What is Satsang?


Art of Living satsangs reverberate across 151 countries. People from all over the world who know different languages participate in the singing of bhajans, or the repetitive chanting of a word or a verse. “In satsang, both the left and right hemispheres of the brain get balanced. The wandering mind comes back to the present moment and experiences a deeper dimension to life,” explains Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

One can choose to listen to the bhajans or participate and sing.Either way, satsangs help in centering the mind. The chants in satsang take us beyond music to a silent corner of our inner self.

“The word bhajan is very precious. Bhaj means to share. Sharing all that the Divine is. It is not necessary to know the words or meaning to any song. Singing helps to bring serenity. Singing is simply merging into the sounds, floating on its waves with a sense of contentment and meditation,” shares Sri Sri.

Satsang frees you from worries

Sound is energy. Our human nervous system responds to the sounds and vibrations of ancient Sanskrit chants. Listening to these sounds has a rejuvenating effect on the body, mind and spirit.

In between each bhajan is the silence. Still and calm, the mind relaxes. “Doing more satsang and seva is the way to reduce misery. We are so fortunate. We have this opportunity to even think, discuss knowledge and have an experience of that inner space,” explains Sri Sri. “If you have any worries, you have to leave it here; that’s the rule of Satsang, you cannot take your worries back. You can go only after you drop them here.”

Satsangs hasten you towards inner peace

The entire universe is made of rhythms. When sounds are in harmony, there is music; non harmonious sounds create chaos. Similarly, when there is rhythm or harmony in life, the heart blossoms; there is humanism. It is this rhythm that takes us back to our source. We may identify ourselves as officers, housewives, teachers, but these are just external identifications. Satsangs help us move beyond such identifications towards our source – from where we came.

Satsangs are not limited to any culture or geographical region. Whether it is the harmonious sound of gongs in Buddhist meditations or Jewish hymns since ancient times, people from all cultures and traditions have used music to further people on their spiritual journey.