Toward the end of the live video stream, Gurumayi spoke about the importance of preparing to participate in satsang. Gurumayi referenced a few of the customary preparation practices on the Siddha Yoga path, such as establishing a steady and comfortable posture, becoming aware of your breathing, bringing your focus to one point, hearing the vibration in your own body, and feeling the vibration in your own body. Gurumayi explained that preparation is essential if you wish to get the most out of satsang—if you wish to experience the shakti of the satsang in all its fullness.
In a lot of ways, I find this teaching to relate to what Gurumayi had said earlier about how crucial the body is for sadhana. Our capacity to comprehend the Guru’s words, to absorb the shakti of the Guru’s satsang, to experience the light of the sun in all its divinity and effervescence is dependent on the state of our body and mind. If our bodies are uncomfortable, our attention to the satsang is splintered. If our mind is disquieted or full of thoughts, we cannot fully appreciate the teachings we are receiving. We do the preparation so that we can keep potential discomfort and distraction to a minimum and better maintain our focus. Then we are able to bring our whole being into the hallowed space of satsang.
It is worth taking a few moments to consider what it means to focus. I have learned from Gurumayi that focus, especially in relation to spiritual practice, requires more than just an amorphous sense of “being present.” Focus requires an object. And this object of focus might differ for each one of us. Consider, for example, that you are sitting for meditation with several other people. You might choose to focus on the mantra—on the vibration of each syllable as it arises from and recedes back into your being. The person next to you might hold in their awareness an image of the Guru’s padukas. Someone else might bring their attention to their breath. The possibilities are manifold.
When it comes to participating in satsang, it is useful to identify ahead of time what we’d like to focus on. You might be wondering what I mean, given that satsangs on the Siddha Yoga path are composed of a curated sequence of elements. Wouldn’t we just focus on whatever is happening in any given moment?
Well, yes and no. In theory, it’s a nice idea. In practice, it lacks specificity. Again, focus requires a clearly defined object. So rather than planning to focus on “whatever is happening” in satsang, we can articulate for ourselves what those things might be and choose one or more of them to give particular attention to when they occur. Maybe it’s the Guru’s words we choose to focus on. Maybe it’s the Guru’s darshan. Maybe it’s the chant or the meditation. Maybe it’s all of these things. But the seemingly simple act of identifying our focus beforehand, of making a kind of “game plan” for ourselves, allows us to be more active and intentional in how we participate.
It is like preparing our asana, taking our seat with care and deliberation, as opposed to simply flopping down on the chair in front of us. It is the difference between passively receiving whatever is happening in the satsang hall and remembering, over and again, that we want to really hear this and be present for that. When we focus in this way, we gain even more from the satsang. Our learnings are precise. Our understanding is deep. Our ability to retain the teachings is exponentially enhanced. And our overall experience—of the satsang, and of the teachings Gurumayi imparts—has a hugely beneficial impact on our Siddha Yoga sadhana.
In light of this, why don’t you give some thought to how you will prepare for each Siddha Yoga satsang you participate in? How will you continue to modify your preparation as you learn more about what supports your participation? Have you placed your preparation plans in the forefront of your awareness, especially since hearing Gurumayi talk about this during the live video stream on January 14?
For me, the best preparation for satsang is to consider my life in the world as one big satsang! With this, I strive to understand and respond to every situation as a “play of Consciousness”—to learn from every moment, to be attentive to all manifestations of divinity, especially those that make me uncomfortable. Then, when I actually arrive at a satsang, I enjoy all the elements of the Truth that the satsang offers me. And if Gurumayi is physically present, it’s pure bliss!
Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz, Argentina
On the day of the satsang via live video stream, I thoroughly cleaned my office. I put on nice clothes and placed fresh flowers in front of Gurumayi’s photo on my desk—two orange flowers and a white carnation.
When the satsang started, I was delighted to see the synchronicity between my little flower arrangement for Gurumayi and the colors in the Bhagavan Nityananda Temple.
This reinforced for me that when I prepare myself to receive Gurumayi’s teachings and wisdom, the connection between my heart and the divine Heart is revealed in simple daily activities and objects.
Washington, United States
Having and applying an intention has been an ongoing practice of mine. However, this exploration of “preparation” has opened a new level of precision for me.
First, Eesha’s words about “focus” showed me that I have a sliver of ambivalence: What if I choose the wrong focus? What if I miss something? This inquiry has illuminated a blind spot where I abandon my own wisdom and trust in the Self. Choosing a focus asks me to inquire more deeply, to get specific, to strengthen my reliance on the Self and my sadhana, and to see it all as a continued expression of the Guru’s support and companionship.
With this new perception, I am eagerly beginning each day by asking myself, “What is my focus today?” and trusting the “clearly defined object” that comes; I am journaling the specifics so I can return later to see what happened. This refinement holds so much possibility, and I find I am quite eager to engage, to cooperate with the shakti, and to offer my best—from preparation all the way through to the end.
Massachusetts, United States
One thing I love about our path is that it is not separate from our daily life. Through Gurumayi ji’s teachings, I have come to understand the importance of preparation.
I remember an incident many years ago when my husband and I had invited guests for dinner. As I was preparing the meal, I found myself reflecting on the preparation we do before satsang. While cutting vegetables, I became aware that my posture had slouched. Gently, I straightened my back, and this adjustment immediately connected me to my breath.
In that moment, I experienced how even a simple daily activity could become a spiritual practice. I understood that preparation is not only for a specific event—it is a way of bringing awareness and respect into every action.
New Jersey, United States
The word that sprang to mind as I read Eesha’s words was sacred. We are preparing for a sacred event in a sacred place—the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall.
One aspect of preparation I learned from Gurumayi decades ago in Gurudev Siddha Peeth is to be on time—and on time means early. When I’m early, I can savor the experience of arriving, of entering the Temple, and I welcome the sacredness into my being.
There’s such a specialness in welcoming Gurumayi into my home; I want to be ready to receive every morsel of joy. By the same token, I ensure that I have time afterward to digest, journal, contemplate, and revel in what I have just received and experienced.
Each satsang is a divine gem, and a beautiful setting around it enhances its luster and import.
California, United States
I’m the type of person who wants to use every last minute to get things done, which can cause me to show up right on time and sometimes a few minutes late.
Reading Eesha’s words, I realized that on the day of the satsang, I sat down in front of my computer one minute before it started. I was flustered and my mind was distracted. It took me a few minutes to ease into the satsang and absorb the words.
When Eesha asked how I will prepare for each satsang, these words came to me: “Arrive early; quiet my mind and my breathing; consider what I want to focus my attention on.”
This is a practice I could take into any situation that requires my attention. Rather than arriving at work at the exact start time, how differently would I feel if I arrived a few minutes early and, on my way to work, spent some time contemplating where I wanted to focus my energies that day?
