The Sweetness of Satsang and Why You Should Try It

One of my first memories of Satsang was at an ashram in India in 2006. I was on a bus with fifty people, and suddenly, someone started singing. Everyone on the bus joined in, and it felt as if the bus came alive. I was observing silence at the time, I could not sing along, but that did not matter. Even so, I felt at one with everyone on the bus. I felt moved by the same ecstatic energy that propelled them to sing out loud.

Satsang is a Sanskrit word with two roots that can be translated to, “truth” and “community”. It is a gathering of people from diverse backgrounds. They come together to learn and practice spirituality through music, meditation, and listening to a spiritual teacher. You do not have to ascribe to a certain faith or religion to experience the benefits of a Satsang. In fact, you are free to undertake any spiritual endeavor for that matter, be it yoga, meditation, breathwork, or prayer, etc. In this lies the beauty and importance of Satsang. You are welcome to experience it, no matter who you are or what you believe.

Satsang is a powerful antidote to suffering. It will heal the great reservoir of pain you may feel inside yourself. It doesn’t matter what the source of that pain is; loss, trauma, regret, guilt, or shame. Satsang is a place you can go to fill the bottomless pit of grief that may be in your heart. Satsang will make every cell in your body want to break out into song. There is no alcohol or intoxicant in a Satsang gathering that makes people abandon all judgment and sing. Yet, there is still a potent feeling of freedom. It feels as if a divine force is moving you. When you engage in this divine singing, you leave the incessant monologue in your head and bring your attention to the present. Hence, allowing yourself to acknowledge your own consciousness.

What happens in a Satsang is extraordinary and transformative. You look around you and see people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and faiths. All of them are chanting the same verses and singing the same songs. Therefore, you see harmony in diversity. You experience the power music has to spread positivity, joy, and peace. The person next to you may be a stranger, but you understand them. The sense of separation between yourself and the people around you diminishes.

Satsang has taught me the art of living. Yet, it has also instilled in me an appreciation for the art of silence. The moments of silence in between the chants and the songs are just as profound as the singing itself. I have felt this a lot during my many Satsang experiences. Satsang has shown me the way to become in tune with the harmony of my own soul. It has guided me on how to transcend both trivial worries that life is interspersed with and the deep sorrow that burdens many of us. I hope that my words will inspire you to attend a Satsang at least once in your life and experience the sweetness of Satsang first-hand.