बिनु सतसंग बिबेक न होई। राम कृपा बिनु सुलभ न सोई॥ …
Binu satasaṅg bibēk na hōī, rām kṛipā binu sulabh na sōī. …- Ramcharitmanas: Bal Kand 2.4 (partial)
(“There is no wisdom without satsang and no satsang without His grace.”)
When we associate with a true Saint it is called satsang. Sat means Saint, sang means association. Both have to be satya (true): satya-sant (true Saint) or satya-sang (true association). The Saint has to be satya, in other words, a bona fide Saint, ‘shrotriya’ (one established in spiritual knowledge) ‘brahmanisht’ (firmly established in Brahm) - mahapurush (great Saint), and the sang has to be satya also. The association has to be correct. We have to associate with faith and reverence, not a doubt in mind.
When you associate with a Saint for some time, a true Saint, in the right way, something will happen to us. Our attachment for the material world, which we could not change even after uncountable lifetimes, will start decreasing. Just by associating with the Saint, our attachment for the material world, the objects and people in the world, will start decreasing by itself. An attachment for Radha-Krishna will start increasing. This is one of the proofs, one of the conditions, that you are associating with the right person, that this is a Saint, if you associate in the right way,
We have met uncountable Saints. Don’t think we haven’t met Saints. Uncountable Saints. Many of us have met a great Saint, Kripalu Ji Maharaj. Do you think it’s the first time you met Him? No. I was in His room one day, and another pracharak (preacher) brought a new devotee to meet Him. And the pracharak said to Shree Maharaj Ji,
“Maharaj Ji, this person is coming for the first time. They are meeting you for the first time.”
Maharaj Ji started to laugh. He said, “No one can meet Me for the first time. You people don’t know.”
Those of us who have met Him, it’s not the first time, especially if you have accepted Him as Guru.
