Book · The Pursuit of Truth
Satyanusaran
সত্যানুসরণसत्यानुसरण
The first book Sri Sri Thakur Anukulchandra wrote, in a single night in 1910, when he was 22. In short, plain sayings it shows how to live by truth: courage in place of weakness, honesty in thought and word, faith, love, and devotion to a living Ideal.
English edition, Satsang, Deoghar. PDF.
Summary
What the book is about
Satyanusaran means following the truth. It is a short book, yet it reads like a complete guide to the inner life: brief sayings, grouped by theme, that move from everyday character to faith, devotion and the nature of God.
Its starting point is practical. Before anything spiritual, Thakur asks the reader to fight weakness, because a weak mind cannot be sincere, cannot trust and cannot love. From there the book builds step by step: honesty between thought and word, repentance that changes behaviour, freedom from lust and greed, and an end to fault-finding and hypocrisy.
The second half turns to faith and devotion. Thakur describes dharma as whatever upholds existence, and says it is one, while the religions are many views of it. He places the living Master, the Ideal, at the centre of spiritual life and gives clear signs of a true Master and a true follower. The book closes with short definitions of ideas such as God, yoga, meditation, salvation, virtue and sin.
One measure runs through all of it: whatever expands the heart is good, and whatever makes it narrow is not.
Background
How the book came to be
In 1910 Atulchandra Bhattacharya, a devotee working as a station master at a river steamer station near Pabna, learned he was being transferred away from Thakur. Distressed at leaving, he begged Thakur to write down guidance he could keep with him.
That night Thakur filled a school notebook with these messages. The notebook was later forgotten among his things, until another devotee, Birendranath Roy, found it and had it printed in Calcutta as a small booklet. It has been treasured ever since as the foundation of Satsang life.
In 1950 Thakur's eldest son, Sree Sree Borda, translated it into English with the help of R. A. Hauserman. The translation was read aloud and compared with the Bengali in Thakur's presence before he approved it.
Breakdown
The book, section by section
In the order the themes appear in the book.
Opening words
The book begins by asking people to give up sectarian conflict, respect every past prophet, and hold to the living Master in whom they are all fulfilled.
Courage and sincerity
Weakness is named as the first enemy. Being sincere means letting thought and word agree. Failing is no shame, but not trying is. Repentance is real only when the mistake is not repeated.
Desire and grief
Thakur warns against attachment to lust and money, and suggests seeing every woman as one's own mother and staying absorbed in higher work and study. Grief comes from unmet desire, and it eases when we accept the will of the Supreme Father.
Hypocrisy and fault-finding
Pretending to be good mainly deceives oneself. Looking for faults in others plants those faults in us, so the habit to build is looking for good.
Dharma and knowledge
Dharma is one. Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist paths are views of it, not separate dharmas. Pride in what we know blocks learning, and a true Master can only be understood with humility.
Everyday conduct
A long run of balanced advice: be patient but not lazy, brave but not cruel, firm but not stubborn. It covers friendship, anger, revenge that works only by making the other repent, honest speech and selfless work. Work that expands the mind is good, and work that narrows it is not.
The disciple and the Master
How to follow a guide: carry out his wishes gladly, serve him with your own hands, hide nothing from him, and know the signs of a true Ideal and a true follower.
Giving, effort and success
Give humbly and expect nothing back. Do more than you say. Wealth does no harm as long as you stay humble and generous.
Faith, devotion and wisdom
Faith runs deeper than argument, and doubt should be weeded out early. Devotion is told apart from emotional display and from addiction, and wisdom grows in step with devotion. Two chains are traced: from ego to violence, and from devotion to love.
Leaders and preachers
A leader goes first and puts others before himself. The craving for name and fame blocks growth, and a real preacher speaks of his Ideal, never of himself.
Love and the Beloved
Love and lust are set side by side: love grows with obstacles while lust fades. The section also covers gratitude, surrender, and the idea that we receive only through doing.
Closing definitions
Short definitions of Brahma, God, the true Master, yoga, meditation, samadhi, salvation, pilgrimage, virtue, sin, the real, the finite and the infinite. The book ends with a call for peace.
Read the full book
Download Satyanusaran in English
The English edition published by Satsang, Deoghar, as a PDF. Printed copies are available at Satsang Vihars and from Satsang Publishing House, Deoghar.
Questions
About Satyanusaran
Who wrote Satyanusaran?
Sri Sri Thakur Anukulchandra wrote it himself in 1910, when he was 22, to guide a devotee who was being sent away from him.
What does Satyanusaran mean?
Satya means truth and anusaran means following. The English edition is titled The Pursuit of Truth.
What is Satyanusaran about?
How to live a life of truth: overcoming weakness, being sincere, giving up hypocrisy and fault-finding, and growing in faith, love and devotion to a living Ideal. It ends with short definitions of spiritual ideas.
In which languages can I read it?
It was written in Bengali. Translations are available in English, Hindi, Odia, Assamese, Telugu and other languages.
Is the summary on this page from the book?
No. The summary and breakdown are an editorial overview written for this site to help new readers. For Thakur's own words, read the book.
Where can I get a printed copy?
From Satsang Publishing House, Deoghar, or at your nearest Satsang Vihar. You can find one on the Global Map.
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