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The Glory of Satsang
Alan Jacobs, the Chairman of the Ramana Foundation UK gave an Inaugural Talk at the Temple of all Faiths in Reading on Thursday the 5th October. Monthly Satsangs will continue to be held in Reading on the 1st Sunday of the month ( see dates for your diary).
THE GLORY OF SATSANG
Now that ‘ Oasis’ has established a Ramana Maharshi Satsang, affiliated to the Ramana Maharshi Foundation (UK) under the able leadership of Maria Jory, to meet every first Sunday of each month at the Temple of All Faiths in Reading, it is appropriate to write a few words about the glories and benefits of ‘SATSANG’ according to the teaching of Ramana. The Foundation was started by Sri V. Ganesan a grandnephew of the Maharshi and editor of the ‘Mountain Path’, the Ashram Magazine for over 30 years.
Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi was one of the great universally acknowledged sages of the twentieth century. CG Jung writes a long tribute to him and his teaching in his collected works. He lived at Arunachala, in Southern India, a sacred hill for thousands of years. His Ashram still flourishes at this sacred place.
Ramana taught Advaita Vedanta, the ultimate final truth that all is one and Self -Realisation, liberation from the fetters of Samsara or worldly illusion is possible for all.
Satsang means ‘association with the wise’. Traditionally like-minded devotees would sit in his presence as their Sat-Guru to receive his Darshan through the power of his silence and his words of truth.
Now that the Maharshi has left the body (in 1950after fifty years of teaching) those interested in his great philosophies meet together to listen to his words, and in the presence of the Supreme Consciousness experienced both immanently and transcendentally meet to exchange questions and answers from a teacher or from the collective wisdom of those present. Perhaps the analogy of a Quaker Meeting explains the process. By gaining a clear understanding of his teaching in all its many aspects and through the practice of surrendering the spurious ego to the Self and Self Enquiry, his Koan of ‘Who am I’, many have been led to, if not always liberation, at least a much happier life.
The Standard work of his teaching, easily available in BE AS YOU ARE, the teaching of Sri Ramana Maharshi, edited by David Goodman (Penguin) Watkins Bookshop in Cecil Street London has a large stock of available literature as well as books by modern Advaita teachers who are his devotees such as Ramesh Balsekar, Robert Adams, and H.L Poonjaji. The Ramana Foundation publishes a tri-monthly magazine ‘Self Enquiry’, a Newsletter and a booklet ‘ The Holy Task’ especially written for newcomers to the teaching.
I am more than confident that through Sri Bhagavan’s Grace, Oasis in Reading will enjoy many fruitful satsangs. Gifted and talented international teachers of Advaita visit London and some will also no doubt come to Reading. I wish Maria Jory of ‘Oasis’ every blessing in her noble endeavours and assure her of our fullest support in the auspicious time to come. Finally Ramana’s teaching is in harmony with the Oasis Manifesto. We all have within us an Inner Healer – an Oasis within.- A divine Source of love and energy that knows no bounds. When we learn to connect with this Divine Source, unconditional love and compassion will flow from us in abundance. We will begin to achieve peace and harmony with ourselves and others. Ramana’s teachings will help you to realise this Source for yourself.
ALAN JACOBS
What is satsanga?
Sat is aham prataya saram, The Self of selves. It means association with sat or reality. Satsanga means sanga (association ) with sat. Sat is only the Self. Since the Self is not now understood to be ‘sat’, the company of the sage who has thus understood it is sought. That is sat-sanga. Then sat is revealed. Ramana Maharshi
Satsang is about being together with people who abide in the Self; the realisation that there is one Self, and you are That. So being in Satsang is being at the feet of God. And God is none other than your Self. So you want to be with your Self when you come together with us. And you’re still alone. You’re still by your Self, because all the people with you are your Self. Robert Adams
Question: Doesn’t it usually involve the presence of the sage? ANSWER: Yes. But remember, the sage, the guru, and God is your Self. It’s all the same. When you see me, I am a mirror. You see yourself. And when you see yourself as divinity, you will also see everyone else here as divinity. We’re all one. There’s no difference. Robert Adams
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