Speeches by HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – November 19, 2018 – Dallas
Speech in the morning
Compiled by Archana Penukonda
Sri Maha Ganapate Namaha
Sri Sarasvatyai Namaha
Sri Padavallabha Narasimha Sarasvati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Today, Monday of the lunar month of Kartika is an auspicious day. People the world over celebrate this festival according to their means. You all performed Koti Linga Archana here. I am very happy the pontiff of Courtallam – Siddheshwarananda Swamy is here in Lord Hanuman’s presence. I am happy to hear that he was here before to see the temple.
You just heard Sri Siddheswarananda Swamy’s words on miracles and transformation. You heard about how the Lord’s grace transforms our lives. We are all Karma Yogis. We are humans. We need those occasional small miracles to strengthen our devotion. We might see God in our dreams or someone might talk to us about the exact same thing on our mind or someone we are thinking about may appear in front of us or call us over the phone. When things like these happen, our devotion towards our favored deity increases. It makes us stronger.
We normally look before we take a step, but on occasions, we do take a fall. Similarly, life too is full of ups and downs. In those instances, God not only shows us his miracles, he also educates us through those circumstances. He is bringing us greater awareness and making us mentally stronger. Say you are praying in front of Lord Hanuman’s Moorti and you suddenly see a flower drop to the right. You are very happy to see that. There may be a significance to whether the flower falls to the left or to the right. You think the flower on the left is a sign of failure in your endeavors and to the right forebodes success. When we concentrate on the deity, we feel like the deity is looking at us. On other occasions, we feel the deity is not looking at us. The real reason is that we are not looking at the deity. It is our concentration that is making the difference. Our devotion, faith and our attitude need to be very pure. That is when it is meaningful to be in the presence of the Guru or to visit a temple. These things keep adding up to our devotion.
We are all Karma jeevis. We are extremely fickle. Our mind is never steady. Why did Sri Rama choose Lord Hanuman for his tasks despite there being so many others he could choose? It may have been a boon given to Lord Shiva – that’s a different story. But Sri Rama chose Hanuman to indicate that our minds are extremely fickle, like a monkey. To restrain that mind, it is enough to chant the name of Sri Rama. No sooner than we sit down for meditation, our mind starts running. The significance of Sri Rama choosing Hanuman is to demonstrate mind control. That is why, whenever the mind starts wavering too much, chant the name of Sri Rama to still, strengthen and calm the mind. Sri Rama’s name acts as a protective armor for us.
When you go to a temple, you want to get some prasadam – holy ash or sandalwood paste or vermilion to apply on your forehead or you want something holy water or something to eat. We expect this because we are karma beings. Many feel dissatisfied walking out of a temple empty-handed. That is why they have vermilion or holy ash stationed at the entrance to the temple. That gives us satisfaction. If the priest gives us sugar candy and holy water, we are very happy. We are even wiling to pay for a Puja to get these. But these actions are for the external physical world. You need to practice stilling your mind on God. That is your own internal practice. In the physical world, you may perform circumambulation to the shrine, or you may take it further and continuously offer prostrations to the deity. You may chant the mantras. All this helps you improve concentration. Why do we build temple? Is this body itself not a temple? Deho Devalayam. Why then do we build a temple?
As I said, we build a temple to bring our wavering mind to stillness. That is why it is recommended that we have a prayer room at home. That prayer room becomes our get away when we feel low. We pick up a prayer book or listen to a divine song. Our mind automatically calms down in ten minutes. The temple is like that too. We cannot do at home what we do in the temple. We cannot establish yantras at home. The temples are like gigantic receiving stations. Why do we need flag pole (Dhvaja stambham) and the entrance tower (Gali Gopuram) in the temple? The temple is based in science. These are not for mere decoration or ostentation or intended to outdo other temples. It is purely based in science called Agama Shastra. There are specifications for the sanctum sanctorum and other areas of the temple. The human body is a wonderful creation. Just think how beautifully God created this body. The temple is like the human body. The limbs are like columns in the temple. We are walking with great balance on our two feet. To please that creation that also made this body, we come to the temple. We learn better concentration through these activities.
We need a friend who is always with us. God is that friend. We can tell him about all our troubles. Even the best of friends cannot listen to your troubles everyday. Your friends have their own problems. We feel some relief when we are able to share our problems with someone. That is why we come to the temple. The Lord listens to all your troubles. Your heart feels light again. That is why every household needs a prayer room. Even doctors sometimes recommend to, “leave it alone”. When we are angry, we don’t want to be bothered. We want to be left alone for some time to clear our mind. Like the water that settles in a lake with clear water rising to the top, you mind clears up in about a half hour. If you don’t calm the mind down, it becomes difficult to move forward. In temples, you know you have the assurance that you can talk to the Lord. The temple here has Lord Ganapati, Mother Goddess, Lord Shiva, Lord Dattatreya, Lord Skanda, Lord Hanuman, Lord Satyanarayana etc. God is such a good friend. You should see him live, not just as an idol. We did infuse life into that idol. He is talking to us. We offered to him all our problems. The idols have life energy infused in them. You will over time find the answer to your problems, but first your mind calms down and you feel happy and light. There is no need for God to come to you to answer.
We are sitting in such a magnificent temple today. I did not have any scheduled programs at this time in the US. I was here only two months ago. You know I have a lot of work in India. I need to visit the new Ashrams. I inaugurated an Ashram in Srisailam recently. Kasi Ashram is still waiting for me. Guru Nilayam in many cities are waiting for inauguration by Swamiji. Since I was already in Mexico, I am stopping by the US. I came here on the last flight out yesterday. I was not sure if I could be here in the temple this morning. The program is assured only when I come to the event. I am usually ready for all programs, but on rare occasions, the schedule may change. I am very happy that Sri Siddheshwarananda Bharati Swamy, pontiff of Courtallam Peetham is here. I met him in Vijayawada. I found out this morning I could meet him here. When I consented to come to the temple to see him, is when you got the assurance that the program will go on as planned. Sri Siddheswara Swamy already blessed you. You have Mataji’s blessing as well. Swamiji blesses you all.
Speech in the evening
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
Since aversion towards others brings self-destruction, we must exercise great vigilance. Just as weeds are plucked out in the earliest stages, such feelings must be nipped in the bud. The story of every demon is a proof of total destruction resulting from aversion.
The two subhāshita (poems containing maxim/ advice) explained today are very special. Swamiji has mixed the knowledge from Nitimala and explained them. The subject is tough to comprehend as it contains the essence from the Upanishads. Matter from Upanishads can be grasped after repeated in-depth readings. After repeated readings, our initial doubt gets cleared but new doubt enters. To clarify it, once again many times the Upanishad needs to be read. Hence Swamiji explains the same in a simplified language.
Understanding the meaning of Bhagavad Gita verses is important. Understanding must not be equated to memorizing. The meaning must be internalized as far as possible and the discipline must be put into practice. Likewise, bhajans must be sung not as a musical concert, but solely with the aim of increasing love and devotion towards the Lord. Else efforts are wasted. Try to understand the in-depth meaning being conveyed through that bhajan. Try to internalize it completely. Then it is really effective. Even repeated readings of Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita or any other text remains ineffective unless the teachings are translated into practice. At least one lesson from them we should pick and try to put into practice. If this is not done, you will remain like the mike or speaker, which although chant the Lord’s name do not derive any benefit from them.
All our ancient texts contain messages which are applicable separately to men, women, children, saints, doctors etc- there are messages for every section of the society. Pick one message suited to you and translate into practice. Of what use is extensive bookish knowledge? Theoretical knowledge attains value only when accompanied by practical efforts. Hence determine, ‘I have learnt about the damage caused through hatred. I shall work on this problem’, or ‘From now on I shall work towards eliminating feelings of envy’.
(Swamiji teaches Brāmari yoga to the assembled devotees). Bhramari yoga is very useful when mentally disturbed, unable to fall asleep or suffering due to nervous tensions. It reduces BP. When Shiva wanted calmness in Srisailam, Mother Goddess went there in the form of a Brahmara bee, killed the demon and provided him the required peace. The demon had a boon that no weapon could kill him. Hence in the form of a bee she made the buzzing sound (jheemkara). Unable to tolerate it, he died. Demons cannot tolerate this sound, which to the Devatas, is the tool towards liberation. It fills them with bliss.
One must have the determination to repeatedly read the same text until the matter is thoroughly internalized. We must strive for such knowledge. Humans have been given a prominent place among living entities. Human birth is obtained after innumerable births as varied living species. Even as a human being we take 80 lakh births. Good conduct here elevates us to higher planes. Each birth on earth is filled with pain. We fall into innumerable wombs and suffer therein. To reduce our future births, we must seek shelter under a spiritual master and learn Jnana (spiritual knowledge) and develop dispassion (vairagya) under His tutelage. With these efforts, count-down towards liberation (end of re-births) begins.
Each birth is painful. In it, the stay in the mother’s womb is the worst. After arriving on earth, old age is the most painful. To reduce these pains, try to walk on the right path as far as possible. Listen to good messages, heed to Guru’s advice, use time wisely.
Maintain a time-dairy. In the 12 hours minimum that you are awake, note down the time spent on your worldly duties, your spiritual growth, in watching movies, in gossip, in leisurely activities. What did you eat? With whom did you spend time? On what activities did you spend? Be true to yourself. How much time have you wasted during the day? How much of it was wasted simply sitting on the sofa watching TV? How much was wasted lying down on the bed without falling asleep? How much time was spent watching a movie?
Due to our wasteful chatter or useless activities, our number of births only increases. Watch a movie without getting involved. Don’t become one with the character. Then it is not a waste of energy. Else it leads to sin.
At the end of a month check your diary. Calculate the time spent on each activity during the month. Frankly assess how much time was wasted and how much time was spent wisely. You can extrapolate the time you will be wasting during one year and during your entire lifetime. Then you are ready to assess for yourself as to where you stand. You can self-declare: ‘I am eligible for liberation’ or ‘I am not eligible for liberation’ or ‘I have sinned. Hence I am going to visit hell’. You are your own judge. It is very important to maintain the diary truthfully.