Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Swagata Sabha – July 24, 2024 – SGS Datta Yoga Center, Burlington New Jersey, USA
I am very happy about the program today. The Bhajans with the musical instruments are especially nice. Good training was given to the participants. The Kuchipudi performance was also good. This dance form is a good exercise. We need dance, music, Bhagavad Gita, meditation, Yoga/Hatha yoga in our lives. We need all of these. This world is going through difficult times. Slowly, problems and diseases and dissatisfaction are rising. Confusion is increasing, people are more and more unhappy because Kaliyuga is getting worse.
That is why we must give our children good training. That is our bank balance. Once Buddhi/intellect learns the good spiritual way, it gives us more strength to fight in this world. We cannot fight with money or power or energy. Only spiritual way helps us fight. We get stronger with meditation. You can gain good energy and cultivate good habits.
We should train our children well. Pushing children to constantly study may sometimes be of no use. Some study even after 40 years of age. We need studies until a certain age, no doubt. Our life is very short- we live no more than 90-100 years. Then, we pass to the next level – the next birth. In the time you have, find out who you are. You can have worldly achievements too. We need a job, we need good education, we may have a household,
etc. Some may not have a household, but that is okay. Krishna will control your kāma and krodha (desire and anger) automatically, do not worry. But this Janma/birth is very important.
This birth is very lucky. Make use of it. Worldly life can be gained in a few days, months or years. But controlling our mind and sense organs, meditating, traveling towards Brahman are very important in human life. All Upanishads, Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita, etc., also give us the final advice of spirituality. You are all on the track. Believe in yourself and your Sadguru and our Dharma. You are following to some extent – whether that is 20% or 80%, does not matter. You are on track either way. You have a good travel ticket. That is our good luck.
You see billions of people wasting their time 24 hours each day – eating, quarreling, submerged in kama/krodha, drinking, etc. They waste time, and one day they die. Now all Dharmas are acknowledging that there is reincarnation. Scientifically too, this is getting proven. If you do not follow the spiritual path or do not do any good deeds or rituals, the next birth will be very bad. Even helping the poor is good activity.
What is Annadanam? If you feed the poor, it is Annadanam. It is also Annadanam if you feed people in this gathering. Mother feeding her family at home is also Annadanam. If you give Annadanam (giving food) to your children, you relatives, that is also Annadanam because you are satisfying their hunger. Some people think feeding the needy alone counts as Annadana. Feeding the hungry is also Annadana, feeding birds and animals is also Annadana. If you come to India, you will see that those beings need food too to stay alive. Anna (food) is Brahman. It is Prana.
Each grain of rice is Brahman. So, feeding another person is also Annadana; it is not only feeding the poor people.
There is a story about Annadana. There is a book called Katha Sagara. There are beautiful stories Swamiji has given in this book. Through those stories you learn the spiritual way. Swamiji has already given thousands of lectures. They are all online, in books, on YouTube, etc. Spend half an hour or so each day to study what Swamiji says. Every day, half an hour, read one story that Swamiji has given. Then, you can understand how to achieve your spiritual dharma. Daily lectures and preaching are not necessary. Swamiji is a silent teacher because Swamiji has already given a lot of things to you. There is an English version of the book too. Children must read this book, do not waste time. They are all short stories. Children will understand the spiritual way. If you study the Mahabharat, you will understand life very easily. You will understand god and your connection with Sadguru.
“Do we need Sadguru?”, ask people. When you study Mahabharata you understand. Sadguru is in us, it is very difficult to understand. On the road, you see signs guiding you to your destination. Sadguru is like a map. He guides you to your destination. Sadguru is like a doctor, He gives you the medicine combination you need. The doctor will research each person and adjust the medicine or give the combination the patient needs. Sadguru gives the mental medicine we need.
Sadguru is also a good friend. Do not be afraid of the Guru. Have love and affection with Guru. Consider Him a family member. Don not take lenience. Guru is protection in our life. We need Guru. It is very difficult to get a Guru. People are confused about how to choose a Guru. In the beginning, it feels difficult to choose a Guru. So many gurus, so many subjects, how is one to choose? If you go to a sweet shop, there are many, many sweets. Same with jewelry store or sari store. Too many choices, how do you choose? So much confusion. There are so many books too. But do not be confused.
Choose one book and read. Do not wait for sari sale, pick one and move on. Sale is only cheating. The shop always makes the profit, but we are tempted by a sale. In India, one gram gold jewels are also available. Beautiful ornaments, they look real too, but they are not pure 1-gram gold. Once you wear them 2-3 times, the coating fades off and it turns black. Do you need ornaments? You are an ornament yourself! You can have a little bit of gold on you, it is part of our system. You can have earrings or small chain. You can place them at Swamiji’s feet. Swamiji collected all the gold that was offered to him and gave away all the gold to children. That is not my earning, it is offered from devotees. I gave away everything to devotees. Those who were christened by Swamiji were given gold pendants. The first four batches of Gita students were given gold medals by Swamiji. We ran out of all the gold. Participants do not care for gold; they just want Swamiji to put the medal around their neck. In the beginning, people hankered for the gold, but slowly I got them to get rid of that hankering. They only want Swamiji’s blessing now.
You must study the Bhagavad Gita every day. Study one chapter daily. You can chant while bathing. You must chant before you go to bed. Or, chant while eating your meals. The mind is healthy when you chant. This Ashrama (SGS Datta Yoga Center, New Jersey) is improving, it needs to develop more. The building needs to be extended, the shrines need to be put in place. Do not think this is not your town. Wherever the Guru is, is your town. We need all friendships.
In the early days, devotees used to support the main Mysuru Ashrama. Now devotees are supporting their local Ashramas, the 16 Kshetras, Paduka Kshetras, etc. In foreign countries too, Swamiji has Ashramas. So, everyone is supporting their local Ashramas, but you must never forget the main Ashrama. Swamiji’s blessings also go up and down, it is a reflection of your devotion. One day, you will praise Guru, one day you curse Guru in your heart. Your fickleness is good for me because it reduces my responsibility.
God appeared in a man’s dream and said He would support the man when needed. The man was once walking along a path when he slipped and fell down a valley and held on to life by grabbing a tree branch. An old woman came to help and he refused saying God would help him. Then, a shepherd came by and took off all his clothes and made rope out of it to help him up. The man dismissed him and said God would come help him. The branch broke and the man fell to his death. The man asked Death God why God did not appear as promised. God said He appeared as the old woman and the shepherd. It is not necessary that Swamiji come in this form to help you. Help may come in any form.
We have karma. If we fight our karma, we will have good children. To have good children, we should have noble conduct.