Is This Satsanga?

Swami Sivananda, "Satsanga has degenerated in these days. It has dwindled into some kind of mental recreation or amusement. Mere Vedantic gossiping for one hour in the evening between Sannyasins and householders with a mixture of some idle, worldly talk, some politics, some scandal-mongering and backbiting, some silly giggling, guffaw, and namby-pamby sentimental outpourings in vague platitudes is labelled as Satsanga. The minds of the Sannyasin who does Satsanga and of the hearers remain in the same state even after a course of Satsanga for several years. There is no elevation and spiritual progress.

"When Sadhus and Sannyasins move in the world, they should show an exemplary life of Vairagya to the householders. They should get from the householders the bare necessaries of life only. They should not mix with them very freely. They should live in a solitary place outside the village or town. They should conduct spiritual classes in a serious manner. They should not talk on worldly matters in the interval. They should not bring in too many stories that excite laughter. They should not cut jokes. There must be solemn serenity. The whole audience must be spellbound. There must be pin-drop silence. Then only the householders will be influenced. They will feel they have got something from the Satsanga."

(pg. 38, Satsanga and Svadhyaya)