Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – in the early morning at the end of Shivaratri night – UPH, Mysore – February 27, 2025
Harihi Om Namah Shivaya!
I have told you all several times to go around Shuka Vana and take a photo (with the birds) so that the funds can be utilised for bird food. But you do not pay heed to my word because you want to offer your donations only in my direct presence. This might sound good, but we must also support Shuka Vana. Some devotees visit Shuka Vana every time they come to Ashrama. Why doesn’t everyone get such wisdom? You must visit Shuka Vana every time you come to Ashrama and take a photo with the birds. This would support Shuka Vana. You can also take a picture on your phone. Many devotees visit Shuka Vana quite often. You, too, must do so. It is not just about coming to the Ashrama, seeing Swamiji, etc. You must also nurture Shuka Vana. It will be a very good exercise for you to walk around the Shuka Vana to see the new developments. This will also enhance the virtue of charity in you.
The more charity you do, the more money and virtue you get. Your mind will also transform slowly. If you do not engage in charity, then the mind will remain the same. The water stored in a cauldron becomes stale if unused. Therefore, the water must be used. You cannot store food items in a refrigerator beyond a certain period. The more you spend, the more taste you acquire. The ornaments look good only if they are used regularly. The more we sing (the Bhajans), the more Jnana we attain. The more you learn the meaning of the Bhagavad Gita, the more it keeps sprouting up in your mind. You can test this for yourself – if you read the same verse two times, you will grasp a different meaning for the same verse each time. You might have heard a Bhajan several times. But you will appreciate it even more when Swamiji sings it; this is because you have developed a taste for it. The more you chant, the more nectarine your saliva becomes. If you gulp the saliva after chanting the divine names, it will be very tasty, it also makes the mind clean. But, when you gulp the saliva after you engage in an argument, that would be no less than poison. So, chant the divine names and learn the meanings of the Bhagavad Gita.
Bhagavad Gita is not restricted to any specific religion; it is universal and is for all humans. The more we read the Gita, the more knowledge we attain and the better our mind becomes. This is what Swamiji keeps saying. The more we donate, the more we reap. The virtue of donating also enhances. What is the benefit of amassing wealth that someone will usurp?? Ants make efforts to make anthills, but they do not live there. Over time, snakes occupy the anthills. Then, the ants once again make anthills elsewhere. We should not face the same situation. If we amass wealth, then it will be usurped by bad people. Our children also can turn out to be bad like the snakes, for the sake of wealth or your minds can turn out to be poisonous. So, the more we spend, the nicer it will be for the mind. Go to Shuka Vana and take a picture with the birds.
The Shuka Vana is so beautiful now. I have been telling you all since last year to see the endangered birds of Shuka Vana. Now, 2-3 of those endangered birds have already perished. So, you do not have the chance to see them anymore. This is just like how we have not missed the chance to witness the Kumbha Mela that comes once in our lifetime. By taking photos at Shuka Vana, you would be supporting Swamiji and Shuka Vana in a small way. It will be good for you. You should not want to do everything in Swamiji’s physical presence only. Had I not shown up, you would not have offered anything. Then, you would think that your money was saved, but that would actually mean you accumulate/save sins of yours and others as well. After you take a resolve to offer something to Swamiji, and in the event of Swamiji not showing up, you must offer the same to Hundi. Hundi is my representative. You must not carry your sins with you, assuming that you have saved some money. This is a big mistake and a wrong concept. There is no rule that I have to show up each time. Does it mean that Ashrama would run only if I come?? Is it like a one-way traffic?? No! We must make things work at the same time by contributing our seva in whatever way we can.
You want to give your donations only if I show up, but on the other hand, you eat in my physical absence also. Why do you do so? Is that right? If you do not even eat without my direct permission, then I will accept this concept. Are you not ashamed?
How many of you have slept during Shivaratri night? How many of you kept vigil the whole night? Shivaratri comes once in a birth. Hence, it is known as Janma Shivaratri. We must make use of it. Sleeping and eating are regular activities, we must not engage ourselves in those activities during Shivaratri also. Being in the proximity of Lord is Jaagarana (keeping vigil) and Upavasa. Jaagarana means to keep the senses awake/alert. The Indriyas (senses) are always resting at all times because they need rest by nature. If we train the senses well, we will attain Jnana. Jnana does not come easily. Many people say that Guru Krupa gives everything. That is a superstition. Without your Sadhana, nothing comes. Guru does not merely show his grace. Why should he give? I agree that Guru’s grace is supreme, but you should do Sadhana well. If you do Sadhana, then you will attain Guru Krupa. Guru will give you good marks only if you do Sadhana; else, he will not.
Many students who have memorized the Bhagavad Gita here are gaining prizes at Sringeri Peetham. The examiners in Sringeri have faith in the students of Datta Peetham. They will only ask a few questions during the exam because they have the faith that the students here learn with clear pronunciation. A woman had failed the Bhagavad Gita exam at Sringeri Peetham because she had left Datta Peetham’s classes and joined elsewhere. The same applies to Veda exams also. With the certificate from Datta Peetham, the Veda students are easily getting jobs at many temples and Government jobs. This is the faith the certificate from Datta Peetham has claimed in the society. We need to keep it up.
The exams are conducted very strictly here. If a student has not performed well in the exam, he/she is encouraged to take the exam the next year once again. Some students show up again, but some do not. There is a belief that without doing the Gita exam well at Datta Peetham, a student cannot attain a gold medal. Many aged people also have attained the medals. I am very happy. It is very difficult for old people to memorize verses due to their health conditions. After giving the Gita exam here, if they succeed in receiving a certificate from Sringeri Peetham too, then that means that their pronunciation is very pure. With the Bhagavad Gita, you will attain goodness and peace of mind. When in trouble, chant a verse and go through its meaning. If you find the solution to your problem, you will attain peace of mind.
We lack peace of mind only because we do not know the answer. However, some problems do not have solutions at all, such problems will have to perish by themselves. Moreover, such problems do not get solved and they trouble us immensely. The more you think about them, the more they hurt you. So, we should only bring an end to them. In case of some unsolvable problems, if you make up your mind that your task will not be accomplished, then they cannot bother you anymore. So, it is wrong to think that you will not proceed unless your problem gets solved. There are many other ways to escape such problems, so you must take another path. If you walk on sand, you may come across scorpions and snakes. By escaping them, people walk hundreds of miles. Otherwise, they will stamp the scorpions, snakes, and rocks.
On the other hand, some people do not give importance to their problems at all. You may encounter many obstacles, loss of memory, and other disturbances. The mind keeps running here and there when you want to learn the Shlokas. You cannot memorize because your problems keep cropping up again and again. You can neither solve the problem nor learn the verses. It is a waste. Perhaps it is better to completely give up learning the Bhagavad Gita / God and sit in a corner brooding over your problems; you can continue to eat, worry, and finally die. As a result, you will be born with the same problems in the same house in your next birth as well. Do you need all this?? So, give up worrying, our journey is too long. We keep facing hurdles, one after another.
Did you know what is referred to as a hindrance in Samsara (birth and death)?
A hindrance is that which does not let you do good Sadhana by throwing you in Maaya (illusion). Desires, anger, ego, arrogance, name & fame, etc, are all hindrances on our path.
For instance, Swamiji smiles at you whenever He sees you. But, if I do not smile at you for a day or two, then you complain that Swamiji did not smile at you or talk to you. This is ego (ahamkaara). This means that the ego has come on your way of doing Sadhana. What happens if I do not smile at you? You can smile to yourself in the mirror, thinking of Swamiji. You can also think – May Swamiji use his energy for someone else if he doesn’t smile to me. There is no rule that Swamiji should give you that energy; you must be content that Swamiji is watching you at least.
Many people keep saying that they have done a lot of seva for Ashrama. That is ego. What did you do? I have with me, several bags of sins. If you keep saying so, I will place a bag of sins on your shoulder, even without your knowledge. I have with me, the evil spirits that belong to all of you – of devotees and non-devotees. If you become fickle-minded, you will have to carry the burden of the bags of sins that I have here with me. This would unfold even without your knowledge. Swamiji also does not know that because this is all computerized. It gets updated/erased automatically. This is destiny. This is only an example. This is how our life is – like the computer system where the data can get erased automatically.
For instance, the data in the app, say, AppJi will be erased after a few days. We cannot track the old data because they involve personal conversations. We cannot even search for the old data. The same applies to our lives as well.
After coming to Ashrama, you must feel like a family member and not like a new devotee. In the beginning, you are new to the Ashrama. Until you got involved with Ashrama, you were getting trained. But now you are all married to Datta/ Sadguru. It’s done! So, you are all family members. I am using this language only so that you can understand. Once you are married with fire as the witness, you must go through whatever comes your way.
But do not ever compare this divine relationship with Sadguru to any worldly concepts like the worldly marriage or the computer. The relationship with Swamiji is special, transcending all relations. We are serving Swamiji and going through our karma. This (Ashrama) is like our spiritual house. This is ours. We must protect this. We should get the feeling that this is mine; only then will you be able to get rid of ignorance (Ajnana).
Do not come here like businessmen. Many people came yesterday (Shivaratri); they are all visitors and normal devotees. Lakhs of people throng the temple during Vaikuntha Ekadashi here. They are all normal devotees. But, Guru devotees are different. All our good and bad of is in Swamiji. We include Swamiji in every family matter/problem. We go through everything, our sorrows, in the presence of Swamiji.
Say, you get admitted to a big hospital due to a serious ailment. You are psychologically upset if the Senior Doctor doesn’t check on you and instead a nurse attends to your case. Once the Senior Doctor attends to your case and checks your report, you will be assured and get better much faster. This is because you have more faith in the Senior Doctor, and you are not so happy if the nurse checks you.
Likewise, Swamiji always keeps warning you. Do not assume that Swamiji doesn’t know about you because He does not look at you. It is wrong to think that Swamiji does not know when you come and when you leave. I know everything – when you come, when you leave, your good and bad feelings. You should have faith. I have shown up this evening only because you have such faith, otherwise, there was no program as such for me to come here now. I wanted to stare at the sky…but you are all my stars. So, I came to see you. The stars sometimes are troubled by some flaws (Doshas), so we need to pacify them by doing Shanti rituals. Since you all have some flaws, I wanted to see you all after Shivaratri.
Swamiji is with you in this birth, so this itself is Janma Ratri (Shivaratri). Swamiji is amidst us this year for the Shivaratri. How nice! We missed Shivaratri in a past year since it was celebrated elsewhere. Wherever Swamiji goes, if you are in my proximity (thinking about me), it would mean that you have attended the program. Shiva Lingas are everywhere, we are in the form of Shiva linga too. Our head is a Shiva Linga. The Linga pervades the entire sky.
Those who hate Shiva, regardless of religion, are demons. This is my calculation and philosophy. So, everyone must worship Shiva. Shiva is Bindu, Omkara, formless, Shabda, Ananda, the breath, and Yoga. He is formless (Linga). Linga means Bindu. Bindu has no form. He pervades everything. Hence, he is Digambara. Dik + Ambara = Digambara – he pervades everything. If you look up, you will see the form of Shiva.
NASA has released an image of the sky that shows all the stars making up the form of the Shiva linga. The creation (form) began from the formless. Therefore, no one should foster hatred towards Shiva. Shiva is everything. Shiva is Vishnu, and Vishnu is Shiva. Vishnu’s heart is Shiva and vice versa. Do not debate on this, just listen to what I say and chant Om Namah Shivaya! That’s all!
What I say now is for now, accept that! Tomorrow, if I say something else or do not say anything at all, then you must accept that as well. If I say this and that and confuse you tomorrow, then you must accept that also. You must think that the confusion also is a blessing. If I add more confusion or remove your confusion, you should accept both equally. What Swamiji says is final! Swamiji is here today. So, accept that happily. Many people have visited Shuka Vana. We need to protect it with our donations. Many people give monthly contributions without fail.
Now you can go and sleep. How many of you have slept in the afternoon today? Many people do not get sleep (even after keeping night vigil). Now, drink well and go to sleep. Om Namah Shivaya! Harihi Om Namaha Shivaya! Just like you, I am equally worried that I have to leave Ashrama after three days for a tour. What can we do? This is the karma we have bought with us, we must face it!
Jaya Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!