Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – April 13, 2011 – Chennai
Jaya Guru Datta
(Start is missing)
Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam contains the entire essence of the Upanishads (Vedanta – the most ancient authority on spiritual knowledge). The entire Tattva Jnana (philosophical principle) is contained in it. All the crores (millions) of deities receive worship by the chanting of it, in the name of Adi Shakti (Mother Goddess, the first and foremost Mother of Creation in the form of Energy). Just this one mantra is sufficient. Nothing else is required.
Yet Man is always anxious. He would rather chant Sri Vishnu Sahasranama to acquire prosperity. Another person says, “Not Lalitha Sahasranama or Vishnu Sahasranama, only Soundarya Lahari should be chanted”. Another person says, “ Soundarya Lahari should not be chanted unless given initiation by a guru. You can instead chant Shivananda Lahari.” Another person comes along and says. “It is best to only chant Sri Dakshinamoorthi Stotram.” Yet another person objects. “That is only for brahmacharis (celibates).
One worshipper says he worships Rama. Another at once cautions him. “You will end up in all kinds of difficulties if you worship him. He and Sita had nothing but suffering throughout their lives. They had no enjoyment. They were separated. Even if you keep the scripture Ramayana at home, it will bring you troubles.” If someone likes Bhagavatam, somebody disapproves because in Kurma avatara (turtle incarnation) the Lord suffered a great deal.Krishnaworship! “Oh no!” People exclaim. “Don’t even talk about it! Do you know where he was born? In prison! Nobody even knows his real mother. His life was always under threat. Yashoda had to use all kinds of spells to protect his life when he was young. Even at the age of 14 he got into a big fight! He had a tendency to run after girls. Your youngsters also will get spoilt like that. His nature is very bad!” Somebody wants to worship Subrahmanya, the courageous warrior who protects celestials, the spouse of Devasena. People are horrified. “With so many snakes all around him, they will all begin to come into your house! He is very short tempered. If you do any mistake, he will pierce you with his Shakti weapon, the sharp spear. You have to follow very strict rules to worship. You must bathe every day and follow severe austerities!” Ganapati! Oh he is so fat and eats too much! Everyone at home will remain hungry because if you offer him food, he will eat it all! Brahma! No, it is taboo to worship him. You should not even keep his picture at home. Durga! She looks like a demoness with tongue hanging out! Always she looks very cruel. “Datta is good. He is all three in one, Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, “says a devotee. At once objections are raised. “We don’t know if he is married, or not married. One time he appears like an ascetic, then he shows up with a wife. He has three heads. Very strange. How does he manage if he catches a cold? He has dirty dogs around him always. Very unclean. How to even touch?”
“No deities are needed. Simply keep pictures of family members. Say ‘namah‘ to them. That is enough.”
We have come to this stage. When some trouble comes, you hire a priest to chant some mantras. Then again there are so many questions.
“Should the mantras be chanted in the morning or at night?”
“American time or Indian time?
“It is okay to chant as per your time wherever you are,” says the priest.
“But children are inAmerica. Is it not wrong to chant mantras on their behalf when they are sleeping?”
“Okay, then we will do it in the evening or at midnight. “
“No dosham (mistake) to do at midnight?”
“Should it be done before bath or after bath?”
All this reminds me of the patient who went to a doctor and the doctor prescribed a diet for him with only 2 chapatis (flat bread), lots of fruits and vegetables. The patient thought that this diet was to be consumed after he finished his regular meals. I am afraid to give advice to anyone. I play it safe.
I simply ask, “Hello, How are you doing?” That is all.
Then they pester me. “Swamiji, please tell us something.”
What to say? “When did you arrive? How are the children?”
For two years this has been going on. What to say? You don’t respond. You don’t follow.
You must follow. Without a second thought, you must follow. You ask questions again and again. Once you follow, then it is my responsibility. You must follow.
I say, “Come toMysore.”
At once a hundred questions follow. “When should I come? If I come, will you be there? Should I come by train or by flight? Should I come by car or should I walk?”
“Yes. Walk.” I tell them. “Simply sit at your own home with eyes closed and chant Mysore Mysore.” I get fed up.
I give advice, “Do Lalita Sahasranama parayanam (repeated chanting).”
Questions pour out, “What is the benefit?” “What is the result achieved?”
You want instant results. You demand guaranteed benefits. This is Kali Yuga.
When I say, “Do parayana,” you simply do parayana. When I say, “Come toMysore.”
Do not say, “I have no leave. I want to come, but I have responsibilities, you know. Children. Long distance.”
Your mind is your witness. You have no eagerness to follow Guru’s words. Always negative thinking. “If I go, Swamiji may not give darshan. He may not talk to me.”
Remember that there are always deities waiting to say, “Tathaastu (So be it)!” I myself will say it. I make your own words come true; your own thought to be fulfilled. It is bad omen, apashakunam to think and to talk like that. Be positive! Swamiji will give darshan. He will speak with you. Good things will happen. He is in your own heart. He knows your thought and words. You worry about money.
Your body is his. This entire samsara, not only your immediate family but everything that always surrounds you, is his. Offer it all to him willingly, happily, wholeheartedly.
If I say, “Chant Lalita Sahasranama, just chant it. Don’t say, “There is no water to take a bath. There is no electricity.”
Like somberis (lazy fellows) you simply sit on the sofa, watching TV, watching serials, sit, eat, sleep, and go to hospital. That is all.
You do not even walk inside the house. You do not exercise.
When I go to visit some devotees in a high rise building, if I see an elevator, first thing I ask is how many floors above should we go? If they say, 3 or 4, I climb the steps. I hate touching the railings. They are filled with infections. I avoid being stepped on or stumbling on someone. If some volunteer is there to protect me from those, I climb the steps. If they say 5 or 6 storeys, I might lecture to them, but I still prefer to climb.
You say, “Oh, my doctor told me not to climb stairs. He told me to only sit on a chair. He told me to come for daily check-up. He told me to pay monthly bill. He is my family doctor you know, for many generations.”
What is this? It is so nice to hear if you say, “He is my family Guru for many generations.” Or, “At this temple my family offers services since many generations.” Having a doctor for many generations is a bad omen. Narayana (God) is the real doctor. Speak positive.
Because some of you have done extensive Lalita Sahasranama parayanam I have come here running. Why should I come? It is my will and pleasure. It is your love and devotion for me that has attracted me here so strongly. I came running. If I had taken the evening flight, I would have arrived only at eight O’Clock. Too late. So I took a flight that is earlier, although it had an international destination.
Actually I had told Sri Bala Swamiji to cancel this program.
He told me, “They will not even eat, if you do not come.”
I said, “Out of stubborn-ness if they give up eating, that is fine. I will not come. I will not go for the house visits.”
“But they will be disappointed. They bought a new chair for you to sit on.”
I will refuse, even if you bought a new chair for me to sit on. It is your house. You have furnished it. After I leave, you will use the chair. It is not mine. If you say, “Swamiji, all this is yours!” I will really take away everything. If you tell me that it is mine, I will really take it. I will demand and take it. So now you have learned to be careful in what you say. Now you say, “By your grace I have bought this. This chair. This small car. This house.” By being diplomatic like this, you do not give me a chance to acquire it for myself. Then I simply give you a raksha, and smile.
You must mean what you say. It is nice to hear you say, “Swamiji gave us all this.” But if you say, “All this is yours,” then it is really mine. I will take it. Some people say, “Swamiji, this room is yours.” What about the access then? You give me only that room? That is wrong. It is dosham to speak like that.
What is samarpana (offering)? Lightly you say after doing one prostration (sashtanga namaskaram), “Swamiji, this body is yours.” Then I will say, “Okay. Tomorrow you come and cook food for all these people, and clean up afterwards.” Are you ready ?
Just because the tongue is there, do not speak lightly with the Guru. Think before you speak.
About Vastu, you first consult all specialists. Then you come and ask me also for advice, like a free second opinion. What is this? Then I will tell you that it is against Vastu to build a bathroom inside your house.
You must correct your mistakes. You must learn to be very careful. You are my children. Mentally and physically you commit mistakes. Physical mistakes are easier to control. But thoughts are very difficult to control.
Pray to the Mother Goddess to forgive your mistakes. Pray for strength to follow Guru’s advice.
Wish you all a Happy New Year!
Sri Guru Datta