Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Mysore Ashrama – October 9, 2012
Jaya Guru Datta
Royal Albert Hall is beautifully built, an architectural marvel, with wonderful acoustics. It was built 150 years ago. 36 years ago, in 1976 when Raja Rao Naidu arranged for a city tour of London, we were all taken there. I asked him what the place was. He said that it was an auditorium. I told him then, that I would not step into the building now, but that I would enter the building only if I were to play there. For some reason, I did not say that I wished to sing there. It happened in this silver jubilee year of my starting to give Healing Music Concerts, in this 25th year of concerts, that I played at the Royal Albert Hall. For some reason, they have not allowed any Indian performers to render Indian music there until now. They seem to prefer only western music. After 150 years, this was the first time that an Indian was allowed to give a performance inside this hall. 36 years ago, I was only singing bhajans. I was not playing any instruments. Perhaps because I made that statement that day, I was destined to begin playing musical instruments.
How did Creation begin? When Brahma emerged from the lotus in the navel of Lord Vishnu, he heard the sound, ‘tapa tapa tapa,’ which means, ‘do penance, do penance, do penance.’ So Brahma performed penance. He was gifted the four Vedas which explained the procedure for Creation. He began creation by first creating mind-born sages, Sanaka, Sanandana and others. They also heard the same sounds, ‘tapa, tapa, tapa,’ and so they also began to do penance. They all helped Brahma in the process of Creation.
Homeopathy medicine uses the same principle that Brahma used in creating the Universe. They take a miniscule part of the substance that causes a disease and they dilute it by repeated processes of churning to a most minute fraction. That they place in a sugar pill and it effectively cures the disease. Similarly, the same Supreme Soul is present in the minutest fraction, in every part of Creation. The source is the same. That same spark in a sub-atomic scale is present in every one of us.
Take the Sun. He is fiery, huge, and extremely energized. In his most vigorous movement, some bits fell off and became planets. Our Earth is one such. Its source is the Sun. Each one of us derives our energy, life force, and consciousness from the same Supreme Soul. Sometimes some of us feel that we have accomplished something far beyond our limited capacity. We must remember at all such times that we are not the doer. The higher energy is the doer, the one that accomplishes. We are merely instruments in its hands.
Somebody here is falling asleep as I speak. Why? Why do Swamiji’s speeches and bhajans put people to sleep? It is because when Swamiji speaks or sings his voice is very soothing and level, except of course when he is giving discourses, rendering stories from the scriptures. At such times, he has to present each character suitably. When Ravana is addressing Sita, he is not going to be speaking in a very soft and pleasing tone, nor Sita, when she responds to him. At such times, Swamiji will change His tone of voice and do justice to the role that He is portraying.
Lots of devotees came from all over the world to attend the concert at Royal Albert Hall. Almost 30 countries were represented. From most major cities in India also devotees came. Even Mysore was represented. The Matru mandali and the Pitru mandali were represented. Some, who wished to come, could not come because of visa problems.
The CD, 12 tunes of Zodiac has hit top rankings on iTunes. ITunes and flipkart have about 78 CDs of Swamiji’s available for direct download into your computers. I want all of those devotees who have purchased the entire collection from these online sources to send me their names. These are very special devotees. Old people also must get computers and learn to use them. Once you download this music, it is all there at your fingertips for you to listen all the time. It is perhaps less expensive to purchase online than to buy from the bookstall. Please purchase these quickly. I am happy that the instrumental music of Swamiji has hit top ranking. But I want to see something with Swamiji’s singing voice to reach the top slot also.
Preparations have begun for the Navaratri celebrations. They are just around the corner. Hanuman is getting ready. Swamiji is very happy. The visit to Norway to see all the waterfalls was wonderful. The London devotees have done an outstanding job arranging the concert at Royal Albert Hall.