MEETING 4th September - Report

SHARING THE JOURNEY : in Satsang Companionship

NEXT MEETING:

Wolverhampton Sat 9th October 1.30 -4.30 p.m

Satsang

NOW


Some reflections of our meeting on Sat 4th September

'Seeking Together - Helping to Create - A Planetary Vision -  A Universal Heart of Compassion'

It is Sunday 5th September as I sit composing these short notes about our Satsang Meeting held yesterday at the home of Angela and Peter 

Angela- Monica and  Pam 

The Meeting was both a social occasion and an opportunity for  our Satsang Companionship, to review our new Website  http://www.satsang-companionship.org.uk/ , reflect on past meetings and to look forward to the future.

Unfortunately several Members send their apologies and at the last minute , because of sudden family commitments, both Shirley Cooke and Yasmin Malik could not attend. So we particularly think of Shirley and Yasmin and hope that all goes well with them.


So six of us gathered. So Patty Bowsher, Monica Evans, Taj Kaur, Pam Pritchard, Angela Creagh and myself (Peter Creagh).

Sharing a meal

We started with a splendid buffet , which Angela had lovingly prepared, and began our sharing  over our meal. Sharing over a meal is special. In every culture and throughout history, people have always gathered around a meal to share, reflect and enjoy the food and the company. This was no exception. To share a meal is to share something of oneself as well as food.

So we partook of a very leisurely meal and began to share about our lives, our journey and the importance of Satsang.

Throughout the afternoon we shared about our lives, family and our experience of Satsang. We looked at our past experiences of our Satsang Companionship, how this provided mutual support and challenge and how we could move forward in the future.

After the meal we began to address these areas in more detail. We started by looking at our new local Website ( http://www.satsang-companionship.org.uk/ ) and particularly looked at the Satsang News pages. These feed directly from our Satsang Blog and over time it is hoped that this area of the Web will grow as Members begin to contribute, share and comment on articles.

Patty , Taj and Angela

We then began to deepen our sharing, looking at ways of developing and improving our companionship.

Angela spoke about the values and principles of the International Satsang Association (ISA) and how these challenged us. It was more important to attempt to live out these values than to numerically increase Satsang Membership.She mentioned the myriad similar groups around the world who shared common values and principles. One reference to these was Paul Hawken’s book Blessed Unrest. We in Satsang were not alone .

Monica, who is our reprentative on Wolverhampton Inter-Faith, spoke on the values  of Satsang and its ability to cross over the boundaries between Faith Traditions and how she would like to broaden and deepen our links with Inter-Faith Groups. She also mentioened , in the light of her background with German and British parents, how as we get to know others and share with them, then we are less likely to war with them.

Taj spoke about how Satsang had helped her to reach a deeper appreciation and understanding of her Sikh Faith and her long association with Satsang, its support and companionship had really helped her.

Pam, spoke about Satsang's breath and its ability to cross the boundaries of religion. As a committed Christian it had helped her to appreciate the  place and value of the other Faith Traditions.

Patty B stressed the value of Satsang as a 'haven' where  one could express ideas and views in a supportive and non-critical group.

We all agreed in the importance of our Satsang Companionship and how our meetings were open to all. All were welcomed and respected. As Satsang Members , we were minful of our Triple Commitment ( see Resources Page for a downloadable pdf file) and the part we all attempted to play in

'Creating a Planetary Vision and a Universal Heart of Compassion'

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