Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – September 1, 1998 – Bommeparthy
Courtesy: Prasad
Our head is like a tape recorder. It records all the life events and from those recordings we decide on the future activities. That tape recorder head needs occasional service and repair. The machine will come for repair if a bad or inferior tape is used. Then there will be a family quarrel as to who gets to use the tape recorder first. Our head is like a tape recorder. If bad thoughts enter the head, it gets faulty and repair will be needed. We alone will suffer for those repairs. Nobody will come to our rescue. Many of those around us do not feel happy if we progress in our lives. Their jealous gives problem to our tape recorder. We too have to get rid of that jealous. If we feel jealous of some one, we are sinning and the tape recorder gets faulty.
Eating bad food and bad company of friends too bring the tape recorder for repair. Over worrying, selfishness, unself contedness bring problems to the tape recorder. We should not feel prideful for our generosity. In turn we should feel that what is done is not enough and we should aspire to do more.
Swamiji remembers a story. Dharmaraya in Mahabharatha was on the street one day. A poor brahmin approaches him as asks for help to marry his daughter. Dharmaraya asks that Brahmin to come the next day. Bhima who was standing smiles and says “I am happy that you have committed your self to live till tomorrow. You said in a speech this morning that one should never postpone any promise as one is never sure as to how long one lives. When you promised the poor Brahmin to come tomorrow, I felt happy that you will be alive till tomorrow.” Dharmaraya was pricked and called for that Brahmin and helped him immediately. You should always keep your promises. Never postpone the same. How can you be sure of living long enough to keep that promise up ? We should develop that vast mindedness, uncluttered thinking and never looking back. It is said that we should finish our promise even before you have completed your speech of promise. Instead postpone you ill feelings, jealousies and the like. Do good immediately. Post pone your bad thoughts and deeds
The Shodasha Karma mentioned in the Vedas for a person is for inducing those good qualities in you. But in these days of waning interest in austerities and rites, what else to expect but a weak world of bad people ?
Never feel jealous when some one does good. Support him or just keeping quiet is like supporting him.
If a person is left for swimming in the center of a ocean, he will be at loss for direction. How to know which is east or west ? Life is like a ocean. One will be clueless about the direction that needs to be taken. It is also like a vast desert. It is like a thick forest. If we fall in any of the three, it is difficult to escape. In high sea you are at risk of drowning. In desert, you are at risk of dying out of heat an din forest you are at risk with wild animals. In the south american amazon jungles, even sunlight finds it difficult to penetrate. When Swamiji was in Tibet, we saw many a difficult terrain. Strong winds capable of lifting a motor vehicle. Biting cold. No vegetation. Moving sand dunes kept the physical features constantly changing. Less oxygen content in the air. Without a compass, it was impossible to go around.
Life is like the above. We are not sure of anything. We do not know how well we swim and how deep the sea is. You cannot swim if you do not know which direction to go. For some life is like a comfortable forest. They are stuck to their comforts. A Sadguru shows you way in all the above three types of lives.
Be good do good. You villagers are lucky. Give up the bad idea of moving to cities. Daily do ten minutes of prayer and meditation. Just close your eyes. DO it when you get up in the morning. AS soon as you get up in the morning, just close your eyes for ten minutes and think of the almighty God and offer Him your problems and wishes. Many get up in the morning because they have to drink coffee. Many are woken up by the hustle bustle in the house. Ten minutes of meditation gives you strength for ten days.
Once I was asked by a child if I get tired of speaking and if I get throat problems because of these speeches. I told the child ask the same questions to your parents if the get tired of quarreling or if they get tired of eating. That is why Swamiji has composed the Bhajan “O Sanchi” It is a satirical bhajan comparing the stomach to a unending bag which always craves for food. For some the motto is “Eat till death” not “Eat till life”. Conditioned intake of food and balance of diet is very important. Speech should be soft and pleasing. Life should be soft and caring. The family you have is a gift from God. Care for them and love them.
The above is the Dharma or righteousness.
Swamiji today went on a bullock cart to the Hanuman temple in the village. The house where Swamiji lives is a vacant site today. Swamiji wishes to put a “Dharma Stoopa” in that place. Those interested may support it. A welcome arch is being built at the entrance of the road to this village. It is a good idea. All these developments are for your village. It is good for you all only. The Hanuman temple needs upkeep and some repairs. I have asked the committee here to take care of that temple henceforth.