Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – November 16, 2015 – Mysore
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
Ashram children and adults, I am giving you all one serious caution. Everyone must come for evening bhajans which are held daily from 6:30 to 7:45. At least attend for 15 minutes. Otherwise stay outside the ashram. You will lose touch with singing bhajans if you do not attend. To develop devotion you are required to sing bhajans. Weekends, it is a must. It is compulsory. Whether you cook and eat at home, or you eat in the dining hall, you are required to vacate your rooms if you fail to attend the bhajans. I don’t need you here, if you do not come to sing bhajans. Bhajans are most important for Swamiji. Attend at least 2-3 bhajans. Saturdays, yes. Sundays also. Many out of towners leave on Sunday, so Swamiji has changed his bhajan session to Saturdays now. For the convenience of livestream viewers from other countries also, this change has been made.
This weekend, both on Saturday and Sunday Swamiji sat with you in the Prayer Hall. When he is here, he does not like to miss the bhajan sessions. Bhajans are his breath. If other programs are there also he comes as if he has taken a vow. If kids have private tuition all the time and cannot find the time to attend bhajans, then stay outside, not in the ashram. Computer room children also. Rajeshwari and party. Why don’t you come regularly? What do you do in the evening time? The birds are asleep by then.
I don’t worry about outsiders. I am addressing those who stay in the ashram and still don’t come. If you have devotion, and sing bhajans regularly, you will do excellent in studies. If you leave off singing bhajans your brilliance goes away. It is our life. 10 min. minimum you must attend.
All the way from Canada he came to play the harmonium here. Is he mad? He has a family there. Mani and others have studio work. But still, sometimes he comes. Gayatri in her childhood learned to play the harmonium. She is here. Only one tabla player we have here. Suresh does so much work. Also learns music. Bonsai and Shuka Vana, he has so many responsibilities. But he comes. By singing even one bhajan, he feels immense relaxation. When he eats I don’t know. In chilly conditions he sleeps near the window. Many people sacrifice more than he. I am not praising him.
Appaji is in town. Should you not attend bhajans? I don’t like this. How long I will live I don’t know. I have to speak like this to get your attention. While Swamiji is alive and in town, you should come at least. You people don’t care. I will sit upstairs only hereafter. It is your duty to come and sing. Not good fortune. Each gets a different type of Moksha/Liberation. The singer, the drummer, the keyboard player, all get their own different type of Moksha.
Namadeva wanted rebirth just to sing the praises of God. It is penance. In Kali Yuga it is so easy. Sanskrit words. Powerful seed letters. Bhajans on different deities and on Guru. You praise God through songs. It is only possible here. Students especially, should not miss the bhajan sessions. Girls from the ashrama should not stay out so long for tuitions or other things. They should return home well before it is time to sing bhajans.
Bhajans here are mandatory. Exam time only you have an exemption.
You should feel guilty if you miss bhajans. In Swamiji’s childhood all cinema halls in Proddatur gave him free admission. Sadhu payya he was called. Religious movies Swamiji would go to see. But he would watch only for 15 minutes. Documentaries only he watches now. Only half. Then he turns it off. No mental involvement. Food also, the same thing. No attachment. No taste. No involvement. Daily activities are all like that. All festivals, I say no special foods. I never consume. Refuse. Control Swamiji likes. They have to make. I do not allow them not to make. New people wonder why he has them prepare the special items but does not eat them.
Creation is not instant. Must prepare. But slavery to taste must be avoided. Music also. Beautiful music he listens to, but no involvement. Changes the topic at once, if the music begins to involve the mind. Penance is to avoid involvement. Except in Divyanama Sankeertana, in all other things involvement must be avoided. In singing bhajans only, one must get fully involved.
This is a place for yogis. For penance. Do not leave it. You must come as if for duty. Those children who do not respect parents will leave them and go abroad. Eating one meal if not possible, it is fine. At least go to bhajans. Or else you cannot sleep from feeling guilty. If you sing bhajans regularly, as a duty, your illness goes away. If you come for bhajans you benefit.
When Swamiji was away, earlier, Radhakrishna used to sing. When Swamiji was not here also, so many would come. They would report to Swamiji later, how much they enjoyed the bhajan sessions here. Now you come only when Swamiji is here. Fake devotion. I know your drama. After getting a telephone or SMS message you come. Are you not ashamed?
No?
When Swamiji is present, so many volunteers are here, sweeping, dusting, arranging. When Swamiji is not there, no one. Devotion is displayed only around Swamiji. Once he is gone, no one cares. So many lines of people arrive, to send off Swamiji, all selfish. Don’t I know? People wait and crowd around Swamiji only when he comes in and when he leaves. I cannot move freely outside. On the bridge when you see Swamiji you prostrate. Here, in the Prayer Hall, in his presence, you talk and make noise. Like chameleons, you change colors and pretend devotion.
I remember you, even in Vaikuntha, my fake devotees. I will report to Yama about you. I am not speaking from anger or sorrow. Only pity. If I had a guru like this in my childhood, I would never have left his presence.
What have I done wrong? Why do you try to deceive me? Why don’t you follow Swamiji’s instructions? Many people here watch television. Ananta Ramakrishna turned off the electricity to prevent them from watching so much television. No one thanked him for cutting off power. They all complained.
Go even now. So many television sets will be on in the Ashrama homes. Even out of town visitors have reported that to Swamiji. Bhaskar is ready to disconnect all the television connections. No shame? TV serials are being watched, while bhajans are going on in the Prayer Hall. How wrong your actions are. Am I not right? How difficult is it for you to come for half hour every evening to please Appaji? I know everything. I feel surprised at your attitude and feel pity. Even one bhajan to sing is so relaxing. You don’t have to stay for one hour. Ten minutes only, I ask, at the minimum. Will you change? Married girls I do not question. Those who are engaged in doing Facebook work, you must continue. I said for five years, until Swamiji is 75 that work must continue. Outsiders do this work these days. Your rights others have usurped. Don’t Allow that.
It is Swamiji’s wish that everyone should learn several skills. Share your work. Learn driving, doing homa, cooking, etc. Murali did. Does so much work. One should know how to do everything. Anytime, any work. Be ready. Speak the truth, don’t lie, and don’t say I don’t know. Be accountable. Search for items if Swamiji is looking for something and wants you to find it. If you make the effort to search, you will find it.
Yesterday who were all the children who were here singing bhajans before Swamiji came? Only five. Not those who arrived after I came, after receiving phone messages. Only kids. For these other kids, Appaji’s bhajans are cheap. Cinema songs they will eagerly learn. MMS team is not ashram people. You are great.
Who knew about bhajans and Appaji’s presence, but still did not come? Not your fault. Your parents’ fault. How many knew but came late? Owl. Lakshmi’s vehicle. No problem.
Take photo with these children who were here with Appaji yesterday. You kids should lead bhajans. Sing in tune and the proper key. You are all the future ashrama musicians. I will watch for one week continuously to see who comes and who doesn’t come. Bring iPads. Not tiny mobile phones to read the bhajan lyrics. Your parents have several IPads. Snatch one of them. Now, sing one last bhajan on Siva. Samsung phones were on Deepavali special offer, so I got several for the children.
Sri Guru Datta