PEACE, THE NEED OF THE HOUR AND SAI SATSANGH

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Om Shanthihi Shanthihi Shanthihi! This Vedic proclamation means that peace

should prevail at any cost. For harmonious coexistence of people of different

faiths, for the prosperity and sustained growth of any society, peace is

necessary and peace should prevail at any cost. Peace favors a constructive

society for the welfare of humanity. But when one looks at the happenings of

the world one unfortunately perceives the opposite of peace. Let us ponder

seriously on this issue. Any external manifestation has its cause and source at

the nucleus level. The projections and happenings at the macrocosm level find

the cause at the microcosm level. Talking in simple terms the individual's

goals, ambitions, conflicts, and contradictions all are the nuclear forces that

release the external energy; which can be either constructive or destructive to

the society. In a theatre as a big picture on the screen finds its real image

in the small film that rolls in the

projector, the happenings in the society find the foundation causes in the core

of an individual. Thus, an individual singly or collectively (sometimes)

contributes to the external shape of the society. A positive nature in the

individual manifests a positive society and a negative nature similarly

manifests a shattering society. This is a time tested Truth. Without Ravana,

there was no existence of Ramayana and without Duryodhana, there was no

Mahabharatha! The boiling turmoil consciences of Ravana and Duryodhana brought

the great wars in Ramayana and Mahabharatha. Therefore, for a prospective

society one should be refined, positive, constructive, and human at the core

level either as an individual or as a group. Always there is a time lag for

external manifestations to take shape, for example the medicine of a patient

takes it's own course of time to benefit the patient and so are the qualities

of an individual that bring a positive or negative transformation of a society.

 

To achieve this most important objective one should be at peace internally. This

state can be achieved either through individual's sadhana (practice) or group

sadhana. Satsangh is nothing but the group sadhana to achieve this noble goal.

The word satsangh means the association with the reality, the truth, the Guru

or God. In satsangh, one tries to be in association with God by chanting His

names, His glories etc. Satsangh is like a refreshing shower to the mind and

spirit. The fluctuating moods, the conflict of values, the winds of doubt, the

weeds of disbelief and the rock demands of life of the individual all try to

shatter the clear vision of the Godhood. This is a practical problem to all the

seekers and here comes the importance of satsangh. For Hindus satsangh is an

age-old practice. The puranas say that the rishis used to do satsangh in the

woods of Naimisaranya. Listening to the glories of the Lord is the backbone of

any sadhana. Great

saints Valmiki and Vyasa wrote the immortal epics Ramayana and Bhagavatha

respectively and spread the divine leelas far and wide in those days. Those

epic stories conquered even the hearts of the illiterate so deep as they became

light posts in solving their day-to-day problems and realizing their life goals.

 

Baba assured His devotees that He would look at them if they look at Him with an

eye of devotion. But keeping this constant faith is not that much simple as

said. Compared to an individual's effort, in Satsangh one finds more strength

in one's sadhana. Now let us look at the ways of conducting satsangh. At least

ones a week the like minded devotees should join at a particular place, a

temple or a house and start the satsangh by performing pooja/worship to

Saibaba's photo or moorthi (idol) by lighting lamps and burning incense sticks,

thus creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility (Always it is not possible

to find Baba's temple nearby, but one should feel that each heart is a temple.

In the beginning, one can start with his/her family members and Baba takes care

of the rest). The program should start with Guru/Ganesh prayer followed by

Ashtotthara sata namavali. Then one should read the leelas of Saibaba with apt

attention for about half an

hour and continue the satsangh by doing bhajans for another half an hour, all

the times focusing attention on Baba, reminding His leelas. More and more

people to be involved in reading or singing the bhajans and this is not a music

competition. Devotion should prevail at any cost. Some time should be spent on

exchanging the individual's experiences and doing prayers for the needy. Then

the devotees should maintain silence for few minutes enjoying the peace thus

derived. Children too should be encouraged in these proceedings by telling some

interesting stories of Baba. Baba's arathi is a better conclusion for this

satsanngh. Saisatsangh helps in spreading the leelas of Baba and reinforcing

our faith in Godhood/Saihood.

Baba likes the bhavana (attitude) more than the melody. Baba shed tears of joy

listening to the trembling verses/song of an old man and at one time, He

rebuked an egoistic singer stating that He likes Jnana (wisdom) rather than

raga (melody). One should conduct the satsangh in a way that it is rather an

inexpensive gathering and even ordinary people can afford it. A day, preferably

Thursday to be fixed for the group gathering at a particular place. If somebody

likes satsangh to have at his place, some other day may be fixed for that .By

conducting regular satsanghs devotees gain peaceful experiences and thus become

enthusiastic. A serious devotee should spend at least 2 hours a week in these

satsanghs and renew his faith and energies in this path of spiritual education.

Because of the great strength derived in satsanghs, saints like Namadev,

Tukaram, Chaitanya prabhu etc promoted these spiritual gatherings. Satsangh has

great importance in

Christianity and Muslim religions too. The temples find their purpose in

conducting these group worships and prayers. Sai is omnipresent. To seek Sai

one should make satsangh as part of his spiritual practice apart from their

regular parayana (reading scriptures), namajapa (reciting God's name) and

dhyana (meditation). Thus conducting in a spiritual way we can contribute to

the world peace at our humble level comparable to the service of a tiny

squirrel in Ramayana.

Jyothise Jyothi jalaathe chaloo.. Saiki prema badhaathe chalo!

Light a lamp from one to another and spread the love of Sai to one and all!

(Contributed by Syamasundar Duvuluri, Houston, TX) (Ref. on Satsangh:

Saileelamrutham by Sri E.Bharadwaja)

source:saibaba.org

Arun Reddy Nukala

+44 7946 595063

http://groups.msn.com/

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