dear arvind veer u raised a very valid question, i m trying to reach the problem as what SGGS has to say,
the following are few quotes which are self explanantory
ibnu sMgiq swD n DRwpIAw ibnu nwvY dUK sMqwpu ]
bin sa(n)gath saadhh n dhhraapeeaa bin naavai dhookh sa(n)thaap ||
still, without the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, he will not feel satisfied. Without the Name, all suffer in sorrow.
kir sMgiq qU swD kI ATsiT qIrQ nwau ]
kar sa(n)gath thoo saadhh kee at(h)asat(h) theerathh naao ||
Let the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, be your cleansing baths at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage.
swD kY sMig pwrbRhmu pCwxw ]2]
saadhh kai sa(n)g paarabreham pashhaanaa ||2||
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, the Supreme Lord God is recognized. ||2||
duqru qry swD kY sMig ]3]
dhuthar tharae saadhh kai sa(n)g ||3||
I have crossed over the treacherous world-ocean in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ||3||
nwm rwis swD sMig KwtI ]
naam raas saadhh sa(n)g khaattee ||
In the Saadh Sangat, I have earned the wealth of the Naam.
swD kY sMig iklibK sB Doey ]3]
saadhh kai sa(n)g kilabikh sabh dhhoeae ||3||
in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, all sinful mistakes are washed away. ||3||
qhw sMgiq swD gux rsY ]
thehaa sa(n)gath saadhh gun rasai ||
There, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, the Lord's Glorious Praises are sung with love.
imlu swDsMgiq Bju kyvl nwm ]1]
mil saadhhasa(n)gath bhaj kaeval naam ||1||
Join the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; vibrate and meditate on the Jewel of the Naam. ||1||
swDsMgiq kau vwirAw jIau kIAw kurbwxu ]
saadhhasa(n)gath ko vaariaa jeeo keeaa kurabaan ||
I am devoted to the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; I sacrifice my soul to them.
swDsMgiq hoie inrmlw ktIAY jm kI Pws ]
saadhhasa(n)gath hoe niramalaa katteeai jam kee faas ||
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you shall become absolutely pure, and the noose of death shall be cut away.
swDsMgiq isau sMgu n kIAw bhu jonI duKu pwvY ]
saadhhasa(n)gath sio sa(n)g n keeaa bahu jonee dhukh paavai ||
He does not join the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, and he suffers in terrible pain through countless incarnations.
imil sMgiq min nwmu vsweI ]
mil sa(n)gath man naam vasaaee ||
Joining the Sangat, the Holy Congregation, the Name comes to dwell in the mind.
swDsMgiq ibnu qirE n koie ]
saadhhasa(n)gath bin thariou n koe ||
that without the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, no one swims across
eyku bolu BI Kvqo nwhI swDsMgiq sIqleI ]3]
eaek bol bhee khavatho naahee saadhhasa(n)gath seethalee ||3||
I could not bear even one criticism, but now, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, I am cooled and soothed. ||3||
ijs no Awpy rMgy su rpsI sqsMgiq imlwie ]
jis no aapae ra(n)gae s rapasee sathasa(n)gath milaae ||
Only those whom the Lord imbues, are so imbued; they join the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation.
and million others ......and lots of vaars by Bhai gurdas ji are filled with the benefits and why the saad sangat is important.
swD sMgiq Bau Bwau sihj bYrwg hY]
saadhh sa(n)gath bho bhaao sehij bairaag hai||.
Fear (of God) and love (for mankind) being diffused in the holy congregation the sense of non-attachment always prevails.
swD sMgiq gur isK iml Awsw ivc inrws jmwey]
saadhh sa(n)gath gur sikh mil aasaa vich niraas jamaaeae||
The Sikh of the Guru, being in the holy congregation, while living in joys remains indifferent to desires.
swD sMgiq gur Sbd ivx lK cOrwsI jon BvwvY]
saadhh sa(n)gath gur shabadh vin lakh chaaraasee jon bhavaavai||
Without holy congregation and bereft of Guru-word he transmigrates into infinite species of life.
so what i feel at this stage that a sikh needs the sadh sangat..and its very important part of a sikhs life..i m not saying that meditation alone is of no use but sadh sangat can create wonders in a sikh's journey of the love for guru and search of truth
regards
bhul chuk maaf
etinder