How to start a Gita Study Group (Satsang)

 

            1  Talk to few like-minded people in your friend and neighborhood circle about the idea of starting a Gita Satsang. Arrange a meeting with the spiritually inclined people and decide on time, place, and how often the group should meet. Evenings and weekends are usually preferred time. The meeting place could be a local school, temple/church, conference room of an office building, or a public library. Home should be the last choice. The frequency of the meeting could be once a month, twice a month, or every Sunday.  The duration of Satsang should be two hours.

            2.  A meeting format in which all members of the group are encouraged to participate in the study and discussion has worked well in the USA. Take a chapter of the Gita and assign first five verses of the chapter to one person and the next five verses to another person. These two people should prepare their assignments and present the meanings and interpretation of the verses during the next Satsang. Each presentation should be followed by a lively question and answer as well as a group discussion. A moderator should lead and moderate the discussion.  Everybody should give their interpretation of the first five verses and participate in the discussion before going to the second speaker. A group meditation should be included either in the beginning or towards the end of Satsang.  Guest speakers may also be invited if possible.

            3.   Assign next two sets of five verses to two different speakers for the next meeting thereby giving everybody a chance to study, learn, participate and become an active member of the group. Try any other method that works in your area.  

IMPORTANT NOTES ON PRONUNCIATION OF SANSKRIT WORDS and NAMES

The alphabet 'a' at the end of English transliteration of Sanskrit words should be pronounced very softly, or should not be generally pronounced; but never pronounced as ‘aa’, except in Sanskrit poetry or in chanting. For example, the word 'Rama' should be pronounced as Raam (r=m=), not as Raamaa (r=m==), except in chanting. We have, therefore, dropped all “a”s from the end of Sanskrit words in these lessons to correct the long formed habit of mispronunciation of Sanskrit terms in the West which has spread even to India!! For example we have written Karm instead of usual Karma.  In English we never write or pronounce ‘Davida’ for ‘David’, do we?, then why write ‘Krishna’ for ‘Krishn’ or ‘Raama’ for ‘Raam’? However, correct pronunciation of any foreign language is difficult, but has no bearing on understanding the teachings.  I have been in the USA for 38 years, and written books in English, yet some people don’t understand my spoken English!!  Don’t worry.  Sanskrit by itself will not lead you to Self-realization!!  Just be sincere and serious in contemplating on the meanings of the verses and practice in your daily life. We are here to help you in your search for the Truth.