Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – December 23, 2011 – Dallas TX USA
Harihi OmTatsat
Sri Ganeshaya Namaha, Sri Saraswatyai Namaha, Sripada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswathi Sriguru Dattatreyaya Namaha.
Jaya Guru Datta
Om Namo Hanumate Namaha
We should utilize the festive occasions for doing useful activities. Whenever we find free time, we should make use of the time to do good activities. Those that waste time are unlucky.
Time is very important. “What is the most important thing in life ?” asks Yaksha (celestial) Dharmaraja. “In human life Time is the most valuable asset”, answers Dharmaraja. Hence, The phrase “time pass” itself is bad.
There is a story in Mahabharata of a great yogi that does great penance and Mahavishnu appears before him. Yogi asks Vishnu that he needs another birth to study Vedanta. Vishnu gives 200 years longevity to him in that life itself. After spending the whole time, Yogi asks another 200. Vishnu keeps prolonging his life for 100 years at a time several times upon the Yogi’s request. The yogi keeps practicing Yoga for the whole time. Vishnu keeps on suggesting that the Yogi return to Vaikuntha (Vishnu’s abode). Yogi asks, “is there a chance to practice Vedanta there?” Finally, Brahma asks the Yogi, “When will you get satisfied?” Yogi says, What ever made you satisfied, I want that. Since real satisfaction comes only by attaining God, without asking his real desire, he expresses the desire to be one with God Himself.
There is no end to the practice of Vedanta.
Don’t ask “Is there a guarantee that I get salvation by chanting Guru Mantra for one birth, two births etc ?” Real Guru never gives guarantee. It is not that easy to get salvation. There is no harm in desiring for salvation. But too much expectation that you will attain salvation by just chanting or practicing for one year or 10 years or even a birth or two – is not good.
When all wishes are gone including the desire to do penance or learn Vedanta, then only one can attain salvation.
You can not become one with God. God can how ever become one with you. So the correct question to ask is “Swami! you stay in me”. Not the other way around.
Karma can only be removed by experiencing it. When you are experiencing pain, all your concentration is on your senses, not on God or not even on your family. You think you are your body. You should heal yourself. Then only pain will go away. No one else can pacify you. Our attention is always going towards our body. Hunger, Sleep, lust, greed – you are practicing all bad habits that support these. True knowledge is not coming because of these obstacles. Ramana Maharshi said always “this body is not mine”. When he got cancer he did not try to get help. He just said “this is not my body” and never felt pain. When you think this body is yours, you will experience the pain associated with it.
Poor people living in extreme weather conditions without climate control in their houses, are still living fine. Their body adjusts automatically. That way, poor man is the real Yogi. His body has increased resistance. Similarly, birds and animals in their natural habitat can survive very well in the wild, whereas domesticated animals cannot survive in the wild. We depend on the creature comforts too much. We must become independent.
We experience sorrow only because of our desires.
Try to analyze this…..Jaya Guru Datta
OMNAMO HANUMATHE NAMAHA
Courtesy :Chandrasekhar