Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji in the evening on arrival day – Grapevine Convention Center – July 24, 2003 – Dallas Texas, USA
Guru is needed for Spiritual upliftment. Otherwise how can you achieve Bliss or Ananda? Guru Parampara is sacred and sacred. It is difficult to explain about Guru. In Guru Geeta Parvati asks Lord Shiva to explain about Shiva. The teaching of Shiva to Parvati is GURU GEETA. It is also ATMA TATTVA GEETA. It is a very important teaching. It is a human discipline penance. It is Saadhana Yoga. It is Atma Vidya. Guru creates doubts in our mind. Guru is trinity form. He creates doubts. He keeps the doubts in you and He also kills the doubt. Teach your children the Guru Mantra of GURU BRAHMA GURU VISHNU. Of course normal education is needed but ensure your children learn the traditions. Guru, Puja, Temple, Gods, Language etc. Ensure you teach your mother tongue to your children. Especially Telugu persons need to learn. It is our Karma and ego that the Telugu people do not teach Telugu language to their children. I insist that you all teach to your children. I agree that school and studies are important. But mother tongue must be learnt also. Please start. Don’t give freedom like Americans give their children. Personal freedom is one thing. But learning what is needed is another thing. I know your struggle here. Far away land. Displacement. Job insecurity, etc., But your children should not be victims. Some do it too much. They enforce tradition so much that the children develop aversion to tradition. Because I say it today, you all will enforce it so hard that in 6 months they are plundered. If you ask who is Rama? They will say N.T.Rama Rao. Who is Krishna? Cinema actor Krishna. I have seen the Ramayana and Maha Bharata of Ramanand Sagar and G.V.Iyer. They are very good. Collect the video of those great epics and show them to your children. You too will enjoy. We are showing star wars or dirty wars. We let them listen to pop music. It is PAAPA music (sinful music). Rock music or soil music what ever it is. The physical appearance of Vibhooti clad men, Saree clad women are deceptive. The inner core is weak. Don’t feel that I am little harsh. If you feel bad that I am talking like this, I will stop now. Should I stop? (Audience shouts NO SWAMIJI). I am coming to America since 1976. I did not want to build temples here. That was never in my plan. I was saying the same to him. You all have great plans to build temples of Datta. I said no. Once you build new temple, devotion disappears. I have built Datta Temple in Baton Rouge. Go there. Come there when Swamiji comes. I cannot be coming here every time I come to USA. Your quarrels will ensure that the daily Pujas are neglected. When ever Swamiji comes, hire such a hall and enjoy the programs. Meet once a month. Discuss Swamiji’s discourses. Don’t build a temple here. Your unity will disappear. Learn Kriya Yoga. Let Manasa Swami come occasionally. Language is not important. Swamiji can speak several languages. Children do not say ‘JAYA GURU DATTA’ also. Your parents come here to assist you to up bring your children. Let them help you to teach them tradition. Teach when they are young. Because when they grow up, they will not learn. Don’t bother if they don’t develop in the speed you want. Let them at least get introduced.
In St Louis we had a Satsang. It was American Independence Day. So many Indians were there. Many Indians did not know the American national anthem. It is our duty to learn this nation’s national anthem. You are living in this country. You are making your life here. Respect this nation. We stand long hours in queue to get American Visa. We are dying to get green card. We beg for employment here. But learn about America the land that is feeding you and giving you a life. I am distressed that Indians who came here are not fusing with America. Don’t worry about your identity.
Discipline is diminishing. When we go to some one’s house, we open their refrigerator. We switch on TV and enjoy. That is wrong. You have to behave yourself.
Learn Datta Stava and Lalitha Sahasra Naama. You have no concentration. Your mind is like a virus-ridden computer. Our concentration is after money and pride. Learn concentration. I am not a great man. I am ordinary too. I just want to share my experience and penance. Sadguru means He shares His experience to His disciples. There is an insect called BHRAMARA (Swami Manasa Says – Bumble Bee) It brings some other insect’s off springs and raises it as its baby. That baby thinking it is a Bhramara insect grows up and becomes a Bhramara. I will explain it one day.
I pray that you all can share my happiness one day. Swamiji does so many activities. Puja, Bhajan, Homa, Speech, Kriya Yoga, Concerts, Pada Puja, House visit etc etc. It may sound funny. Why does Swamiji do so many things? There is a reason. Swamiji indirectly is preaching concentration and Chitta Shuddhi. After Chitta Shuddhi, Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya follow. You must concentrate. You are sitting for one hour with Swamiji. You all are children of Swamiji. Concentration may come after ten or twenty years. It does not matter. It is worth it. Swamiji is trying to take you to that happiness through variety of ways. Some come to Mysore. Some sit here and visualize Mysore. Though there are differences, both get the same.
You have seen Sugar? There are hundreds and thousands of sweets made with sugar as base. It is only sugar that makes it sweet. We eat them as though they all are different. The original substance is Sugar. It is the same. So many cows but milk is the same. In the same manner, Swamiji’s activities have the same underlying principle. Same thread which holds all these activities. It is to develop CHITTA SHUDDHI. It is the core of Swamiji’s very existence. Some come to Swamiji for music. Some come for Vedanta lectures. Some like Swamiji’s social work. Some only like Puja. Some like Swamiji. Some only want the relationship. We don’t want to know what He does. There is a famous song ‘MAA KELARA VICHAARAMU?’ There is a Kannada saying also ‘NEENYAARO NANAGYAAKO’. Participate in what ever way you can. It can be small or big. Don’t fall in the pit of WHY and DIE. WHY and questions will always exist. You can have a tomb stone that reads “WHY born ___ died____”. Many Gurus have stopped coming to America because of this “Why This? Why That? Problem”.
I am happy that there are programs for four days. Please co-operate and co ordinate with all members. Or simply enjoy Swamiji’s presence. There is a concert on Saturday. Swamiji is here only because of Datta’s grace. Get rid of your compulsions and enjoy the programs. Swamiji Blesses everyone the same way. Whether it is organizer or a big donor or if he is close to me or not. I Bless everyone the same way. Don’t feel you are left out. Feel at home.
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Dattapeetham