Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – evening – November 12, 2015 – Mysuru
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Sastra says that one should not travel today, on the third day of the Deepavali festival. I have traveled from Bengaluru to Mysuru. To Swamiji, Bengaluru and Mysuru are one and the same. One is not supposed to cross the limits of a city, or cross a hill or a river to go to a different city. Where are the borders these days for any city? The boundaries keep changing. So this rule does not apply to Swamiji. I saw a hill today. It was a complete hill some time ago. Now only a half of it remains. The rest has been quarried. One is not supposed to cross a river. No water at all is seen in some rivers in some places these days. The three rules thus have been proved invalid, and hence, they do not count. So they do not apply here. There are no boundaries for Swamiji’s home. The whole world is His home. Time also does not bind Him. He lives in Time that is an unfragmented continuum. Different rooms in a home also sometimes get switched. Living room becomes kitchen. Bedroom becomes dining room, and so on. The world is changing constantly. So many corners are there for this vast home. Different Vastu rules will be mentioned. If one should consider all the Vastu rules, and keep making modifications and renovations, one would have to live in the open marketplace. We live. That in itself is a gift. To just preserve life in this Kali Yuga is difficult. That one lives, is to be considered lucky. One who lives is lucky. One who dies is unlucky.
I found one website. Birth and death information it gives, the birth and death rates in each city. The birth count rapidly increases in India. Each country’s religious symbol is given. Death rate is slower. Birth rate is double the death rate. That means the burden on earth is rising. Soon this earth won’t be enough for accommodating all humanity. That is why calamities occur, for maintaining balance. The Creator gets confused, it seems like.
Population increases, but not people’s Jnana. Only physical needs are met with effort and earnings. No attempt is made for rising to a spiritually higher state.
Birth attracts relatives. They come with joy to celebrate. Death also sometimes gives joy to some. Sorrow felt at the death of a dear one, in three days gets forgotten. It is so strange.
Those who helped others significantly may be remembered a little longer, because they showed a good path for a family or a society. We all must do that. The reason for having festivals is that. Deepavali means, we should learn the significance of light in our lives, the light of Knowledge. We light rows of lamps. The story of Krishna killing Narakasura, we remember.
Today it is Bali Padyami. Emperor Bali was pressed to descend to Patala by the foot of Trivikrama in the Vamana/Dwarf incarnation of Maha Vishnu.
Deepavali is not just for buying and wearing new clothes, eating sweets, going to the cinema, and burning Patakis/firecrackers. Is it only for celebration? Is it not for gaining knowledge?
Do children ask their parents, “Why should we wear Indian clothes? Why are bangles worn? Why do people wear a dot on the forehead? The children don’t ask. The parents don’t bother to explain. Why does Lord Datta keep dogs with him? People in ignorance think that it is for security. Like people keep gunmen as guards, to protect His Kamandalu/the water pot. The trident he holds, people think, for chasing away thieves. Why Kamadhenu/the celestial cow? For his daily supply of milk. Garuda He keeps for convenient transport. People must know the real reasons. Not these funny answers. Those days and now. Compare. Give logical and interesting answers. Expose the mistaken notions of others in a clever way, without offending. Understand things in the right perspective.
What is devotion? What is Bhagavad Gita? What is Ramayana? Search the website. Go through the old Bhakti Mala magazine issues. Enough Jnana is there to serve for 400 years. Always you ask for new words of advice from Guru. First learn and grasp the old advice already given many times in many different ways. Bhajans beautifully explain our philosophy/ Tatva. Swamiji’s sayings are filled with Jnana. SGS Quotes are posted daily and are available for free download. They are all so valuable. But what is the use? You don’t download the apps. How you utilize Swamiji’s teachings is important. You are all so lazy.
Swamiji goes somewhere. Quickly, the information gets exchanged. We need love for Swamiji, an interest in His activities and travel. You should be devoted enough to want to know constantly Swamiji’s whereabouts and activities. You should not be always concerned only about your personal problems and nothing else.
Today is a good day. Light lamps. Pray for Jnana. When you come with genuine interest and pray, He gives. You have to be ready to receive enlightenment. Then He gives.
Jyoti if you light, He gives you Paranjyoti. He takes you to the highest state. You must put in effort, perform penance, and do sadhana. Then you get the reward. You will not get an instant result. So much process is involved even in getting an idli or a dosa. How can enlightenment be given on demand, instantly? It is not possible. Moksha you give, people demand. For a payment of 450 Rupees, is it possible to give liberation? No. What is moksha? Somebody asked. I said it is Masala Vada. There is a Hotel called Guru Darshan. And Moksha. Next to a casino. Certainly you will get enlightenment there. He knows the Prasthana Traya, someone began. I have read, he said.
I said I don’t know.
Jaya Guru Datta. Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri