== GOOD COMPANY ==
Namaskar,
Baba has graciously blessed with all the needed guidelines for living a
spiritual life-- plus He has pointedly alerted us about all the pitfalls as
well. In this dual regard, company plays a big role.
As we know, the friends we keep and the people around us play a highly
significant role in our human growth. By remaining in the midst of
noble-minded people then the mind moves on the path of vidya whereas when
surrounded by undesirable company then the opposite occurs. This fact we
have all seen and realised but even then sometimes a reminder can be helpful.
Here then are some of Baba's key guidelines in this regard.
Baba says, "A good person or a sa'dhaka needs proper maintenance, for in a
world of constant change, care must be taken that the change be always
towards the better or the higher. Keeping good company is essential for
this positive development. While bad company strengthens the bondage of the
soul, good company is conducive to liberation and salvation. The keeping of
good company is conducive to liberation and is known as satsaunga in
Sanskrit. When satsaunga is followed, either physically or mentally or
both, the subconscious mind, and thus the conscious mind, are charged with
better and higher influences. This change will move the follower forward
towards higher and better goals. The alternative is asatsaunga, the keeping
of bad company, which leads one into greater and greater bondage." (AV-33)
Thus according to Baba good company or satsaunga leads to liberation
whereas bad company pushes one under more and more bondage.
And here Baba explains in very colourful language and clear-cut examples
about this entire phenomenon.
Baba says, "Humans will have to move ahead by carefully watching those
with whom they will associate. What is the result of keeping good company?
By spending time with good persons, a deep impression is imprinted on the
mind, causing the desire to be good, to rise in the mind. On the other
hand, if one chooses to associate with drunkards, a desire will eventually
come in the mind, what is the harm if I drink a little wine? The same sort
of thing will happen if one lives with thieves."
"To give an example, a person is standing beside a tea-stall. There the
flavour of the tea floats to the nose, and then the person says, 'Bring a
cup of tea here, too'. In this incident, the flavour of the tea affects the
mind. If that person had not remained near the tea stall, the smell would
not have reached the nose and perhaps that person would not have taken tea
for two or three days. This is the influence that association has on the
mind."
"Hence humans should choose their company very carefully, for, a mistake
in this will cause them to repent their whole life. Even parents who are
not good should either send their children to live in a student hostel or
keep them with some of their relatives who are good. One must be very
strict in this. In Tantra it is said:
"Satsaungena bhavenmuktir asatsaungesu bandhanam".
Tasmat Asatsaungamudran'am' Sa'mudra Parikiirtita."
"The Tantrik practice of Mudra' Sadhana means to associate with good
human beings in order to attain liberation...Hence good association results
in salvation and bad association results in bondage. Hence evil company
must be avoided." (Karma Yoga)
That is why we should always try and keep in the contact good company--with
Ananda Margiis. As this will bring us along the path of the divine.
Here below Baba neatly explains how that good company lessens one's radius
with the Lord and bad company pulls one farther from the Lord. That is the
primary difference between satsaunga and asatsaunga.
Baba says, "So while selecting company, you should be careful whether its
discourses, its activities, its plans or programmes are to decrease the
distance between you and your Lord. This is Satsaunga, good company.
Otherwise it is Asatsaunga. Even intellectual discussions of a high order
may not be Satsaunga if it has got nothing to do with lessening the
distance between you and your Lord, you and your Goal. That type of
intellectual discourse, in my language is called intellectual extravaganza.
Baoddhika Amitavyayita´. Satsaunga and Asatsaunga. When it goads you on the
path of the Lord, it is Satsaunga. From this moment, you should always try
to have Satsaunga." (AV-14)
Namaskar,
Vinay
Note: CONSTANT VIGILANCE IS NECESSARY
Please excuse me, but sometimes people fall into the trap of thinking that
being around Ananda Margiis is enough. And generally this is true since
usually as Ananda Margiis we sing kiirtan together, do sadhana, and
collectively engage in service projects. Even then sometimes it can happen
that there can be a few margiis together but, their company is not
satsaunga. Because for one reason or another their talk might be about
pseudo-culture movies, or they may be just involved in rajasik activities
like shopping or skiing. Or sometimes it can been seen that we travelling
together in the car then they will listen to pop music or the like. And
sometime margiis just talk about too many mundane topics. All these things
can happened. So 100% of the time we should be vigilant to ensure that the
company we are keeping is satsaunga and we should ensure that as
individuals we are adding positively to the collective flow and keeping all
our social interactions sentient and Baba-centered.
As this is the retreat season and many are in transit to these blissful
functions, here then are some good topics to discuss will travelling: how
to better follow 16 Points, Baba dreams, the top three things about
spiritual life, favourite aspect of Ananda Marga, how to remember Baba
during one's daily routine, or any number of topics which create a sweet
and harmonious vibration in the mind.
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Love For All
Baba says, "The sense of differentiation and distinction are of no value to
devotees. For them, all become one, all discriminations disappear. Only
human beings can have this type of mentality and that is why they are
superior to all other beings." (AV-7, p.12)
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