The importance of satsang in our daily life has been clearly explained by Satguru Kabir Saheb. Being born as a human being, our only opportunity to obtain liberation from the cycle of birth and death cannot be wasted. People go through lots of roads, change directions, adopt and relinquish faiths and sects, switch from beliefs to beliefs, but fail to understand the real path to liberation. The world in which we live, and all the worldly objects are subject to change. That’s why Satguru Kabir Saheb recommends that sticking to the right path will lead to the right destination.
“Jeevan Joban Raajmada, Avichal Rahe Na Koee; Jo Din Jaaye Satsang Men, Jeevan Ka Phal Soee.”
Life is full of changes, youth does not remain for ever, wealth also does not stay for ever. The only way to fulfill one’s goal in life is to keep company of saintly people. At different stages of life, we are influenced by different issues, and are swayed hither thither. But even a few minutes of satsang can be very beneficial. Just being in the company of saintly people is enough to benefit devotees in their progress towards salvation. Even deities aspire to be in that plane where they can be in company of Sadhus and Saints.
“Ram Bulavaa Bhejiyaa, Diya Kabeera Roy; Jo Sukh Saadhu Sant Men, So Baikunth Na Hoy.”
Heaven cannot offer that bliss which is enjoyed by being in saintly company. Satguru Kabir Saheb says who would like to lose such good company. Satsangs are not for obtaining material benefits; the inner peace and joy experienced is nowhere to be obtained. As mentioned above, this experience is one of vibrations flowing just by being in the presence of saintly company. Satguru Kabir Saheb explains :
“Ek Ghadi Aadhi Ghadi, Aadhi Men Puni Aadhi; Kabeer Sangat Saadhu Ki, Kate Koti Apraadhi.”
Whether it is one hour or half an hour, or even a quarter of an hour if spent in the company of saintly people it has the effect of quashing millions of sins. Living beings commit sins knowingly or unknowingly. One does not know how many sins he has committed in his previous lives, let alone in the current lifetime. We cannot escape the wheel of transmigration and karma. If we know that we have to do the right deeds, perform the right actions, then we have to choose to be in the right company. The following story illustrates the greatness of satsangs.
Once, Narad Muni went to ask Lord Shri Krishna what is the benefit of satsang. Lord Krishna pointed to a worm and told Narad Muni to go ask the worm. Narad Muni went to ask the worm. As soon as he asked the question, the worm looked at Narad Muni and dropped dead. Narad Muni then went back to Lord Krishna and told him that he did not get an answer and that the worm died. Lord Krishna then told Narad Muni about a newborn parrot, and asked Narad Muni to go and ask the parrot. Reluctantly, Narad Muni went to ask the newborn parrot. As soon as he asked the parrot, the latter also looked at Narad Muni and died. This time, Narad Muni went back to Lord Krishna and forcefully asked him for the answer, as he still did not obtain his answer from the parrot. Lord Krishna convinced him to go ask a newborn calf. Narad Muni, though not happy with Lord Krishna’s response, went to ask the calf. He softly asked his question in the calf’s ear. Once again, the calf dropped dead as it heard the question. This time, Narad Muni was very worried. He thought that the crime of murder is now hanging on him. Being responsible for the death of a calf is a very big crime. He became very upset and went to Lord Krishna and decided to ask him to stop it now. Lord Krishna calmed him down and told him that a prince was born to the queen, and he would definitely have the answer for him. Narad Muni was not ready to go for it this time, as he had already seen the death of a worm, a parrot and a calf. But Lord Krishna was able to convince him to go. Narad Muni gathered his courage and went to ask the prince. The prince looked at Narad Muni and said : “ You have still not understood the benefit of satsang? The first time you asked me this question, I was a worm; by your grace I took birth as a parrot. You gave me your darshan at my nest and asked me again. With your grace I was freed and was reborn as calf. You approached me and I was blessed to be given the highest of births in the form of a human being. If just by being graced by your darshan I was able to get to this lifeform, imagine how much will someone benefit by having satsang with saintly people like yourself?” Narad Muni needed no further explanations.
This story clearly shows us how just by keeping good company we can reap the benefits of a human life. Human life is the doorway to liberation. Let us all make the most of the opportunity we have been blessed with to pursue our goal in attaining salvation.
