Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – January 3, 2016 – Mysore
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
It is a mistake. We have a medicine available right within us, a preventive medicine. I feel that I have also been negligent in this aspect. I feel as if even the Yoga that I am practicing is not sufficient. It is not enough for my own good health. I feel that I am also being negligent, because my disciples are negligent. That is what I have found out. Because Guru is at fault, the disciples are also at fault.
Now Datta Kriya Yoga and Hatha Yoga classes are being given. But our children or the Veda children are not showing any interest. For a week now the training session has been going on. Some begin and quit soon afterwards complaining of joint pains. The purpose of these exercises is to help you to remain free from aches and pains. At least you must do Pranayama.
Small, simple exercises are being taught by masters who are now specially trained by Swamiji. Where are the teachers? You must also listen to this. Don’t go away for breakfast. This is a warning bell I am ringing for all Datta devotees. Here, many outsiders are coming to learn. They are struggling to practice. The exercises taught here are very easy for practice by everyone. They will relieve you of neck and shoulder pains, back pain, and big belly. Along with Pranayama if you do these exercises, health will be maintained. It is not a guarantee of perfect health lifelong. But we have to take precautions to ward off illnesses. In just doing Surya Namaskara, many limbs get activated. In the Mysuru Ashrama a lady teacher, Subhadramma is teaching the ladies every evening. Instead of going to Yoga classes at least on weekends, right after puja, the ashrama residents go eat a full breakfast and go home to sleep or rest. Then they come back for Bhajans. Otherwise Swamiji will scold them. They simply sit all the time. No walking exercise at all. The senior devotees, most of whom having lived a full, long life have now departed, they used to walk all around the ashram daily, like a Pradakshina, praying for Swamiji’s wellbeing. It was an excellent exercise for them. That itself is Yoga. These days, I see no one doing Pradakshina. They give excuses that there are barricades here and there. You can freely walk around the Datta Venkateswara Temple, or the Nada Mantapa. There are no restrictions there whatsoever.
You can go register in the Yoga class and learn and practice Pranayama daily. Doing Pradakshina is also a Yoga exercise. All those who do this is a Yoga student. All the joints will move freely. I will give a special interview to those who will begin doing Pradakshina starting today. You make a commitment and fill up a form giving your personal details.
Yoga is very important. In all future times, it will be helpful for you. You are wasting your time. It is not good. Hours together you are simply sitting and talking, or sleeping. At all ages during the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, you will find that Swamiji was doing a lot of walking doing Pradakshina. Go and look at the old photographs. This is a small technique that you all must follow. This yoga technique. Then you will be very healthy. Adjust your timings. Early morning classes should be held at least for the ashrama residents. Everyone must get trained and get a certificate. Before Sivaratri we will have a teachers Conference. After that small villages also will be visited for giving training in Yoga. In your own town training will be given. So many devotees ask how they may serve Swamiji. Just giving money is not enough. Giving thousands of rupees or even one lakh is not real seva/service. Getting trained and teaching others is real Seva. Krishna told Arjuna at the end. You must take care of yourself. This is an alert alarm. If you have excess of money, you are free to visit hospitals for treatments by neglecting your health. You will get unknown diseases also. That is your Karma. You earn it yourself. You get up half asleep and fall down. That is your own fault. You overeat. You get a stomach ache and take medicines.
You make a list of what bad karma is your own doing and what bad karma you have inherited from your past lives, i.e. what you have been born with. You add up the marks. What is your own deliberate doing now in this lifetime will certainly be more, believe me. You keep talking nonsensical talk with the wrong people. If you drive on the wrong side of the road and get into an accident, it is entirely your fault. If you are safely on the sidewalk and still someone runs over you, then it is God’s doing. You must concentrate on all your actions. You make a list, tally it up and show it to me.
Sri Guru Datta