II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

मथुरा जावै द्वारिका, भावै जावै जगनाथ I
साध संगति हरिभजन बिन, कछू न आवै हाथ II

There is a story that describes the importance of Sadh-Sangat. Once upon a time, an argument took place between the Sages Vasisht and Vishwamitra regarding what is superior, Sadh-Sangat or undertaking penance? Sage Vasisht said, “Sadh-Sangat is superior” whereas Sage Vishwamitra said, “Penance is superior”. To find a solution to this argument, both of them went to the Devas. The Devas told them that only Sheshnag can find an answer to their problem! So, they approached Sheshnag. 
Sheshnag told them, “If you could reduce the weight of earth on my head, I could think about your question and answer it.” In the puranas, it is mentioned that it is Sheshnag that balances the earth on its head. To reduce the weight of earth, Sage Vishwamitra took a resolve, “I offer the fruits of 1000 years of my penance, Mother Earth may rise slightly above the head of Sheshnag”. Mother Earth did not budge even a little. Then Sage Vasisht took a resolve, “I offer the fruits of half a ghataka (12 minutes) of my Sadh-Sangat, Mother Earth may reduce her weight a little”. Mother Earth immediately lifted herself up. We come to know how important Sadh-Sangat is from this story.

"Kabir says, where do we try to seek God, the fountainhead of the soul and source of all energy? We seek Him in the stone mosques and earthen temples which we build with our own hands. How absurd it is that instead of searching for God in the temple that He himself made for His residence in this world, we try to find Him in the houses which we build with bricks and stones.The human body is the temple of God, and He dwells within it, not at Mathura, Dwarika, Jagannath. It is the Sadh-Sangat that makes us realise this. God Realisation that slowly unfolds with Sadh-Sangat is different from mere parroting. It is a journey within with the sole purpose of cleansing the filth within that is in itself no different than Hari Bhajan. We are influenced by the environment in which we live and the people with whom we consistently interact. Just like lowly trees in the vicinity of Sandalwood become fragrant, Hari Bhajan emanates from within in the company of Realised Soul who remains absorbed in it ceaselessly. One cannot remain untouched of the waves and waves of divine ecstasy that ripple from a Realised Soul attuned with the Supreme Essence. Everyone in his company becomes intoxicated with divine love and dances in the divine ecstasy."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II