Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – 78th Birthday Festival – May 26, 2020 – Mysore
Sookti
Compiled by: Parimala Eshwarla
Janitā cōpanītā ca, vidyāyāśca pradāyakaḥ
Annadātā bhayatrātā, pancaitē pitaraḥ smŗtāḥ ǁ
a) The father who is responsible for his birth,
b) the priest who in the perfect Vedic style officiates his thread ceremony,
c) Sadguru who has made him knowledgeable,
d) the person who has offered food thereby helping him sustain life;
e) and the person who offers protection and dispels his fears – these five are equal in position to father. They must be revered as such.
Pāteetī pitā- i.e. he who protects is called ‘father’. The person who provides all forms of comforts, who protects physical health, who helps through Vedic rituals (vaidika samskaras), who provides food that sustains life, who dispels fears is ‘pita’ father. This is how Shastras give definition for father.
He who shares his blood and flesh, intelligence, way of life, habits and virtuous qualities that have been coming down various generations, is the father who is responsible for this birth. As he is responsible for the birth he is addressed as ‘janita’. The words ‘janaka’ and ‘janita’ are synonyms.
Every human who arrives on earth has to go through 16 rituals (from birth to death). As he has the ability to estimate the auspiciousness that can arise in a person even before the other family members can estimate and who, seeking the person’s wellbeing, gets him to perform many Vedic rituals is a purohit. He is a well-wisher. With the help of Vedic rituals, he dispels spiritual ignorance and bestows the person with the worthiness. For all these reasons such purohit should be considered to be at par with the father and must be revered as such say the Shastras.
Even Sadguru who imparts knowledge to us is a father to us. Those who teach worldly knowledge must be revered as ‘Upadhyaya’. The word ‘Guru’ is extremely powerful, sacred and pure. Therefore, addressing every passerby as ‘Guru’ is incorrect and wrong. Sadguru who, due to initiation into mantra, dispels our ignorance and showers us with knowledge is to be revered as a father.
The person who supplies good, pure, healthy, clean food, and selflessly serves it with love thereby sustaining our life is also equal to a father. Even before we sit to eat, if we first feed another with the cooked food, then the food attains the same sanctity as ‘prasadam’ has. It is the best. Feeding others along with us when we are eating is ordinary/ mediocre charitable deed dana. If, after we finish eating, we offer the remnants then it is classified as ‘bhiksha’ (alms). It cannot be termed as ‘charity (dana). It is a very low-level charity.
All those who feed the needy are to be addressed as ‘annadātās’ and not to be revered as ‘fathers’. This is because they engage in anandana purely with the intent that they and their family members earn some merit from that good deed. Their intent is not to save the hungry who are suffering due to lack of food. The person who supplies food and thereby offers nourishment to a person who due to starvation is about to die- only such person is equivalent of father.
The person who offers food with some expectation in mind or who accepts money for food offered is called annavikreta. They are not annadata (donors).
He who protects from life-threatening situations, and who thereby restores life to us, who using his medical knowledge fills us with life is also a father to us. This is what Shastras say.
Message after Pratyaksha Pada Puja
Compiled by Archana Penukonda
Happy birthday to you all. It is not my birthday, it is your birthday. 78 years have completed and the 79th year starts tomorrow. This is only the body’s birthday. We have neither birth nor death. We only change bodies like we change clothes. When our clothes get worn out, we get new clothes. Similarly, this body is like a shirt. This body is filled with so many things like sense organs (indriyas), intellect (buddhi), kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (delusory attachment), mada (arrogance), matsarya (envy). Good karma begets good clothing (body) in the next birth whereas bad karma begets bad clothing.
This body is only a puppet. Lord Maha Vishnu, who is Paramatman, is the puppeteer who is playing the puppets. This puppet show has everything including the puppets’ families. Each one’s birth is determined by his karma. Some clothes (bodies) have a long shelf life, may be 100 or 120 years. And then it is over. One has to get ready to shed this body and take on another body. Where is the question of birthday I do not understand. Lord Brahma has given us a lesson called birthday. Birthday is an opportunity given by the creator for you to judge your good and bad karma. You can look back to review how many good deeds you performed, how much you learned, practiced and experienced on the spiritual path. You can then calculate a budget for your next year’s karma performance. That is why every day is a birthday. After you learn a good spiritual lesson, practice that lesson before you move to the next lesson. That is a birthday.
Each birth is different, and we have different names, live in different houses and have different parents. We may be born in different countries and may be born as humans or animals depending on our karma. If you rise in your births, you may perform good karma. If you fall, you may perform bad karma. Once you get a lower birth, you take many births as various animals, insects etc., and go through a big circle of births again. Sri Sankara Bhagavadpada says this cycle of birth and death is a big circle. How does one fight and conquer this wheel (of births)? We can fight this kind of wheel with the help of Guru. The wheel of birth is a gigantic Dharma wheel that spins ceaselessly. We are all caught in this grinder-like wheel. What is the way to escape? Sadguru’s grace and protection helps some jeevis escape the wheel just as some grains escape the grinder. However, only one in a million escapes. That jeevi (bonded soul) attains what you call liberation (moksha) or Vaikuntha. How does one escape? You perform good karma, undertake good practices and choose any Yoga like – Bhakti Yoga or Jnana Yoga – but remain humble and maintain a strict practice. Then, perhaps you may be able to escape in one birth – may be. All this is explained in the Upanishads and in Vedanta.
There is only one Dharma even though people refer to Dharma (as religions) by different names. The various names only to refer to the different practices. Our Dharma is only one – Satya Sanatana Dharma. You must follow this Satya Sanatana Dharma (timeless, ancient Dharma founded on Truth) to understand how to escape this illusion (maya) and this wheel. That is why we call this happy birthday.
All jeevis are constantly suffering in this wheel due to their karma. We are all caught in the wheel of time that never stops. Once we are caught in that wheel, it continues to grind beings endlessly. God has made this creation such that there are no brakes on this wheel. There are countless beings and species – all like puppets – stuck in this wheel. It is not God who is spinning the wheel, we are getting stuck and unable to extricate ourselves. This is like a labyrinth created by God. We learned how to get stuck, but not how to escape. We are like Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna who only heard half the technique and therefore only knew how to enter the labyrinth in the Mahabharata battle, but not how to get out. We lacked the patience to listen completely. We only learned half of what we needed to know. Sometimes, either due to embarrassment or due to over confidence, a student claims to have completely understood the solution to a problem that is still halfway through to the conclusion. As soon as the teacher walks away, the student may consult with his classmate for the solution but will not get the authoritative answer that the teacher alone can provide. We should always seek guidance from the one who teaches us, not from the people next to us. The teacher may have commended that student’s sharp grasping skills the previous day, making the student too proud and reluctant to acknowledge he did not fully understand the day’s lessons. The teacher too may have mistakenly assumed that the student understood the lesson because he was bright. The student now gets stuck in that wheel that is impossible to get out of (just as bonded souls are stuck in the wheel of births due to incomplete knowledge).
Do not complain that God gave us so many births. It is only for our benefit that he did. We should be grateful that He is giving us so many opportunities because, perhaps in one birth, we will escape from this wheel. We should understand the trick to get out. It is impossible to get out of this wheel in just one birth. Some ask me if they can get liberation (moksha) right in this birth. How is that possible? You just got started. Those who insist on attaining liberation in this birth itself will need to endure a greater number of births. Simply keep doing Sadhana (spiritual practice). That is itself liberation. Do so much sadhana that you forget about liberation. That is when you attain liberation. Forgetting liberation does not come from memory loss; it comes from enjoying Sadhana so much that you do not even think about liberation. Saint Jnanadev prayed for recurring births because he enjoyed chanting the names of god. Such Sadhana would not be possible in Vaikuntha. Even though one is forced to exit Vaikuntha when the merit is exhausted, Jnanadev did not want the lapse in chanting divine names if he were to attain Vaikuntha.
Some stubborn students will attempt the exam a second time because they are not happy with the 99% they scored. They want to score 100%. But in the second attempt, they end up only scoring 80%. This is akin to how people gamble out of greed and end up losing everything they won. It is an indication we are stuck in the wheel. First treat your fickle mindedness. You must search for a doctor to treat this. That doctor is the Guru. As you continue getting treatment to remove the infection (of fickle-mindedness), it seems to spread even faster. Impatience gets the better of the person who finds his difficulties multiplying rapidly despite seeking the Guru’s guidance, and he lets go of the Guru. That was the Guru’s play that only to get rid of you. That is when you must win (and steadfastly hold on to the Guru).
I am happy that the 78th birthday is being celebrated in a simple manner. I have been wanting to keep it simple for a long time, but it is only happening now. Did the world have to go through so much difficulty to enable this event to be kept simple? It is God’s grace that all this is happening. He is the cause of everything. I wanted to be in the Ashram for 3 months. If it were not for the current situation, it would have been impossible for me to stay in one place for so long. Everything happens by Lord Datta’s grace.
The invisible microscopic coronavirus has changed our lives. Four categories of people are suffering the most: Migrant laborers, farmers, students and businesspeople. Farmers are committing suicide. There is no need to do that. I already mentioned that this birth is precious and will not come back. Be brave and fight. Students do not need to worry. You will have exams later anyway. Use this time to get more thorough with your lessons. Businesspeople can recover and resume their business by treating the current situation as another business impacting issue. Many businesspeople are doing okay, only a few that depend on day-to-day business for survival are suffering. Many businesspeople are still getting business as there is demand for their goods. Several government and non-governmental organizations are rendering great help. They are feeding the hungry regularly. Only a relatively small number starved for a few days, but they too were able to get food after a couple of days. It is said that the human body has the strength to survive on water for five days.
The infections will rise in June-July because people are getting out and mingling without the necessary precautions, assuming they will not get infected. The police thought they were immune to infections, but they are now infected too. Is the virus afraid of the police? No. It does not matter if you are big officer, or a health minister, or doctor or you chant the Guru Gita or are stupid as a donkey. The virus can infect anyone. The virus is not afraid of anyone. But we should be afraid of the virus. That is the situation man has been brought to. Otherwise, man was ruining this planet, recklessly felling trees, polluting rivers, filing oceans with plastic, letting smoke into the air and thereby preventing rains and causing acid rain and poisonous atmosphere. In the quest for progress, man has destroyed Nature mercilessly. That is why Nature has revolted and is happy at least for a few days. Without a single car on the road, without smoke in the air, the trees seems to be dancing in joy. River Ganga was pure only north of Hardiwar, but now we see cleaner Ganga waters downstream as well. Crores of rupees were spent to purify Ganga waters in Kasi previously, but to no avail. It only took forty days during lockdown for the waters of Ganga to sparkle. If Nature decides to, it can accomplish anything. Factories are shut, so there is no toxic waste flowing into the rivers. Nature has fixed the problem itself since man could not. Man tried to devour Nature, so Nature is now devouring man. We are all living in fear. Swamiji wrote a long time ago in the Life History book that all traditions will change in 2020. Swamiji predicted then that the ancient tradition of our seers would make a comeback.
Many used to be offended when asked to keep distance from Swamiji or when asked to cover their mouth while talking to Swamiji. No one heeded back then because they felt mingling that way and being social were modern and fashionable. I am telling you all this just to remind you that our ancient traditions were well thought through. Previously people did not want to wash their feet when they got home. They even ate in their shoes and slept in them. School kids who were asked to place their school stuff away from other items would only negligently throw the items inside the house. Now, they do not. They are afraid of losing their lives. That is why our elders had put these rules in place – just to save Prana. Another name for “Prana” are the rules our ancients gave us. Karma depends on the rules you follow, the jeevi follows its karma and Prana follows food (Annam). They are all inter-related.
Therefore, atleast now, protect yourself. Do not sit close to each other and do not use each other’s phones. Do not touch even a family member’s phone if you do not have your own phone. And even if you lose your phone, do not borrow another’s phone. The virus is transferred via objects such as phones, cameras and other personal items. Wash your mask every five days or so. Clean your shoes. Eat Sattvic food and wear clean clothes. Swamiji has been saying all along that we can win over this if we observe due caution.
This virus has changed our lives and our world and created fear. Who knows what other frightening diseases we will see in the future? If we followed the ancient traditions, we would not have faced this day. We placed no value on life. If you do not take enough care to protect your life, you will lose it. Citizens of some countries that protested the lockdown got out and mingled with each other and paid for it with their lives. Now, they are all sheltering in place. Italy is an example. Many went on strike to protest the lockdown. When the lockdown got lifted in response, the infection spread and many people died. When kids sneezed, people used to say “Bless you”, now they say “Get away from me!” The virus gets out through the sneeze and infects everyone around.
Swamiji has sent His blessings and messages in India’s major newspapers. Do not forget to tune into the channels that are carrying Swamiji’s messages. Follow the government’s instructions and the rules put in place by our ancients. I know you are said you cannot be here for birthday celebrations. Celebrate birthday at home. May God bless you. On June 2, we will gather again for birthday (lunar calendar birthday).
78th Birthday message that appeared in Kannada Daily – Vijayavani
Compiled by Archana Penukonda
Today, the world is facing a harsh crisis. The invisible microscopic Coronavirus seems determined to destroy mankind. Man ignored it considering it to be insignificant. All his calculations have turned topsy-turvy! Man, who considered himself great and invincible, has now been brought to his knees by a tiny Coronavirus! All the crimes he has committed against Mother Nature have now boomeranged. This situation seems to be a lesson Mother Nature is teaching us for all the mistakes committed. At least now, man should cleanse his mind of the sin called arrogance and attempt to lead a meaningful life. Only when man leads a life of Dharma (righteousness), Karma (actions) and Adhyatma (Spirituality), can he be called a complete human being.
In my opinion, without Dharma, man cannot exist. Dharma is the divine order. Dharma lays the boundaries and rules for man to lead a righteous life. One who leads life within this framework lives well, whereas one who crosses the boundary is bound to suffer. Man has experienced this time and again and this is the reason that the existence and significance of Dharma continue to this day. Dharma has never delineated from the path. Man’s attempts to do so have always failed. Those who have made such attempts have been subjected to God’s wrath.
Death follows every being that takes birth. We are born – this is a fact. Equally true is the fact that we will meet with death once our lifetime ends. Sri Krishna says, “Change is the rule of the world.” We revere Lord Krishna as one who taught man that it is possible to attain completeness in this world, he taught the skill of leading life, and He became the epitome of humanity. In a simple way, Sri Krishna taught us that it is possible to attain liberation by practicing Dharma, Karma and Self-realization.
In our country today, the Sanatana Dharma and moral values are still prevalent in the lower and middle-class families. It is this community that is bereft of the arrogance of wealth and is mostly inclined towards leading a good virtuous life. It is predominantly the youth from these families that are playing a crucial role in protecting the future of this country and progressing towards prosperity.
Many affluent parents are struggling, unable to bring back their children who have strayed away from the righteous path. If we lead a moral life, our children will follow suit. But if we fail to live righteously, our children will tread the wrong path even more. We must teach our children to earn honestly. For this to materialize, we must bring up our children with honest, hard-earned money. If you earn by devious means and use that wealth for children’s upbringing, your children will never learn to live the right way. Hence, it is my strong belief that children will prosper only when they are brought up by righteous means.
Some people may claim that though they are earning sincerely, they have no peace of mind or peace at home. Amidst their busy lives, they may have hurt or caused trouble to others unknowingly. One must certainly introspect to identify such incidents. If not every day, at least once a week, one must sit in meditation and morally evaluate their past actions and the actions they plan to take in future. This will help one identify any mistakes in the past and prevent hurting others in future.
Untouchability is a bad blot on our Indian culture. It is very shameful that one man develops disgust towards another human being!
I have travelled across the world and have given hundreds of discourses. Many foreign devotees have also expressed appreciation. I have been able to answer many of their critical questions in a simple way that makes them happy. But there is one question that leaves me without an answer. They say, “You claim your India to have a glorious history spanning thousands of years! But the caste system has also lasted thousands of years, particularly the practice of untouchability of Dalits is still prevalent.” This causes deep pain in my heart.
In God’s view, no one creation of His is superior or inferior to another. This disease called untouchability originated during a very bad time and is continuing to torment the society even today. This must be abolished. Respecting one another should be inculcated in our lives. One must not be judged based on their caste or profession. Everyone has self-respect. When we say God resides in all, we must respect everyone. When we show respect to another person, it amounts to respecting the divinity in that person. We must not forget that disrespecting a person equals insulting the God in him.
There are two things that are currently disturbing my mind – farmer suicides and suicides by parents – who are also killing their children. It is indeed a cause of great concern that the farmer, who provides food for all, who satiates the hunger of the society, is no longer able to sustain himself. Irrespective of whether there are losses to the crops, loans or family problems, it is incorrect on the part of the farmer to commit suicide. Terrible incidents of a farmer killing his family before committing suicide is increasing these days. This trend must be stopped completely.
All faiths proclaim that killing infants is a great sin! It is not at all easy to rid oneself of this sin – it torments one for seven births! Even small creatures like worms, put their life in danger to save their offspring! The cow Punyakoti, before volunteering to become a meal to the tiger, fed its calf one last time and ensured it had a caretaker. When this is the case among animals, it is unpardonable for a man, who is an intelligent being, to kill his offspring. God will never forgive him.
I have come across many great mothers. Despite being consumed by poverty and married to a cruel drunken husband, they are determined to ensure a good life for their children. They work hard and sacrifice their life for the sake of their children. It is because of the hard work, determination and sacrifice of such great mothers that our country still stands tall. This is the reason we worship and adore women as Mother Goddess in our culture. She is considered a symbol of strength. Self-confidence should not deplete in such women folk that nurtures mankind as mother-sister-wife. The power of her intellect should always protect this world.
At this juncture, I am reminded of my mother Mata Jayalakshmi. I am indeed very fortunate to have been born as Her child. My journey in the path of Dharma is greatly due to my mother’s contribution. I have been able to progress in the spiritual dimension because of her blessings. I offer obeisance to my mother. I pray that man realize his mistakes. I also pray to God to bless humanity with the strength to face this pandemic.