*POINTS TO PONDER* - 'SATSANGAM' - “Satsangatve nissangatvam, nissangatve nirmohatvam, nirmohatve nischalatatvam, nischalatatve jivanmuktih” - (Shankara) : First you must decide what is sat sang. It means association with sat or Reality. One who knows or has realized sat is also regarded as sat. Such association with sat or with one who knows sat is absolutely necessary for all - RAMANA MAHARSHI

D.: How can one become 'jitasangadoshah' (free from the stain of association)?
M.: By satsanga (association with the wise).

“Satsangatve nissangatvam, nissangatve nirmohatvam,
nirmohatve nischalatatvam, nischalatatve jivanmuktih.” (Shankara)

Satsanga means sanga (association) with sat. Sat is only the Self. Since the Self is not now understood to be Sat, the company of the sage who has thus understood it is sought. That is Sat-sanga. Introversion results. Then Sat is revealed.
For whom is association? For whom is dosha?
D.: To the Self.
M.: No. The Self is pure and unaffected. The impurities affect only the ego.

D.: How is one to overcome regrets? M.: By realizing the Divinity in him. D.: How? M.: By practice.
D.: What kind of practice?
M.: Meditation.
D.: Mind is not steady while meditating.
M.: It will be all right by practice.
D.: How is the mind to be steadied?
M.: By strengthening it.
D.: How to strengthen it?
M.: It grows strong by satsanga (the company of the wise).

Visitor: All that I want to know is whether sat sang is necessary and whether my coming here will help me or not.
Bhagavan: First you must decide what is sat sang. It means association with sat or Reality. One who knows or has realized sat is also regarded as sat. Such association with sat or with one who knows sat is absolutely necessary for all.
Sankara has said (Bhagavan here quoted the Sanskrit verse) that in all the three worlds there is no boat like sat sang to carry one safely across the ocean of births and deaths.

~RAMANA MAHARSHI