Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji during Birthday Celebrations – May 28, 2016 – Mysore
Speech in the morning
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
Like the showering of the loud jaikaras/the victory slogans, it will be nice if it rains also as vigorously.
Rains are intermittent and hesitant. Today’s gathering is the yearly event of all the Gnana Bodha Sabhas getting together. We discuss today our relative spiritual progress. It is not politics. Our kingdom, our leader, and our level of bliss are all different, separate, and unique. They cannot be grasped by others. It is not controlled by politics.
Jaya Jaya gnana Bodha Sabha theme song is the first prayer. Nitya prarthana/Universal daily prayer chant we have. It is the second prayer. The benedictory bhajan, Santirastu tushtirastu, which describes the reward gained by pursuing and acquiring spiritual knowledge is the third prayer. All these three spell out the mission and purpose of Datta Peetham. Read these three repeatedly and understand clearly the meaning. Then there is no need to ask others about our mission, our goal, and our pursuit. Swamiji’s ideas are very specifically and clearly stated in these. Learn these. Try to grasp and absorb them.
Many centers are there. Yearly visits of Swamiji some receive. Rare visits some receive. All kinds of centers are there. Do not lose your chance of being blessed by Swamiji’s physical presence. Kabir invited his wife to go to Vaikuntha with him. She lost her chance by hesitating and looking at other priorities. Do not make that mistake by hesitation and delays. Some plans never were carried out, despite having blueprints and funds readily available. Hence, Swamiji’s visit was missed. In every town only a few families have sacrificed to establish the center firmly by acting boldly with commitment. They gave word. They were determined to fulfill the promise. They believed, “I must fulfill Swamiji’s wish. He is not physical. The divinity in Him is happy if His wish is carried out.”Some ashramas which once were very active and lively, are now like haunted homes, in a dilapidated condition. At least now, revive the deteriorating ashrams without jealousies, conflicts, and complaints amongst the trustees. If you do so, the ashrama will thrive and Swamiji will be happy. People keep complaining about members who do not participate or cooperate. They say that so and so has no devotion. We should not speak like that about others. Who will set them right? Only Swamiji has to do it. You do not know the background of each individual, what his or her past life merit is, to make a proper judgment. Everyone needs to be given a chance to get close and to get involved. All are included. Each individual has flaws. Each has a relationship with Guru. We must give everyone a chance. Not every person descends to earth with a noble nature with Satva Guna. If all were perfect, they would not be here. Because of some defect, people seek Guru and come to Him. That is how all of you have come here. Do not lose this relationship. It is so easy to break a relationship. It is very hard to build one. You must preserve the bond with Guru. Even if I am not physically present, after ten or twenty years you will remember these words of Swamiji. You will then regret that you did not follow His advice and fulfill your commitment. In Kadapa, for instance, people competed to build the Guru Nilayam and got stuck in conflicts. Four years ago it should have been completed. But the inauguration got delayed because of inner fighting. Had it been completed in a timely manner, Swamiji would have visited three times by now, and slept in the new Guru Nilayam. It helps many people if you develop the ashram. Tirupati, Kalahasti, Kasi. All are working together and progressing rapidly. Badari. Haridwar also, the Eluru devotees helped. Our own ashrams we must develop and preserve. When Swamiji visits the town, the event will be fruitful and at least a few new devotees will come to Swamiji. Our Hindu dharma we must protect. Our true sacrifice will earn us rewards. Swamiji is now our contemporary, and if we serve Him now, our life becomes fulfilled. While Shirdi Saibaba lived, many people did not recognize His divinity and failed to worship Him. Now they offer worship to His photograph. Many elders who were his contemporaries, lost their chance of offering direct worship. Later you worship only photos. Same thing is true of Shankara Bhagavatpada (Adi Sankara). Worship Swamiji while He is living.
All of you, who are serving Him now are truly blessed. If you construct a vehicle with bad seats and bad wheels, it will not be road-ready. It should also run well and be road worthy. So prepare the proper vehicle so that Swamiji can take it on His spiritual journey. If you hastily build something inferior, it is useless. Many times Swamiji suggests to you to think of Him as your daughter or son, treat Him as your firstborn. Plan for His future, for His education, for the wedding. Keep gifts for Him as for a family member. The ashram is also like a family member, a precious possession. Keep it in good repair. Do not resort to last minute preparations after Swamiji has commenced His travel to come to your place. If you neglect maintenance, there will be cockroaches, mice, improper drainage, and faulty electrical wiring. It will be unclean and unsafe. Maintain ahead of time. Otherwise, Swamiji will scold you noticing the bad preparation. What is the use then? You do not commence preparations after His travel commences. You should be ready ahead of time. Is it like building a temporary stage or a tent for a film shooting? No. Not like that. You build a temporary palace for Swamiji’s visit and then dismantle everything after He leaves? You are doing this. It is not nice. Again there will be repairs. Even big houses you build with inferior quality. Things fall apart quickly. Spend generously. Feed your guest properly when he arrives. Guest will not return tomorrow to eat your treats. Don’t promise Swamiji that next time you will do better. Drainage is not working. Not nice. Light is not on. No breeze. It is not good. Swamiji comes and removes the sorrows of people when He visits. You get the credit for arranging His visit. He keeps nothing for Himself. He showers His blessing upon all those who have helped to arrange His visit. Through Guru’s grace you gain strength and power. You cannot earn these on your own.
Bala Swamiji has said the same thing. I am only presenting it in a different way, giving it a personal touch. We are both saying the same thing. All of you, at least once a week you must attend programs at the ashram. Invest in a good trained priest. Treat your priest well. You complain that he does not chant the mantras properly. To hire a well-trained priest, it costs more money. Salaries are now high because expenses are high. Treat priests with courtesy. Do not have very high expectations. They will have their families and their health problems. Be understanding. Don’t be too authoritative. Priests are all not like Swamiji. Not all priests attend the Mysuru Veda Patasala. You lose the priest and complain you have no Archaka to offer the ritual services. It is not at all nice to complain like that. I tell devotees. You do the worship yourself. If priest is not available, hire a retired officer. Social works you are doing very well. You are doing the new revolutionary project of Hanuman Chalisa chanting with enthusiasm. It is very good. My family members, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, please maintain your ashrams properly. While I am alive, make me happy with your dedicated attention and receive my blessings for you and your families. I bless your future generation also with good education, health, and prosperity. Sitting in Vaikuntha, I will then continue to bless you. Take care of this fruit given to you by Swamiji, in the form of the ashram in your town. Preserve and protect it well.
I am speaking much now. After 75 years, I will mostly observe silence. I will not travel much. I have done a lot for fifty years. I cannot do much more now. I have already done a lot. I will remain for 700 years here in this ashram. My presence on earth will continue. I will remain on the banks of the Kaveri river. I will be roaming about here. I will converse with you. I have no permission to reveal the information about my future births. Now my physical presence you enjoy and appreciate. Ashramas have been gifted to you. Please maintain them without complaints. Let everyone do their bit. Perform the archanas and other services as per your capacity. Do not speak ill of each other. Spend a small amount to fix up things. After all you are doing this for me, out of love. Do not be negligent or indifferent. Do not drag me down to the human level. Do not treat me like a human being. I will not go down to your level. I may appear to be like you. But it is only an act. My status is different. My level of bliss is different. My divinity is different, and no one can understand me, including Brahma. It is only an illusion that I appear human, as a man or woman or even as half man and half woman. I am none of those. I only create the delusion in you, making you feel that you understand me. All of what I do is only action. I came for a purpose. I act as if I hurt here or there or my eyes are not okay. I pretend that my voice is not okay. It is all a drama. I am free to act as I please. I behave like a human being, although I am not one. Remember this. I am in control of my death, like Bhishma. I have that boon from Brahma. I can leave at my pleasure. Because you are fortunate, I have given you my friendship. I treat you as if you are all my family members. I love you only at the physical level as my brothers and sisters. At the soul level it is all different. No one has any relationship with another.
All members, please get involved in maintaining the ashrams. Make them flourish. Do not complain. Care for the staff members, be they watchmen, cooks, or priests. Make their lives comfortable. Do not always find faults with them. Do not keep blaming them. Won’t you feel bad if I keep blaming you and finding fault with you? All humans are after money, after earning a livelihood. It is natural. Treat them all with courtesy and respect. Manage people in the ashram with understanding. That is true service to treat your own family well, not going out to help outsiders.
Treating the ashram staff and members properly is the goal of Gnana Bodha Sabhas. Nothing else. I cannot leave you. You cannot leave me. You cannot, even if you wish to leave me. I am innocent and pure. If you blame me or criticize, you will feel guilty. Your blame reflects back at you. I am not touched. It will all bounce back at you. I am the Sun. If you spit at me, the spit will fall only on you. I gain nothing or lose nothing by your praise or blame. Be careful. I am like an idol. I am without any feeling or sense of sacrifice. All the nine types of emotions have left me. I have no anger. I only speak kind words. I give no curse. I don’t know how to do that. I have not learned that. Maybe I forgot. I bless you all.
Fifty years of running this ashrama after its establishment, it is not a child’s play to do so much. In 25 years so many world tours. Music tours. So many nations were visited. Purified so many millions of people, including atheists. Attracted all kinds of people through music, if not through spirituality. Gave happiness. Solved problems, and removed sorrows. No nation or language barriers. Showed no difference towards anyone. Is this a small thing to gather so many millions as devotees? Is this a child’s play to set up so many ashrams all over the world? Is it a trivial task to visit them all so many times? You think about it. With Yoga, arts, and social activities, many gurus have done much. But spiritually to uplift with just our ancient Hindu Dharma and to establish it firmly worldwide, show me another Guru who has done this. Is there anyone else? Any other guru who has done so much to spread Hindu dharma worldwide? Show me. So many ashramas. So many tours. Show me one other guru who does or has done this. I do not need accolades or praise. Just stating the truth. I am not challenging. I do not need acknowledgment. I just want you to recognize and be proud. I show the address to you so that you ignorant persons will realize the greatness and know and understand Guru Tatva. Anyone amongst you who understands this? To your limitation you drag me down. You say Swamiji is angry, He is scolding, He is crying. Swamiji is not feeling well. Know Guru Charitra. If you gain that understanding about Swamiji, about His divinity, about the incarnation, and the balance that He preserves, then all your troubles you will forget. But you do not even approach that subject. You are only involved in your quarrels and conflicts. You are so worldly.
Some past life merit has brought you to me. That is why I am having you do all these things. It is destined that you have to work with me. We are destined to be together. Ours is not a coincidental relationship. Brahma has tied us together. We will never separate. No matter how bad you become, we will never split. We are together forever. Remember that. People may outwardly appear to be imperfect, but everyone is related to me. I have no enemies. There is not a soul whom I reject. I am pure and pristine. My word, my mind, my sense organs all are pure. I appear, like Krishna, also like a drama director, or a puppet master. Krishna is an eternal, purest bachelor. He alone is a true celibate. Remember that. But he was blamed as a womanizer. Krishna is not only forever a celibate; he is also an eternal child. I am Siva. I cannot describe adequately the attributes of Siva. Siva is Fire/Agni. He keeps water on His head. He is a conglomerate of all the five elements. I reside in His heart. Do you know? I act like Vishnu. But as in Rama’s incarnation, I weep. That is all. Remember that. Do not be deceived by these looks. I myself am having to remind you that I am a divine incarnation descended to this earth. I am reminding you. You do not know how to praise or describe me. You are like Dhruva, who did not know how to praise Vishnu, who had to be taught how to praise God. God wrote the words on Dhruva’s tongue so that he could utter the praises of Vishnu. Like that I have written on your tongues. Understand me properly. Do not entertain false, strange ideas about me.
Earth is so small. Now for 74 times I have performed rotation around the Sun. I did the rotation, the way the earth revolves around itself and also goes around the sun, once a year. Completed 74 circles around the sun, sitting on the earth. Now 75th rotation has started. Some have done more rotations, who are older than Swamiji in years. Some have done fewer rotations, who are younger. I am happy to see the progress. People are only concerned about the physical level of ashramas, such as building size, bank balance, and so on, or how many have been fed with annadana. I am not concerned about these petty things. I look at the bigger picture. I do in my mind many cosmic explorations and investigate about the numerous changes occurring on earth and other planets and spheres. Hanuman Chalisa Yajna’s commencement has put me into a different perspective. Shows me the changes on earth. Swamiji is not concerned with petty quarrels and fights happening in the different Gnana Bodha Sabhas, as to who resigned, who fought, who complained, who betrayed trust, and so on. I listen for time pass, and get disgusted. I am least concerned. The 14 worlds are my portfolio. My longevity is no concern. I leave this planet at will. You are my travel companions. That is all. We exchange addresses. Phone numbers. Do financial transactions. Fall in love, marry. Next station. Divorce, after marriage in previous station.
In future worlds, when I see you again in Vaikuntha, or some other loka, which will certainly happen, I will demand from you. Your betrayal of my trust with the Gnana Bodha Sabha, I will bring up and demand an explanation. I will certainly ask you and corner you. Yama Gola movie I will show you if you like. I see through all your tricks. I will give you your dues. I have no grief. You are trusting my actions, my smiles, my sorrows. I promise and swear that I have no joys and sorrows. Not knowing my nature, you are deceiving yourselves. At least now, shall we proceed on the spiritual journey? Sit still on my boat on these rough seas. I am the captain. Do not leave me. Do your job well. You must repay your debts to Guru. You will then get liberated. You must pay back Guru whatever you owe. Don’t allow your interest amounts to escalate. Submit your reports. I know all your family problems and health problems. I know all gossip. Pray for strength. Pray for the power to handle your responsibilities well. Don’t complain about others. Ashram is given to you as a prasadam. Do quickly whatever your duty is. Fulfill your obligations. In Chennai with 25 lakhs, they put AC in the hall before my visit. In America within two years they did Kumbhabhishekam last year itself. At DRC they built a swimming pool for Swamiji with great difficulty. It is very difficult to build one there. The water will not remain. But it is now ready. I will go and take a dive. I am going there. Here you can build twenty swimming pools in less cost. I have both good and lazy devotees. I have no anger. I give no praise. Have I scolded? No.
Sri Guru Datta
Speech in the evening
Compiled by Archana Penukonda
Devotees have asked me what they can present to or do for Swamiji for his birthday. Of course, being devoted is always there, but if you really want to present something, you can do one thing. If you really want to present, you must commit to it. Will you do it? Everybody download SGS Posts. If you have an Android phone or iPhone, you will get messages from Swamiji. It’s a short single line message. Everybody that has a smart phone should download the app. Spread the word too. The messages are sent in 6 different languages. You can select all languages in the app to get the messages. (The message is different in each language).
Each of the language has an English translation, so all of you can follow. When ever you are feeling sad, or troubled open the app and see the posts, you will be refreshed and also get your answer. Please tell everybody and see atleast all in your family and friends circle has this app. I want at least 1 lakh people to have this app. I have given away whatever was offered to me, to develop this. From today no more MMs, all these videos will now be part of SGS Posts. Please don’t miss and another page that you have to’ like’ is the S G S page on Facebook.
Everyday, a new photo of Lord Hanuman is posted to the Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji page on Facebook.
Before the Yajna concludes, we are looking at the number of views on each photo and aggregating the list of top 10 photos. I posted one photo this morning, and over a 100K (hundred thousand) people have already seen the photo. Normally, it takes about 24 hours to get that many views. Any time I post a Hanuman photo, it immediately gets hundreds of thousands of views. This is today’s photo, it has 120K views. I must’ve posted at around 12 noon.
Yesterdays’ Anjaneya Swamy photo has 160Kviews. The Anjaneya Swamy photo from the day before yesterday has had 130K. The views are never under a 100k. The views keep increasing in hundreds of thousands, easily going to 1000k views. The comments are in the thousands…anywhere between 2000 to 6000 comments. There are usually 1000-3000 shares (number of people sharing the photo) each day. All these are only Hanuman photos. From the start of the Hanuman Chalisa Yajna, we have been posting Hanuman photos. There was an eye doctor whose photo was posted in between. All of them are like Anjaneya Swamy. Each day’s photo is different. At least now, go to the page, subscribe and become a member. Like all photos of Anjaneya Swamy. Like each photo only once. If you like more than once, the like will be canceled.
How many of you are seeing the photos on the page, raise your hand. Okay, seems like almost everyone is seeing the photos. A lot of people are seeing the photos. Very good. Within 10 minutes of posting the photo, 1000-2000 people see the photo. The views are uncontained. I changed the time of posting to test the response. It still had the same enormous response. It’s as if everyone’s waiting for the photo, as if they have phones only for this purpose. This will go on till the Hanuman Chalisa Yajna concludes. When you like the photo, that will count towards the Yajna.
For each like, I take 100 counts of Hanuman Chalisa. Very good. Continue to do this. The likes will keep coming in till the conclusion of the Yajna. Don’t know when the Yajna will conclude. Until then, you must keep liking the photos of Anjaneya Swamy and writing comments.