September 13, 2002
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on arrival after tour - September 13, 2002 - Mysore
The tour was wonderful. Many people were thinking about Sri Swamiji's health. I am very healthy. Only a little bit trouble. Like Ganapati is one and half toothed, I too had tooth problems. I took out my wisdom tooth. The problem was for only one week. Of the 60 day tour, Chicago, Lafayette, Baton Rouge and Pittsburgh, Washington and Augusta and Lafayette. More than 23 flights were taken. UK devotees requested for Ganapati festival and Sri Swamiji blessed them with the opportunity. They celebrated on 8th and as well as 10th. Chief Minister of Karnataka S.M.Krishna spoke with Swamiji and requested not to travel on the 11th. So, Swamiji took the flight on 12th and came here. Otherwise Swamiji wanted to come on the 9th or 10th.
This is not the 61st trip but 62nd trip. Swamiji had to touch India for one day and then go back. The teeth pain warranted another travel to US. Swamiji deliberately did not divulge this return to India because of the teeth. If it was announced that Swamiji comes back, then the return trip for tooth treatment couldn't have been possible. The dentist and his assistant came to London and took care of Swamiji. My mind was here and I was constantly thinking of you all. I spoke on phone and gave message to the gatherings in Mysore Ashrama, Vijayawada Ashrama, Hyderabad Ashrama and Bangalore Ashrama. If other Ashrama had prepared to broadcast Swamiji's message on phone, I would have spoken to those places also. Probably they were not aware.
This teeth ache existed for some time and Swamiji did not give proper attention. This is because of some sinning in childhood. I am the example that everyone has to pay for their sinning. You may wonder "What - Swamiji Sinning? ". Yes even Sri Maha Vishnu had to take an incarnation because of such thing. Even Shiva had to undergo the treatment for sinning. Swamiji in the childhood used to catch snakes, remove their teeth and leave them back. The intention was noble one but the method and action was not noble. I did it too many a times. That is why the pain in teeth now. I advise you all not to mistreat animals. Don’t sin because of that. When I see someone killing even an ant, I implore them not to do so but put in mechanisms that they don’t come there. Like using turmeric powder so that cockroach and ants don’t come. Or if you can, catch them and leave them in a far place. This is my advice to you all. My teeth ache was there since Birthday festivities. I did not tell this to Kusuma or Prasad or Balaji. I did not tell anyone. I was smiling and laughing. But was in great pain. After the Birthday festivities, I told Swarna that this pain existed. Then the treatment started. I am telling you all this to learn not to mistreat or make fun of any creature or persons. We have to help if we can but never the contrary. Dive out unwanted animals with ingenious methods. Don’t hurt, harm or kill them.
Prevention is better than killing. Many kill mouse or rats. Put in mechanisms so that they don’t come. Then you do not sin or suffer. Develop this habit or way of life. You may ask what about pesticides in crops? My answer is "There are solutions to put before the crop is attacked. Put it so that the attack does not happen. We do it in our *** fields. Many kill mosquitoes. Especially in Ashrama here this happens a lot. Many take a sense of happiness after killing a mosquito. You have the feeling that you have killed one and that you will be safe. But the dead mosquito's mother, grandma and others would be waiting. When you kill one mosquito, more mosquitoes get attracted because of the smell of the dead mosquito's blood. I have done a lot of observation about this. Any one can try this. Our Ashrama is a great place to try this experiment. This is the best laboratory. My suggestion is to put the many repellents that are available in the market. Or just wave your hand so that the mosquito goes away. That is why Swamiji uses fans. There are many lessons in this. Also mosquitoes generally do not come when Satsang is happening. The loud singing and the smell of the bad breath of many people prevent the mosquitoes from the happy hunting ground. In early years of this Ashrama, the menace of mosquitoes was intolerable. From 1966 to 1982, the mosquito and snake problems were very difficult to handle. Ask Anantaramakrishna or Dwaraki. They will tell you. But people seemed more unperturbed about these things then.
Many may not understand my speech now. But imagine the foreigners who do not understand any thing. They say that they are contended to hear the voice of Swamiji even though they cannot understand anything. Many find Swamiji's voice some sort of medicine to sleep. Just listen and enjoy even though you may not understand.
The difference between those days and now is that people's concentration has decreased. Then people would forget their bodies and sing. You must have concentration when you work. The work may be small or important. But concentration is important. You must fight for that concentration. You must have that unalloyed passion for getting the concentration. My sincere advice is to avoid cruelty to any being. Jains follow this in a exemplary manner. There are some unavoidable things. Like walking on insects or small creatures when you walk. I am saying this all because of my tooth ache. I was wondering why it came to me. I had not knowingly killed any creature. Even the removal of teeth from snake was from its right side of its mouth but I got pain on the left side of my mouth. So, I think that the pain must have come in the normal course of time and age. Some people must have suspected that Swamiji passed through India. But because they did not know, they kept quite. Many must have checked the Datta Peetham web site to keep up with Swamiji's travels. I am happy.
In Washington, Swamiji suddenly went to the Satsang session. There was no prior intimation. How wonderful they must have felt. Having done Satsang all these years in front of Swamiji's photo and now Swamiji in flesh and live. Imagine their happiness.
Half of Swamiji's pain was due to the fact that Swamiji had to leave immediately after this wonderful temple was inaugurated. Having no time to enjoy this wonderful atmosphere. This is the same with many things. When the new Guru Nilayam was built, When the Dharma Stupa was built. It appears that all the transformations in the Ashrama is for you all. I was feeling that I should wander and go through the Ashrama in the nights when everyone is asleep. This place is so peaceful and calm. You have to enjoy the fruits of Swamiji's creations. You have enjoy to these vibrations. You have to make use of the energy field in this prayer hall and Datta temple. There is very much energy here.
The workers and donors have really sacrificed for Swamiji's ideas. The chief sculptor of this marble temple, Dhuli Chand is a great person. Datta gave him so many tests during the construction. But he patiently endured and won those tests. Even I was moved one day and told Prasad that I will share his troubles and he would get good news soon. It happened and he got a phone call that things were looking better ( in his village ). Swamiji saw many nice temples in the US. Swamiji inquires about the sculptor of those temples. Dhuli Chand has translated Swamiji's dream in to reality. Datta will Bless him. His sacrifice is really great. He did not worry about his trauma and continued his service.
Never question why you are getting tests even when you are so devoted. They are two different chapters. Our sins get eroded when we suffer. Remember that. You have to wash even expensive silk clothes. Like Purandara prayed "Let tomorrow's sorrow come now. Let today's sorrow come right away. Get done with it. This Karma has to finish. Pray in this manner. You should feel tensed only for good deeds never for bad deeds.You should feel tensed for good happenings. Like preparing for Swamiji's arrival and so on. Even though your contribution might be very small, you have every reason to feel tensed and euphoric. Always, only few people do the major chunk of the work. But many simply run around thinking they too are important and are contributing a lot. Especially you Ashrama inmates have to feel euphoric and worried about preparations for Swamiji's arrival. If you don’t feel so, you don’t belong here. Isn't it? There is the other bad tension. Worrying about un-happenable things and feeling tensed. This will take a toll on your heart. Feeling tensed for good reasons is good for your health. The blood pressure rise which comes because of good and happy reasons do not harm you. But the contrary is not good at all. That is why you must be happy for at least an hour a day. This should not make you derive happiness from teasing or making fun of others. Laughing uncalled for makes others wonder if you belong to an asylum. You need not search for fun. Lighter side of your life can charm you and keep you happy. God has ensured it. The responsibility of paving your life's road is your responsibility alone. Most of the life stories of great saints have a terrible and grief laden childhood. But they blossomed in to the greatest of thinkers and have worked wonders to thousands of people. When God has the authority to give, He has the authority to take also. So, take both good and bad in same stride and endure them in the same balanced manner. Like the In and Yang in Chinese. Like in the Yugadi festival, Teertha, which has equal portions of Neem (bitter) and Jaggery (sweet).
Jaya Guru Datta
Jaya Guru Datta