TRUE ASSOCIATION - SAADH-SANGAT

ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੀ ਜਾਣੀਐ ॥ ਜਿਥੈ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੀਐ ॥ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਬੁਝਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥੫॥:
Satsangati kaisee jaaneeai || Jithai eko naami vakhaaneeai ||
Eko naami hukami hai Nanak satiguri deeaa bujhaai jeeou ||5|| (sggs 72).
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The value of sandalwood lies in its fragrance that spreads out far and wide. The aroma of sandalwood is so sublime that the lowly trees growing near sandalwood also become fragrant just like it. The philosopher’s touch stone (Paaras) has the same good quality — any lowly metal that comes in contact with it is transformed into gold. Thus, in essence, whatever comes into contact with both sandalwood and Paaras is uplifted. For example, a piece of worthless iron is transformed into gold, and an ordinary wood becomes fragrant!

The Gurbani compare the nature of the Satsang or Saadh-Sangat with that of sandalwood and Paaras. In the Association with the Saadh-Sangat (within: the Mool...; and without: the Gurmukhs), a lowly conditioned being is transformed into Divine Consciousness! In such Holy Company, one finds the energy, integrity, understanding, and persistence to liberate himself from the false ego sense (Haume and its associated faults such as lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, jealously, stubborn mindedness, etc.).

All beings are in the influence of the three modes of material nature (Gunas or qualities) of Maya. As our mind is made of thoughts-stuff (Phurne), the thoughts that surge forth in the mind are due to the influence of these Gunas. For instance, when the mind is under the influence of Taamas Guna (ignorance) and experiences stone consciousness, one loses the faculty to cognize the nature of thoughts or rather thoughts themselves. When Raajas Guna predominantly prevails in the mind, one's consciousness turns opaque, resulting in undesirable thoughts carrying their impact straight into the Heart. Whereas when the Saatav Guna (or goodness) predominates the mind, awakened consciousness prevails, resulting in dispelling of undesirable thoughts.

Thus, the Gunas or material nature influence the mind with irretrievable wantonness. Therefore, in order to become Spiritually Wise (Giaanee, Gurmukh), one always need to watch the predominance of the Gunas prevalent in his mind. The subtle thoughts that persistently surge forth and create disturbances and make an indelible effect on the mind are imperceptible. However, the one who is Spiritually alert can perceive the predominance of such thoughts. Hence it seems imperative that the key to free ourselves from the effects of Maya (illusion) lies in attaining Spiritual Wisdom (Aatam-Giaan).

To reclaim one's mind from convulsive effects and influence of the materiality (Maya), Satsang or Saadh-Sangat within is strongly recommended in the Gurbani. Of all external or worldly contacts, the company of the Gurmukh (True and the Spiritually Wise) is the most sublime.

Saadh-Sangat Defined

Various expressions exist that are virtually synonymous to Saadh-Sangat. Such expressions include Good Friendship, Noble Friendship, Company of the True and the Wise, Inner Communion, Abidance in the Self, Satsang, Gurmukh Sang, Saadhoo Sang, Sant Sang, Satsangat, Sachee Sangat, Gur Sangat, Uttam Sangat, Saadh Sabhaa, Daivee Sangat, Sant Mandlee, True Association, Company of the Holy, Holy Association, Company of  the Truth, etc.

he Gurbani defines such True Association as follows:

Here the Gurbani (sggs) provides us with a very clear definition of a True Association — it is that Company where only the Name (Giaan...) of the One Truth is remembered. Without meeting this definition, any company or congregation is nothing more than a gathering of materialistic beings (Mayadhaaree or Manmukhs).

Forms Of Satsang

By joining and engaging in Satsang, one becomes relieved of the influence of Maya and the resurgence of baneful thoughts arising from such influence. Eradication of the influence of Maya helps create a condition of "Pure mind" suitable for practicing devotion of God. The highest form of the Satsang is Soul's linking with the Shabad or Naam (Giaan) within. In summary, Satsang can be summed up as follows:

External Satsang (the Company of the Gurmukh)

A True and Wise is a person (the Gurmukh) in God-consciousness — Brahm Giaanee and Self-realized. Such person may externally appear to be irreligious, not well cultured, or not learned. However, he is one hundred percent established in the highest plane of Consciousness. He has cleansed his heart and conquered his mind (Haume), so he is truthful in and out. Such great seeker helps recover other conditioned beings from their delusion. In fact, the Gurbani demands such Awakened and Enlightened beings to help other rid of ignorance and illusion.

The Sat (Truth) is within us; it is the Self. However, with the rise of false ego-sense (Haume), we begin to identify it with the external body and see the material world (Maya). In the process, the Self or the internal Sat becomes obscured. This confounding of the Self with the body is duality (Doojaa Bhaav), and non-confounding is identification with the Supreme (Divine Essence, the Homogeneous Oneness, etc.). Till the Self is not understood to be the Sat (Truth), we seek external association of those who thus have experienced and understood it. A blind person cannot show the path to others!

Therefore, the external Satsang involves joining the company of the Gurmukh - godly Beings. Generally, in the worldly sense, a godly person is often defined as one who may have renounced the family life, or someone who wears peculiar religious garbs, or maintains a peculiar outer looks, and so on. Such definition can only come from a deluded or ignorant mind. The Gurbani affirms that one does not become an Enlightened being (the Gurmukh) just by wearing religious robes, posing in meditation like a crane or heron waiting for fish, rising early in the morning for worship and then go about cheating people all day along — externally looking neat and clean or pious but inside full of filth of corruption, etc.

Meeting of people merely at physical plane, mental plane, emotional plane, material plane, or material-intelligence plane does not constitute Saadh-Sangat.

What is the Gurmukh Lifestyle recommended in the Gurbani? As the Gurbani indicates: the Gurmukh is linked to his Mool within (ਮੂਲ, Source, Origin Truth...), and ever remains so; he is contented in all situations (Sach Santokhee); he is the follower of the Truth; his mind is linked to Antar-Aatmaa; his Akal (ਅਕਲ , wisdom, intellect, reason, etc.) follows the Gurbani; he restrains his mind instead of following his mind; his state is that of "ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਇਕ ਚਿਤਿ " - Ik Mani Ik Chiti; he is detached in the midst of Maya - ਮਾਇਆ ਵਿਚ ਉਦਾਸੀ; he is established in Viveka-budhi - ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਰਮਤ ਦੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੈ; he knows all the "Way of the soul" ("ਜਾਨੈ ਆਤਮ ਕੀ ਰਹਤ", ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ, ਅਮਲੀ ਜੀਵਨ, ਹੁਕਮੀ ਜੀਵਨ); he is Jeevan Mukat (living Liberated or Enlightened); he is Aatam or Brahm Giaanee...

Thus, to become a Pure one is not a social status, it is a question of Self-realization, completely linking with the Mool (Source, Origin...) within. At the external level, we must keep the company of such Pure ones. Anybody who comes in contact with such Holy Company gets infected with "Hari Rang" or the Divine Love.

Unlike us, God remains unaffected by the three qualities of Maya. Similarly, the Gurmukh are also beyond the reach of Maya; for they are unaffected by any external environment. Contrary to this, every thing else is Maya-stricken, hence untruth. Accordingly, association with of the Gurmukh is referred to as external Satsang.

Internal Satsang

As stated earlier, the Sat is within us. Therefore, the internal Satsang is the most sublime and intimate, because we can never remain apart from it. It is only the Mool (ਮੂਲ-Source, Origin, Joti...) which is immanent in all beings. Thus, Realization of the Inner Satsang is the same as realization of the Mool, True Self (Soul-consciousness), "Satguru" or True Guru, "Saadhoo", "Sajjan Sant", "Shabad or Naam", Divinity, "Amrit Dhaaraa" (Immortality), "Anand" (Bliss), "Anhad Dhuni", "Anhad Naad", "Anhad Bani", "Anhat Shabad", "Panch Shabad", "Gur Charan", "Gur Moorati", "Sahaj Avasthaa", "Brahm Giaan", "Gobind Gajjiyaa", and so on.

The external Satsang helps the seeker to develop love for God (practice of Bhagti, Naam, Jap, etc.). Gradually, the mind attains Purity and Peace (Sahaj) needed to make the mind sink into the Heart within (becoming Saadh). Mind's sinking into the Heart means detachment from the material bondage (Maya). Thus, with the help of redemptive attributes attained from Company of the Gurmukh , the individual beings (Jeeva) begins an Upward journey.

With the aid of Aatam-Giaan, attained from the external Satsang, the seeker becomes fit to retrace his steps back to the True Source, the internal Satsang. Here, the seeker sinks deep in the cave of the Heart, and do "Ajappa Jaap". With the help of Inner Satsang, the taste of Intuitive Understanding of the Shabad (Aatam-Giaan, Bibek-Budhi...) is experienced. The seeker feels uplifted and inspired to become more and more engaged in the Shabad-Kamaaee or Spiritual practice. As the Spiritual Practice progresses upward, one becomes free of worries, tensions, doubts, ignorance of one's True Nature, mundane thoughts, material consciousness, false ego (Haume), tossing or restlessness of the mind, etc. As a result, one feels eternal Bliss (Peace, Joy and Love, etc.). Which, in turn, leads the seeker to become absorbed in the Shabad-Surti; the celestial Satsang.

By becoming interiorized, we can churn ourself in order to seek, search, reach, and realize the Absolute Reality. Complete "Inner Purity" can be cultivated with the help of undivided devotion through the Satsang. As suggested in the scriptures, this can be accomplished by making mind the churning rod (Naam-Simran, contemplation or steady meditation), body the churning pot, by which the "lower-self" or the ego-attitude is uplifted to the glowing nature of the "Higher-Self" or the Shabad-Consciousness.

We can look at this process from an another angle. Butter permeates milk although it cannot be seen directly in the milk. The Supreme Absolute Truth likewise permeates everything although It can not be seen directly with our material senses. The technique used for extracting or separating butter from milk is called "churning". Likewise, the Aatmaan can also be separated from the world of names and forms by churning the Gurbani - intense Shabad-Vichaar. Once the Mool is realized, the world of names and forms is no more perceived as in butter there is no more any milk!

Upon attaining Shabad-Surti, the old material-being or Manmukh "dies", and gets "reborn" as a new Spiritual Being called Gurmukh. In other words, upon transcending the worldly-identity or body-consciousness, the mortal becomes living liberated or Jeevanmukta.

Abandon The False And Join The True

The Gurbani has laid down a very specific process for all beings, whereby one can transform his life from that of a Manmukh (material being) to a Gurmukh (a Spiritual Being). As outlined above, the process involves the Satsang.

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Friday, February 3, 2012 8:52 PM (PST)

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