Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Guru Purnima – July 13, 2022 – KSHT Frisco, USA
Compiled by Archana Penukonda
namo’stute vyāsa viśāla buddhe
phullāravindāyata patranetra |
yenatvayā bhārata taila pūrṇaḥ
prajvālito jñāna mayaḥ pradīpaḥ ||
We attain this world due to the blessings of the mother. The father’s blessings bestow the after world upon us. With the Guru’s blessings, we attain the eternal worlds. The Vedas and other scriptures clearly state that Absorption in the Contemplation of the Absolute (brahma niṣṭha) and Self-Realization (ātma darśana) are obtained only by the grace of the Guru. This is the most important benefit for this world due to the Guru. Therefore, every individual, without wasting precious time when the mind and lifespan are favorable, should fulfill his life by seeking refuge with the Guru.
Incarnations of the divine such as Sri Rama and Sri Krishna also became eminent human beings by accepting Maharshi Vasishtha and Maharshi Sandeepani as their Gurus respectively to gain knowledge.
God descends in the form of Guru for the welfare of the world in this Kaliyuga. In the form of the Guru, He demonstrates how Dharma should be followed. The Guru protects us at all times teaching and guiding us. Such is the greatness of a Guru that it was revealed in the following manner by God Himself in the Bhagavatam in Prithukopakhyanam (in Kuchela’s story). The Lord declared, “I, present as the Atman in all beings, am more pleased by service to the Guru than with those who diligently follow the four stages of life – Brahmacharya, Grihasta, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa (student, householder, forest-dweller, renunciate)”. Therefore, we should realize that service to the Guru and pleasing the Guru are very dear to God.
The mind is always centered on divinity when one is in the presence of a Guru and following the path shown by the Guru. Such a mind is not distracted by other matters. The individual gains the discrimination to differentiate between the right and wrong paths. True devotees of the Guru do not fall into confusion. They will not get trapped in any kind of illusion (māyā). Believing service to the Guru is the most important, they live with contentment, simply fulfilling their duties. They make everyone around them happy. The Sadguru brings about such transformation in an individual as well. Through the individual, the Guru increases the goodness in society. He removes evil thoughts and strengthens benevolent thoughts. Thus, the Guru’s focus is always on the welfare of all beings in this world. One must have absolute faith in such a Guru. One must surrender oneself completely to the Guru. Guru is at par with God. We should have the same faith and devotion to Guru that we have for God. Sometimes the Guru appears and conducts Himself like an ordinary person. But one should never mistake the Guru to be an ordinary being. A man has only one family. But the entire world is family to the Guru. Beings of all kinds are His children. He appears and conducts Himself that way only for the welfare of all. Despite that, the Guru is always effulgent with the supreme wisdom “sarvam brahma” – everything is Brahman. He sees everyone as His own and is immensely moved by the suffering of each. He constantly prays that their suffering be removed. He generously pours all His energy into it.
Dualities such as darkness and light, joy and sorrow, truth and falsehood always occur together in this world. Of these two diverse paths, it is the path of untruth that man is attracted to. The Guru comprehends this and bestows intelligence and discernment on those who seek refuge with Him. He enables them to be alert in the matters of ignorance and grief. That means, he enables devotees to recognize them and thus removes their suffering. He guides them on the path of light and wisdom. Each person assumes his own life is being led in a Dharmic (righteous) manner. But he inadvertently continues to make missteps in the path of Dharma. Therefore, from the time he is born till the time he merges in God, every being critically needs the help and cooperation of the Guru at every stage. Did not Arjuna seek refuge with Jagadguru Sri Krishna and gain victory in the battle for Dharma! So too every individual should attain victory in this battle of life by seeking refuge with the Guru.
Despite all the kicking and ploughing, the Earth gives us bountiful harvests. So too, the Guru bestows on us the fruit of our noble deeds. Water has the quality of inducing blemishlessness, sweetness and purity. So too the Guru makes the hearts of his devotees pure and blemishless. Fire bestows radiance and prosperity. The Guru too bestows radiance and wealth on those who seek refuge with Him. Wind gives us the strength to bear bad odors as well as fragrances. So too the Guru gives us the strength to face the good and the bad. The Sky bestows a broad mind and a good heart. So too the Guru grants the wisdom that God pervades every space including our spiritual heart. Thus, the Guru comes to us bearing a form made of the five gross elements, only for the upliftment of society. He sacrifices the energy from all His austerities and penance purely for universal welfare.
Just as the Sun resides in the firmament and unselfishly drives away all darkness and illumines the world with light, the Guru too resides in the seat of Dharma in the society and drives away the darkness of ignorance with His rays of wisdom. The Guru keeps the individuals, their actions, intellect and mind pure at all times. Like the moon, the Guru cures the ailments of the mind and grants peace. This is the inevitability of why we need Guru, this is His importance. This is why there is necessity for Guru.
On this Guru Purnima, may you understand the principle of the Guru and become good disciples! May you be blessed by the primordial Guru Lord Dattatreya! I bless that you rise due to association with Guru and be useful to the society. May every individual follow the footsteps of the Guru and fulfill their lives.
Jaya Guru Datta.