Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – October 23, 2015 – Mysore
Harihi Om Tatsat.
For us it is Ekadasi. The calendar varies in different places and as per different traditions, in making the calculations. In the USA they celebrate one day before, compared to us. In Mysore city, today they are celebrating the 10th day of Dasara with a huge procession, floats, and so on. The earth’s rotation and the sun’s movement decides the almanac calculations. Each must follow their own tradition.
We are each of us born as a part of a certain family to protect our dharma and to follow our culture. If you leave your own dharma, then you go against your dharma and you become a renegade, a dharma-bhrashta and a yoga-bhrashta.
At least up to 25 per cent you must follow your own dharma. If not, you forget. Try to follow 100 per cent if you can. That is the best. Otherwise, of what use is this human birth to you, if you merely eat, work, sleep, and multiply? It is the life of birds and beasts. Do not waste your precious human life. Only if you live like a human being by protecting and preserving your Dharma, only then, you would fulfill God’s specific purpose for your life. Some specific purpose is there for each and every individual’s life and it must be fulfilled.
You all have a special relationship with Swamiji. You feel a certain attraction to come here and to see him. You make repeated visits. You go home and then you would be recollecting the events that took place here. You enjoy listening to Bhajans of Swamiji or listening to his words or reading the lectures, messages, and speeches. That way you stay in touch, even when you are not physically present here. You use Yogasangeeta Livestream programs and videos, or Facebook pages related to Swamiji. It is because your mind yearns to maintain your association with Swamiji.
Family members are against your interests sometimes. They oppose your beliefs and actions. Tell them that you believe and your belief makes you happy. You enjoy a good, happy mind because of your relationship with Swamiji. You must keep strengthening it and increasing your faith. By that power, the enmity you have with others goes away. Ignore all the impediments which you face. Tactfully avoid your opponents without hurting them. Just tell them lightly, yes, you will leave Swamiji one day. But remain firm in your faith. Later they will also come to Swamiji, slowly, gradually.
Follow dharma. Any time one tries to follow the virtuous path, hurdles come. If you want to go for a sacred river bath or a puja, there will be problems faced. Face obstacles bravely. God and Yama, the god of Death help sinners by making their path smooth, so that they can be killed faster. Do good deeds.
We have all come here now. Selfish or unselfish. Out of curiosity or internally inspired. Inexplicable reason perhaps. Regardless, utilize this opportunity. Whatever be your reason for coming to Swamiji, use your time to do good deeds. Listen to Vedas or witness puja. Be happy with your good yoga/fortune. We all have God-given duties. Never neglect those. No one wants to rebel but we neglect to follow small rules and we get into major problems. Only those who neglect small things will grow into big rebels. Begin small if at all you begin something. Then grow big slowly. If you are ambitious and start out big, you will lose.
Swamiji told a couple very casually, devotees settled in a foreign country, to sell dosas. They had lost their jobs. They lost all their assets. Their qualification was different. They were trained to be big bosses. They followed Swamiji’s idea. Jai Swamiji, they chanted and poured the first dosa on the pan. They had no clue how to make dosas. They only knew how to eat them. The first dosa was a flop. The next one attracted a neighbor with its sound, smell, and taste. Attractive, the French neighbor said, and encouraged them. So when she insisted, they allowed her to eat it. She praised and asked for a second one. She offered to pay for the dosas. They took the money. It was a business after all. Again they made, and sold more. The French lady spread the news. They took permission to sell dosas at a school. Okay, the principal said, who did not know the product they were going to sell. They began. Great success. Took a four-wheel mobile kitchen. More success. Made it more modern. Very clean. Great demand. Movie stars began placing orders for their dosas.
Too much business, but they handled it by themselves. If they hired staff, then they would have to pay them. They bought huge vessels. Earned two crores. Invited Swamiji to New Zealand. In palatial hotels they hosted Swamiji and took him places only by helicopters. They insisted. He is our God. We have to do this, they were adamant, against protests from Prasadi. Devotees from some neighboring countries offered them financial Help. The lady suffered bad health for some time. Still made dosas. Served Swamiji, the same way they served the others. Obstinate devotion.
For Swamiji, it is required. I wear a dot on my forehead. My will. Wear vibhuti or a small dot or angaar even if you are a widow. Keep that area on the forehead covered. It is essential to preserve spiritual energy. Small festivals you should follow. Worship God. Datta devotees follow.
In Delhi, one poor guy, Hindi speaking man, came to Swamiji. Swamiji made him a Kubera/wealthy man. He left those who ridiculed him, when he began a small shop. Old bottles, papers, shoes, and used clothes he sold. Swamiji named his shop Kubero. He made good profit. Switched to selling new products. Made more money. Swamiji once auctioned an ashram souvenir. The man bought it for 2 Lakhs. The shop man. Other wealthy people in the audience were put to shame. They could afford, but did not come forward. He gives free bags for our children.
Another man selling crunchy snacks, has built a house with Swamiji’s blessings.
Yesterday a devotee came. He was once a pauper who wanted to kill himself. As a last resort he came to Swamiji. He bought for thousand rupees one Homa ticket. Swamiji told him to go away. That was his blessing. He became rich. He came yesterday, and gave one lakh rupees for Annadana/free feeding of the hungry.
A vegetable vendor from Karimnagar came and gave one lakh rupees for birds. He took life membership in Shuka Vana. This was yesterday’s incident. Oh, he is here today. There he is. This is a daily occurrence. Swamiji does not often mention these things.
This is to prove the importance of belief. Faith.
A Chennai devotee, who was an officer in the past, was in financial trouble. He came to Swamiji. Swamiji told him to go sell brooms. No mantra. No other answer. He went home puzzled. Some order came at home for two hundred brooms. Plastic brooms. He sent. Made good profit. Gave three lakhs. Swamiji said give it to the Trust. Get a receipt. Or else, place it in the Hundi. The man has no faith in Homa or Puja. But has faith in Swamiji. He offered to donate brooms for use in Shuka Vana. He has no faith in God. He told Swamiji, you pray to different gods if you like. I pray to you. You are my God.
Sometimes Swamiji shows irritation. He tells people to get lost. Those words are a powerful blessing. All poverty goes away from such devotees. Many old devotees wantonly used to try to irritate Swamiji to get scolded for good luck. Swamiji would refuse. In one cinema, they showed such a guru whose scolding was always a blessing.
Eat lunch. Eat a light snack for dinner because today it is Ekadasi.
Santi homa was performed today. Many have taken part in it. I am happy.
Sgs birds.com has posted on YouTube the Top ten video.
View and share the link with everyone you know. Do not be bashful. If they click on the link, they will know. It is only about birds. Not gods. Send to all. Let us get a number of views. It will help to build an awareness about endangered birds and how Shuka Vana is helping to preserve them.
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri