Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – Sri Gam Dattanatha Kshetra – December 29, 2016 – New Delhi
Compiled by Swarnaprabha YS
Very good Vanara Sena here. (Sri Balaswamiji speaks about the Balwadi Children, i.e. the pre-school run for the economically weak.)
All the children have gathered here at the Ashrama, they are singing bhajans very well. For this purpose, Sri Swamiji has established a Datta Mandir here, at Swaroop Nagar, so that you all come here regulary and conduct weekly satsangs. As you all know, there is a big ashram at Mysore; wherever Sri Swamiji sits, devotees gather around Him. Still Pujya Sri Swamiji has blessed us all with an ashram here. Delhi devotees also prayed to Pujya Sri Swamiji for an ashram at Delhi. Keeping this in mind, Sri Swamiji established a Datta Mandir here and later, the consecration of Kali Mata took place. The Balwadi children sang Shambho Mahadeva and Hanuman Chalisa very well. The Matru Mandali & the Balwadi teacher are doing good service here. An ashram should conduct not only satsang, bhajan & havan (homa), but, must also perform social service. Delhi Swaroop Nagar Ashram, sets an example, for social service. It feels nice and there is a sense of pride, while saying this.
In pride, one becomes blind. This should not be the approach. When we think about the service we do, we must try to increase & do more & more service, i.e. this year we did this seva (service), next year what more can we do, to make Sadguru happy? Everyone performs task for themselves or their family. It is important to offer service, to be blessed by God & to see Sadguru happy. If there is no service, there is nothing. Children here, come to the ashram, with a lot of joy. Usually, children do not visit temples, because they don’t wish to sing bhajans, do pradakshina (circumambulation), take tirtha (sacred water) prasad. But, here in Swaroop Nagar, children come in big numbers.
Dattatreya Hare Krishna Unmatthaananda Daayaka||
Digambara Mune Baala||
Pishaacha Gnaana Saagara||
Dattatreya, Himself is in the form of a child, i.e. Bala Roopa. Pujya Sri Swamiji visited Kurukshetra, with children from the USA. These children memorized the Bhagvat Gita & sang it there. Bhagvat Gita is Universal and not confined to Indians. Bhagvat Gita has a message for all. If we wish to learn, the Bhagvat Gita has a message (Sandesha) for us, otherwise, there is doubt (Sandeha). What do you want, Sandesha or Sandeha (message or doubts)? We have Deha (body) with us, why doubt (sandeha), let us fill this body with Sandesha (messages). This was the reason, Sri Swamiji instructed the USA children to memorise the Bhagvat Gita & took them to Kurukshetra. Though it was cold, Pujya Sri Swamiji took them all to Kurukshetra. During the chanting, Sri Swamiji also became child like and was one among them. Pujya Sri Swamiji went with the children to Jyotisar & Museum, at Kurukshetra.
Why Pujya Sri Swamiji loves us so much? Many people wonder why God has given us two ears? One ear was enough. Some listen with one ear & leave it out from the other ear. Some listen with both the ears, alter the contents and leave it out through their mouths. What is heard, is not shared, as it is. The thoughts in our heart, is revealed. This is called ‘Anukool Shastra’, that is presenting matters, to our advantage. Hence, they are willing to speak lies also. This approach is not right. We are given two ears, to listen & fill our hearts.
We listen, but, don’t understand. We must listen, understand & get it into practice. This is the message of Bhagvat Gita. Sri Krishna asked Arjuna, if he listened to the teachings, if He understood the same & if He would practise it. Bhagvat Gita teaches the Iccha, Gyana and Kriya Shakti (powers of desire, knowledge & action). It is said that, we forget the teachings of Bhagvat Gita after 5000 years. Today, it is forgotten. Now, Lord Krishna has come to us in the form of Sri Swamiji, to remind us the Bhagvat Gita. 5000 years ago, as Lord Krishna, Sri Swamiji taught us the Bhagvat Gita & we listened to it as Arjuna. Remember it, understand it & get it into practise (karma). Karma means service. Here, Karma does not mean, eating, sleeping or thinking. We must search for & utilize opportunities for service. Engage in physical service. Big or small, do service. It pleases Sadguru.
Sadguru is Soochak, i.e. the ones who guides us. When a child turns 5 years old, we guide the child to study in school. Otherwise, the child will spend his life playing & whiling away time. It is important to study. Increase your knowledge. We have been given a body, we must gain more knowledge.
Today is Thursday, the day of Guru. The previous visit to Delhi was also on a Thursday. Some devotees of Delhi, send ‘Happy Guru Day,’ messages every thursday. We celebrate many happy days, like happy birthday, happy new year, but, some people are happy to celebrate Thursday. They feel Guru will come to our house today. This is the love they carry for Guru. There is nothing beyond Guru.
The Lord also seeks Guru. Jagadguru Sri Krishna, went to Saint Sandeepani Maharashi Ashrama to study. Day and night, He did service to Guru at the Ashrama. Sandeepani Maharashi’s wife sent Sri Krishna to the jungle to fetch some wooden sticks (samith) for Homa. Since it was raining heavily, Sri Krishna could not collect the wooden sticks. So, He stayed at the forest that night and decided to return only with the sticks, to fulfill and follow Guru’s instructions. When Sri Krishna did not return, Sandeepani Maharishi ran to the jungle in search of His disciple. He found Krishna, searching for the wooden sticks. He asked Krishna, where He was & why He didn’t return to the ashrama last night. Krishna replied that He was in the jungle and did not return, as He did not find the wooden sticks. Sandeepani Maharshi blessed that Krishna would acquire the knowledge of all the scriptures, without reading them. The Bhaagavatam teaches us about the glory of Guru’s blessings.
Take guidance form Sadguru & follow it. After taking such guidance, don’t forget it. Many people say, they feel incapable to execute such instructions or tasks. In such a situation, Sadguru becomes ‘Prerak’, i.e. the one who inspires & motivates. He inspires us to do the task; atleast start the task, it will complete.
Sadguru is also ‘Vaachak’. Capability is there, but, we are unaware of the route to take, to complete the task. “What path to take, how to go?” Sadguru answers these questions. Bhaashan (discourse) is for all, whereas, upadesh (advice/instruction/counsel) is for one person. Upadesh is heart to heart.
Guru is also ‘Bhodhak’. He teaches us the means to get there.
Sadguru is ‘Darshak’. Darshan means to show. Sadguru teaches us, “Go from here; don’t go there; this path is not right; this is good,” etc.
The sixth virtue is ‘Shikshak’. Sri Krishna is described as, ‘Totra Vetraika Paanaye.’ This is akin to a horse rider, with rein in one hand & the whip in the other hand. If you don’t follow, you will be whipped. This is the last resort. Being lashed by the Sadguru is similar to being beaten by the Police – only the police & the person who is beaten, are aware. Others are unaware that the person has been beaten by the Police. Outside it is not shown; however, deep inside the pain is felt. Such are the tests of life. This is for our benefit & for our protection. Hence, Sadguru is ‘Rakshak’, i.e. the one who protects us always.
The one who has any one of these qualities, i.e, Soochak, Prerak, Vaachak, Bhodhak, Darshak, Shikshak and Rakshak, is Guru. Don’t listen to this from one ear & remove it from the other. We don’t need books to record the same. Listen to this with concentration, fill it in your heart or the mind. Many don’t read or write & they fail. They fail because the teaching has not been understood & recorded in the mind. That is why, keep listening to good. Even if there is a paper lying in the dustbin, pick it up & read it. It also contains an advice and it is also the form of Sadguru.
If the Bhagvat Gita Book is half burnt, still keep it. Don’t throw it. It is divine advice, it is nectar. If gold falls into the dustbin, will you leave it? We would take it. Bhagvat Gita is more precious than gold. SGS Posts also teaches us, ‘Wisdom is greater than gold.’ Many people kept a lot of money with them. See what happened (the impact of the recent demonitisation of the Indian currency). Keep gold in your heart, not in your hand. The Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, will Herself come to you. There are children, who tell their parents, not to keep money in the locker, but, to donate it. They say that Sadguru is their strength & that in future, they will earn, for their livelihood. They say, there are so many people in pain, deprived of food, without woolen shawl or blankets in the cold, let’s donate to them. These good virtues, makes Sadguru content. Sadguru thinks that, this devotee just does not say, he does service also.
Similarly, Arjuna was in service. If Arjuna ran away, would there be no war? No, it was ordained that the Mahabharata war would take place. If Arjuna is there, it affirms that, truth & righteousness will win. This was Sri Krishna’s instructions. Otherwise, immorality & sin, would reign. That is why Arjuna was instructed by Lord Krishna, to perform action & service.
The one who has any one the six qualities is Guru. The one with all the six qualities is Sadguru. By the merit of the previous birth, we have been blessed with Sadguru, in this life. We must utilize this opportunity & do satsanga. It is very difficult to be born as a a human being. We have this blessing, hence, we are not aware of the value it has. When this passes, we will realise its value. Right from a young age, we must ponder over, ‘What can I do?’ We think only for ourselves like, building a house, buying a car etc. We must think what we can do to make this birth meaningful. We will become great, if we think like this. From a normal person, Sadguru, makes us all great.
Pujya Sri Swamiji was speaking about Gam Dattanatha Ashram today morning. He has blessed that the construction should start from January or February. As devotees say, this Swaroopa Nagar Ashram is a gift for all. We cannot forget the seva of Dr. Shyamala Pappu ji. Even if her leg pained & she had difficulty to walk, she would run & come to the airport to receive us. From the airport, she would arrive to the Ashram before us. She has a place in the heart of Sadguru forever.
It is our duty to take care of the ashram. Balwadi & training for women, is being conducted. Children are learning various prayers, bhajans & Hanuman Chalisa. They must chant the Bhagvat Gita also. Start & you will be able to do it. Children from America, say, ‘Krishna, Rama or Hanuman Chalisa,’ differently. According to the culture there, they speak more English & less hindi.
If they can come here & chant the Bhagvat Gita, why not all of you? Learn the Bhagvat Gita.
The responsibility of the Ashrama also lies with the newly appointed priest. He should learn the tradition followed here at the Ashrama – Ganapathy Homa, Anagha Vratam & Sadguru Paduka Puja. We must follow the path shown to us by our Sadguru. Conduct Anna Dana (food distribution) and medical camps. Also, provide support for the education of the Balwadi children. Look for a reason to visit the Ashrama, atleast every month.
Next visit of Kurukshetra is also confirmed. Swamiji will be visiting Delhi, enroute Kurukshetra. So, Delhi programme will be there next year also. On a lighter note, if we don’t do seva, Sri Swamiji can go to Kurukshetra via Chandigarh. The Balwadi children sing with a lot of love. Would like to spend some time with them next year.
Let us all chant the Hanuman Chalisa.
Jaya Guru Datta.
Sri Guru Datta.