the following - in any life situation, the one whom I trust can make any decision regarding my thoughts, feelings, actions of my soul, and it will be right. It is this person (God) who knows how it will be better.
Consider one of the examples: in the Vedic culture, a girl from birth was brought up in "trust" to her future husband, even the possibility of not accepting his position should not have crept into her head. Try to offer a modern average woman, for example, to entrust her husband with making a decision to move to another city, to choose a school for children, in general, any decision - and most likely you will hear: “And if I get hurt, but he doesn’t know what is needed at all children, and if he decides wrong ?! ". There is only one key to the problem - you can only trust the one whom you consider to be more developed, who is more authoritative for you. In your inner hierarchy, this person should be higher than you yourself are. That is why the wife addressed her husband as "master." In the family hierarchy, he was always higher. Trust is not blurting out secrets and secrets to girlfriends on the benches, not even expressing your innermost thoughts. Trust is giving yourself over to someone else's will. And the first question is - are we capable of this? Most will have to answer honestly, "Unfortunately, no."
Satsang is always a qualitative change in personality: “Satsang is like a philosopher's stone. Even the most wicked people have been transformed by satsang, just as the philosopher's stone turns iron into gold ”(Ramayana). Exaggerating and extremely exaggerating, one can describe the transformation of personality during satsang through the following example: you enter and start a conversation with the master as a tall blue-eyed engineer Petya, and leave as a dark stocky philologist Vasya. Weird? You do not want? Why do you need this satsang? Of course, such changes are senseless and absurd, but a satsang master can make much deeper and more valuable transformations in your mind than a change, for example, of stereotypes of professional behavior.
We are attached to our ideas about ourselves, and, in fact, we do not want to change. Observing your surroundings, perhaps you noticed in which life periods people change most dramatically, and, so to speak, willingly? In yoga, love is not always evaluated positively, and, indeed, anahata is, of course, not the chakra that should crown relations with the world. But, nevertheless, it was love in all ages that forced people to rebuild themselves. A person in love is ready to accept the idea of a parterre about himself, he will adjust to this idea, because for loving person the image of himself, ideas about himself - turn out to be less valuable than the relationships that he is trying to build. For one who follows the path of dharma, the motivation is no longer love, but a sincere desire to turn "from iron into gold."
When faced with a life problem, it is worth asking yourself a few questions:
- Do I really want to change?
- Do I really trust whoever I turn to for help?
- Do I want to become like him?
The chances of becoming a participant in "true fellowship" - satsang - will increase for one who answers these questions positively.
