What is the way I can quieten the unsteady and wavering mind? Satsanga or the company of the seekers of truth, say our books of knowledge. All the great masters advise the Satsanga as a means to uplift our mind to a higher plane of thinking.
Sri Adi Shankaracharyaji gives us the very process by which this upliftment happens in the Bhaja Govindam. He says when the mind is taken to a Satsanga, immediately it detaches itself from thoughts of objects brought to us through the five sense organs. The mind is no more attached to the sounds heard of events and happenings outside, the sights that seemed so attractive, the smells of foods and flavours that one likes or dislikes, the different tastes and the sense of touch of objects of the world outside.
A Satsanga completely arrests all the 10 sense organs of perception and actions. The eyes get to focus on the deity, the beautifully decorated altar and all the people gathered with devotion. At the most, it may go to all the beautiful clothes and appreciate them. The ears listen to the songs, chants and talks about the one truth in many forms. The nose is treated to the fragrance of incense sticks that are lit on the occasion. The skin experiences the touch of people who have gathered together on account of realising god or the truth or any one uplifting idea.
The sense of taste gets to experience the prasada that is served at the end of the Satsanga. The sense organs of action too are held under control. The hands and feet are either engaged in the work related to the Satsanga, or they remain quiet. The sense of speech either talks on some topic related to the Satsanga or it is quiet.
There are numerous stories about the power of Satsanga that has transformed lives. In that Satsanga, where you found yourself absolutely without your interest, you may have heard a sentence, met a person or experienced something that would have taken your life in a completely different direction.
The Satsanga does many things to us. Mainly, it removes obstacles in our mind. The main obstacles are, “I am the greatest person ever on earth. There is no one more important than me.”
This is an obstacle that obstructs free flow of thought. The other is, “These things and people belong to me, and the rest don’t.” This possessiveness is a great barrier to the expression of our own thoughts. A constant craving for joy in life—I need to hear nice things, see pleasant things, taste something I like, smell and touch only those things that please me. This craving gets destroyed in the habit of constant Satsanga.
It is the cry of many a master that if you are interested in making the mind one-pointed, then go to a Satsanga—today, now.
Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya
(www.sharanyachaitanya.blogspot.in)