This chapter is the English translation of Gujarati Book
               Title   -  Sadhak and Sathi
               Author  -  Shri Atmanandji (Dr. Soneji)





                                CHAPTER-16

                           COMPANY OF NOBLES

                              (SAT-SAMAGAMA)


      In general, Company of Nobles (Sat-samagama) means association
      with the noble persons, religious scriptures and like.  The
      purpose of such association is to improve ourselves, to make
      good of our present life and to attain to eternal happiness
      through self-realization.  Association with persons of like
      temperament and aims with pious intention, hearing of the
      sermons of saints who inspire righteousness and liberation, and
      like are also Sat-samagama.

      Satsamagama at its best is, living constantly at the feet of the
      enlightened saints and striving for spiritual advancement.

      In the first stage, the Sadhaka will spare an hour or two, or
      two days in a week, for the spiritual practice (Sadhana) of
      Satsamagama.  For those who have greater ardor for spiritual
      advancement, daily association with saintly persons is
      necessary.

      A common person can benefit greatly in the daily routine of his
      life, if he follows the following method of Satsamagama.

      At well planned periodical intervals, one should resort to
      intensive Satsamagama.  For this purpose, one should stay in
      some secluded place (Ashram) and remain in obedience to an
      enlightened noble preceptor.  Various schedules of spiritual
      practice (Sadhana) which lead to self realization are available
      there from early morning to late night.  One has to take part in
      these various Sadhana schedules according to one's capacity and
      aptitude.

      With a concentrated mind, one should actively participate in
      reflection about the nature of substances, practice of silence,
      devotion to the Lord, sessions of meditation, sessions of
      questions and answers and similar dialogues, praising and
      reciting the glory of Lord, reading, writing, remembering, and
      listening to scriptures.  By these various means, one progresses
      on the path of Sadhana.

      PROCESS OF SATSAMAGAMA:

      1. Let one decide once for all that "I desire to progress on the
         path of self realization."

      2. One should proceed to Satsamagama, leaving behind himself,
         the pride of knowledge, wealth, power, austerity,
         renunciation and the rest.

      3. Taking simple and proper food, observing the rule of not to
         involve in unnecessary talk, and remain contented in whatever
         facilities are available for practice.

      4. Let there be a really friendly and compromising attitude
         towards one and all.  Let behavior towards the saints and
         virtuous be exceedingly noble and devotional and let there be
         an abandonment of futile criticism, jealousy, controversial
         debates - all these practices are beneficial in Satsamaqama.

      5. The type of discipline that is absolutely necessary involves
         limited sleep, food and purposeful conversation with others,
         regular presence at religious discourses and study-sessions,
         taking notes during self-study and giving these to the more
         learned for correction, and joining in mass-prayers and
         devotional songs.

      6. Individually passing a specific time in worship, silent
         scriptural study, reciting and memorizing the songs of
         detachment, study of Reality, and a secluded and peaceful
         place are all necessary and beneficial to advanced aspirant.



      GLORY OF COMPANY OF NOBLES:

      Satsamagama reigns supreme among all the means of spiritual
      disciplines.  Undoubtedly it has got the capacity to bestow not
      only the ordinary happiness, but even the highest spiritual
      state.  No one has words enough to extol its full glory.  Still
      we humbly follow the highly enlightened ones in describing
      briefly its immense glory in a few words:

      1. Obedient association with noble people even for a short while
         will help to cross over the ocean of mundane existence.

      2. It is the root of all happiness.  The resulting benefit of
         Satsanga can certainly bestow the desired attainment.  It is
         the best means to lead pious life.

      3. We should have a strong conviction that Satsamagama as the
         means is par excellence for attaining liberation and all
         other means are subordinate to this.  If one follows it with
         unflinching care and devotion, in no time, false attachments
         are destroyed and the soul becomes free from all blemishes or
         bondages.

      4. Satsamagama quenches the thirst of the mind, and brings an
         end to pride.  It takes away all sorrows, enhances spiritual
         wealth, and yields true fruits of dissipation of all sorrows.


      LIVING EXAMPLES OF COMPANY OF NOBLES:

                                     (1)

      Shree Lalluji was a Jain monk and a disciple of Shrimad
      Rajchandra.  He spent the four months of the rainy season in
      Poona at the residence of Shree Manekji Vardhamana during 1924.
      At that time, many aspirants used to visit him.  Among them was
      Shree Amarchand Nahata, a householder disciple of Shri Lalluji
      Swami.  He was a landlord from Bengal who moved to Agas Ashram
      for spiritual guidance.

      Shree Hiralal Jhaveri, a friend of Shree Nahata visited him.  He
      was a jeweller in Paris.

      As it was time for the devotion and Satsamagam Shree Nahata told
      Shree Hiralal, "I am going for Satsamagam.  Please wait here for
      a while."

      Shree Hiralal commented, "Why such devotion and Satsamagam?
      Only the poor people do devotion and Satsamagama."

      Shree Nahata, "No, no!  This is a unique Satsamagama!  Come
      with me and you will feel delighted by it."

      Shree Hiralal, "I can go with you on one condition.  I do not
      bow down before monks and saints."

      Shree Nahata, "Separate seating arrangements will be possible
      for you so that you do not have to bow down before monks. Please
      come with me, you will feel happy."

      Shree Hiralal agreed to come.  The program of mass prayer,
      spiritual songs and Mantras lasted for three hours.  All were
      fully engrossed.  Shree Hiralal was deeply influenced by the
      pious composure of Shri Lalluji Swami, his engrossment in and
      enthusiasm and devotion.  He too fell at his feet in utter
      devotion.

      This is the reward of Satsamagama.


                                     (2)

      Shree Haridas was a deciple of a Hindu monk Shree Chaitanya of
      the fifteenth century in the state of Bihar, India.  Shree
      Chaitanya was a great devotee of Lord Shree Krishna Bhagawan and
      became a national figure by his intense devotion and pure life.

      Shree Haridas used to go in a jungle at night for greater
      spiritual practice (Sadhana) of devotion.  A man, Ramkhan by
      name, sent a prostitute in a jungle to his hut to divert his
      mind from devotion.  All the while, Haridas went on with his
      singing of devotional songs and the woman waited in vain to
      disturb his concentration.  However the devotion continued for
      the whole night.  Two days passed away in this way.

      On the third day, the woman lost all courage and fell at his
      feet.  The life of that woman was converted by three nights of
      devotion.  Her best virtues revealed themselves and she became a
      nun.  She got a place among the best Satsangis of Chaitanya.
      Now people gathered to see her as a pious nun because she was no
      more a fallen woman.  Thus she had become pious by Satsamagama.


                                    (3)

      Shree Jnaneshvara Maharaj was a great saint of Maharashtra.
      Right from childhood, he was very intelligent.  This may be due
      to the psychic influences of previous lives.  He was a man of
      constant study and had acquired a great religious knowledge.
      Yet he had not tasted the essence of Godliness.  His devotion to
      God was not at its peek.

      Once he came in contact with Shree Namdeva, who was a great
      devotee.  He stayed in his company for a few days and then
      asked, "Namadevaji!  I should like to accompany you on
      pilgrimage."

      Namadevaji replied, "Let me take the permission from God."
      He went to the temple to visit God. Jnaneshvara went behind him.
      Shri Namadev was singing and praising God with a deep
      concentration. Tears were flowing from his eyes. However
      Jnaneshvara could not concentrate in the prayer and singing.

      After this, Jnaneshavara went on pilgrimage with Namadeva.  He
      got direct lessons of devotion to God from him and then he
      tasted the sweetness of devotion to God. Thus he became the true
      devotee of God by Satsamagama.