Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji at Annual GBS conference program – June 22, 2013 – Nada Mantapam Mysore
Jai Guru Datta ! Sri Guru Datta !!
These were the slogans in Karthavirya arjuna’s kingdom. Karthaviryarjuna being a Datta devotee, his army and people have this as their slogans. This is also followed as a tradition after Karthaveeryarjuna. This was also passed down as a tradition in Datta’s incarnations. After Sri Pada Vallabha’s incarnation, other slogans like “Avadhoota Chintana” and “Digambara Digambara” came. However we follow the tradition that is directly given to us by Datta Himself to Karthaveeryarjuna. Somebody asked me this morning why all the volunteers made “3 cheers” of “Jai Guru Datta” during the volunteer parade. That only means three cheers of “Jai Guru Datta”. Instead of “left, right” in their march, they can use “Jai Hind” – however, “Jai Guru Datta, Sri Guru Datta” was born even before the world was divided into countries. It came as a tradition from then. So we should keep saying it just as remembering a teacher or Guru. When you say “Jai Guru Datta” (Victory to Guru Datta), one should take it as a victory to himself and to the country. Today we started our prayer with Jai Guru Datta, and continued on to “Jaya Jaya Gnana bodha sabha”. Many don’t know the song by heart. Datta devotees don’t remember “Jaya Jaya Gnana bodha sabha”. Some just copy others while singing and thus repeat the mistakes done by others. Every single devotee needs to learn this prayer.
Every house needs to be subscribed to Bhakti Mala. Those who don’t have membership should take it right away. All the monthly members should take life membership. Your email address, date of birth and email are important. Swamiji sees them sometimes. Also keep your phone number up to date with us. If it changes and we don’t know, we keep trying at the same number for months. Have a dedicated number for Bhaktimala and have your personal number separately. You can also access Bhakti Mala online now. Online means that there is a website for Bhaktimala. It not only has the current month’s issue but also all the previous editions from all the past years. If you go to Bhaktimala.com, and have membership, you can access all issues from the entire history of Bhakti Mala. You can access this from your laptop, iphone, ipad, Samsung (android devices) and all the rest. Many people don’t know this exists. You won’t even need to subscribe to the postal mail if you have the online account. You will have your own personal key which you will need to enter to access to your online account.
Let’s talk about Gnana Bodha Sabha. The main intent of GBS conference is to prepare a report of activities done all year by each branch. Not necessarily in print, unless you have done a lot. The Mysore edition has only important ones. For example: No need to include weekly anagha vratams performed. Annadanam can be included only once. Spiritual or social activities can be included and if you would type it into an organized file, that would be appreciated. Ofcourse, more importantly are the accounts, as indicated by Balaswamiji – keep your accounts up to date, keep the cleanliness alive. Include new people, help the new people while respecting the older ones. Don’t be eager for power or positions and be in it for service. Don’t touch the corpus fund to make grand arrangements. I won’t appreciate it. I would appreciate if you do anything without touching the corpus fund. For example, I wouldn’t appreciate Vijayawada for taking out some amount from corpus fund for the buildings (such as Guru Nilayams). We would have stayed somewhere; we have stayed in mosquito filled rooms earlier.
Corpus fund is to ensure that there is no obstacle for daily prayers and traditions. In some places now, the corpus fund is being taken out for buildings. This is not a good practice. You should save and raise the fund for these projects, which is acceptable. But taking out money without informing Swamiji and hoping to refill it, is not good. You’d rather not take up such projects.
Development programs are planned yearly, which is good. When I instruct you to do something, do it on time or else it will become stale and old and I can’t see it. Don’t delay it for 5-10 years. I visited more frequently when the Guru Nilayams were small and humble. Now there are advanced Guru nilayams but my tours decreased. Eventually there will be lesser tours. This is not about buildings. It is about fulfillment of service done by you. Now Bala Swamiji is travelling to many places. At least then, you should show Him and He will give a report to Swamiji.
If you have a sugar idol of Mother Goddess, and keep eating a little piece of it every day, you’ll have nothing left to pray to. Even a sugar idol, if installed with devotion will not be touched by ants or flies. We make sure it will not melt but not eat it. We are eating up Datta and Swamiji. How can you eat it up? People touch me or my clothes or beard sometimes in meetings. It is as if you’re asking to eat up a piece of me after puja and expect me to heal myself that day and come back for puja next day so you can eat up another piece of me. This is meaningless. God cant be eaten as prasadam. This is like doing abhishekam to the idol with honey and then licking the idol. Does God need such prayer? Treat trust money as a snake, don’t touch it.
You should think of the main Ashram. There are many programs here. There is more Annadana going on, there are about five thousand people attending only on pournima day. Swamiji is initiating mass wedding ceremonies. There are rituals and homas at large scale, grand meetings with upto five thousand participants. If you look at the report you’ll know what the expenses for these events would be. Decorations, microphones, food, water, electricity etc. The groundwater is exhausting; there is no supply of river water. We buy water in tankers. You need to think of the main ashrama too This is the foundation and it needs to be strong.
Try to offer for electricity, water or cleaning or repair etc. You stay in the rooms and pay just the rent. What would you lose if you also fix the tap in the room where needed? You treat this as a hotel. Nobody comes up to offer for the expenses of the dormitory built, but are ready to complain about lack of facilities. This is our own ashrama. This is our birthplace. When you go to your own house, you need to do something for it. You need to think of hardships of your parents . You should standup to the cause and pledge a few bedsheets or buckets for the bathroom or mugs or brooms for cleaning. People need to be asked for sponsorship. We stopped serving in leaves because it is hard to refill them. We serve in plates so they can be re-used. You may offer to pay for cooking gas. You need to think of playing your role in this ashrama.
You have silently listened to all my words now. Don’t be impatient that Swamiji keeps saying over and over again. I am only expressing my feeling. Some woman I won’t name, complained about a saree Swamiji gifted her. I’d excuse if a young girl is complaining about the beauty of the saree, but this was an old woman. She said it’s like a bedsheet. Well, if you don’t like it, give it to your daughter or daughter in law. If not, make it a bedsheet. This is Swamiji’s blessing, it protects you. Swamiji is presenting nose rings to girls. Whoever wants it, go and register. I’m just making you remember your duty in my words. It’s not that nobody is doing it. I never said so. There are many people who are serving silently. They don’t share it with others. I’m asking you to share with others and inspire them.
Jaya Guru Datta !