使你远离尘和锈的最容易和最有效的方法就是‘社僧’（satsang，好的友伴）。与善者和敬神者交游肯定会慢慢地纯化和清涤那些会在朝向明心见性之康庄大道上迷失方向的人。

当用一把锋利的斧头来砍伐一棵檀香树时，檀香树不因此而受创也不生气。它反而把芬芳传给斧头…这就是好人的素质。

树上有两只鹦鹉，说贴切些，是两只双胞鹦鹉。一个猎人将它们捕获并转卖给他人，一只卖给一个低级而残忍的屠夫，另一只则卖给一个开办学校教授吠陀经的贤人。几年后，猎人惊讶地发现一只鹦鹉讲的是卑鄙的脏话，而另一只则以优美的旋律赞颂主的神圣戏曲，令到听者为之神魂颠倒。这就是环境的影响；所以，交友不可不慎，必须求得‘社僧’（satsang）。

与坏人为伍是智慧消失的前兆。与好人为伍使人的智慧绽放异彩。

多年不断持名，朝圣，读经的苦修 -- 这些都比不上与善知识交游更能帮助求道者在灵道上的进展和成就。

近朱者赤，近墨者黑，您所结交的朋友塑造你的行为模式。如果你与铁匠为伍，你一定满身沾满黑色的铁屑。那就是为什么交友（sangam僧伽）在灵性生活中占有那么重要地位的原因了。

对得道者（siddha）而言，社僧（satsang，与善知识交游）还是重要的，因为这就像是把一壶水置于水槽中一样：不会因蒸发而有所损失。如果修行者生活于俗人之中，他的‘yoga’（修持，瑜伽）被蒸发为‘bhoga’（恶习）的机会就很大了。

要参与‘社僧’（satsang），也就是，与虔诚者交往。就如驯服的象群围绕着一只野性的大象一样，在驯服他之前，先綁住他的手脚，使他不能自由行动，有灵性观念者会説服怀疑者，使他回心转意。

透过社僧（satsang），你摆脱虚幻，
透过摆脱虚幻，你培育起对真理的信心，
而透过对真理的信心，你达获超脱。

The easiest and most fruitful method of keeping yourself free from dust and rust is satsang (good company). The company of the good and the godly will slowly and surely chasten and cleanse the persons prone to straying away from the straight path towards self-realization.

When a sharp ax is used to cut a sandalwood tree, the sandalwood tree does not feel hurt by the ax, nor does it get angry with it. On the contrary, the sandalwood tree hands its fragrance to the ax… This is the quality of good people.

There were two parrots on a tree, twins, to be more precise. A hunter trapped them and sold them, one to a low, cruel butcher and the other to a sage who was running an ashrama (school) to teach the Vedas (holy scriptures). After a few years, he was surprised to find that one bird swore very foully, while the other recited the leelas (divine play) of the Lord in a sweet musical tone which captivated the listeners. Such is the effect of the environment; so seek and secure satsang.

The company of bad men is the prelude to the disappearance of wisdom. The company of good men makes wisdom blossom.

Ascetic practices, years of constant recitation of the name, pilgrimages to holy places and shrines, study of sacred books – these will not help the aspirant to spiritual victory as much as communion with the godly and good.

You are molded by the company you relish. When you make friends with the blacksmith, you are bound to collect black dust on your clothes and skin. That is why sangam, association, is held to be so crucial in spiritual life.

For the siddha (the accomplished seeker) too, one who has reached success, satsang is valuable, for it is like keeping a pot of water inside a tank of water: there will not be any loss by evaporation. If the yogi lives among worldly men, the chances of his yoga evaporating into bhoga (bad habits) are very great.

Join satsang, the company of the godly. Just as the tame elephants surround the wild tusker and rope him and bind him hand and foot and immobilize him before taming him, the spiritually minded will bring the doubter around.

Through satsang you develop freedom from delusion, through freedom from delusion you develop faith in truth, and through faith in truth you attain liberation itself.