Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji in the morning- July 1, 2014 – Datta Temple, Baton Rouge, USA
Jaya Guru Datta
Harihi Om Tatsat
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namah
Some devotees are thinking why Swamiji is eating navaratnas? Yes. I am eating. In the Ramayana, Rama gave a Navaratna Mala to Sita. She gave it to Hanuman. He started eating it. Rama asked him why he was eating the necklace. Hanuman said, I am looking to see if I can find any Rama Nama. Like that I am looking for Datta. Especially, I came here to see Dattatreya. There is only one Datta temple in America. There may be small idols here and there but only one small but full-fledged Datta temple here in Baton Rouge. Small group devoted devotees is here. Today it is a week day. But you are all lucky devotees. Weekends Dallas and other places there are programs. Today we had homa, Sri Chakra puja, and Guru pada puja. Good darshan at Datta sannidhi. Even though it is a week day, those who have the yoga (the privilege and eligibility) have come. Some have the required duty to go to work. Once upon a time, Swamiji only used to visit Baton Rouge. Now so many places He visits. Still the place is not enough. In the whole of America there are so many Datta devotees, Guru devotees, Hanuman devotees, Yoga devotees, and Music devotees. There is not enough space. JDRC, Dallas, and Baton Rouge.
Earlier it was only Baton Rouge, and everyone came here. From Houston, Dallas, DRC devotees used to come here. Sri Jayalakshmi Mata Bhavan used to get full. But this time Swamiji has come for a short visit. One drop of Amrita is enough. No need to drink a big quantity. A bit is enough. One drop. No need for a glass-full like coffee or tea. Darshan also it is the same thing. Whole day darshan is not possible. The body’s needs have to be satisfied, such as hunger, thirst, and sleep. A once in a while visit is more valuable. But one should not miss the chance to get a drop of Amrita. But you should not have it 3 times a day by glass-full. Too much God darshan also is not good. What is non-available is more valuable. They put a curtain in a temple. Otherwise there would be no value. We would otherwise sleep, eat, and drink, in front of the deity. If darshan is rare, then, for it you yearn. More value when you get only one drop, not big bottles. Like that God’ darshan. A temple is only open in the morning and the evening. Not all day. That is why just have a rare darshan. Just for one moment. Not daily all the time. Then there would be no value. In the past they have made a tradition that some days such as Thursday and Saturday are special. Only once a year Vaikuntha Ekadasi comes. Not every day.
What does man need? To give fulfillment to man, God has prescribed a proper time and a proper procedure for performing dharma. But God’s name chanting you should do with every breath. To do worldly duties and sacred duties, our body is given to us. This is not ours. Complete all your duties and then leave the body. This is a rental house, this body. It is not ours. That is dharma to return what He has given. In silence you give it back. While it lasts, whether for 100 years, 8000 years, or ten thousand years, like Rama, He also gave up His body. Gave it back to the elements. This body has to finish karma and then go back to the native place. We need to return this. After keeping for a hundred years you get bored. Daily joy and sorrow. Beginning is very happy. This family, relatives, house, job, new things. How many days? Same. Daily grief. No calm silence. Alternate sorrow and happiness. You become moody. You want to die. To watch superficially, yes, it gives excitement, Majaa; but when you go deep, you realize that it is not good. One or another problem keeps occurring. For the moment there is new happiness; then it turns into a bore. New confusion you want.
Don’t you get bored? Again and again you fall into maya. One day you talk about detachment. After a few moments, again what is this you cry? It is all maya. So be careful. Drowned in maya/illusion, stuck in the mire. It is like big new quicksand. Free yourself. You keep untying one knot to tie a different knot. One problem solved. New problem comes. You keep praying to God for relief. You should be ashamed. Instead, ask for liberation. Ask for knowledge. Ask for enlightenment. No one asks. Are you not shamed? You keep asking God to remove difficulties, to solve worldly problems. Ask only for light, for salvation, for mukti. That is why I am eating these navaratnas/nine precious gems, looking for mukti. Searching. Do Japa; do charity for liberation. Search for the path. Then by itself grief goes away; automatically confusion gets solved. Do not feel agitated or afraid about confusion. Yesterday suddenly there was confusion. Now it is vanished. Then the next confusion begins. This body is there for how many days? Relationship of body is with confusion. It lasts till death; some hang on to confusion like ghosts even after death. While there is a chance, get rid of your confusion. Stop asking God for worldly favors. Ask for the end of asking God for worldly favors. Face problems. Ask for strength to face your problems, and not an end to problems.
Jaya Guru Datta.