Gurupurnima 1996
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Guru Purnima - July 30, 1996
On this sacred occasion of Guru Purnimawe, as per the tradition of Bharata, we should respect, speak to, touch, worship and pray our teachers or Gurus who have bestowed us knowledge or Mantra for our Spiritual Sadhana. This is the way and this is the Tapas. This Tapas has come from Badarayana Sage, Vyasa, the Saptarshis, Valmiki. Why is this day alone important?
Since Guru is Purna - full. Here full does not denote form or decoration. This can be done by many. Full here denotes enlightening the six chakras and removing the darkness of ignorance. Sadguru Darshana is capable of removing sins. This is the importance of Guru Purnima. Chanting Mantra will not bring merits. We should also serve the Guru who gave the Mantra , This should be physical, Verbal and Mental. However powerful, the Mantra is, However devotion and concentration you may devote to the Mantra chanting, this Karma body needs purification. This is proper Seva. The present world asks: 'is not Manasa Seva enough? is physical or *** Seva necessary?' This physical body is capable of effecting ill to a pure mind. This body needs to be taught Tapas. The Indriyas must learn Tapas. External purification is must and necessary. About two thousand years ago, it was different. But this Kaliyuga is different. In that golden age, a strong Sankalpa was enough to purify the mind and body. Both mind and body were powerful. But it is not so now. The present Manas is a servant of the Indriyas - senses. Kaayaka -body purification is necessary. That is why physical seva of Guru is necessary. later come the Mantra Siddhi. Then comes Mantra Deeksha.
Then how long is this physical seva necessary? Till death. Even if you don't get Mantra Siddhi. It may not be possible to tune this body in one life. It has been pampered with luxuries. It demands hot water. We must start questioning the wants of this body. That is the start. Sitting on hard surface makes you ask for a pillow. Why do you need it ? It may look small desires. Even fan for sleeping is not necessary. Bathe in cold water. What happens after all you may shiver. That is all. The body learns its lessons/ This Tapas needs no Yantra or Mantra. The help from guru is all that necessary. Vasishtha trained Rama and others made them sleep on hard surface. One meal only. His wife was worried. Even their mother was worried. But Vasshtha was adamant that the brothers must be prepared for worst of the circumstances. See it was very useful later. Their desires were limited. We are not trained for such. But let us commence in whatever manner we can start. The Indriyas demand regular intake of food. The working s of the internal organs relies on the power and will of the mind to certain extent. As soon as you wake up, the tongue asks coffee. Start your training by delaying the coffee drinking. Later, it stops asking for coffee. This may seem small. But counts. Cheat your habits. It has cheated you so far. Now you start cheating the senses. When Ravana died in the battle with Rama, Ravana's wife Mandodari came to the battle field and bemoans the death of her husband. She says" Oh my dear Ravana. What has befallen on you ? You conquered you senses and won the three worlds. Perhaps they [ the Indriyas] were waiting to take revenge. They influenced and tempted you fully and ensured your demise".
So far they commanded you. Now you take charge. Even in Ashrama many feel like smoking cigarettes. But you say to yourself that Swamiji may call you any moment and you have to stay in the Prayer hall. Prolong your stay in this prayer hall. The asking for a smoke diminishes. You will save four cigarettes that day. The demand of the Indriyas on the body has grown over the years. You cheat your wishes and try to humiliate the mind whenever it asks for excessive desires.
Now the Tapas of Manas. The first complaint is that the Manas is unwilling to concentrate. The more you concentrate, the more it flickers and brings thoughts. When you put the senses and body in Tapas, the mind thinks that the 'Jeevi' is asleep.. let me go for a ride' ...thinking so , it starts to run wildly. There will be no concentration. Many thoughts come. The thoughts that the mind generated then, takes you through a tipsy turny emotional ride of your past. You remember many old and unwanted happenings and events. Then the mind paints a frightening future. Some frightening.. some pleasurable.. some related to the Indriyas .... some sinful but pleasurable ... some about your friends and neighbors .. some thoughts trusting them some thoughts suspecting them.. Like his the mind scans your existence and life when you sit for meditation. IS this why you sat for meditation ? The mind is not under control. You with a sincere motive sat for Dhyana. But the mind, like a bird. keeps fluttering.
Here, you need to hear some sounds, so that the mind concentrated on that. That is why Swamiji says listen to music when you meditate. The mind will be engrossed is music. After listening to the music for some time, the mind will get tired and tries to sleep. That state of a sleeping mind, even for just ten minutes, is worth it. Every day this exercise is necessary. This is the Tapas of Manas.
Next is Vachika Tapas [ Verbal Tapas] For this purpose we sit for Satsang and do bhajans. Our mouth will be chanting "Hare Rama Hare Rama- Rama Rama Hare Hare. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna - Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. (Swamiji gesticulates with funny actions. Swamiji cleans the ears. Swamiji scratches head, back, Swamiji yawns.....) Is this the Vaachika Tapas ? The Indriyas, The Manas the eyes all will be very active while we chant. Chanting like a tape recorder.
Many devotee perform Anagha Vrata. The scene will be like this. "The devotee invites all his family members and friends to witness the Vratam. He sits to perform the Vratam and somebody enters the house. He looks at them , smiles , invites them inside and beckons them to sit. while he is doing this, the priest would have chanted the next shlokas. The next door neighbor would be watching the television with full sound. You will hear more of the TV sound that the priest's Mantras. The other neighbor's children will be playing cricket with full noise and shouts.
After this fiasco called Vratam, he writes a letter to Swamiji " Swamiji, I performed Anagha Vrata. This is my twelfth Vrata, I spent five thousand rupees and served feast for two hundred people." Is this what Swamiji wants ? NO! Swamiji wants your concentration to improve. Vaachika Tapas demands that you forget everything when you sing a bhajan.
The above three Tapas [Sharirika - ***, Manas - mind & Vaachika - Verbal] are important. Then there are subdivisions in these three Tapas. These develop to twenty four Tattvas. This is not the time for that discussion.
In Datta Peetham, Dattatreya Sampradayam is followed. This is from time immemorial Datta Tattva existed in all the four Yugas - Krita, Treta , Dwapar & Kali. Datta was the Guru of the Devatas. Even Sri Rama went looking for Datta. But only Atri and Anasuya were there. But on the day, Rama ascended the throne, Dattatreya came from nowhere, blessed Rama and Seeta and disappeared. All sages came to bless Rama that day. Datta Sampradaya, Datta tradition transcends all barriers. It is a wonderful tradition.
Shankaracharya, in the Guru Ashtaka ,explains the Guru Tattva
(Sri Swamiji sings "Guru Ashtaka").
What is the use a of having beautiful body, family , a heap of wealth, if the mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru ?
Scholar of Six Shastras, Vedas, Poet, a Literary expert. But what is the use if the mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru ? If this is there the learning gets useful.
Possessing educational qualifications from foreign universities, famous, gold medallist, well respected . What is the use of them if the mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru ?
All the rulers of this world are at His feet. He is an emperor. They serve him. What is the use of him if his mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru ?
He is famous for donating. His fame has spread wide and far. But hat is the use of him of his mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru. Then only his fame gets qualified. Look at the story of sage Vishvamitra. Till he surrendered to a Brahma Guru, he was not called as ' Brahmarshi'. Vishwamitra performed great penance. But he did not seek a Guru. Until that happened, he was not recognized as a Brahmarshi.
You may be a great devotee. You may not be interested wither in woman, or money, or wealth or fame. But what is the use of these if your the mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru?
You may not be interested in a life in forest. You may not be interrupted in your wife, house, life. You are a renounciate. What is the use if the mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru ?
You might have enjoyed the possession of the greatest of gems. What is its use if the mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru?
Who ever listens to this Guru Ashtaka, will become true devotees. That too those who listen from the lips of a Guru, Yogi, Brahma chari. What is the use of the life, if Guru Karuna is not there ? It is like possessing the greatest car and not knowing how to drive. We should find a able driver. The Driver tales you through the best possible route. Like Krishna drove Arjuna in Maha Bharata. He drove Arjuna to safety and finally victory. At last, Krishna Tells Arjuna " If you cannot do anything, then at least surrender to me. I will help you."
You all are lucky. You have listened to the great Guru Ashtaka from Swamiji on this sacred day of Guru Purnima.