Satsang

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A gathering where individuals unite to share spiritual insights and engage in discussions about profound truths and philosophies
2. An assembly aimed at exploring and exchanging spiritual knowledge while fostering a sense of community and connection among participants
3. A communal meeting focused on the sharing of spiritual teachings and experiences, fostering dialogue about philosophical concepts and encouraging personal growth

Etymology: Sanskrit "satsaṃga" is a compound of two parts. "Sat" means "true," "good," or "real," and it is the same root that gives English words through Latin and Greek lineages only distantly related to it, though the Sanskrit sense here is simply "truth" or "the good." "Saṃga" means "association," "company," or "contact," from the verb-root meaning to cling or join. Put together, the compound means something like "association with the good" or "keeping company with truth," a phrase that Hindu and Buddhist traditions used for the company of wise people and the teachings they shared. The word's core idea therefore lies in the gathering itself rather than in any single doctrine. A satsang is the act of sitting with others who are seeking truth, and the Sanskrit sense of "company" stayed central as the term moved into English, where it now names a meeting of devotees, teachers and seekers. The compound shows how Sanskrit often built religious vocabulary out of ordinary social words, so that spiritual life was framed as a matter of who you spend time with.

Synonyms: spiritual gathering, assembly