Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji after Sri chakra puja – August 11, 2012 – Mysore
Somewhere in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, in Kasi and other places, japas, Poojas and homas in Swamiji’s name are being performed continuously, by those who know Swamiji and also by those who do not even know Him. I went to Sri Datta Venkateshwara Temple today. Yesterday there were not that many coconuts tied for Poorna Phala. Today there were so many. I asked the manager if he had tied them all himself overnight. He said, no, the devotees are swarming to tie them in Swamiji’s name. Then, I said, ‘Oh, they are all the lucky ones. Those who have not tied the coconuts are the unlucky ones. Today, I will tell them, and they, my Andhra devotees will come in large numbers. You get ready with the coconuts. I wanted to tie the coconut but it was filled up to C. I could only tie one in the C section. A and B were full. I said, thanks, otherwise I would tie it around my own neck and walk away. Such a boon the Lord (Bayalu Anjaneya) is giving, if you offer the whole coconut with a pure mind. That Anjaneya Swami is so powerful. He refuses to move from there. They want to move Him. But He refuses to move from there. I challenged them. I said I will not part with Him. They said, but you have given us deity idols worth many lakhs. But I was very firm. I asked them why their eyes were upon Him. He will not move from there. You may try. Just like Siva who was consecrated by Rama in Rameshwaram refused to move, this Hanuman whom I have consecrated will certainly not move from there. He is out in the open space, with no confining sanctum or temple building. He is open to the Sun. it is rare to have such a deity. Similarly in Bangalore, the small Ganapati who is outside is so very powerful. So many people worship Him. He is as famous as the Hanuman there. It was a consecration done by a divine intention at a very auspicious time, and not just a construction by constructors and architects. Yantra consecration is very powerful if done right by qualified hands. You may also keep 4 or 5 idols at home but it is not good. Many people place yantras in a casual and improper manner. It is very wrong. It is Kali Yuga. You cannot prevent such things.
Proper breathing techniques that Swamiji has come up with great research and has taught to others, takes the air exactly where it needs to go and it fills the lungs properly. Everything should be done in the proper method. There is a particular procedure and method to follow, to direct the life breath through certain channel in the body for spiritual benefit. Instead, if people want to glue shut their nostrils and breathe through their mouths, they will be miserable. It only happens sometimes when the nose gets blocked due to some health problems, such as sinusitis, that you are forced to breathe through the mouth. Then to keep yourself alive, you have to do it.
No matter how many idlis or snacks you eat, a regular meal is never substituted by them. One big meal should be eaten, like our one regular meal a day. Unless you eat your regular meal, you are not satisfied. Like breakfast, lunch or dinner or the big meal for the day, unless you eat it, you are not satisfied. This gives the same satisfaction as being with your own family and sleeping in your own bed. No matter how stinky or infested with bugs it may be, that feels heavenly for you. In Vaikuntha, you will ask Krishna to fetch you your own old bed.
Some habits are good. Some are bad, such as smoking, drinking, telling lies, having an unsteady mind, squandering money and such. The best place for those suffering from such habits is Guru’s place. Visiting Guru’s residence is most important. It removes all such bad habits. Today’s Nandana MMS message is very nice, very powerful. Don’t miss these Nandana messages, each one is very valuable. Through computer Internet websites, email, Facebook, telephone also you can access. Datta devotees, please share with children, friends, increase membership far and wide, spread the information extensively. Telephone your friends and tell them. You must memorize these sayings. It is free membership. No charge. Americans and Europeans, you are sleeping I know in foreign countries, not just now, today, but lifelong, you are sleeping in ignorance. You need Swamiji’s advice and help. You need Swamiji’s grace and blessings, Datta’s and Puttu Gam’s blessings. Not only for your health, but to remove your ignorance. You are all my friends, relatives and disciples. So many have received mantra initiation. Some people call me Thathaji, I will appear to them as Bheeshma. To those who call me friend or brother, I appear as Krishna. If you call me Mother, I will appear to you as Rajarajeswari, the Mother Goddess or Saraswati. If you call me Appaji, I will definitely appear as your father. Does not matter even if you call me lover. It is not false, it is not a physical relationship. It is only an association with a family member, with Guru, there are nine types of devotion. Concentration is very important. First finish the work, and then chant the mantra. If you make a determination to chant 108 times, you must finish. No break before that. If you break that concentration, it is a sin. Somebody calls, and you are disturbed, that is not good. Any japa, puja, you must finish. If you take a determination to read Datta Darshanam for 7 times, then you must finish. Someone may advice you that 3 times is enough. You must not waver. Some people do even 7 times 7. Once you have taken an oath before Appaji, you must fulfill your promise. If you read Datta Darshanam once, one doubt gets cleared. Seven times if you read, 7 doubts get cleared. Om Namo Hanumate Namaha written yajna is different from chanting and meditation yajna. Inside, silent chanting, or saying it out loud. All are different. It is easy if you do it rhythmically. Understand Paramatma. Understand Jnana. Once again, Valmiki Ramayana, has so many translations in so many different languages. Narada Ramayana, Brahma Ramayana, Bhavishyat Ramayana, and so on. Rama took incarnation so many times.
Good friendship is your association with Swamiji. Record, rewind and listen again and again to His words of guidance and wisdom.
Swamiji’s explanation of Shatashloki Ramayana is so wonderful on TV every day. Apple has an app for Datta Maata. Yesterday Swamiji has listened and was speechless with surprise. But my foolish devotees do not even turn the TV on to watch this excellent program. If you do not watch it, you will be in the line that goes directly to Hell. Only those who watch it will go to heaven. I am making that declaration now. I will definitely see to it that it comes true. No forgiveness for you if you do not watch these short episodes. Swamiji is giving these explanations only to help you. I have no energy to do these recordings. But I still do it. I do it only for your benefit. But you give excuses. I have no TV. I have no cable. I have no Internet. You are most unfortunate. Show me a home that has no TV. Even the lowliest laborer owns a TV. How many are there who have no TV, no watch, no telephone, no bicycle, no scooter, no car? Show me. May be 1% or 2% of some villagers. People wear huge watches but cannot tell time. You sit in a car but you don’t know how to turn on the air-conditioning. Swamiji will be feeling stuffy in the back seat. But in the confusion, the driver may take me to Yama Loka the land of death, if I ask him to turn the air-conditioning on. So I ask them to pull over and figure out how to operate the features in the car. I do not tell you this. I say this to those who own big fancy cars. What is the use of owning computers, if you do not learn how to use it? It will take a few days to learn, and is not as easy as eating a Tirupati laddu.
You complained that I show only English videos. Now I have done videos in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, and Gujarati. I am struggling to learn all these languages just to satisfy you. Do I need to strain so much at this age? Learning the musical notes now. Like a small child I learn. I love childhood, the innocence of children. We teach them violence and cruelty. Oh my son has learnt the words, I will kick you. My daughter has learnt to cut off her hair. When the children grow up and go astray you come and cry here. I have 25,000 Facebook and email members. Is this child in the group? No. She has not subscribed. She has not posted her photo anywhere for Swamiji to see.
One ascetic had a disciple who came to him daily and would run away before the speech. The Guru told him to stay, listen and go. But he would say, my wife is waiting, my children are waiting, my parents are waiting, and my siblings are waiting. Oh the comfort of my home, I miss it. How would you know? You have no family. The guru says, Ok then, take this Tulasi leaf. Go home, eat it and go to sleep. He did as he was told. He died at once after eating the Tulasi leaf. The wife complained, “He went to the ashram, got a Tulasi leaf, ate it and died.” The guru went to the man who died and asked why he died. NO answer. He told the family members, “You are all crying, wife, children, sibings, parents, relatives. Ok do one thing. If one amongst you is willing to give up your life, I will bring this man back to life.” No one spoke or came forward. The guru directly went to the father of the man and asked. “My wife will die if I die,” he said. The guru asked the mother. “If I die, no one will feed my husband”. Guru asked the daughter. Oh, I cannot, she said. He asked the son. “Oh he promised to pay my tuition for my medical course. Now he is dead.” The best friend was approached. He simply ran away. Guru asked the wife. She said, “Who will look after the children if I die? This man has an affair with another woman.” The man who had eaten the Tulasi leaf was listening to all this talk. Guru told him to get up, calling him by his name, Ramaswami. The man at once sat up. Guru asked what about all the comfort and love of your home that you spoke so highly of, yesterday?
“O Guru, Guru, I will leave these people this very minute. I will wear saffron robes or even go naked, if you order me to. Please rescue me from these most selfish and unloving people.” Guru said, “Remember that not one person in your life cares about you. They are only interested in getting things from you. They complain that if you leave, they will be left stranded. That is the same sentiment expressed by all – parents, children, friends, what drama! What acting! All selfish love. Mother-daughter, Wife-husband, all selfish. So much of falsehood. So many lies. Mother needs child’s support, so it is selfish love.”
I have seen all the different Yugas, Never before has it been this bad. True, the family members need support. But not this extent of selfishness. Previous ages in Kali Yuga were better. Datta, what have I done wrong to take birth in this rotten time? Is there even one good devotee in this Kali Yuga? It is like an earthquake inside me. Volcanic eruptions are coming out. I had compassion before. As a duty I come out and work. I can’t I can’t. It is only my personal problem, don’t worry about it. This is all a family secret. Only family worries. Don’t worry about me and don’t worry about you also. We are all Her children. Ok? Mother Goddess, our mother will definitely protect. I gave promise to my mother that I will not declare about my next birth. I have kept my promise. But she never said that I should not speak about my troubles of this lifetime. So happily I am sharing my troubles with you since you are willing to listen. Some people ask me about my next birth. I ask them, are you ready to send me away now? Some old people get offended if anyone asks them if they have written their will. I am telling you my troubles of this lifetime. You may think that I am simply acting. Yes. Because you act, I act also. It is all reversed now because this is Kali Yuga. The Guru has traded places with the devotees. Now Guru follows and imitates disciples.
The reason I am saying all this is that Swamiji is very upset that after He has worked so hard to prepare these videos, you say that you have no time to watch these valuable programs. What do you have time for? To eat, get married, have children, work to fill your stomachs, and then die. You have no thought about getting out of this cycle of birth and death. You have no thought of growing spiritually.
You want to go to America. You want a visa. You want a job promotion. You want your business to prosper. Always these are your concerns. Do you have the wish to spend even a few minutes in contemplating about spiritual topics?
Not one devotee has asked me what the Ramayana or the Bhagavad Gita mean. No one ever asks me for the inner meaning of the Bhagavatam. “Will I pass my exam? Will I get a promotion? Will I get the visa to go to America? Will I get money?” These are the questions that you ask me. Does anyone ever ask? “Appaji, we love the Bhagavata chapters that you have published. Please publish the rest of the chapters”. Only very few children have such interest. You will not ask. Because you think that it would be a sin for you to ask such things. May be now you will ask, since I am insisting. It is all a duty for you. You pay 300 rupees, you receive prasadam. You pay 200 rupees, he plays music for you (as therapy), you pay 500 rupees, and you get full meals.
People come all the way from America and all they want is an interview. They have no interest in growing spiritually. I am happy to see my family relatives, no doubt about it, I am very happy. I may smile and greet you, and say that I have been waiting to see you, but it is only superficial. It comes only from my voice, not from my heart or navel. Because I am very unhappy that you are not utilizing this great opportunity. I feel great grief. It is not in their fate, I feel. Not only people from America, Indian devotees also are like that.
Kailas Talwar is very busy, you know. But he is one great example (of such spiritual inclination). There are a few like that. I am only giving you an example. Mother, Hira aunty, I should not praise; it will give evil eye, has left everything and has come away. She attends every function, even if it is difficult to pay the fare each time. She comes to Swamiji to learn a few things. There are some people like that. They follow that (spiritual) line. You should follow their example. You should taste what they taste. Then your visit here is fulfilled. It becomes worthwhile. You only do what Swamiji says. If He says, sponsor homa, you pay for homa. If Swamiji says, visit the Bonsai garden, then you go visit. If Swamiji says, see the Museum, and then you go see it. See the Star garden, or go to Datta Venkateshwara Temple, you do it. He says, tie the coconut, you tie it. But you do not do them on your own. Does He need to instruct you every time, every day? Like social activities? “Oh, this is good.” The thought should occur to you that this is beneficial, and that while we are alive, we should keep learning something from Swamiji. Just seeing him, having an interview to satisfy our personal affair and leaving is not enough. He is an incarnation. If we are good students, then the teacher will get more inspired. He will teach us better. Your actions are known to Him.
A judge has come here, a very important judge. He said, “I know from the Internet all about Swamiji. But our son from abroad is now telling us over the telephone, all about your greatness. My son is my guru now, who is teaching me about you.” Those who go there miss their culture and heritage. You have it all here and you are negligent. You think that you can attend to it later. That is a terrible mental disease that you want to put off your spiritual training. Later, later later. Are you sure you will be around that long?
Big income tax officer, this grandfather, he comes whenever he feels. I tell him, I will see you when I come to Bangalore. He says, that is your compassion, it is your quota. I have to see you here, and I have to come here. It is my duty. You should come, regardless of any inconvenience, even if you get delayed by a day or two, it does not matter. You have to come.
Regardless of how much I lecture to you, I have to come back to real life, offer Purnahuti, attend Srinivasa Kalyanam, and listen to Ramayana Pravachana. Yesterday we heard about Sita getting kidnapped. A Gandharva, a celestial who turned into a bird, is Jatayu. Today’s episode is of Jatayu receiving blessings from Rama. The bird Jatayu was given the opportunity to serve using his wings. Even a squirrel has helped Rama. Even the demon Vibheeshana helped. Do whatever little you can do. Offer what you have. You say, “What can I do to offer service, I am so small, I am ashamed”, many people think, and do not do anything. “Others are giving a thousand rupees, how can I offer only ten rupees.” you think. You go away without even giving the ten rupees. You perhaps do not deserve to give even those ten rupees for service of guru because you give excuses and you are miserly.
Jaya Guru Datta.