Satsang, glory of ...

What is the true meaning of Satsang?

Sat is Existence, it is Brahman. Sang is presence or association. Therefore, in its truest sense, Satsang always Is.

In a relative sense, Satsang is used to denote the association of the wise. This is the 'external' satsang. The purpose of the external satsang is to bring about the internal satsang that leads to dissolution of the notions of external and internal.

In this context SrI Adi ShankarAcArya says in the Bhaja Govindam:

सत्संगत्वे निस्संगत्वं निस्संगत्वे निर्मोहत्वं 

निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्ति: ॥

From satsang (association with the wise) proceeds non-attachment, from non-attachment the removal delusion, from the removal of delusion proceeds constant awareness of the Truth, and from that constant awareness of the Truth arises Liberation.

The glory of external satsang is described by the poet BhartRhari as follows:

जाड्यं धियो हरति सिञ्चति वाचि सत्यं

मानोन्नतिं दिशति पापमपाकरोति 

चेत: प्रसादयति दिक्षु तनोति कीर्तिं

सत्संगति: कथय किम् न करोति पुंसाम् ॥

Removes the root ignorance from the intelligence, sprinkles speech with truth,

directs one's self to a higher purpose, removes sin,

brings joy to the mind, spreads one's fame in all the directions,

Tell me what does satsang not do for a man?

Therefore, Satsang is always good. If its true purpose be realized, then there is no need to go anywhere for Satsang. It always Is. One is always in the presence of Sat.