Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – May 14, 2020
Sookti
Kṣamāparaṃ tapō nāsti, na santōṣāt paraṃ sukhaṃ,
Na ca lōbhāt parō vyadhiḥ, na ca dharmō dayāparaḥ ǁ
There is no penance greater than forbearance (forgiveness). There is no happiness greater than contentment. There is no disease worse than greed. There is no dharma greater than compassion.
Tapyataḥ iti tapah- say our elders. ‘Tapas’ (penance)- normally we consider that taking up rituals together with stringent disciplines, vows, intense fasting that causes the body to shrink to be penance. Penance is arduous task beyond normal reach. The disciplines and vows it requires are many. Nevertheless, due to diligently abiding by all the disciplines and undertaking arduous austerities, the person obtains limitless wealth called ‘merit’ (punya). However, the merit that is obtained due to conducting penance for a long time with total concentration can be obtained by cultivating one single trait i.e. the quality of absolute forgiveness (kshama).
Kshama means to be extremely patient! It is also called ‘sahana’. When others needlessly abuse us, harm or mentally harass us, not developing any hatred towards them is forbearance. To not be filled with anger towards them is forbearance. To not be filled with feelings of revenge is forbearance.
In the Bhagavatam, the story of Prahlada stands as a best example for this. Although his father Hiranyakashipu harassed him in many ways, Prahlada did not lose his cool. Neither did he abhor his father nor did he seek revenge. This itself is called ‘forgiveness’. This is a penance (tapas) in itself. Pleased with Prahlada’s penance, the Supreme Lord personally protected him.
There is no happiness (sukha) greater than contentment! Often we hear this phrase. But what is sukha? Suṣṭaḥ khanati aśōbhanamiti sukham- driving away inauspiciousness and burying them completing so as to prevent their re-entry is sukham.
Śobhanāni khāni asminniti vā sukham- as all the sense organs are under its control, it is sukham.
We commonly presume that objects that are loved by us are those that give us happiness (sukham). Eating is happiness, watching TV gives happiness, sleep gives happiness and the like. However this is far from true. Dispelling inauspiciousness is sukham. When you have total command over your sense organs you have real happiness (sukham). Can there be any happiness greater than sense-control? Eternal contentment itself is sense-control. For this reason, it is said that there is no happiness greater than contentment.
Diseases are classified into ādi and vyādhi. The diseases that torment the mind are ādhi, while bodily diseases are called vyādhi. The term vyādhi automatically includes ādhi. Therefore, understand that the physical disorder while tormenting the body also torments the mind.
However greed causes far more damage than physical ill-health. A greedy man becomes miserly and hence fails to enjoy even a decent meal. To enjoy material comforts is far beyond him. He refuses to spend money even on basic essentials. Due to all these reasons, he suffers. To add to this, he is forever worried that he is wasting his money due to spending unnecessarily. This constant worry is a mental disease and the mind is pained. As such, the suffering undergone by a miserly, greedy man is equivalent to that experienced by a sick man.
For this reason, elders have said that there is no disease worse than greed. Such a man has desire towards all material comforts and luxuries. However, his miserliness prevents him from spending on them. As such, even though he has the ability to enjoy, he undergoes hellish sufferings on earth. Along with him, his family members also suffer.
The word ‘dharma’ is a pure one. No enlightened scholar will ever give a wrong meaning for this word. Dharati viśvamiti dharmaḥ – as this is responsible for the stability, sustenance of all the worlds, it is called dharma.
In Vedas, the word ‘dharma’ is neutral gender. Tāni dharmāṇi prathamānyāsan- say the Vedas. However, in worldly language, dharma is used in masculine gender. Dharmō rakshati rakshitah- all of us are familiar with this phrase. Understand that dharma alone ensures the sustenance of all the three worlds.
Only the person who is filled with unselfish love towards all living beings and who seeks their upliftment is a truly compassionate man. For this reason, it is said that there is no dharma greater than compassion. There is no power greater than compassion. We learn this from this sookti.
Message in Bhakti TV Program telecast on May 14, 2020
Compiled by: Jaya Akkanapragada
Discourse on Nādam – (part 3 of 3)
Śrī mahāgańapatayé namaha
Śrī sarasvatyé namaha
Śrī pādavallabha narasimha sarasvati
Śri guru dattātréyāya namaha
Many of you have asked to know more about Swamiji’s life. There are many stories from before I gained knowledge which My Mother has narrated. I would like to go over some things that Jayalakshmi Amma told me during our discussions. I wanted to take up this topic since it is dear to many devotees. We are all going through a difficult time now, so I want to share stories of how we faced difficulties and overcame them.
As all of you know, I was born in Mekedatu in the state of Karnataka at the confluence of three rivers – Kaveri, Arkavati and Guptagamini. Just as the Supreme Gurus had predicted to My Mother, this Avatāra was born in the water. My grandfather Linganna Shastri’s land was on the side of the Kaveri and Arkavati rivers. This land comprising several acres was given by the government, and a little bit of it was owned by my grandfather who lived there with his wife Savitri Amma.
My Mother would cross the Arkavati river and reach the confluence of the rivers to a place known as Brahmakunda where I was born. She would spend her time in dhyana. Even when she was in her 9th month of pregnancy, she would walk down to the last step and sit there in meditation without ever being afraid or taking help from anyone. That was the sort of determination she had. Not only would she do all her work on her own, but she would also help others and do their work. I never once saw her getting tired.
My father was very fond of performing Satyanarayana vrata puja. He was also a priest who was learned in the Vedās. Since no priest would choose to come by foot to perform naming ceremonies, my father would go on a horse that he owned and perform such rituals. I shall tell you about this another time.
Father gave up performing Vedic rites and took up the duties of a temple priest. In those days, there were strict rules that Vedic priests would not perform temple rituals, but nowadays because there are aren’t enough priests, to uphold dharma, they perform rituals as well. There were a few rich people in the village who would ask for the Satyanarayana vrata puja to be performed, so My father who was very fond of this puja named Me Satyanarayana. He even wanted to build a temple to Satyanarayana Swami. He loved the name very much and he would get very annoyed if anyone shortened the name to Satyam.
For some reason, people like to shorten names to just two syllables completely distorting the meaning and the given name. Tilakavati becomes Titi, Ramachandra becomes Rami or Rama. Sometimes people even shorten God’s names while referring to Him. This should not be done.
Once My mother asked my father why he insisted I be called by my full name and what its significance was. My father replied that Narada Maharshi would always say Narayana Narayana, as would devotees of both Shiva and Vishnu. Whether Narada Maharshi went to Vaikuntha or Kailasa, he would only say ‘Narayana Narayana’ because He worshipped the formless Swami. Narada is a Devarishi who is constantly performing nādōpāsana. Nāra means one who is born in water. Narayana refers to one who is holding both the shankha (conch) and chakra (discus.) We must understand why Narada would chant Narayana when in Kailasa as well. Should he not be chanting Namasshivaya? He chants Narayana because Shiva is present in the word Narayana as well. We shall go into this another time.
Narayana comprises two words – nāra and ayana. Nāra has many meanings, most important of which is gñānam. Ayana refers to the ultimate journey or final destination. Every person in this world has knowledge (gñāna) of different things at different times. We must think about where this knowledge comes from in each person. This is why we must spend time learning Bhagavad Gita. That is why Sri Swamiji has been explaining the Bhagavad Gita in the mornings.
Akhanda gñāna or indivisible and complete knowledge is known as Chaitanya or pure consciousness and even as Satyam or truth. It is from this, that all the discrete or separate knowledge arises. This is not just the story of my life, but a Divine story with a message for you to lead a better life on the path of gñāna.
From this indivisible and complete knowledge, the knowledge of creation (srishti) arose in the form of Brahma. From this indivisible knowledge, the knowledge of sustenance (sthiti) arose in the form of Vishnu. And from this indivisible knowledge arose the knowledge of destruction (samhāram) and came to be known as Shiva. It is from this indivisible knowledge that sankalpās or intentions are formed and result in our karmās. I think you have understood it now. Spend some time going over it again. Read Swamiji’s life history again. I have only discussed this topic today, so that this message reaches you. There were two great people – one was a poet who was also a great scholar, and the other person a great gñāni who took Sanyāsa dīksha. It is from these two stalwarts that the author of this book obtained his training.
In all, this creation comprises 7 worlds (lōkās) above and 7 worlds below, and all of these arise from this indivisible knowledge. Sparks fly when a fire is stoked, but where do they go? We see them rising only to vanish. In the same way, all the discrete knowledge has to go back into this indivisible knowledge. This akhanda gñāna or indivisible knowledge is also known as Narayana. All the great Yogis meditate on Narayana in their samādhi state. Even the nādōpāsakās while meditating on Omkāra are trying to reach the state of Narayana. The Vedāntins are also trying to search for Narayana by contemplating on Tatva or Truth.
This is the meaning and the greatness of the word Narayana. To ensure that the worth and meaning of this word is not lost, we are tying it to another word and calling it Satyanarayana. Even if one does not know the meaning of the word, just by pronouncing the entire word, one becomes purified. Even if while quarreling, you say Satyanarayana this or Satyanarayana that, you will benefit. But if the name is shortened, what is the use? That is why the full name must be said. Father gave such a long explanation for the question asked by Mother.
If Father felt like it and was in the mood, he would discuss many Vedanta secrets beautifully in detail like this. My Mother knew how to extract such pearls from him. Since both My parents knew so much Tatva, they ensured that everyone in the town called Me by My full name. This is the name which was given to Me by My parents. My father affectionately instructed me to respond only if I was called Satyanarayana. He even instructed me to pelt anyone who shortened the name, and would often place a stone in my pocket. All the children were afraid of being pelted so they called Me Satyanarayana. I still remember this from My childhood. It is important to understand and explain the significance of God’s names to children, and why they have been named so. In fact, we must not even respond if someone calls us by a shortened version of our name.
Satyam is very important. We offer many flowers to God, amongst which satyam or truth should be the first. Then the Grace of God shall always be upon us. I would always contemplate on why my father named me Satyanarayana, and that is how I understood that satyam is the most important thing. It became the reason for the great sādhana in My life.
namastvanantāya sahasramūrtayé
sahasra pādākśi śirārubāhavé
sahasra nāmné puruśāya śāśvaté
sahasra kōti yugadhārińé namaha
The Infinite Paramātma has countless names. Satyanarayana is the name which tells us that all these countless names signify that Eternal Truth. While traveling from Bommeparthi to Proddatur to perform Satyanarayana vrata puja, sometimes I would hear the song ‘Śri Satyanārāyańam Upāsmahé nityam’. Let us listen to it now.
When I traveled from Bommeparthi to Proddatur, and finally reached Mysore, many people would even call Me Satyananda. After that, when I would place the Prashna Ganapati (gifted by My Mother) to My ear, I would receive answers to devotees’ questions. By responding to devotees’ questions through Ganapati, Ganapati also got added to My name. People started calling Me Ganapati Satyananda. So many times, the name kept changing. In Kerala, after visiting Guruvayur kshetra, as I was coming out, the devotees said ‘Ganapati Sacchidananda Swamiji ki jai’ and since then it has become my ashrama nāma. Guruvayur kshetra is where the name changed, and I received the name which gives so much ānanda. In Srisailam kshetra, after receiving sanyāsa dīksha – I shall tell you all about the wonderful incident which occurred there another time.
In these difficult times, it is very saddening to hear that Vishakapatnam which is already in the red zone now has several casualties from the gas leak tragedy. When we get hurt once, we keep getting injured in the same place again and again. Since we have been talking about Satyanarayana today, I would like to give you one message. It is not just during weddings that Satyanarayana vrata should be performed. This puja should be performed when you are faced with great sorrow and difficulties as well. All of you please perform Satyanarayana vrata puja at home. It will remove all inauspiciousness and alleviate difficulties. If there is a temple to Satyanarayana Swami near where you live, arrange for archana to be performed for Swami. Since you cannot go, make arrangements for them to perform the archana. Paramātma will definitely guide us and bring us out of this difficulty. May everyone be well and healthy.
Sri Guru Datta. Jaya Guru Datta.