Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Guru Purnima message – morning – July 31, 2015 – Frisco, TX USA
As Sri Adi Sankara has said, he who has no focus on Guru’s feet leads a worthless life. No matter what he may possess, wealth, knowledge, strength, fame, lineage, and exceptional beauty. If the mind is not fixed on Guru’s feet they are all of no use.
guroranghri padme manaschenna lagnam|
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim ||
You must concentrate on Guru’s feet with faith and devotion. Otherwise this human birth is of no use. How long? 90-100 years. After that what happens? Hurry up and concentrate now, to obtain spiritual knowledge. It is not fashionable to say you have no faith in Guru or God. Okay, if you feel so. Thank you. But the loss is not for anyone else. God is everywhere. He has nothing missing. You are the loser. It is your loss, not Sadguru’s. He doesn’t lose anything if you do not believe in Him. For Him, you are like a small insect. He thinks you insects who do not follow Guru are foolish, like monkeys. You may think you are a great scientist. Who benefits by your actions and practice? Someday, it is unavoidable for you to have to pray to the invisible God. It will be your only worthy ornament. Otherwise they are nothing, your 4 Ph.Ds or five academic degrees.
Only if you share your funds and your knowledge, your life becomes fulfilled. Give to others whatever knowledge you possess. Then it becomes more powerful. Your millions of money you should give to the needy persons. Only then it gives value to your money and only if you share your jnana/knowledge, it earns any merit. Otherwise your wealth and your expertise have no value. If there is strength and good health in your body, use those to help others by doing volunteer work. Energy you expend to help others is real puja. Exchange your good things with needy persons. Good words and knowledge you must share with others. Give to the poor. The strength you have, you must use as good exercise to do service to others. How much health and bliss you get by doing so, is indescribable. In your own house also you must work. Clean your house. Clean your mind. So many people say Swamiji used to appear in their dreams before. But these days Swamiji does not come into their dreams any more. They ask that Swamiji should come into their dreams often. You stopped coming now, they say. You always did before.
Yes. Before, you were clean. Now your mind, intellect, and house are not clean. Something dirty is there always. I do not want to enter. I come. I return. I turn and go away because always your mind is unsteady. It is full of doubts, discontent, and dissatisfaction. It is fickle and wavering. Always crying. Sorrow. Fear. Dirty. Confusions before going to bed daily. Some people are always crying. It is not good to be crying always. You will get a headache. It will spoil your health. Swamiji comes. He sees the contamination, the pollution in the form of greed, anger, upset feelings, calculations, upset about job, money, house, or relatives. Daily you think only of yourself. Dirty. How can I enter? Your sofas are always busy. Occupied. Where will Swamiji sit if He comes in? It is Swamiji’s house. But you keep it all so dirty. The kitchen is very dirty, filled with dirty dishes. Some people want to touch Swamiji. No, Swamiji says. Properly wash yourselves first. And then only you may touch. The mind should be like a flower. Buddhi/intellect should be like a fruit. The body is a leaf to offer to God or Guru. Tears of joy are the water to offer.
If Swamiji finds you always crying, He automatically deletes you from His list. You must develop courage. Follow the master. Face the devil. Fight till the end. Finish the game. In this lifetime itself you must end this game.
Be satisfied. Take things easy. Do not make mountains out of molehills. Do not exaggerate your problems. Do not only dwell on your losses. Treat your losses as just bad dreams. Let them go. From now onwards decide on how to conduct yourself in your life, in thinking and in behavior. Is there any profit in indulging in depression and anxiety? No benefit at all. You lose your health. There is no benefit at all in feeling despair and dejection. Get things right in your attitude. Fix up your life properly, to earn Hanuman’s grace. It is very simple. A child you worry about. What is the use? You must give courage to your child. Up to a certain level you should take care of your children. They remain as children only up to a point. After that, they must have their own experiences. Life is meant to be like that. I agree that your affection is good. But do not extend it 24 hours. After you are gone the children will take care of themselves. Begin now to give them a chance to lead their own lives. How to keep balance in life, you may ask Guru. Think of yourself also, and work on your spiritual progress. It is a personal secret. Guru alone witnesses your karma. Ask only guru. In happiness you must worship Guru more. I am happy and I wish to share my happiness with Guru. When in sorrow ask Guru only for strength to bear the burden.
Guru Purnima’s power and glory are immense. Swamiji had recorded Guru Gita discourses for television broadcasting. One series is over. Now upon demand by the viewers they are repeating the telecast. Watch the episodes. Listen. Unique explanations have been given by Swamiji. Also they are available on YouTube. Without fail watch daily for half an hour. ETV could have removed the recordings from Youtube. But they have kept the episodes on YouTube.
Now the Bhagavatam episodes will begin telecasting for three years. They will begin soon. The narration by Swamiji is very powerful. It is a very tough subject. But an easy explanation has been given by Swamiji. Still, three times you have to listen to understand the full meaning.
All the names of all the people in the story of Bhagavatam you must know, to fully grasp the meaning, it is said. There is a deep explanation about the Creation of this Universe. More recording is pending for the television series.
Guru Gita you should listen to. Enough to listen. But listen repeatedly. No need to read. Listen more. It is better. Only five percent you will absorb with each listening. Again and again you must listen. You must learn how to listen.
We are all very lucky. In Hanuman’s sannidhi/presence we are celebrating this Guru Purnima. Hanuman traveled faster than Light to learn Guru Tatva/principle from the Sun, who was Hanuman’s Guru. He could travel at the speed of light. He is the best disciple of any Guru. No one else can reach his level. Hanuman is also the greatest devotee. Strong. Subtle. Best in Guru Seva and Prabhu Seva (serving Lord Rama). First and the most prominent devotee of the Lord after Sage Narada.
This afternoon at 3:30 the austerity/Vrata begins. With determination you must stay awake and complete the 24 hour non-stop chanting of Hanuman Chalisa. Eat less. Otherwise you will feel sleepy. You must rest for one hour at least before you come. Generally only on fasting days people tend to eat more. They give up regular meals but stuff themselves on snacks. It is a psychological weakness. Do not burden your stomach.
Since 20-30 years Swamiji has a weaver devotee from Hindupur near Mysuru. His son was on his deathbed. His devotion was so great that the son’s life was saved. He made all the citizens of the town into devotees of Swamiji. He publicized his faith so much. He is a Government award winner for his skill at weaving on handloom. He does the work himself at home. He gave a specially woven saree for Swamiji to wear on Guru Purnima. It took four people six months to weave this specially designed saree. For some reason Swamiji doesn’t want to wear it.
Swamiji wanted to give something for the Raga Sagara project for developing the App ji program for SGS Posts. Swamiji is very stubborn. He hopes that out of a thousand recipients of His inspirational messages, at least ten may benefit. Any number of lifetimes it may take them. They must eventually reach the holy feet of Hanuman or Siva. An award was given to this weaver for weaving this saree also. The highest bidder gets the saree. Sandalwood pieces and fragrance have been added to the saree. It is very fragrant. Swamiji has touched it and draped it over His shoulder. A large colorful golden peacock design has been woven wonderfully into it. It is very heavy and grand. Women of course feel no weight in wearing a gorgeous saree. Nine precious gems have also been woven into it. Inside, unknown to many devotees, many sarees were bought by some devotees before they were displayed to the public. Only this one saree was left. 3500 dollars was the first bid. Bid higher to give to a bride or for an elderly woman to wear.
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri