July 25, 2018 | Dattavani

Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji in the evening – July 25, 2018 – Trinidad

Compiled by Archana Penukonda

Dr. Ferguson and his wife came to India with Vishnudeo Narayan. They were very happy to see our bird park, Shuka Vana. There were 465 species in Shuka Vana back then. It is very difficult to protect all those birds. He made 2-3 rounds in the aviary. He was very happy. Some birds were talking, and he was talking back to them. It was a good experience. One must experience the bird park for oneself, it is hard to explain. Every day, 1000-2000 people visit the park. On Saturday and Sunday, over 25,000 people visit Shuka Vana. Long queues of people and rows of buses dropping off people at Shuka Vana is a common sight. The aviary is loved worldwide.

Dr. Ferguson stayed in the Ashram for 3-4 days. Based on his experiences, he wrote the book, “A letter from India”. You can also write your experiences with Swamiji, with Shuka Vana, with Hanuman moorti etc., on Facebook. We are conducting many successful experiments on the birds. We had success with a new experiment as recently as two days ago. I am very happy. These experiments are not for show or fashion. The experiments are conducted to protect birds.

I went to Ferguson’s house in Trinidad. He is researching on and feeding thousands of humming birds. We need to protect birds. Birds protect humanity. This is not about spirituality, this is about humanity. The bird species are slowly vanishing. So many calamities, torrential rains and other disasters are destroying the bird population. In the future, our we will have to point to photos and TV shows to show children certain bird species because they will not exist anymore.

Show children birds. Birds are intelligent. Only after taking birth as birds do we get birth as humans. Birds’ birth is very precious. Birds are the only animals that talk. They imitate human sounds. Humming birds are the origin of human sounds. That is why, in one way, the bird is our mother. So there is a connection between birds and humans. Shuka Brahma gave Bhagavatam to King Parikshit after he was cursed to die within 7 days. The king attained liberation after listening to Bhagavatam recited to him within 7 days. Shuka Brahma, the parrot faced sage gave us the Bhagavatam. We experience all these in our Ashrama.

Ferguson has a nice heart. He is a professor and an intelligent man. Just based on his visit, he wrote this book.

Bhajan: Vinayaka Vinayaka Vighna Vinashaka Vinayak
Bhajan: Kalaye Lalitam
Bhajan: Guruttama Guruttama

This bhajan was composed in 1980 in front of Lord Dattatreya. It is a very powerful bhajan filled with Vedanta. Each bhajan composed by Swamiji is filled with Vedanta. Each bhajan is like an Upanisad that is easy to understand. Swamiji’s bhajans also contain stories on Ramayana and Mahabharata. Memorize or listen to a bhajan daily. No need to separately listen to Ramayana. Each bhajan is like Ramayana, Shiva Purana, Upanisads. Early morning or before going to bed, listen to a bhajan. Or keep listening to bhajans while driving. The bhajans are like a protective shield for you. The deity of the bhajans Lord Datta, Sri Rama, Hanumanta, Mother Goddess will be with you, protecting you at all times during all activities. Your devotion and faith will give you the protection.

The next bhajan, Swamiji composed bhajan in 1990s. Back then, Swamiji used to entire the homa fire pit that was about 5 feet deep. He was enveloped by fire on all four sides while worshiping Fire God. Swamiji performed fire worship like that for 21 years. At that time, Swamiji composed this Bhajan. This bhajan is full of Vedanta. It says, you are Shiva, I am Shiva; your Atman and my Atman are only Shiva. In you and in me and all over is Lord Shiva alone. Shiva alone exists everywhere. This Prana in me that causes movement in us is Lord Shiva. All Pranas are only Lord Shiva. Everywhere in this world including the entire sky is Lord Shiva. Our digestive fire and light in us is Lord Shiva, the light outside is also Shiva.

Bhajan: Unnadi okade shivudega

This bhajan is completely immersed in spirituality. Who am I? Who are you? What is the connection between us? How we are both the same? What are the five elements, what do they do in your body, what happens after death? We are all part of this illusory drama – husband and wife quarreling, crying, infested with desires, and having children. There is mad ambition for money. What happens after? Where are your grandparents and parents now? Think about that. You will understand. Be aware. This is not liberation. Yes, we need health and wealth. I am not against that. We need plenty of health and wealth. I bless you with both. Turn your energy towards concentrating on Lord Shiva. This is not our permanent world. We are on a long journey. We do not know what our next birth is, or where it will be. We do not know our previous birth. This journey is only 80-90 years long. After 80 years, we get old. That is when you are thinking, suffering and crying. You are battling health issues. We are wasting all our energy and money and losing our values and our seriousness. We are not focused on what is permanent. We are focused on illusory things. We are struggling with maya and falling into more maya. I agree we are humans. I bless you. I know you are struggling. But be aware. Put in a few hours daily into your spiritual path. Otherwise, you will suffer for lack of peace in your old age. You must work on your spiritual path now. Train your mind. Sit with concentration for at least a couple hours. Do self-inquiry. You are not your worldly name. This world is not permanent, nor are you. Even the five elements of nature go through so many changes. Do you remember your last birth? You do not know your next birth. This drama of 45 years is filled with desires and lust. After that you are old. Are we doing enough for our human birth?

Think about God during all your worldly activities. Think about yourself. Think about Atman. How to attain real happiness? Money does not give real happiness. Husband and wife traveling together is not real happiness. Making children is one kind of happiness, no doubt, but is it not real happiness. We want permanent happiness. Worldly happiness comes and goes. Eating rotis makes you happy only for a few minutes. After you eat, the rotis are over and you suffer from an unhappy stomach. You have happiness for an hour and then you are struggling again. You are missing real happiness in your birth. Your birth is a waste. So many old people in India are now realizing this. Even the politicians are realizing now. They are seeking advice from Swamiji. I am recommending books including the Bhagavad Gita to them. Study the meaning o one sloka each day. It will give you strength in your life. It is a beautiful conversation between Arjuna and Krishna. Arjuna is asking many questions, sometimes silly questions even. You are like Arjuna. Your atman is Krishna. Ask questions of your Atman, you will get the right answer.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna asks Krishna questions on the battlefield. This battlefield is in our body. The five elements of Nature are the Pandavas. The sense organs are the Kauravas. The Nadis (metaphysical energy channels in the body) are like River Ganga. Atman is Krishna. Our intellect is like Arjuna. Our body is like the chariot. Our six chakras are like horses. The 14 nadis in our body are like the 14 advisers in our body such as Sanjaya, Uddhava and so on. This body is like a walking Mahabharata. This body is a small world. Do not waste this body. You have a small birth, be loving, polite and affectionate with your family members. Do not hurt others. Your family members are all precious souls. They have been your relatives over so many births. Do not hurt your spouse. Do not misunderstand. Children also should be careful. Give good advice to children.

Bhagavad Gita, the dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna happened for our benefit. It is the story of our life. Each breath is important. Two days ago, I said that we are granted a certain number of heartbeats and breaths. We are dramatically losing heartbeats and breath each day. Each day, the heart beats 100,000 times. One day, that will end. The count ends. Our journey is towards death. We think the boy is growing up, but he is only journeying to death. The moment we take birth, the journey to death begins. Collect good things as much as possible, in association with Sadguru. Read good books. Keep good company. Talk about good things. No confusions. You are believing your lust. That is not good. Lust is not permanent. Lust is a game of a few hours. After that, you are left with nothing. You are losing mind, heart and sense organs to lust. You are a householder, that is okay, no problem. I always remember the villages in Maharashtra, India. They always sing bhajans with their family members each day. Three days ago, there was a big pilgrimage in Maharashtra for Lord Vitthala. That happiness is eternal. Train yourself to sing divine chants each evening. Your mind is cranky and fickle. You do things for 3-4 days and then give up. Do your sadhana steadily each day and keep increasing the momentum. You jump one day and the next day you sit quietly. Third day, you are quarreling with your spouse. The house is the place of angels; it is the place of God. This is God’s gift to you. This is what is in Bhagavad Gita. These are not my words. I am only using simple language. God gave you the good gift – good spouse, good children, good house. Protect yourself. Do not ruin your intellect and become buddhi bhrashtha.

What is the shloka in Bhagavad Gita?

krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ
sammohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ
smṛti-bhraṁśād buddhi-nāśo
buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati

Bhagavad Gita has the complete advice. No other books are needed. Whenever you have a doubt or question in your life, refer to the Bhagavad Gita. All answers are in it. This is the truth.

Bhajan: Saptagiri vasa Sri Srinivasa

Swamiji composed this next bhajan in Trinidad.

Bhajan: Prabhu pada seva niratamati

Remember that Guru gives you health, wealth and knowledge. Guru does not give you liberation. You need to strive for liberation.