Bokaro: The spiritual ambiance at Chinmaya Vidyalaya and Chinmaya Mission, Bokaro, continues to elevate hearts and minds through the ongoing Gyan Yagna. In an enlightening session on Sunday evening, Acharya Pravar Param Pujya Swami Advaitananda Saraswati delivered a powerful discourse on the transformative impact of Satsang (spiritual company), drawing hundreds of devotees and spiritual seekers from Bokaro and nearby areas.
Swami Ji opened the session with the soul-stirring bhajan, “Jai Bolo Shri Ram Ki Anand Mein,” setting a devotional tone and instilling a sense of joy and reverence among listeners. With his serene voice and divine presence, he reassured devotees that when Sita-Ram’s protective hand is over one’s head, there is no reason to fear. Interestingly, Swami Ji concluded the discourse with the same bhajan, symbolically reinforcing the message of divine protection and grace.
The Essence and Power of Satsang
Delving into the significance of Satsang, Swami Advaitananda Saraswati said that it is through Satsang that one receives the direct experience of God in the heart. He cited the life of Goswami Tulsidas to illustrate how true wisdom is impossible without the company of saints and spiritual reflection.
“God resides in every heart,” he said, “but in Satsang, the mind, intellect, and conscience are purified. When the mind becomes clean, it becomes a mirror that reflects God clearly and directly.”
He further explained that the experience of God is not an external event but an internal realization, which begins when the heart is purified through spiritual listening, contemplation, and surrender.
Quoting the timeless wisdom of Adi Shankaracharya’s Bhajagovindam, Swami Ji said:
Satsangatve Nissangatvam, Nissangatve Nirmohatvam, Nirmohatve Nischalatattvam, Nischalatattve Jeevanmukti.
He interpreted this to mean that Satsang leads to detachment from worldly illusions, which then brings clarity and stability of the mind, ultimately leading to liberation and supreme bliss.
How to Truly Engage in Satsang
Emphasizing the correct approach to Satsang, Swami Ji advised devotees to listen with a still mind and focused intellect, as King Parikshit listened to the Bhagavatam and as Arjuna listened to Lord Krishna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Concentrated listening, he said, is a form of devotion in itself.
Swami Ji also described 14 different ways to connect with the Divine as mentioned by Maharishi Valmiki. He highlighted how various devotees engage in sadhana (spiritual practice) through different senses:
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Some hear God’s glories and feel connected.
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Some engage in visual devotion by worshiping divine images.
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Others experience God through taste, by accepting prasad (blessed food).
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Some smell the fragrance of flowers offered to the Lord and feel His presence.
Gopis – The Ultimate Symbol of Devotion
In a touching reference to the Bhagavata Purana, Swami Ji presented the example of the Gopis of Vrindavan, who were restless in the absence of Lord Krishna. Their eyes thirsted to see His lotus face, their hearts burned with longing, and their minds remained absorbed in His thoughts — day and night. He called this the highest form of Roop Sadhana (devotional practice through form).
Signs of True Devotees
Further quoting sage Valmiki, Swami Ji said that Lord Rama dwells in the hearts of those:
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Who worship His feet with love,
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Visit holy places,
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Chant His infallible name constantly,
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Perform sacred rites and charitable acts,
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Serve Brahmins and honour their spiritual teachers above all.
Such saints, he said, are free from lust, anger, greed, ego, and jealousy. They are filled with love, rooted in truth, and see Lord Rama not just as a God but as their friend, guide, father, mother, and ultimate refuge. These characteristics, he explained, are the marks of those who have reached the pinnacle of devotion.
“O Jagadishwar,” Swami Ji quoted in prayerful tone, “You reside in the hearts of those who live in your name, serve without expectations, and have completely surrendered themselves to your divine feet.”
Musical Devotion
The music department of Chinmaya Vidyalaya enriched the evening with devotional bhajans and shlokas that echoed through the campus, filling it with divine vibrations. The serene hymns and rhythmic chants created an atmosphere where faith, devotion, and spiritual unity came alive.
Swami Advaitananda Saraswati’s discourse was not merely a religious talk but a profound spiritual experience for those present. It reinforced the message that God is not distant — He resides within us. All it takes is a clean heart, deep devotion, and sincere Satsang to realize that eternal presence.
