Raamaayan Sundar Kaand - Lankini and Satsang
SANT TULSEEDAAS RAAMAAYAN
SUNDAR KAAND
LANKINI/SHREE HANUMAAN CONVERSATION
Page 813 DOHAA # 1दोहा :
दोहा : तात स्वर्ग अपवर्ग सुख, धरिय तुला इक अंग ।
तुलै न ताहि सकल मिलि, जो सुख लव सत्संग ॥
Taata Swarga Apawarga sukha, Dhariya tulaa ika ang /
Tulai na taahi sakala mili, Jo sukha lawa Satsang //
Translation
(O Revered Sir, if all the pleasures of Heaven as well as the Supreme Abode were placed on one side of the scale, they will not outweigh the pleasures derived from a moment’s Satsang.
Interpretation
Heaven ( Vaikunth ) is the abode of Bhagwaan Vishnu, the Sustainer. The abode of the Supreme is known as Apawarg from where He (Mahaa Vishnu) incarnates from time to time (e.g. Shree Raam, Vaaman, etc.). Naturally, one can envisage the range of pleasures that can be experienced, if destiny allowed such an opportunity, to reside in Heaven or the Supreme Abode. Among the sublime experiences would be contact with the Sustainer and the Supreme Himself.
The quote above declares that the pleasures derived from Satsang outweigh the pleasures of Vaikunth and Apawarg. However, it becomes necessary to define Satsang. The mandatory requirement is that the narrator of Katha (word of God) is to have spent quality time at the feet of a Guru of substance. Before becoming a narrator, that person must imbibe the qualities of humility and compassion for mankind, along with other qualities which add to character.
A Satsang setting is complemented by the ardent listener(s) who are thirsty for spiritual knowledge for the express purpose of improving themselves and uplifting others. Through the medium of Satsang, one becomes privy to the recipes on how to overcome challenges. Further, one learns of the method to move from survival mode to living life. Under these conditions, Satsang does indeed provide pleasures which supersede those experienced in Heaven and Apawarg.
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