They become debauched, slanderers, and thieves

[Seshadri Sridharan]

Dr. H is a university professor, and he instructs his son Ravi to always remain in the company of good people. Dr Harideva, however, often takes a walk with his colleague Jitendra who is an alcoholic. When anyone points this out, then Dr Harideva states, “I am a professor and a grown-up man, and I know what and what not to learn from Jitendra.” The question is does Dr. Harideva also need to follow the principle of satsaunga (good company) in his life as much as he wants for his son?


Generally, parents keep a strict vigil on the company their children keep because they know that their children can be negatively affected by the friends they have. Ironically, those same parents often overlook the company that they themselves keep. They mistakenly justify that they can refrain from picking up bad habits from others and will learn only good habits.

There is a great emphasis on satsaunga (good company) in Ananda Marga teachings. Although keeping strict vigilance over one’s saunga (company) is needed more during childhood, it is applicable for all ages.


Village simpleton becomes fashionista in the city

To see how saunga affects a person, consider the case of a simple villager who has, in the name of belongings, just a pair of loincloths and a bicycle, and he is happy with those items. When he comes to a city and sees other people in branded clothing and shoes he develops a desire to acquire the same. While in the village he did not have a need for any items of clothing beyond his loincloth, but the company of city-people created a need for fashionable clothing. Likewise, he was happy with his bicycle in his village, but when he sees the large cars of city-people, that very bicycle begins appearing outdated. This is the effect of saunga or company. Thus, due to the company, the village person begins behaving like a city person.



Psychic influence of saunga (கழகம்) 

The influence of one’s company affects a person on both the physical and psychic levels. The viral influence of Hollywood fashion is an example of how saunga works at the psychic level. Although, people may not go to Hollywood physically, yet if they are exposed to pop-culture their mind’s abhoga (mental food) gets affected by the trends in Hollywood.

Ananda Marga ideology says, “The cruder the vibrator we get, the cruder the Prakrti tries to make it. Actually Prakrti tries to make that her own but this makes the object still cruder. So gradually it becomes crude from the subtle. Behind this a principle works – “Abhoga Samsargat Praptiresana”. You must remember it. When near an object of enjoyment (Abhoga) another object reaches, a desire is begotten to get that object. For instance a man when in town has dress, living as per the dress and living of the urban people and when in a village he has as per the villagers. This is effected because of his desire begotten out of his association with people in town and villages respectively. When some persons take tea, there you also get the desire to take the same.” (1)


Even animals affect humans by their company

Chimpanzees that stay with human scientists have an improved vocabulary compared to the ones that live in the wilderness due to human company. Those cows that have never seen the city and have been on farms all their lives get stressed when they first see roads and loud vehicles, while stray cows in cities easily maneuver through the roads. One can see such cows roaming freely on roads in India. They can do so because of human saunga.

Humans also get affected by animals’ company. If a person has a pet dog and that person is not having Brahma bha’va towards the dog, i.e. the person does not consider the dog as a manifestation of Brahma but an ordinary dog, then the person will definitely get affected by the dog’s company. If the person spends long hours with the dog then his behavior will get affected by the dog’s behavior.

Thus, a mind gets colored by another mind in whose company / saunga it comes as long as the mind is not ensconced in Brahma. This is a natural law. What to speak of one human affecting another, even animals affect humans.

Why always keep satsaunga (good company)

As far as possible one should only keep good company or satsaunga regardless of one’s physical age. If we allow our minds to be in the company of bad people then undoubtedly our minds will get affected by the bad habits of the people in whose contact we come. It may not be possible to keep 24/7 company of maha’purus’as as they may not be available in abundance. One should attempt to maximize satsaunga (good company) however.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Humans should always be careful about the company they keep. What is the result of keeping good company? By spending time with good persons, a deep impression is imprinted on the mind, causing the desire to be good to rise in the mind. If, on the other hand, one chooses to associate with a drunkard, a thought will eventually come in the mind, “What is the harm if I drink a little wine?” And if one associates with thieves, one will think, “What is the harm if I steal something?” To give an example, suppose a person is standing beside a tea stall. There the smell of the tea wafts to the person’s nose. The person will then say, “Give me a cup, too.” In this incident, the smell of the tea affects the mind. If that person had not remained near the tea stall, the smell would not have reached the nose and perhaps that person would not have taken tea for two or three days. This is the influence that association has on the mind.” (2)


Conclusion

Often, adults think they will not get affected by the bad habits of the people who they come in contact with. However, they can be highly influenced by the company they keep. What to speak of humans affecting each other, even animals affect humans. The bottom line is one should always aim to keep good company. The only time one should get in contact with bad people is when they are in position to rectify them.


That is why in various discourses Baba stresses that committed sadhakas should always be busy in shravan, manan, and nididhyásana. That way they will be fully engaged in and get the company of Sadguru. Sadguru is not just an imaginary, utopian, or some far-fetched Entity. He is hiding in the heart, and one’s only duty is to pay attention to Him by the aforesaid spiritual efforts. By the company of Sadguru, life will be full of bliss. And whatever work one does will be successful. Such sadhakas are an asset to the society. By their presence itself society at-large is greatly benefited. Those bhaktas get direct energy from Taraka Brahma. An ordinary sadhaka with a little effort can realise this. The central idea is that by various ways one should try to gain the company of Sadguru Baba. That is the best company.

In Him,
Bhakti

~ In-depth study ~

Gets degenerated in an evil environment

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “While moving along mundane mental paths, the human mind is influenced by many kinds of susceptibilities which are based on mundane activities. Under these circumstances there is a need, on the one hand, for purity of thought, and on the other, for satsauṋga [associating with good people]. The same person who is elevated in the company of good people, gets degenerated in an evil environment. This is a tested truth. So in human life there is as much need of satsauṋga as there is the need to shun evil company. Therefore, it is necessary to look for satsauṋga and avoid asatsauṋga [associating with bad people].” (3)


Even a saintly person will go astray after a few days

   Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Those who are born with fairly healthy bodies and minds, who do not lack knowledge of morality or live an undisciplined social life, or who have not become dishonest as a result of circumstantial pressure, often unwittingly take to the path of dishonesty because they keep bad company. Perhaps as many as ninety-nine per cent of people talk about themselves in the following way: “I do not need to bother about the company I keep, as long as I am good myself. I can remain good in all types of company. I am old enough to understand the difference between good and bad.” In other words, such people do not like to think, or rather feel piqued at the thought, that somebody should try to dissuade them from keeping bad company. Especially if a less-educated person advises a more highly-educated person to avoid bad company, that person will do it all the more. In society people who regard themselves as superior in status, wealth or education generally believe that it is entirely unwarranted for others to give them advice. That is why an educated but wayward son often disregards the good advice of his parents.”
   “The natural characteristics of the human mind, however, tell a different story than what that ninety-nine percent think. A person of any age between seven and seventy is invariably influenced by the company he or she keeps. In other words, where goodness is predominant, bad people will slowly but surely become good, and where the opposite is the case, good people will become bad. Even a saintly person will go astray after a few days of close association with bad people.” (4)


They become debauched, slanderers, and thieves

Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Suppose a teetotaller mixes regularly with a group of alcoholics. The frequent anti-teetotaller gibes and the positive portrayals of the wondrous virtues of wine by the alcoholics will one day tempt the teetotaller to taste a little wine. His or her drinking friends will say, “We don’t want you to become drunk. But what’s the harm if you just taste a little! This surely won’t make you a bad person! What a moralist you are! Oh friend, to be such a moralist in the world today is ridiculous!” So one day the teetotaller tastes wine and this becomes the cause of his or her downfall. But on the day the unsuspecting teetotaller took wine, he or she did not realize that from that very day wine would become the cause of his or her degeneration.” (5)


Children will also tend to become depraved if

Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Similarly, by keeping bad company people become debauched, slanderers and thieves. Men or women who have to do little or no household work, who fail to cultivate high ideals in life, who are unable to evolve a spiritual outlook, or who do not have to work hard for a living, generally develop an extremely critical nature. By constantly associating with such people, those who possess high ideals or a diligent nature will gradually begin to spend their leisure time in slanderous gossip. If the parents or older members of a family are quarrelsome, the children will also become quarrelsome due to constant association. Similarly, if the women of a family have a highly critical nature, the children will invariably become critical because they will learn how to criticize from their elders. Children will also tend to become depraved if they associate too closely with older children in schools or colleges. When they stay among children their own age, however, they generally play in an innocent, joyous way. Childhood companions should be selected with great care, but young children are incapable of doing this. The base propensities which lie dormant in everyone are easily stimulated by constant association with bad people. Through the united efforts of parents, people living in the locality and educators, it may be possible to save children from bad company.” (6)