Satsang
Nurturing inner joy throughout the year.
At long last, you found yourself in Amma's lap. But then she travels around the world. You may be wondering how you can retain the unconditional love and inner joy you felt in her presence. Then, "satsang" is next best to being there. Satsang literally means "association with the wise."
One of the best ways to sustain that happiness is to meet with people who also have been with Amma or those that are interested in spirituality. When you hear their stories (and they hear yours), the aliveness of her presence is amplified. Little by little, as with the blind people who touched and described an elephant, you come to know the truth more fully by sharing individual experiences collectively. Satsang allows an easy, consistent way to reflect and practice Amma's teachings.
Amma says the following about the value of satsang: "Children, satsang is good. In the beginning it is difficult to do sadhana (spiritual practices) if we remain at home. Why do we send children to school? In school, they will sit and study with concentration, knowing that they can go home only in the afternoon. Not only that, whatever subject is studied is best learned from an experienced teacher. Likewise, in the beginning stages, it may not be possible to meditate and do japa while sitting at home." Read more about the value to spiritual practices and satsangs.
Satsang groups offer the opportunity to remember, nurture and discover those experiences of Divine Love. Take a look at the list of local satsang groups in your area. If there is not a group close to home, why not begin one? Invite people you know who have met Amma, and they will most likely know others.
At first, you might meet informally to read from Amma's books and discuss her teachings. Most everyone would enjoy singing bhajans. You could also include meditation, or a video of Amma. Try to set the meetings at the same time and at regular intervals (such as every week or biweekly) in a common spot or individual homes.
In Amma's words: "Satsang teaches us how to live properly. If we have a map with us when we travel to a distant place, we can get there on time, without losing our way. Similarly, with satsang we can guide our lives on the right course, avoiding all dangers. If you understand what the real goal of life is and work in the right way towards realizing it, your life will be filled with joy. Satsang aids us in this way."
In the context of Amma' s teaching, Satsang generally means the coming together of the devotees of Truth or God on a regular basis, usually at a devotee's house. During these gathering, devotees first chant the 108 names of Amma or the Divine Mother, then sing Bhajans or spiritual songs, participate in a short meditation and finally do archana or the burning of camphor signifying the destruction of our egos or ignorance.
Amma says "to gain concentration in this age of materialism, bhajan is easier than meditation. By loud singing, other distracting sounds will be overcome and concentration will be achieved. Bhajan, concentration and meditation, this is the progression. In fact, constant remembrance of God is meditation. Children, bhajan sung with one-pointedness will benefit the singer, the listener and also Mother Nature. Such songs will awaken the listeners minds in due course.
If bhajan is sung without concentration, it is a waste of energy. Bhajan is a spiritual discipline aimed at concentrating the mind on one's Beloved Deity. Through that one-pointedness, one can merge in the Divine Being and experience the Bliss of one's True Self. It does not matter whether one believes in Krishna or Christ, Mother Kali or Mother Mary; a formless God or even a flame, a mountain or an ideal such as world peace can be meditated upon while singing. By letting the mind expand in the sound of the divine chanting, each one can enjoy the peace born of one's inherent divinity."
It all happened with the celebration of Amma’s birthday in 2002 at a devotee’s house. Up on watching Amma’s video, “River of love” some of the devotees were deeply moved and showed interest in joining for Satsang. We have happily continued our regular satsangs until today without any break with AMMA’s Blessings.Satsang is held every alternate Sundays at the Yoga Hall, SSDS Temple, Lower Kabete Road,Westlands.
In 2003, Amma visited Kenya to hand over the Gandhi King award for non-violence to Hon President Kibaki as well as giving a great surprise to convince her children that AMMA has heard their prayers. When Amma visited the Satsang house in her short tour, all her children were in tears with love and happiness. It was as Lord Krishna has visited Vrindavan and fulfilled Gopis’ desires of a glimplse of their beloved Lord.
"Do not hesitate to invite friends and coworkers when holding satsang. Make it a habit to get together once a week, at a fixed place or in different homes by turn, for archana, bhajans and meditation…This will bring inner purification and strengthen the sense of unity and brotherhood…Participation in satsangs will make our hearts full with thoughts of God."
Satsang Timetable
Date & time |
Venue |
Contact* |
Every Sun
5-7pm |
SSDS Temple Yoga Hall
Lower Kabete Rd |
Sunil Kallungal
0733 761705/0721 269690
020 2091098, 4447938
sunil.kallungal@gmail.com |
Sunday Satsangs
Amma’s Nairobi Satsang Group now offers friends and devotees the opportunity to hold every Sunday Satsang at the Centre or a devotee’s house. Amma is now arriving soon in Kenya and hence the satsangs will be held every sunday. This is a perfect way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or any other auspicious event with friends or family, whilst supporting the Centre.
The sponsor will actively participate in the recital of 108 names, offer flowers during Archana (Sri Lalita Sahasranama), and at the end of Satsang perform Arati. In addition to the usual program for Satsang, there will be chanting of Lokah Samastaha, and Satsang attendees will be asked to spend a moment praying for the sponsor/sponsor’s family.
What the sponsor needs to bring: Plenty of flowers, some fruit and neivedyam (payasam = sweet milk pudding or any of your choice). If you are unable to organise the neivedyam, please let the Centre know when you book for the Satsang, and we will provide at a small extra cost.
Starting a Children’s Satsang
Are you looking for a fun and rewarding way to offer service to Amma? Maybe something that only requires your help for a portion of a Saturday afternoon Satsang? The Children’s Satsang may be the answer!
Ongoing efforts to start up a Children’s Satsang have brought forth wonderful new ideas and we need your help to make them possible.
The upcoming events planned in Children’s Satsang include:
reading and related art projects and skits from the Ramayana, book making with an Amma theme, “Flowers From the Heart” art project, making cards, simple guided meditations/visualizations, and ever so much more.
We need assistants for these projects, including readers for the Ramayana, and any one with a brief (2-3 minute) guided meditation/visualization that they would like to share with the children.
