TV Channel

I can tell you, you will not attain liberation merely through talking or by listening to satsaṅg with an ordinary understanding. When you truly understand its value, nothing is comparable to satsaṅg. Do you remember the story I told last year about Guru Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra? It was the last story from Gurujī on Guru Pūrṇimā, concerning the greatness of satsaṅg. At the time of the Rāmāyaṇa, nearly 10,000 years ago, there lived two great saints. One was Guru Vasiṣṭhamuni, the guru of Lord Rāma's family. The other was the great saint Viśvāmitra. Viśvāmitra was a great tapasvī, performing intense sādhanā and achieving many siddhis. Yet, he desired one title: Brahma Ṛṣi, a sage who is a knower of Brahman. This title could only be bestowed by Guru Vasiṣṭhamuni, but Vasiṣṭha never addressed Viśvāmitra as such. Despite his advanced sādhanā, Viśvāmitra still harbored anger. In his rage, he killed Vasiṣṭha's son and stole the Kāmadhenu cow, a divine cow that yields all desires. Still, Muni Vasiṣṭha remained without anger. One full moon day, Vasiṣṭhamuni was invited to give a satsaṅg. After delivering it, he announced he would return to his hut around midnight. Viśvāmitra learned of this and, hiding in the bushes with a bow and arrow, lay in wait. As Guru Vasiṣṭha and his wife Arundhatī approached, Arundhatī spoke: "Ṛṣi, look how beautiful the moonlight is. It is so pleasant, so harmonious, a beautiful light." Vasiṣṭhamuni replied to Arundhatī, "Yes, dear one, this moonlight is so beautiful, pleasant, and divine, like the light of Brahma Ṛṣi Viśvāmitra." Upon hearing these words, Viśvāmitra threw away his bow and came forward. Vasiṣṭhamuni greeted him: "Oh, welcome, Brahma Ṛṣi. How are you?" Viśvāmitra said, "That is all I wanted to hear from your mouth. I apologize. I killed your children, I stole your cows, and still you are so gracious to me. You are not angry. What can I give you? I have nothing to give, but I donate to you the fruits of my 60,000 years of sādhanā and tapasyā. I offer all the fruits of my 60,000 years to you." Guru Vasiṣṭha Muni said, "For this, I give you just the fruits of one minute of satsaṅg. You have dedicated your 60,000 years of work, therefore I am happy and I give you the fruits of one minute of satsaṅg." Viśvāmitra became angry again. "This is injustice! I give you 60,000 years, and you give me one minute of satsaṅg?" Vasiṣṭha replied, "Yes, because 60,000 years is not equal to one minute of satsaṅg." Viśvāmitra said, "That is not right. Let us go to God, to Viṣṇu." They were sent to Śiva. Śiva said, "This judgment can only be given by Śeṣanāga. Only Śeṣanāga can tell you what is of greater value." Śeṣanāga is the thousand-headed snake upon whose head the earth rests. If he moves, an earthquake occurs, so he must always remain still, holding his breath. Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha went to Śeṣanāga and, with folded hands, said, "Our adoration to you. Please, can you give us the judgment?" Śeṣanāga said, "What can I give you? I bear the burden of the whole planet; its weight is on my head. If you take it for some time, I will give you judgment." Ṛṣi Viśvāmitra said, "I give you the 60,000 years of my hard sādhanā and tapasyā. Earth, please remain without the support of Śeṣanāga." But the Earth did not remain without support. Then, Guru Vasiṣṭha said, "Mother Earth, I give just the fruit of one minute of satsaṅg, and let Śeṣanāga come out for a while." The Earth then raised up a little and remained stable without movement. Śeṣanāga was massaging his neck, doing Sarva Hita Āsana. Viśvāmitra said, "Give us judgment quickly before the Earth falls on us!" Śeṣanāga said, "What should I say? Your judgment is already there. What do you not see? The Earth is without any support." Thus, Guru Vasiṣṭha was the winner and Ṛṣi Viśvāmitra was the loser. This means one minute of satsaṅg is greater than 60,000 years of tapasyā and all sādhanās—but the satsaṅg must be from the heart. Śeṣa means that which remains. In mathematics, after all minus and plus, whatever remains is called śeṣa. When we count everything in this world, what finally remains is the truth, that Satya. This Pṛthvī, this body, is supported only by Satya. When Satya disappears from this world, then Pṛthvī will again go into the water. Therefore, Satyameva Jayate: where there is truth, there is victory. So, with such a satya decision, satya feeling, and with that satya heart, you should go to satsaṅg. Not merely to drink tea, gossip, search for friends, criticize, joke, or be angry or jealous—even at the one giving the satsaṅg. Do not think, "This person doesn't know what to talk about." If you know better, then next time you should talk. But when we put you in front to speak, you will be most nervous and sweating. Satsaṅg is different. There is only love, only wisdom, only devotion. You should go to satsaṅg like an empty pot, so you can receive more. If you go like a full pot, whatever we try to put in will flow out. Therefore, an empty pot means a clear heart, without doubts, without complexes, without anger. Then your sādhanā will be fruitful. So, do your sādhanā and attend satsaṅg. That will be the best. Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Weekend seminar