July 22, 2011
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji at Hari Om Mandir evening – July 22, 2011 - Chicago
Jaya Guru Datta
“Atma Vichaara - WHO AM I?
Different Upanishads have explained, complete with stories. It is not only like a poem, sitting only like a kavi (a poet). There are also small booklets, Upanishads in your English language, very small 20 to 30 pages. In my childhood I used to look at books of Sri Ramakrishna mission, very nice books and also Datta Peetham is now publishing small books. There are in 7 languages, the magazine (Bhakti Mala) we are distributing with 25 to 40 pages only. Not tough; very easy language. Why not go to such magazines? You are wasting time with so many different magazines, different novels, love stories. It is only an illusion, only temporary. How can we practice those stories? How can we relate them to our life? Very difficult, only temporary timepass. 1 to 3 hours, finish. Go to adhyatmic (spiritual) magazines. Then you get protection for your karma. You also get good habits. And so many questions are coming all the time, even after 85 – 90 years of experience. Always questions. Because it is very difficult to explain about maya, about birth and death, very difficult to explain the karma theory, even with all their experience. Some others try to give answers. But there is no satisfaction. One is looking for a Guru to get answers to some questions. Some people are talking, ‘I want to clear all desires first.’ After that conversation finishes, different questions are coming.
In the Bhagavatam Suka is giving a lecture to Parikshith, not requiring him to ask a second question. Wonderful Bhagavatam lecture is given. Such a teacher is very difficult to get. Now there are so many gurus, teachers. So many thanks. Again when 2 doubts are cleared 100 doubts are coming like fire. If you put ghee in, again more fire comes. That also, Vyasa himself says, Guru is giving answer to your doubts and again the disciple has some doubts coming. Good. He is ready to explain. In the Mahabharata during the battle between Kauravas and Pandavas, a big story - Arjuna is asking Krishna. If you have a doubt, ask in the beginning. Don’t ask in the middle. So many doubts in the beginning. Now started the Vishaada yoga.
Everyone has in their own life a Vishaada yoga. Always chinta-dissatisfaction. Any matter, be it children, marriage, job, or house. Everything looks nice. The second moment it is vishaada, sadness, no satisfaction, no trupthi, no contentment. Again and again it is something, for good health or something else, because these are not giving real satisfaction. Concentrate in your heart only. You are concentrating on buddhi which is karmaanusar – follows your karma always. You are calculating only with buddhi-mind/intellect. Came to the temple. Very nice. Radhakrishna - very nice idol available, how much? Praana prathistha (consecration) is done. It is now a living God, not a stone, it is alive! How can we calculate how much? Don’t ask who is this year’s president? I don’t understand people like that, if you want, donate. Ok. Support the committee, donate. Don’t question like a monkey, so be careful about your buddhi. Don’t calculate with buddhi. Calculate only with your heart, with your feeling. Hridaya mandir se. Buddhi permanent nahi, shareer bhi nahi.
The mind and body are not permanent. It is difficult to eat. It is difficult to sleep. You are a healthy but a lazy person. Don’t want to work. Sit in the same sofa always. When you work, then only you will have good health. So develop devotion. The Body is a kshetra, a temple. You must use this body to attain real happiness, mukti. We have temporary happiness. No satisfaction. Only temporary adjustment. Life-long adjustment, temporarily. ‘This is only my karma!’ don’t say. ‘Ok I will experience. This also I need; this kind of experience. Good and bad you gave, no problem, I take. Challenge in life, ok I will face, no problem.’ You blame yourself, God or guru. Why? Take it easy.
That is why Vyasa explained how to solve the doubts of people in Kali Yuga. The people have a speedy mind and they believe in buddhi. Directing buddhi, how can we give guidance to these people? Thinking one day, he finished all the upanishads and puranas. No satisfaction. Vyasa is crying. Such a vyakhyana (commentary/explanation) God himself has given. So many different grammers; such a knowledge he has given. Narada came.
‘Why are you crying?’
‘Give me some advice. What is this duhkha, unhappiness in my mind?’
Narada says, ‘You wrote so many different vyakhyanas, different shastras (sciences), upanishads with meaning. OK. One bhakti yoga explaining ‘atmaarpan’ surrender, you forgot. ‘Sarva dharmaan parithyajya maamekam saranam vraja’ (completely surrender, unconditionally, seeking refuge in me alone), Krishna said.’
Krishna stories Vyasa then wrote and felt very happy. Bhakti yoga in one chapter in Bhagavatam, explains nava vidha bhakti (nine types of devotion), and also the last one, dasya bhakti (servitude to God) with divya nama sankeertana. In Kaliyuga, there is no time. Nowadays we have no time. One hour journey we have, to go (to work or school) and to come back. How can we attend? You are tired. No concentration, not enough sleep time, fed up with traffic.
‘I don’t come today to Satsang. No time, only one driver, so many problems for me to come’. Kaliyug mein naam keertana is very important. In this age, devotional singing is very important. All upanishads say nama keerthana. Narada & Vyasa all are telling us, that divya naama (chanting divine names) leads to moksha, liberation.
Swamiji will do bhajans. Let us worship God here, praise Him loudly. Rhythmically everyone will sing. Keertana is very necessary in this kaliyuga. At least for a short time you must do in your life, sing of your favorite God. Today ‘ram nam ki madhur malayi’ very nice. Come to the concert (Healing Music). What is a healing concert? Come and experience. I cannot explain, only participate. You should have concentration on sounds, then only you will understand, participate with heart then you understand ‘yogasangeeta’. At least test what is this music, unless you test, very difficult to find answer. It is ‘shakti paata, shabdha paata, sparsha paata’ (transmission of energy through sound that touches you). You should feel. Path is different, knowledge using Sadguru to heal disciples. This transformation is very difficult to explain. Come and experience Saama Gaana Raaga Saagara (the name of the Concert of July 23, 2011 held in Chicago). Jaya Guru Datta. I bless all.
On ABN publication: Why are you listening or watching? Stop watching, then you can understand Sadguru. For how many years Swamiji is telling on ETV, Gemini TV discourses on Bhagavatam. Nobody comes and tells me about them. You like bad smells. Leave this. Watch only good things; what is good for you. Why doubt Lord Krishna, Rama, and Hanumanta? Slowly they (the people who do mud-slinging) will become good. Jaya Guru Datta”.
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Smt. Hira Duvvuri
Note: Thanks to Kalyani Bhetanabhotla for sending me the script.