Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – February 22, 2012 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
Hundreds of Mantra writing notebooks have been distributed free to the devotees during Shivaratri. I wanted at least 108 books to be completed during the festivities and returned to Sri Ganesh Avadhani. We got back only 70 books. Many who have turned them in have already left town. All those who are still present here in the prayer hall who have completed writing the mantra in the book, (completed one notebook) please come and sit in the front. Swamiji will give special blessings. (about half a dozen devotees moved forward and received Sri Swamiji’s pada sparsha and special prasadam).
There is not a single person in the group from the ashram. Out of over 300 families who are residents of the ashram not even one person cared to carry out Swamiji’s instruction. It was a very powerful and special austerity that I wanted performed. I was very particular and specific. The timing was very important. I have even given you an extra day. I did not ask yesterday for it. I am asking now. It was not a difficult task, after all only a few pages to complete. Yet not a single person cared. You spend your time gossiping, watching television, wandering aimlessly, or being lazy. I am very unhappy. I am very distressed. I am ashamed. I am pained. I have utterly failed. You have shown complete disregard for my words. Yet you complain and demand about my services to you. I have become your servant. What is the use of my being Swamiji? I wish I were not Swamiji, but a mechanic in an auto shop, or a waiter in a restaurant. My worth would have been more. If one day I do not give darshan or speak to you or distribute prasadam you make such a big noise and complain. I am required to keep a bright smile, give you interviews and listen to your sad stories, and offer you my services, but you do not have the decency to comply with my one single simple request. I am filled with shame. I feel very humiliated.
There are so many foreign devotees here, who have come from western countries. I treat them all as my own family members. Not one person from that group has completed a note book. Why? Ganesh greets everyone, enquires about their welfare, whether they have had their meals. Yet the friendship is not reciprocated. His instructions went unheeded by everyone. There are so many here from the ashrama staff, who interact with devotees in hundreds of instances, in the Bonsai garden, in the office. Yet no one tried to persuade others to write the mantra in the notebooks. Nobody insisted on my behalf that this instruction should be carried out and that all the devotees are answerable to Swamiji. They themselves have not written. Even senior ashrama staff holding responsible tasks here have not complied with my request. The priest, while sitting here giving teertham, in between, could have written, instead of simply sitting. I used to be a priest when I was young. I loved being near God and serving. This is a total failure for me personally. I feel very ashamed that my words carry no weight. My speech has no value. I feel awful. I have failed miserably.
There is a new scheme that I wanted to introduce during Shivaratri. Somehow it did not happen. I am inaugurating it today. Already videos have been posted on vimeo and YouTube, and emails have been sent explaining the details and the rules. It is totally a voluntary participation.
This project is called ‘Share Your Food’.
Swamiji was born on a Tuesday. Lord Hanuman was also born on a Tuesday. It is a very special day. It is a powerful day. Those who wish to participate in this Annadana (free food distribution) program, which is totally voluntary, are required to give up one meal every week on a Tuesday. It is your choice whether you skip lunch or dinner. The food material or the equivalent cost should be given to the needy, either in your own neighborhood, town, state, or country, or if that is difficult, it may be sent here. In western countries, in some places, perhaps you will find it difficult to find hungry persons who are willing to take your charity. We do Purnima Annadana every Full Moon at Sri Datta Venkateshwara Temple. We offer food to about 4000-5000 poor people. You may send your contribution here if you desire. You may feed the hungry or handicapped person in your own neighborhood also, or give to an organization there that does free food distribution. You may pay for the food, if you cannot actually supply the food. You may pay half-yearly or yearly.
I want this austerity to continue for three years. Then it will be prolonged to nine years for those who wish to continue. For nine years from now there is danger facing the world. This austerity will help to ward off the anticipated calamities or reduce the severity. It is good for your health to skip one meal every week. After three years, you will feel like continuing. It will become a good habit by then. I want 100,000 (one lakh) participants in this program worldwide, to begin with. Later I want the number to grow to one million (ten lakhs). You have to be serious about it and make a definite commitment. You have to give your name, address, and specify the manner in which you wish to perform the Annadana, whether by cash or supply of food, the location of your choice, and the quantity of food or the amount of cash.
Only healthy people can take up this fast. If your health does not permit it, and you still want to participate, you may give food for the needy without fasting. There is no compulsion here to participate if you are not healthy. This scheme is entirely voluntary. Those who opt out of participation are fully forgiven. There is no obligation of any sort.
We have set up a counter with volunteers. Please give your full name, address and the details of your manner of contribution to the volunteers. Meera Datta will be co-ordinating the effort of registering the names of participants in this program. Please contact her. The list will be computerized and given to me with updates.
Sri Guru Datta