Gathering For Truth

Satsang is a Sanskrit word combining "satya" meaning "truth"
and "sangha" meaning "group. " It describes a gathering of people
for the purpose of spiritual truth. Satsang is often used when
referring to a meeting with a guru or a spiritual mentor. During
Satsang, participants read inspiring words, discuss its teachings,
meditate, and find ways to bring this awareness into daily life.
While attending services or spiritual study groups can be thought of
as participating in Satsangs, this practice can also apply to any
group of people that are gathered to inspire one another and express
the truth free from judgment. A Satsang can be a group of people
that are gathered to sing, play, or listen to music. All that needs
to be there is the intention to inspire one another and tell the
truth. A Satsang can also be a support group, book club, yoga class,
or meeting between friends for coffee or conversation. We don't need
to be in a place of worship or supervised by appointed leaders to
experience the truth. The truth can be found in every moment and it
can be experienced with anyone. Spending time with someone who
enlightens us can be as simple as visiting with a grandmother or
talking to a best friend. There is wisdom to be gleaned from being
with people even when the gatherings are not specifically intended
for personal improvement or spiritual transformation. Any occasion
we are gathered with people who understand and support us can be a
spiritual experience. While gatherings with the intention of
communing with spirit are undoubtedly powerful and inspiring,
getting together with people that uplift us by their presence alone
is also vital to our well- being. When we recognize all the people
we know that support and enrich us, our lives can become an extended
Satsang. What a wonderful thing. The wisdom can also bring
enlightenment and release from burdens that do not belong to us.
Those who are supportive and choose to join in a good way can give
us so many gifts that there is no way to count them. Learning to
discern those who do not support also are of great value as a
lesson. Benefits I feel now from it have me free as an Eagle in
flight at it's highest. Blessings untold have come from so many of
these lessons. I can not thank you enough Grandfather Two Bears for
taking the time to share these pearls of wisdom. I had too often
fell into thinking that I was alone without family and tonight it
has become the realization that the Metis are my home and my family
and I will never be alone for two legged company of the loving and
kind sort. My view of hero's has also changed a great deal, I now
see many more where my vision was before limited. Charity,
compassion, gifting of healing and service to others in the
humbleness of the ways of our People set a beautiful example that
can shed light in the darkest of hours for those in true need. It is
in that service that one can with the truth lead by example and
honor of who we are as a People. Part of my inspiration is an
inaugural speech many remember, this has nothing to do with politics
the URL is at the bottom; it has everything to do with Walking the
Way, leading by example. If we can do this one person at a time, we
will as a People given more to Our Mother, Turtle Island than what
she has seen in many a year. 1,000 Points of Light: making it a
reality. "America has always led by example. So who among us will
set this example? Which of our citizens will lead us in this next
American century? Everyone who steps forward today, to get one
addict off drugs; to convince one troubled teen-ager not to give up
on life; to comfort one AIDS patient; to help one hungry child. We
have within our reach the promise of renewed America. We can find
meaning and reward by serving some purpose higher than ourselves—a
shining purpose, the illumination of a thousand points of light. It
is expressed by all who know the irresistible force of a child's
hand, of a friend who stands by you and stays there—a volunteer's
generous gesture, an idea that is simply right. The problems before
us may be different, but the key to solving them remains the same:
it is the individual—the individual who steps forward. And the state
of our Union is the union of each of us, one to the other: the sum
of our friendships, marriages, families and communities. We all have
something to give. So if you know how to read, find someone who
can't. If you've got a hammer, find a nail. If you're not hungry,
not lonely, not in trouble—seek out someone who is. Join the
community of conscience. Do the hard work of freedom. That will
define the state of our Union. "
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0900156.html Who of all of our people
can see the wisdom in these words and walk back to their sofas and
remote controls and not be touched? Will you turn on the TV or call
a friend that you know needs to hear from someone. It does not
matter the political side of the speech but the words I find, could
not be wiser. Are we strong enough as Americans, as Metis People, as
Aboriginal People to breathe life into these words?