May 26, 2013
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on 71st Birthday – May 26, 2013 - Jesus Datta Retreat Center, West Sunbury PA, USA
Jaya guru Datta
In our scriptures, it is mentioned about time and how precious human life is. Swamiji always advises how to utilize your time. But people still don't understand the value of time. So many people are wasting precious time they have. There was a calculation given by Mahavishnu & Brahma for measuring lifespan of human beings. The longevity of life for a person is in terms of number of breaths (one inhalation and exhalation counts as one breath). After certain number of breaths, say 30,000 or 100,000, the life stops and the person dies. That is why, while we have this life, we must utilize it.
While doing any of our day to day activities like work, sleep, eat, you should chant mantras inside your mind. I am often giving this advice through different examples and stories, but you are not seriously following it. You are taking it easy. It is a pity.
That is why saints always are laughing. Many people say swamiji has a beautiful smile / laugh. Inner meaning in the laugh is actually giving advice to disciples. That is what the laugh / smile means, "O! man! you have not still figured out?" It is the silent teaching. "Haven't you understood yet"? That is what swamiji's pictures are saying. Swamiji is mocking us through pictures on your walls. O fool! You are still not able to know the reality. So many people are happy that Sri Swamiji's laugh is beautiful like moon, like planets etc. But real meaning of the laugh is given by the proverb in Telugu.
నీకు పాఠం చెప్పి
నాకు మానం పోయె.
నీకు వచ్చే లేదు
నేను విడిచే లేదు.
nīku pāṭhaṁ ceppi
nāku mānaṁ pōye.
nīku vaccē lēdu
nēnu viḍicē lēdu.
Meaning:
Teaching lessons to you
I am losing my honor
You don't get it
But I won't leave you.
This is very famous.
By teaching you I am losing my honor in front of deities. I made a promise to Devatas - angels that are my colleagues that "I am going to correct them. I will give them something real. Still I am defeated. My expectations are too much I think. My expectations are 100%, I am winning only 20% of the time (you are giving me only 20% back). So angels are laughing.
I selected these children in this kaliyuga in this avatara. But still they don't understand.
Perhaps, It may have selected wrong students!
It maybe true that my selection interview was not good, maybe you got in because you were recommended by someone. Maybe you got into my school just by paying donations. Some people joined my college for selfish reasons. Teacher fully knows the students, but I am still trying to teach these students. But still I am defeated.
The second line says, By teaching you, I am losing my honor. In Vaikuntha (abode of Vishnu), angels voted on my performance. I got defeated. All angels are laughing, why did you select these people in this Kaliyuga. What is this? Human beings are selfish. They only have temporary happiness.
Everytime, I keep on giving new things, new advices, new healing and all new things. You keep forgetting why you are a devotee. You keep repeating, "I am a devotee". But in your inner self you are not a devoted. In Ananda Ramayana, towards the end, Brahma asks Rama, "Are you coming back to Vaikuntha?" Rama says, "Yes, I am coming back. I spent 10,000 years with these people ruling them and teaching and spending time with them. But I am fed up with these human beings. I wanted to win (in transforming them for the better). That is why I took human form. But I am defeated in my mission." So, What am I? Sri Rama also said that.
You are putting 20% effort. I am asking for 50%. I want 3 more steps from you (to get to 50%). I am asking for little more effort. Because you are not permanent and I am not permanent in this world. Our time is running out, time is flying like birds. Be careful. That is why Swamiji likes birds. The birds are using air to keep flying. We are also using air to inhale and exhale (to sustain our life). Hanumanta is controlling your body through prāna (air) aspect. You can take Hanumanta's help and Swamiji's advice and you can chant. Do all Karmas regularly, but keep chanting regularly like a machine "Om Namo Hanumate Namaha" or any mantra that Guru gave you. Do this 24 hours and slowly increase the concentration on mantra.
Last line - You don't get it, still I won't leave you. Because you are my students I don't want to give up. I am not fed up with you Like Rama was with His people. Rama is MahaVishnu. Maha Vishnu was fed up, but I am Brahma (parabrahma), I am not fed up. You understand. Hamsoham, Soham Hamsoham. Parama Hamsoham.
Hamsa is not fed up. Okay, you are making some mistakes. You are doing some wrong deeds, but I am not fed up. I am running for (towards) you, no problem.
Sometimes you run from Swamiji, but I run for you. So, today I am pardoning completely all your misdeeds. At least even from now, How ever much we have good and bad in our life, Be aware of yourself. Keep your sensory organs safely, away from distractions.
All these actions, comforts, hardships - it is all like grammar. Grammar / semantics won't save you from sorrow/ hardships as said in the prayer (Bhaja Govindam by Shankaracharya) "Nahi nahi rakshati Dukrunkarane, Govindam Bhaja". Govindam Bhaja, Prayer is your only friend, not your husband, wife or children. We are all temporary relatives living in one house.
Any way, you are all lucky people because of my association. Swamiji says "He is always fed up. It is my Karma. You are my disciple What can I do? It is my karma. But, my karma is good karma because you are my friend. Sometimes a mother is fed up with children, scolding them about their actions. But mother is still their mother. She still loves her children. Kuputro jayeta kvachidapi kumata na bhavati (It is a saying from Shankaracharya).There can be a crooked son but no crooked mother. Similarly Sadguru, is Sadguru. He is more than mother, father or even Rama. Sadguru is parabrahma. That is why the prayer says
Gururbrahma Gururvishnuh Gururdēvō Mahēśvaraha
Gurussakshāt Parambrahma Tasmai Śrī Guravē Namaha.
Always pray respect to Sadguru, and surrender your soul (Ātmārpana).
We are doing lot of actions in our day to day life. Keep doing all your daily activities without getting attached to them just like water on a lotus leaf.
Water droplets do sit on the leaf of lotus. But, they does not stick to it. Similarly, though we live in this world, we need not inculcate attachment to it. Lotus is born in water and grows in water. It even gets nutrients from water, but the leaf does not get stuck to water. How amazing! We will learn this concept only by observing lotus leaf. Lotus leaf is also giving good advice to you. This was even researched by scientists. Water does not stick it just falls like pearls.The botany and science behind this is different, but we can take this good advice from lotus leaf. Learn from every single object you encounter. Daily you can learn good things from a lot of objects / beings around you. If you find good things learn, otherwise move on to the next object. Daily you can get at least ten or twelve lessons. Like this you can get hundreds of lessons. We must choose from them.
There were 9 parrots on the cake. Each parrot represents one celestial object / planet. They are like angels. Each graha (celestial object) is an angel that protects you. That is why swamiji identified 9 parrots. According to numerology and astrology, each Graha protects you. With or without knowledge Sadguru alone protects more than all 9 planets. Remember this always.
Happy birthday. When was I born? When did I grow up? I am everywhere at all times. I don't have birth and death cycle like regular humans. Decorations are only for the body. You can't decorate for Sadguru's atman (paramatma). The Atman is invisible. That Atma is in my body and in my actions.
So today, I am happy that in this physical body Swamiji has lived 71 years. Swamiji pitiful about this poor body. This body is also my devotee. Sometimes care of this, sometimes I don't. People around me are always praying, please take care of your poor body. The body is like our temple. This time my mind is happy but a little guilty that I am not visiting Karya Siddhi Hanuman temple (KSHT) in Dallas. Dallas KSHT is a powerful place like DRC. Very good vibrations here at DRC. Similar good vibrations are at Dallas KSHT. Swamiji gave similar level of energy to DRC and Dallas KSHT inside the city.
Since Hanuman's teachings are needed for us, Swamiji gave some energy here and some there.
Even if Padma asked for birthday celebrations to be conducted in DRC, Swamiji would not have approved. This birthday celebration at DRC proves that Swamiji can make unimaginable things possible. Just imagine how much power is here at DRC that Swamiji left Mysore ashrama to come here. There is so much power in the healing rocks. Just come here, touch the rocks and pray. Dattatreya gives protection to you. Go and sit for 2 or 3 minutes at the rock while touching. They are not mere rocks, they are like the manifestation of God. Then you will understand the energy passing.
In the beginning days of ashrama, all of the trust members made lot of efforts and worked hard to establish the ashrama. Today you are all able to happily sit here (because of their efforts). May all contributors and volunteers be happy and peaceful. Today you all have the destiny to celebrate the birthday here. Special blessings to all of you for that.
Finally, don't waste your time.
Jaya guruddatta Om namo hanumate namaha.