Community as Refuge: Satsang in Times of Upheaval

Mirabai participated in satsang—spiritual gatherings where seekers came together to sing, share, and support each other's devotion. These gatherings sustained her and her community through hardship. In anticipatory grief for civilization, satsang becomes essential infrastructure. Communities that gather regularly around shared values, that sing and create together, that witness each other's struggles and joys, are more resilient and more human than isolated individuals. Satsang is not escape or denial; it's the practice of creating refuge within reality. We gather to remember what matters, to support each other's courage, to share practical knowledge, to grieve together, to celebrate what remains alive. These gatherings need not be religious; they can be reading groups, cooking circles, mutual aid networks, or activist teams—any intentional community bound by shared commitment and care. Mirabai's example shows that when external systems become hostile or fragile, the quality of our relationships becomes our primary resource. Building and tending these communities now is crucial preparation for uncertain times ahead.