Satsang

Satsang means "Gathering in Truth."  
It is commonly associated with the teachings - and lineage - of Ramana Maharshi.

Truth, ever-present, can naturally be discovered in other ways, as well!  

By following the resonance of truth, of whatever the truth of this moment holds, we come back to Source, to Inner Silence. Biblically called the Peace which passes Understanding, it can be directly experienced - but cannot be understood by the mind!

No wonder most Westerners have to 'explore' the East in order to find what’s right within them!

Satsang is an opportunity to truly meet yourself - and others - without defenses or projections.  An opportunity to be laid bare, to be transparent. What is seen through this transparency is the spark of God that appears as us. The seed and source of all life, within us!  

This is the meaning of "Be still and know that I am God."
                           and "The Kingdom of Heaven is within."

               
Some people become spontaneously enlightened, such as writer and teacher Eckhardt Tolle, and Ramana Maharshi himself.  Both found enlightenment through the truth of a particularly challenging moment: For Tolle, the truth of his extreme depression; for Ramana, his fear of death. By truly welcoming death, Ramana met with a profound and permanent Knowing:  He was not his body.

For the rest of us, the experience of remembering what we really are – an inseparable part of all of Creation - can provide deep meaning in our lives, though we may continue to forget from time to time that WE ARE THAT WHICH WE SEEK. Satsang is a way to lovingly and honestly reflect that innate knowing in a group setting.

Getting to the core of a client’s personal truth has been my favorite work for many years for this same reason.  I see myself - and God - within them, and they tend to see me seeing That. There is often a feeling of deep recognition upon meeting. We are recognizing ourselves.  We are recognizing Oneness.


My personal Satsang history

Ramana's lineage came to meet me in 1999 when posters around town showed a close-up of a laughing face. Without knowing even the gender of the laugher, I knew I was deeply connected to whatever was being taught. Everything fell into place, effortlessly, to attend the Weekend Intensive, and what I experienced there changed my life. My name, which means 'Mother of Peace', was given to me during one of these intensives by Prasad, the laugher.

By the way, another route to no-mind stillness is humor, and when you discover how simple it really is - enlightenment, everything! - there's nothing to do but laugh!
                                                     -Shanti Mai