I went along with my film crew to a Satsang the other night; below I’ve posted a video that shows a small part of it (I’m the one reading the words as it’s all pretty new to me). There is a bit of confusion and misinterpretation about what Satsang is in the mainstream, which I interpret as the pre/trans fallacy, so here goes a bit of a blog pitching some philosophy to clarify.
Ken Wilber, a leading American philosopher who has written extensively about many subjects, human development being one of them, coined the phrase “pre/trans fallacy.” Ken Wilber purports that many claims about non-rational states make a mistake he calls the pre/trans fallacy. According to Wilber, the non-rational stages of consciousness (what Wilber calls “pre-rational” and “trans-rational” stages) can be easily confused with one another. I have to agree that the pre/trans fallacy is one of the hardest things to get your head around – especially when looking at it from a rational level (which can be generalized to include the mainstream western mind).
Check out the video below, which is a chant from this May 2010 Satsang that I attended – if you’re on my list you will get an email when the whole thing is online (it’ll be free for members and makes for another consciousness expanding tool you can add to your box). It’s about 90 minutes and includes meditation, call and response/devotional chants and some philosophy.
I had never done a Satsang until Ram – the guy playing the harmonium and leading it - set the yoga center up in town here in 2008. (Yeap, that is 10 plus years for me without knowing about this vital aspect of yoga!) Now that I have a better understanding of developmental psychology and growth I get the whys and the benefits that it can provide.
Ok, so “non-rational” states… what are they? To understand this you need to understand about Growth as it relates to the human experience. Here is a video post on Yoga and Growth which gives a part of the picture.
Eastern and Western Developmental growth models all tend to look at growth as something that happens by and through “stages.” Whether growth be viewed through the lens of the Chakras, the Koshas (Annamaya kosha, Pranamaya kosha, Manamaya kosha, Vijnanamaya kosha, Anandamaya kosha )or the western developmental growth models, for example, Jean Gebser (who looks at growth through the archaic, magic, mythical and mental structures, and into the integral stage) and many, many others. Here’s a chart of many philosophers mapping lines of development through levels, or stages, of consciousness that will give you an idea.
Levels of Growth
Many of us can get stuck at certain levels, which is totally cool if that is what you want to be doing. At lower levels of mind it can be turbulent (with fear, anger, anxiety, etc) making sense of your own consciousness. So what is consciousness? For thousands of years this question has perplexed some of the world’s greatest hearts and minds—entire generations of philosophers, yogis, mystics and scientists have spent many an hour laying awake at night wondering. So it is cool to feel OK about not knowing. But it makes sense to work up the chain of growth where you can be more at peace with yourself. The chain has many levels and lines so it can be mind boggling to think about it.
So how does this relate to Satsang? Let’s look at Satsang from a few different levels:
Here we are in the moment and we may take a literal meaning in the chants, many of which tell stories in myth form to help us grow at this level by giving us something to sense that is beyond us (note that this stage is neither good nor bad, for there is a lot of learning that happens as we grow through this stage… so it just IS. We are all at the level that we are at; but the idea is that everyone grows through this stage, as opposed to becoming stuck at it).
This could look like some crazy religion. What are all these English speaking people doing chanting in a foreign language?? Is this some cult or what? JackTM over at YT asked me if I was a Hindu? LOL although I have nothing against it and encourage all authentic spiritual practice, but no I’m not Hindu.
Here you have an understanding about States and Stages of consciousness and what directs one towards higher being. You understand that certain practices, Satsang being one of them, can move you to other states of consciousness and that this can help you slowly understand your mind more deeply while helping you to develop a greater capacity for care, comprehension and compassion.
A & C are both NON rational – but both look very similar from a Pre Rational & rational level . So if you do not have the philosophical framework to interpret what is going on, you can be experiencing the pre/trans fallacy where you interpret it as A when IMHO, in this instance, it is C. I have known Ram for a couple of years and he is a switched on guy that understands development. But be careful as this can also go the other way around. In another setting, that looked very similar, you could perceive it as C when it was A – in this situation a mythical experience is elevated to a trans-rational experience.
This (being Satsang) is just one situational example that can be transposed into many other areas of life. The point is that we tend to jump in from the level we personally perceive things at and judge situations as non-rational, rational or trans-rational… but because we are perceiving things from our own standpoint, we are often left open to error of judgment if we don’t fully understand what it is we are seeing or experiencing. And this error of judgment often elevates the mythical, or the pre-rational, and demotes the integral, or the post-rational – herein lies the pre/trans fallacy and consequently a lot of confusion.
Anyway, that just a super condensed overview in relation to one topic. Pick up one of Ken Wilber’s books like “Integral Spirituality: A Startling New Role for Religion in the Modern and Postmodern World” or take a look at that big fat book “Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution” if you wanted to explore this more: understanding this at a political level would go a long way to balancing the current world situation.
28 comments
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Devraj says:
June 17, 2010 at 10:51 pm (UTC 13)
Sorry Dear I can not see abv satsang yuga film because its not automatically open and see white box on my display.
Thanks
Devraj
al says:
June 17, 2010 at 10:55 pm (UTC 13)
HI it must be blocked in your browser or country. Sorry .
Namaste Al
Lorraine says:
June 17, 2010 at 11:12 pm (UTC 13)
I like Satsang for the abandon into harmony.
Lokesh Sharma says:
June 17, 2010 at 11:43 pm (UTC 13)
This very nice video I have song and I want to share with U It is bajo radhey Govind.
Its very nice song when the group sing this song.
Thank` regards
Lokesh
Ada says:
June 18, 2010 at 1:34 am (UTC 13)
Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!
Janina says:
June 18, 2010 at 1:46 am (UTC 13)
Thanks!I like it…
Mahendran says:
June 18, 2010 at 3:30 am (UTC 13)
The music was very pleasant and soothing. It bring calmness. Thanks for those who made out this video. Only problem is it could not be played without any break.
Regards
Mahendran
alillia says:
June 18, 2010 at 4:00 am (UTC 13)
Ok that music was beautiful, I was singing along and I didn’t even know the words. I didn’t understand everything you were saying, I think the concept is a little over my head at the moment but I will be exploring this more. Thank you!
Galina says:
June 18, 2010 at 7:10 am (UTC 13)
I like this clip. Could you send the lyrics of the song, please? And may be the translation of the foreign words?
Best regards,
Galina
kelly-zhang says:
June 18, 2010 at 1:46 pm (UTC 13)
This article is very good,i learn a lot from it.But i can’t open the video,what a pity.I haven’t open the videos even for one time.I look forward to watching them one day.
al says:
June 18, 2010 at 2:16 pm (UTC 13)
Yes unfortunately You-tube is blocked in China . Soon we will be serving all of our own videos so you will be able to see them all I hope.
Namaste
Al
alexandra says:
June 19, 2010 at 12:14 am (UTC 13)
very beautiful and heartfull satsang, brought me back to high sharing moments in india
and it does work straight away again listening to those, thank you Al !
(have to admit I gave up in your explanations …) Om shanti
asoka says:
June 19, 2010 at 12:33 am (UTC 13)
the music was very nice and calmness.could you please send the lyrics of the song.
thanks for sharing.
best regards
asoka
Johanna says:
June 19, 2010 at 12:41 am (UTC 13)
Thanks for your satsang! I remember my teacher-studies in La Gendronniere in France in 1992 (Sivananda)
Namaste Johanna
Meenakshi says:
June 19, 2010 at 1:29 am (UTC 13)
Namaste,
Sorry I can’t see abv satsang yuga film because its not automatically open and see white box on my display.
Thanks
Meenakshi Arora
shermine says:
June 19, 2010 at 3:39 am (UTC 13)
I like Satsang very much, I only know about it recent year. When i sing with my friends, my heart is touching, my mind is empty and calm, thanks for sharing. Namaste.
Isa says:
June 19, 2010 at 4:04 am (UTC 13)
” Written by Devraj about 1 day ago.
Sorry Dear I can not see abv satsang yuga film because its not automatically open and see white box on my display.”
Try to watch it on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBHmsm6iTSo&feature=player_embedded#at=14
If you can’t see this or any other video on youtube, you may have to install or update your Adobe Flashplayer. http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
al says:
June 19, 2010 at 12:33 pm (UTC 13)
I am afraid that if you are on a slow connection that you will have challenges with this . Also it may be Censored in your country via the You Tube IP address. I am working on a fix but it is still 2 months away at least.
Namaste
karthik says:
June 19, 2010 at 9:01 pm (UTC 13)
For those who were interested in the lyrics:
Bansuri Bansuri Bansuri Shyam Ki Bansuri Bansuri Bansuri Shyam Ki
Bansuri Bansuri Bansuri Shyam Ki Bansuri Bansuri Bansuri Shyam Ki
He Rama He Rama He Rama He Rama He Rama He Rama He Rama He Rama
He Rama He Rama He Rama He Rama He Rama He Rama He Rama He Rama
He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna
He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna He Krishna
He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus
He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus He Jesus
He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha
He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha He Buddha
Bansuri Bansuri Bansuri Shyam Ki Bansuri Bansuri Bansuri Shyam Ki
Bansuri Bansuri Bansuri Shyam Ki Bansuri Bansuri Bansuri Shyam Ki
with love – karthik
Julie says:
June 20, 2010 at 5:33 am (UTC 13)
I am very interested in satsang. Looking for satsang group in my area of western North Carolina. I look forward to seeing the 90 minutes.
al says:
June 20, 2010 at 2:47 pm (UTC 13)
Thanks a lot awesome.
Namaste
Al
Johnson says:
June 21, 2010 at 4:02 am (UTC 13)
Nice to see the vedeo.Surely music transcends the limits of languages or words. Its vibrations can go deep in to the self, making one calm. For such a group,I feel ,time has come to transcend the “namas and rupas”(forms and names).There are powerful neutral bhajans which can elevate yourselves to higher realms. The harmonium is crossing the serenity of the vocal level and it projects seperately. If the group tries out an eastern tamborine with the singing ,it will create a better mystical feel.
I would love to see what is there in the 90 minutes vedeo.
Isis says:
June 21, 2010 at 12:24 pm (UTC 13)
Thank you Al, I love to see more..
Good day!
waqas says:
June 22, 2010 at 4:19 am (UTC 13)
very very outstanding
nide says:
June 28, 2010 at 8:37 am (UTC 13)
Olá
Vi seu vídeo de Satsang, está ótimo…os mantras transmitem muita harmonia.
Quero que me envie tudo relacionado ao Yoga e ao seu trabalho.
Agradeço e uma ótima semana…
Nide
Katarina says:
July 11, 2010 at 5:49 pm (UTC 13)
Hello ALL, thank you….. very inspiring and soothing melody, the levels of growth I will have to study in depth, before I can commment.
Namaste from
Katarina……………
dr rp dube says:
August 6, 2010 at 11:49 pm (UTC 13)
The body language express supremacy of ATMAN VALUABLE to ONENESS against breaking society/friendship. Actually inspirating.
Janaki says:
June 22, 2011 at 3:53 am (UTC 13)
When I was living at the Sivananda ashram in upstate NY, USA I attended satsang every morning and evening, and I loved it!