Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Datta Jayanti Day 2 – December 2, 2017 – Mysore
Compiled by: Smt Hira Duvvuri
For the last three days, Gita Jayanti, then Hanumajjayanti, and now Datta Jayanti, we have festivities going on at Datta Peetham. 25 days ago, we conducted the Ati Rudra Homa, and simultaneously, the Nakshatra Ishti rituals are being carried out. This is a very rare sight. Whatever happens at Datta Peetham, we should not call it Ashrama, is extraordinary. Nakshatra Ishti is one such remarkable event. These rituals are done only once in 75 years. After 75 more years, we don’t know where Swamiji will be, or any of you will be. Daily, all the 27 birth stars are worshiped, and in addition, the star for the day receives special worship. We must never let go the opportunity to witness such programs. They are very precious.
We are all Karma Jeevis, born according to our past karma. As per our karma, we are grouped, given attributes, and various principles that determine our personalities. We are given body, sense organs, mind, and intellect. This body keeps traveling continuously. According to karma, it keeps taking births on its own. It follows God’s will and plan. It is an unstoppable wheel. We cannot stop it. It has no brake. The speed does no vary. It neither reduces nor increases. It maintains its speed. Paramatma, the Supreme Soul, who manages this wheel, is free from both birth and death. Following mental makeup, we perform karma, and then experience the consequences.
People of all kinds get all types of questions. Endless questions, not one or two. Not just the questions as to who am I and who are you. We are so concerned with some zillion questions pertaining to all aspects of this creation. We seem to be only preoccupied with these worldly questions. We do not go beyond them, towards inquiring about Paramatma. We are stuck with issues concerning only home, ashram, work place, mother, father, children, and that is all. After these concerns, mind gets switched off. Does not go further. Next time around, our parents are different beings, we do not know. Some other home. As per karma, what species you are born as, you don’t know. In what shape or manner you return to life, is unknown.
You don’t know what kind of womb you will occupy next. Countless births we have taken, without stop. We are drowned in delusion and do not pause at all. We become householders, get bound in attachments, cannot swim this ocean, have no compass or direction, we suffer. We go through lives like this. One is born great, one is born low, one is rich, one is poor, one is a scholar, another is illiterate. In different ways we suffer.
Krishna, please spare me from rebirth, I plead with you – is the prayer we must learn from the Bhagavatam.
Swamiji has been recording the Bhagavatam for 3 years. Daily spending 3-4 hours was still not sufficient. 1070 episodes he has completed. 187 hours of recording. Not just audio. If it is just voice recording, it is easier. But this is video recording. So facial expressions and body language are seen. It is visual. Swamiji has to be very expressive and effectively convey all the nine types of emotions and feelings. He has to weep and laugh as per the situation in the narrative. It is very difficult. The subject is different in each chapter. The feelings expressed in each chapter are different. So many important clues are given for people about how to approach the topic, how to study each subject and grasp its content. Which chapters should be read, and how seriously, and what actions to perform, and what the consequences for each action are, are all explained.
I have mentioned about the numerous questions which arise. The answers to them all are found here in the Bhagavatam. Whatever doubt you may have in life, in material or spiritual life, all of them are addressed in the Bhagavatam. You may think you are a modern scientist with a fresh perspective and have a novel discovery. But it is already there in the Bhagavatam.
Those who come to Swamiji thinking that they are going to pose a very new question, will be surprised to know that their question has already been answered in the Bhagavatam. What is happening today in NASA is mentioned there. What is yet to come, the future happenings on earth, and the future happenings on other planets and stars is also already documented there. What we think is a new question is really a very old question. Those who read the original Bhagavatam will not understand it the first time. It must be read seven times. That means, we need to invest seven years of time on it. If you wish to learn about yourself, no one else can tell you. You have to discover the truth yourself about you. No Guru will clear your doubt about yourself. Guru will add new questions to the questions already existing. He will create fresh complications. For you to understand yourself, you have to engage in the study yourself. You become your own Guru. You will then discover yourself. That is the power of each chapter of the Bhagavatam.
See what has happened to my voice, from using my vocal cords so much for the recording. No sleep, no food, always thinking about Bhagavatam, always remembering Bhagavatam, always speaking about Bhagavatam. I took a vow to complete the recording. Till that was done, I did not pay attention to any pain in the body. I had no feelings. I was mechanically giving answers to people, without really being concerned about what they spoke about. Those were not my concerns. They were never my concerns, as a matter of fact.
I was wanting to finish by Datta Jayanti. How is it possible? It was such a mammoth commitment. It is not just reading the text. I explained the meaning in prose, in addition to chanting some verses. Had I attempted to read all the verses, the project would have taken seven years.
I did not want anyone to have any doubts left, so I made my explanations very clear and simple. Today I completed. It is a great achievement, not for Swamiji, but for you. It is a treasure for you.
If you begin listening 24 hours continuously, without sleeping, in seven and a half days, you will complete. Swamiji has made the explanation very comprehensive. It caters to all tastes and needs. Swamiji has satisfied everyone’s requirement, whether one seeks the path of devotion, of knowledge, or karma. If you wish to remain totally immersed in worldly affairs, that path is also shown. If you wish to drown in delusion and live like an insect, even that option is available to you. You may choose whatever you like and choose. Bhagavatam is like that. It is as vast as the cosmos.
How deluge and earthquake occur, is explained there. How fires erupt, is explained there. Now science thinks it has made new discoveries. All those facts are already revealed in the Bhagavatam. Sage Vyasa has already recorded it all. He has declared that it is man and his greed for comfort which will lead to the destruction of this planet earth. Man will destroy himself, he said, like Bhasmasura, who touched his head and set it on fire. He also spoke about future creations and what to expect.
Lord Dattatreya’s spiritual teaching given to King Yadu is also a part of the Bhagavatam. As an Avadhoota, Datta himself explains his philosophy and principle to Yadu. On the occasion of Datta Jayanti it is important to know whom we should accept as our Guru. One should understand about Maya, delusion. Krishna’s power of delusion is fantastic. Once he says all that exists is He. Then he switches and says, not I, it is all you. So many confusions he creates. Once he says, I am responsible for this that occurs. Then he turns around and says, no, it is all because of your karma. So many confusions beset the mind. Nothing will make sense. A wise person should persist and cross over all those hurdles. Then the true principle will reveal itself and it will be grasped.
Bhagavatam is very easy and it is also as tough a subject to understand. Even the most modern questions are dealt with in the Bhagavatam. Even Tsunami is mentioned. All calamities are mentioned. How in a mere thousand years the earth will break into pieces, is predicted. It is speedily moving towards its destruction. It is because we are removing oil from underground. We are burning it. We are filling the atmosphere with that smoke. Where will all that smoke go? It fills the atmosphere. We may think the earth is big. For Paramatma, it is very tiny. This pollution is spoiling the life-giving air. In every household, there are three cars and two scooters. Where will all that smoke go? Just keep one vehicle. Each child must have his or her own vehicles. The streets are filled with vehicles. Not enough parking spaces.
Every town has twenty factories. So many factories. So much smoke. Homa smoke is hardly seen. Only cigarette and tobacco smoke. Homa smoke is smoke from ghee. According to science, this smoke counteracts the evil effects of the harmful smoke. It is so beneficial. Kerosene, and gasoline smoke is harmful. It spreads and finally boomerangs upon us.
There are many ancient stories of where magicians create monsters with the power of mantras, which ultimately cause the destruction of their own creator. The story of Ambareesha is one such. The wheel comes back and destroys the one who gives the curse and releases it. The one who sprinkles water and curses with a mantra, himself gets destroyed by the curse. There is no other way.
The polluted air we release, the poisonous gas with spread across the globe and will destroy its beings. This is unavoidable. It is inescapable. The ground is becoming loose. Governments are urging people to reduce consumption of oil, but people are not listening. One day a year, they say turn off lights, and shut down factories. But who does it? No one. People boast egotistically that they did not comply. What do you lose if you do not use the car one day, or turn off the refrigerator? What do you lose if one day you turn off the lights? Why can’t you do it? Bhagavatam unequivocally states that man alone is responsible for the destruction of this planet. We are not paying heed to this dire caution. That is why we will perish. Countless such warnings are given in the Bhagavatam.
Today, by Datta’s grace, Swamiji has completed the recording of the Bhagavatam. This evening at 5 PM we will perform a special puja to the small golden Krishna, making all the required offerings. He is not the baby Krishna, but Paramatma, the father of Brahma, Siva, and Adi Parasakti. He has no form. We have attributed to him a form.
In his incarnation as Krishna, he has shown to the world that whatever takes form must perish. That is why he allowed his own body to perish. He sent many in their physical bodies to heaven using his powers. But his own body, he allowed to burn. God is imperishable. But body is perishable. He is cautioning us all. It is the great secret in the Bhagavatam.
Whoever worships Datta with total surrender and devotion will flourish here and in the hereafter. He taught to King Yadu about himself. Guru is Paramatma. You must recognize him. He does many miracles and confusing actions. We talk about people doing various things. But God has no form for you to point at. You must explore deeply to grasp this subtle point. You say, this happened to me. But there really is no you. No one cheats anyone. No one gives pain to anyone. No one deceives anyone. There are no relationships whatsoever. Everyone must leave the body and go away. Even after a hundred years, you must leave. Even after 120 years, you must give it up. This body must be returned to the earth. It will perish. It will be burned, buried, or destroyed otherwise. Our ancestors might have done a certain way. We may do it a modern way by using electricity to ignite.
Who are you? What is your journey? Where are you going? What are feelings? Where are they? Will you return to this home again? No. This is finished. Where is the next home? All these things we must think about. If you begin to think about these things in childhood itself, then, by the time you are 50 or 60 years old, you will develop strong spirituality. Otherwise, it will not happen. You must start from today itself. While engaged in worldly affairs, you should also be thinking of these things. We are materialistic. We are born in this world. While living in this world, we must remain detached, and be contemplating about God. At every instance, you must keep questioning yourself. No one will give you answers. If you don’t seriously explore, the questions will remain as so many why’s.
If you keep asking yourself repeatedly, the answers will certainly emerge. These are not questions you should ask others. No one else can give you answers. Your karma has designed your life and situations. If you ask, and expose your questions to others, you will only be humiliating yourself before them. But, you won’t receive any satisfactory answers. If you wish to receive the answers, then you must ask only yourself. Then you will understand who you are. Discovering why you are amidst the situations in which you find yourself, will make you the greatest scientist or discoverer. You should not have to be told by others about yourself. You must find out by yourself.
I am not talking about worldly knowledge here. For that, you certainly need a teacher or a professor to teach and instruct you. That knowledge is transient. It keeps changing. I am talking about Jnana, eternal Truth, which is unchanging. For this, you do not require any outside instructor. You must learn on your own. For knowledge that gets erased, you need an outside teacher. But to gain knowledge that is permanent, you do not need any outside teacher. Remember this. You are your own Guru.
How to handle this problem that Swamiji has now placed before you? All the questions you ask Swamiji about are all about issues that keep changing. That is why you need me. To receive the ultimate Truth, you cannot get it from me. You must earn it yourself, from within yourself, by totally cleansing yourself. Then, what is my role in this? I am just a quiet witness. It is about the changing things of the world that we keep asking everybody. You then get insulted. To discover the ultimate, eternal Truth, you must keep questioning yourself. Am I the sense organs? Am I the mind? Am I the intellect? Am I my ears? Who am I? You must think about it. I am Ramanna. Am I really Ramanna? Without talking, you explore within yourself, as to who you really are. What is the answer to this question? Only silence. You will never find an answer to this question from any books or any professors or gurus. That is certain.
It is a categorical truth that from these sources you will not get the answer.
How to get the answer then? What should I do? You must develop total devotion. You must fully surrender to God. Then the light within will suddenly get switched on, the light of knowledge. You will have no need of these external light sources. All these are artificial lights, false lights. All the truths which you receive from the outside are false. None of it is true. Remember that well. Any books you read, will give you only false knowledge. Whatever you have studied thus far is all false knowledge. Whoever has taught you thus far is blind and you are also blind. You will not get any suggestions from anyone.
Outside electric light may flicker and go out, but the inner light has never any voltage variations. It never flickers. Once you taste that bliss, you will not want anything else. That is what we must seek in this life. That is what one should strive for.
With worldly affairs, we have enthusiasm to achieve some thing or another. Once it is achieved, the excitement is gone. You are eager to purchase a certain car. Until it is purchased, there is a lot of excitement and anxiety. Once it is purchased, the thrill is gone. It becomes stale. Whatever you wish to gain, until you get it, night and day you dream about it and fret over it, o my new house, the housewarming function, this and that. Once it is done, no more excitement. Life becomes stale. It is like a penance until you achieve it. New house, new house, new camera, new camera. New dress, new dress. So much tension till you get it. Once you wear the new dress, all interest in it is lost. Don’t waste your energy on insignificant, fleeting things like that. Instead, why don’t you chant Om Namassivaya? Develop dispassion. You should feel that nothing is of such great importance. Then you will automatically develop interest in Paramatma. That is what Bhagavatam teaches us. While you remain engaged in worldly affairs, remain detached from them. Don’t get too involved. Don’t feel any tension about any of the worldly issues. Just be satisfied with having Swamiji’s guidance in your life. That is all you require. You must reach that stage. That should come. This is what Bhagavatam says. I have explained in a most easy manner. What is easier than this? Eating Prasadam with salt, and sour tastes. I cannot make it any easier. In Kali Yuga, singing the names of God is the easiest method. That is what I tell you finally. It will take us very close to God. Surrender yourself to God. Seek his refuge. Trust Him completely. Just be an instrument in His hands. While you handle your family relationships, keep them as touch and go. Don’t get deeply involved.
Prahlada was such a young boy. Akka Mahadevi and Kodagoosa were such young girls. Dhruva was such a young child. Look at them all. Markandeya and Maitreyi were so young. They all experienced God. So many small children have attained liberation. We have read about them in our scriptures. Should we not be ashamed of ourselves? We must feel ashamed. From this Datta Jayanti onward, do continuous chanting of any given to you by Guru. If you have not received any mantra, then chant Om Namo Vaasudevaaya, or Draam Dattaaya Namaha. I am giving public initiation now.
Receive these mantras. Close your eyes and repeat these mantras. Very easy mantras. These are sufficient.
As I had instructed you to do yesterday, how many of you are chanting the Datta Stavam? First prize winner will receive a gold pendant from me. Second prize winner will receive a silver pendant. And so on. Register your names with Mani. You are your own judges. Give the number. Give your names as participants. Do your best to chant as many times as possible.
Swamiji talking to you now is also Maya. He is deliberately distracting you like this from your chanting. Yesterday, many of you make bold promises that you will do it. Now many have faced hurdles. Some obstinate ones are continuing to do the japa. While listening to good words, you can continue the japa. But if you listen to bad words, it will spoil your Japa. Good words will promote your good Japa. While performing a vow, if you are interrupted by an action that follows Dharma, it is not considered detrimental. While you are in a vow of silence, you see a child falling and getting hurt, it is not wrong to get up at once to pacify the child, and offer a chocolate. That is an act of Dharma. It is not a hindrance to the vow. God will forgive you for breaking your silence. You are doing a kind act, nothing selfish. Some people keep mum, even when Swamiji speaks to them while they are in a vow of silence. They do not respond with an answer but make gestures that they are in a vow of silence. That is wrong. When saints speak to you, or touch you, it is the highest blessing. The Vedas declare thus.
When Swamiji Himself asks you a question, if you do not respond, it is sinful. The very reward you desire for your vow is that Swamiji should speak with you. But when he speaks, if you boast about your vow, it is foolish and wrong. It is not penance. It is demonic attitude.
Now, I must go for the Nakshatra Ishti Homa. They are preparing to make offerings to God. I should not make them wait.
Sri Guru Datta