Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – August 28, 2011 – London
Jaya Guru Datta
We seemed to have missed the initial part of the discourse. Or it wasn’t broadcast live.
“Finally, “Uddhava, you are my devotee, you are my relation, you are my disciple, you are my friend. Such questions you are asking. I am very happy. This coming yuga, kaliyuga, there is maya, illusion in that”. So, it is a very, very, very, very tough yuga. It is very tough to understand about God, about Guru, about spirituality, in any dharma. Whether it is Christianity or Islam, or Buddhism, or Jainism, it doesn’t matter. It is very difficult to understand – because you have no concentration. That is the big problem. In your concentration, you have 5 minutes only, 2 minutes only, then finished. We are hungry, sleepy, you are a little bit tired from sitting for too long, 3 hours or 4 hours because we are used to using some sofas, and some facilities, looking at TV in before sleeping. So, we can’t sit in Padmasana in front of the Guru. That is why in the beginning so many people are asking, “Why is Swamiji not taking yoga classes, Vedanta classes?” I said, “If you have any problem in your knees, in your legs, then, I will permit you to sit (without Padmasana). But if you have no problem sitting in Padmasana, then I will teach Vedanta classes. Otherwise, I don’t want to give Vedanta classes. Because this Padmasana moves energy from Mooladhara (energy center or chakra at the base of the spine) to Sahasrara (crown chakra in the head), it moves energy. In each class, in each section, Swamiji is giving electricity to Mooladhara to go through to Sahasrara.
Better to sit (in Padmasana) because this foot is like our body. I’ve seen (in the foot) the body, the eye and the neck. That is why I am asking all the time, people, please keep your feet clean. Everyday please do two times. How you are going to brush your teeth, like that you can brush your feet. It is necessary. Without washing feet, don’t go to sleep. Because this energy is coming here (pointing to other parts of the body), from this head, some to the neck, some to the stomach.
So the same way (just like in the feet), our body is also represented in the hands. In our hand also the entire body is represented. That is why you must wash your hands. You must wash your hands, once in three hours or if you take a bath, if you take any food, you must wash. Doesn’t matter if people are thinking it is very bad – why they giving shake hand and then you wash your hands, no problem. That is the way it is in our system, to first wash and then eat. There it was in our system, Hindu system, that you must wash feet, you must wash face, you must wash your hands, you must sit on the ground and eat. Yoga. It is all yoga. Complete system is Vedanta yoga. “We can’t believe. What is this?” No. “What is this? Orthodox! Not good! What is this?” We want this system. I will follow this. No problem. I don’t give any problems outside; I don’t give any problem in your house. I don’t give any problems in the market. I will follow a little bit in my own house. I want to clean my hands. You must clean hands. Daily two times clean your mouth. Then Pranayama will go really nicely. Otherwise, Pranayama – breathing exercise will not be good. You have a block. Some people are not cleaning the nose properly. That is why sinus problems, headache problems occur. So, to lukewarm water, add a small amount of salt daily to wash (your nose). Morning and then before going to bed you wash and then do your Pranayama, then your mind is very clean. You get good sleep. Suddenly we are going to sleep, with no wash. It is not a good practice. When you get hungry, you are eating so much food, food, food, food, food, food, and finish. It is not garbage that you should put in your body. Some people are only maintaining the body. Otherwise, you can’t live, that’s why you eat. Only occasional eating. You want to eat and maintain the Prana (life energy). Because you are taking a class, you are taking a good session, that is why there is an exemption. If you have any problem, then there is an exemption. If you have any classes with Sadguru, in front of (Sadguru), that is also an excuse, an exemption. When you are traveling also, there is an exemption.
But, ordinarily you must follow certain rules and regulations because we need good health and we need good meditation in the body and in the mind. “It is not an easy task. So many people say it is a tough task”. No, it is very easy. Vedanta is very easy. Like Vedanta, like flowers, see, this flower, you can pick only one, like this, see, like Vedanta, like this. [Swamiji picks some flowers]. See not good, it’s coming only half, half.
You have seen grass. If you go pick grass, it is not easy. If you go very gently, one point, you pull, then very easy. Then you can eat it, it is sweet, that is Vedanta.
If you want you test, then you will understand. Vedanta is very nice, very gentle. But, it is not coming for two days, for 1 week or for 15 days, may be until you die also You have to practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, sadhana (practice), sadhana, again again again, karma, again go. Arjuna again and again asks, “I can’t understand Prabhu!” (Krishnasays to Arjuna) Again, again, again, mathana, mathana, mathana, mathana, mathana, mathana, mathana, mathana. Sravana, manana mathana. Pathana (reading), sravana (hearing), manana (reflecting), mathana (analyzing), then you will understand with Guru’s grace.
Today is Vinakaya Puja, it is not easy. That is not a toy puja. You look at a toy. Ganapathy is there. Somebody says Om Namaha, Om Namaha, Om Namaha, Om Namaha and use so many different kinds of flowers, different kinds of grass, Om Namaha, Om Namaha, Om Namaha. And also modaka (sweet dumpling offered to Lord Ganesha). “What is this?” This is atman (soul). Modaka is like atman. Each mantra, each is different, different kumkuma (vermilion), pasupu (turmeric), like that, turmeric powder, rice, yellow rice, different mantra, different bodies, that is. The mantra, if you go to mantra’s meaning, then you understand what is puja. Otherwise, you can’t understand. Non-believers can’t understand. (for non-believers it is like a toy play). Go through puja.
So, continue. So many obstacles, so many problems are coming, doesn’t matter. You swim! Swim! Have a good swim. “No Prabhu (Lord), no energy” It is not finished, until your last breath. Swim. Swim. Swim. Don’t worry. Don’t look for sharks. Go ahead. You swim. That’s what Vedanta says. You win. Then definitely you win. “How can I win?”
There’s one story given as an example by Sri Krishna to Arjuna:
Arjuna, once upon a time, one devotee, a Shakti devotee, a Mother Goddess devotee, he did penance and he called. Mother came. “What do you want?” I am a fighter, a soldier. “Okay, what do you want?” When I want to fight, then you come and give some energy. “Okay, definitely when you call, I’ll come”. Battlecame, this soldier he wants to fight enemies. He’s afraid of the enemies”. Same story aboutKrishnaand Arjuna. But, Arjuna is a clever boy. And, this devotee is not a clever boy. Krishnasays Arjuna, listen to what happened. Anyway, she (Mother Goddess) came, she appeared, “Oh my boy, what do you want?” I am afraid, I am afraid. “Why?” I can’t fight, so many, there are different kinds of horses, different kinds of oh, so many! I don’t want this battle, no, no, no, very tough! “Don’t worry, take sword, go ahead, fight! I will give strength. I will sit in your hand, definitely you will win”. No, Mother, oh oh oh oh, I can’t, I can’t take sword. “Okay, do one thing. If you want protection, you want to have (protection) in your life?” Yes, Amma (mother). “Okay, you run away, I will give energy to your legs. Believe me”. Oh Mother, I can’t run. Oh oh oh oh I can’t run. “Okay don’t. You go and sit inside one bush, I’ll hide you”. Oh mother, I can’t, I can’t sit. “Go and die!”
But, in this matter,Krishna’s matter, Arjuna didn’t say that. Arjuna would become a king. It is a responsibility, okay. So, why the Mother is not giving energy again like Bhagavata? It is not Bhagavata. It is like a Hindi saying “bhaag katha” (“bhaag”=run; “katha”=story). Okay, Jaya Guru Datta! Now, I get very hungry. I am very happy for your enthusiasm, and also your interest about concert (Raga Sagara concert at Royal Albert Hall, London on Sep 22, 2012), support. These people are worried, “How can maintain, how can maintain, how can maintain?” I said to Deve Gowda don’t worry, Swamiji’s coming, Ganapathy from Mysore to Switzerland, Thailand.”
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Archana Penukonda