Lavish outer grandeur of Satsang not enough for spiritual awakening

 By A.K. Hota

Nowadays, spiritual discourses are being organized in various parts of the country in a splendid manner to attract common people to participate. However, outer grandeur is not important — the prime objective of these discourses should be to inspire individuals to practice spirituality so that they may attain liberation from the vicious cycle of birth and death.

Recently, a Satsang Utsav was organised in grand fashion at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar, which enticed many to attend the spiritual gathering. Yet, the question arises: how can the outer resplendence of a Satsang truly motivate people to pursue a spiritual path in their lives? The fundamental principles of all *Dharma* revolve around righteousness, duty, and moral conduct. Spiritual leaders must emphasize the importance of living in accordance with universal laws, promoting harmony, and striving for a fulfilling and meaningful life. While spiritual leaders advocate understanding one’s duty, upholding truth and non-violence, and practicing virtues like compassion, self-control, and generosity, such lavish outer decorations are unnecessary to draw people toward spirituality.

Spiritual leaders should instead highlight the importance of maintaining harmony — with oneself, with others, and with the natural world. This harmony is achieved through ethical conduct, compassion, and a conscious effort to live in balance with the laws of the universe. In essence, the fundamental principles of every ‘Dharma’ are meant to guide individuals towards a life of ethical integrity and the pursuit of a meaningful existence. Leaders must emphasize the interconnectedness of all beings and the importance of contributing to the well-being of both oneself and society, while keeping the glittering outer display at bay.

The basic objective of any spiritual discourse must be to awaken people to the spiritual path and elevate moral conduct within society. Though the outer grandeur of the recent Satsang was impressive, it was organized in an extravagant manner, which ultimately holds little value. Instead, the organizers should focus on gathering people meaningfully and inspiring them to make genuine spiritual progress in their lives, without placing undue emphasis on ostentatious and excessive decor.