Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji in the morning – July 14, 2018 – Toronto, Canada
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Hanuman Chalisa is the Kali Yuga Mantra. Very powerful mantra recommended by many saints from their own experience. It is because we are all Karma beings. Without Karma there is no human being.
Kama, Karma, Avidya – three kinds of Karma in human beings. Kama is desire, I want this, I want that, I want money, like that. Always. Eating also, I want to eat this, I want to eat that, like that. Even sleeping. All the time, desires. That is Kama. You are thinking in so many different ways. It is natural.
God gave us this Karma. We want to finish this Karma. Not possible to finish this Karma. But possible with Mantra. Reduce it with Hanuman Chalisa, Guru Gita, Datta Stava, Lakshmi Stava, Guru Stava, whatever you chant. 1000 times, 100,000 times, one million times. Keep increasing your energy to reduce Karma.
Naturally, we are all carrying Karma. Without Karma, there is neither birth nor death. So, it is natural. God-given gift, this Karma, you must experience it, you must suffer, you must pass on this Karma. If you associate with Sadguru, do Satsanga, and chant Mantra, may be, the power of Karma will get weakened. We want to get rid of our Karma. Otherwise, it is very difficult to fight it. Only one way. You must observe all rituals and follow Sadguru as much as possible. Meditate as much as possible. Go inward, antarmukha. You must practice Mouna/silence. Very difficult to practice it. One can sit in silence, but the mind is talking. It is running, doing something. Very difficult to control. Practice mouna strictly for 1-3 hours daily. Slowly increase the duration. Mouna helps with meditation, with mantra, and with doing good deeds. Silence is very very important in our lives. It automatically helps with Mantra.
Kama is ambitions. So many things. We want that new car, all the time, new, new, new house. This is Kama. No satisfaction. Always wanting wanting, need, need, begging, begging. It is not a good quality in the spiritual way. Kama. Make it less. Reduce, control your Kama. Be satisfied with what God has given. Practice Trupti, satisfaction. Then Kama will reduce slowly.
Karma reduces by doing different types of rituals. Kama reduces when you control yourselves.
Avidya means fighting. I know this. I studied. Somebody told. I feel. My heart is saying this. I feel this. This is the final word. That is Avidya. So many people are arguing. Husband and wife arguing. Sometimes even arguing also with Guru, Sadguru. Foolish people. It is not good. They study something. Somebody told them something. They are following only that way. Proverb says, my hen has three legs. If others say, no, hen has only two legs, they argue, it may look like it has only two legs, but in my opinion, my hen has three legs. Why you are telling three legs, it has only two legs, No, no, no, my hen has three legs. That is Avidya, stubbornness. Obstinacy. I know. My inner mind tells me. This is the fact. My pet hen has three legs. I have heard. I know. Such people are idiotic. They are ignorant. It is worthless trying to convince them. They will not listen. They belong to the devilish category.
Rakshasa category. There are two categories, one is demonic, one is angelic.
Such people are Rakshasas, not human beings. In our associations, our families, there are three types of people: we ourselves do not recognize them. May be my husband is a Rakshasa, may be my wife is a Rakshasi. How to find out? Very difficult. We are all family members. May be sister, sister’s husband, like that. May be yourself, may be your child, or your best friend also. You can tell the difference, this is a human being, this is a demon, or this is an angel. The obstinate people are human beings with a demonic quality. You should leave them alone. If you talk to them, your mind will get spoiled. It gets destroyed. You should go far away. Don’t talk to that person, no matter how important he may be.
We are trying to follow the spiritual path. Why do we invite this Karma? Therefore, we should leave them alone. This subject is Avidya.
The five elements in our body cause us hunger, thirst, and so one. Time, always controlling. Physical suffering, cannot sit, cannot sleep, have to take medicines, treatment. All types of problems, we suffer a lot trying to protect this life. We suffer so much torment that it is like going to the god and Death and coming back. What is the use of all that suffering? When you regain your health, that very moment you must begin your journey on the spiritual path. Spend every second in your spiritual pursuit. Don’t waste even a minute. We are lucky. You are all gathered here. You are listening to Swamiji. You are all talking to me. We have earned that Yoga of being together. This we must not miss. We must develop this Yoga. Then, Avidya will vanish on its own.
We have three enemies: Kama, Karma, and Avidya.
Then the five elements, the Pancha Bhootas. They also give us pain. They do not give pleasure. They create immense troubles. They give equal amount of pleasure and pain. It is a big secret. Human being’s state is a secret. It is very difficult to explain about this. Only one way to understand these five elements. You need light to grasp this secret. The only way is to chant mantra, like your heart beat, chant constantly. Lub dub, or your breath.
We will all go away. Our mind takes us in different directions. We all will go away sooner or later. After 40 years, most of us won’t be here. In 60-70,90 years, none of us will be here. After 1000 years, the human race itself will not be here. I know it. It will be lost. You understand. The earth will remain as only a small part of what it is now. So, while we have the chance, we must engage in doing many good deeds. We must conduct good programs. We must train our minds to remain calm. We should not give problems to our minds. Don’t confuse the mind. Remain peaceful. What will be, will be. Do what you can. Thereafter, just let things be. Surrender to God. Don’t keep pondering and worrying. Unnecessarily, you trouble yourselves. Why? That is what I say.
At least from now on, follow the line of spirituality. Memorize the Bhagavad Gita. Memorize all the slokas/verses. Understand the meaning of the Bhagavad Gita, the Vishnu Sahasranama, and the Lalita Sahasranama. Begin doing these. Bhagavad Gita is highly beneficial. Know the meaning. Then you will not require anything else in this world. No Upanishads. Only the meaning of the Bhagavad Gita is enough. Memorize, or read the book and follow. At first, you may feel irritated. Later, it will become a habit to read the Bhagavad Gita. It will surprise you. You wonder why you are doing it. If you understand the meaning, that is enough.
To be free from Kama, Karma, and Avidya, you must do more of spiritual practice. Do more Japa. Do more chanting. Yes. You have to attend to the household responsibilities. You have earned that Karma. You cannot reject it. Remain there and do your spiritual Sadhana. Don’t be unhappy. Unnecessarily don’t feel bad. What is destined to happen, will happen. Why do you make yourself miserable? That is what I ask. Why do you spoil your mind? For five years, you have been unhappy. What have you gained by it? What is the benefit? You have spoiled your health. That is your profit. For no reason, you have endured agony for ten years. Regardless of whatever happened. Why? Be happy. Let things happen as destined. Already everything has been computerized. It is ordained to happen. It will happen. Make small attempts. That is our responsibility. Thereafter, let it go. Don’t dwell on things and grieve. That is my advice. Don’t get depressed. Don’t be afraid. You are always afraid. Fear destroys happiness. Be joyful. Do not fear. Keep serving and praising Guru. Maintain your association with Swamiji to your level best. Be close to Him.
You have chosen your Sadguru. It is done. You got your ticket. You have no issue there. We are set. We cannot go back now. We have taken the leap. Now we cannot turn back. We have come too far. You cannot go back. Don’t be afraid to move forward. Proceed fearlessly. It is done. You have already climbed half the mountain. Complete the ascent. If you turn back, you must cover as much distance anyway. Don’t do it. Move ahead boldly.
Everyone of you has chanted the Hanuman Chalisa today. Many of you have come from the USA. I am very happy. I have the wish to speak individually with each of you for at least half an hour or one hour. I feel bad that I don’t have the time to do so. You have all come to this Canada ashrama out of immense love for me. I am very happy. My happiness gives you energy. That is what I say. My happiness grants you energy.
Canada center has worked hard. You have all supported. More projects need to be completed here. Like in Baton Rouge, a Mantapa/altar has to be constructed. Swamiji’s Guru Nilayam should be fixed up. Some extension is required because this space is not sufficient. Everyone should offer some support. Drops of rain fill up a lake. Tiny seeds make a heap. Small donations will add up. That is Swamiji’s wish.
Everyone is coming to the concert tonight. Have lunch, freshen up in your rooms, and come to the concert. My mind is eager to personally converse with each one of you for at least half an hour. But time is short. So, I converse with you in your mind.
Appji is now going to introduce new rules. Only annual membership dues, not monthly installments. Indians do not have Appji.
Sri Guru Datta