Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji in the morning – June 16, 2018 – Mysore
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
When sitting in prayer hall, sit such that you are directly face to face with Swamiji. Sitting in an angle far away from His line of vision is not beneficial for you. If at all He suddenly desires to bless you and you are not even to be seen, you will be the loser. Playing with mobile or chatting with others is forbidden when seated in His presence. Sitting directly face to face with Sadguru when He is giving mantra upadesha is mandated in the scriptures. The lesson could be as simple as ‘Jaya Guru Datta’- but when He utters those words, the disciple must necessarily be facing the Sadguru. It is said that those who sit away from the line of Sadguru’s gaze when He is giving upadesha absorb the sins of those who are seated directly in front of Him. This is emphatically stated in the Puranas. This is not my theory. I am just conveying to you the information contained in scriptures.
Many devotees who have not adhered to this rule have lost out on various counts. There is nothing much I can do for them. At least henceforth be vigilant.
I never utter words which lack scriptural backing. Every word I utter can be traced to the Shastras. Likewise, every action of mine has its origin in the scriptures. I do not create any new methods. I have no time to teach newer techniques. In my limited time, I can only emphatically teach that which I know, that which is experienced from within my heart due to my penance or yoga. I utter only the truth as experienced.
Touch your heart and think of Swamiji- you will then understand who Swamiji is. The pure Lord inside will reply. Do not ask the intellect. It will misguide you as it is impure. Ask only the heart. Swamiji eternally follows His heart.
Soon after any important discussion is complete, it is imperative for all members to leave the place. It is incorrect for a karma-yogi to linger there as this gives scope for unnecessary gossip. All of you are karma-yogis. In the event you need to continue to wait there, then take up a book and begin to read. Or else silently engage in japa. A karma-yogi should complete his task and immediately go his way without engaging in idle talk. Criticising others and finding faults in them not only causes lot of problems in life but they are also sinful in nature.
Swamiji strictly adheres to this rule. If at all I am requested to continue remaining seated in any gathering, I ensure that either I explain some spiritual topic or listen to the person who is explaining some spiritual subject. If not, I simply walk out.
Unhealthy discussions and gossip are infectious as they have the capacity to create misunderstandings or disputes. There is no true friendship in such cases. In avoidable situations when we need to engage in conversations, for example when travelling or when meeting an acquaintance, it is a rule that only one should talk and the other should listen. If both try to talk it gives scope for arguments. In prolonged chatting, there is a risk that the topic may drift to politics or such other topics which could lead to severe altercations. What do we gain from such discussions? If morals, disciplines and rules were to exist in politics, then idolising politicians makes perfect sense. When politics has been reduced to just another means of livelihood then why do we idolize those who are doing it for their living? More importantly, is there any rule which dictates that a person must necessarily engage in conversation with every stranger he comes across? Why can’t he remain silent without having a need to talk? At best he can engage in basic courteous talk and then choose to remain silent.
There are many who consider their trip incomplete until food-prasadam is given. They expect edible prasadam even from Sadguru. What they don’t realize is that Sadguru only showers blessings. His blessings are the Maha-prasadam. In places where Sadguru is not present, edible prasadams are provided so as to entice people to visit the temple premises. When Sadguru is showering unique blessings that others cannot shower, when His blessings themselves are the Maha-prasadam, what is the need for food prasadam in His presence?
About 20% of Mysore devotees are satisfied with Swamiji’s presence amidst them. They contentedly return home after darshan saying, ‘The purpose for which we visited ashram today is obtained. To our heart’s content we had His darshan. We heard Him speak. That itself is our prasada’. They refuse to join the queue for food-prasada.
In reality, words that come from Sadguru’s mouth themselves are prasadam. Remember this always. While food-prasadam fills the stomach, Sadguru’s words fill the soul with contentment. His words cause a spurt in the intellect. Mind becomes peaceful. While food-prasadam digests within 2 hours, the prasada given by Swamiji remains permanently stored in the mind. It can never diminish, vanish or get destroyed. While food-prasadam gives relief to the senses, Swamiji’s prasadam gives relief from re-births (janma rahitya). While food-prasada can be obtained anywhere, including places where bhakti is missing, Sadguru’s blessings can be obtained only when our hearts are filled with devotion, faith and dedication.
Today and tomorrow it is mandatory to meditate upon Lord Shani (Saturn) because his influence falls on everyone irrespective of the planet ruling them. Worshipping Shani on these two days ensures success in all the tasks.
In order to appease Lord Shani it is mandatory to please Shiva – ‘Om namah Shivaya’. In order to please Shiva, we need to please Hanuman- ‘Om namo Hanumate namah’. In order to please Hanuman we must glorify Rama- ‘Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama’. In order to please Rama, our inner Self must be at peace (atma shanti). In order to obtain inner peace, we must engage in meditation. Meditation should be accompanied with chanting mantra received from Sadguru or chanting of Omkara. Such meditation gives inner peace.
The person who is totally at peace with his inner Self, can conquer everything. Never condemn your inner Self, which is all-knowing. It is aware of the past, present and future. The future happenings have already been recorded in it. Events in life move exactly per this decision. For obtaining this mental peace, Yoga is a must. To obtain mastery in Yoga we must listen to nāda (music). All are inter-connected. All the deities are nothing but connections that aid us spiritually. There are no separate Gods sitting there. These are code words connected to the Self. Forms and shapes came into existence purely because we are ignorant. The Lord who inherently is invisible took on a form only for our benefit.
Someone enquired, ‘How were temples begun?’. A small booklet is being published shortly on this subject. Swamiji did not construct any temple with the hope of attracting crowds and earning money. It is incorrect approach. Merely constructing temples do not guarantee crowds. People visit temples only on days when food-prasadam is served. A temple that lacks public patronage turns into a huge financial burden for the donor who constructed it. He struggles to sustain it. For this reason I am least interested in building temples and managing them.
How did temples spring up in ashram then? Every temple consecrated by Swamiji has a hidden significance. They are spiritual connections. For instance, Datta-venkateshwara temple was constructed only after Lord Venkateshwara appeared in Swamiji’s vision and asked for it. Around that time Swamiji could see Gopikas along with the Lord wandering in that area. The place where the Lord wanted His temple was locked in a court case for 18 long years. Even after winning the legal battle I was reluctant to get into the hassle of temple construction. But then I had the responsibility of executing the promise made to Him that I would construct after the case was cleared.
Then one morning, unexpectedly a gentleman arrived with 5 lakhs stating that after Swamiji’s darshan he had a made a windfall in his business. ‘Drop your money into temple hundi. I have no use of it’ – I said to him. ‘Swamiji, if you spare a little land I want to build a temple for Lord Venkatarama. Just give me 8 feet of land’- he said. I agreed and gave him the land. That Lord who demanded 8 feet of land from me snatched 8 acres of land and today He comfortably accepts services from his devotees.
It was time for temple consecration. Two identical idols were sculpted- one in Andhra and another in Tamilnadu. Both were beautiful. Which among them to consecrate? It was a truly difficult situation. Both the idols were kept under sand etc. for Adivāsa seva prior consecration. Then, on Ekadashi day, Swamiji went to see the idols. While going He thought, ‘that idol which makes itself visible to me first will be the idol I will consecrate here’.
Both the idols were covered with thick carpets to shelter them from rain and wind. I stood there and chanted a secret shloka for Lord Venkateshwara. Just as I completed the hymn, a strong wind blew without any reason causing the carpet draped upon one of the idols to fly away revealing the idol to me. Strangely, the carpet which covered the other idol didn’t even move slightly despite the wind. The first idol was consecrated.
What was I to do with the second idol? I had it placed in the Nakshatra vana. From the day it was placed there, the Lord began to pester me- I want to go into a temple. I too want to accept all services from devotees. I would say to the Lord, ‘You remain where you are’. Days passed. This argument between us continued.
One morning devotees from Dharmavaram arrived. In that group was an old man who is now no more. Swamiji asked him, ‘what is it that you want?’ he replied, ‘We want a Venkataramana temple in our town’. ‘I can’t help you. Go away’- I said harshly.
At times, I purposefully sneer at devotees or put on an irritable face upon seeing them. It is the nature of this incarnation to do so. Although my external actions appear rude and harsh, extreme compassion towards them exists in my heart. The devotee should make attempts to overcome being affected by these external actions of mine. Only then, he will move ahead. This is the treatment needed for his improvement.
Anyways, that night, Lord Venkatarama appeared before me and said, ‘When I am available here do not think of another idol’. Immediately I agreed to consecrating that idol at Dharmavaram. Today, in that grand temple, that Lord is accepting worship from all devotees.
Every idol consecrated by Swamiji has a history behind it. No temple has come up at the insistence of some committee members but only because there was a valid reason behind it. For the temple to come up, the Lord should personally tell me to construct it for Him. Only then I will oblige. This Lord Shiva in Mysore ashram has his own story. He refused to sit within the four walls of a temple. Could we not afford to build a temple for Him? But He wanted to sit in an open hall such that He makes himself visible to thousands of devotees simultaneously. If Datta was moved from the old temple to the present location, there is a significant reason. It was to prevent Swamiji from entering the fire during Shivaratri. Swamiji found it difficult to climb up from the pit after the completion of the homa. Lord Datta objected to me entering into the homa pit. He therefore wanted to relocate to this place.
Temple in USA or in Nizamabad or Guntur or Nellore have their own history. I am shortly leaving for the kumbhabhishekam of Dashavatara Venkataramana swamy temple. This is the first temple for Amaravati the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. It is a grand, big temple, not a small temple where the priest can barely move his hands during worship.
In the ashrams at Bhimavaram or Kaikalur the organizers themselves made all the arrangements for the temple constructions without troubling me for finances. Contrary to this are other ashrams where even trustees do not bother to visit their branch regularly. It is the responsibility of the ashram members take the necessary steps to draw crowds into their temple. Conduct medical camps. Perform annadana. Conduct Ashtalakshmi vrata and Anagha vrata. Perform abhishekas for Datta. Perform cultural activities. I do not crave to attract people. If they have the eligibility, they will come, not otherwise.
Those who regularly practise Kriya yoga can be free from heart and other diseases, provided it is practiced regularly. But no one takes these instructions seriously. Yoga gives you the ability to withstand any tension and turmoil.
Association with Swamiji gives the ability to withstand even the greatest tensions and shocks. A dear devotee of mine, who resides in USA, rose significantly in his career such that within 14 years he was at the top-level management. Then the company was bought over. The new management demoted him. Step by step he was steadily demoted and one morning he had to begin to do the tasks of a fresher. Yet the family did not lose hope. They did not even contact Swamiji. They firmly believed that Swamiji who lived in their hearts knew their problem. Days passed. One morning the person lost his job. At this time he sent a short message on Appji. Appji is a special app that only fortunate people have access to. It is a face to face direct contact with Swamiji. You should be lucky to be in contact with Swamiji on Appji.
For 2-3 years the person did not get any job. The family sustained purely on their savings. They had no money to visit India. Yet they were happy. No complaints. Then one morning Swamiji sent one line message to him on Appji- good days are about to come. That’s it! His previous employer called him and re-instated him to the earlier good position. The family could handle such great tension level-headedly purely because of the satsang with Swamiji. Any other family would have collapsed under this load. This is what you get with this association.