1st October 1997
Chapter 2 - The Path To The Goal That Is You
Day 82 - Satsang
The mind that seeks pleasure cannot be centred. When you are centred, all pleasures come to you anyway, but they cannot charm you any longer because you are the source of the charm. The mind that seeks pleasure can never achieve the highest.
If you enjoy drowning in your suffering, you cannot be centred, you are far away from the path. If you are after pleasure, forget about satsang. Why are you wasting your time? This is the Art of Leaving. You either seek pleasure or come to me.
Question - What should we do when people talk negatively?
Gurudev - From your side, give license to everybody to talk about anything, about anybody, anywhere, at any time. What type of time do you give the Divine?
Usually you give the time that is left over, when you have nothing else to do, when no guests are coming, there are no parties to go to, no then movies to watch, no weddings to attend. Such time you give. Yet this is not quality time.
Give quality time to the divine. You will be rewarded. If your prayers are not answered, it is because you have never given quality time. Give satsang and meditation your highest priority.
Give prime time to the divine. You will be rewarded. Why do people need homes? Can they live like animals in the forest without shelter? Even intelligent animals make their homes. Humans need protection from the changing elements of nature, so they build shelters for physical
comfort.
In the same way, for spiritual and mental comfort, satsang is the shelter. One who does not come to satsang is like a wild animal. Satsang alone makes you civilized. Satsang is the shelter from the harsh and changing influences on your life.
Satsang is the nest in which you can find rest. If you are a taker of happiness, you get misery. If you are a giver of happiness, you get joy and love.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji
Celebrating Silence
