April 23, 2016
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji - Bhajan session - April 23, 2016 - Mysore
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
… (the beginning of the speech is not available in the posted recording)
I would have left straight from Chennai. But there is a great attraction here for me. Not yours. Birds. You are also birds. That is beside the point. How nicely the birds speak to me! They address Swamiji so affectionately and lovingly, saying, Swameejeee, Appajeee, have you come? So happy they are to see me. I have seen only a half of them. I have not found the time yet, to visit the rest of them. I have so much trust in all you, who look after the birds, that without any worry, I am able to travel. All those who do small jobs, big jobs, garden work, Shuka Vana work, my thoughts are always with them. Such good volunteers I have. Because of their sacrifice, I am able to go places. Otherwise, I would not be able to go. The Shuka Vana staff look after each bird as if it were a precious child. In earlier days, there used to be complaints against one another. These days, there are no such complaints. I do not even need to ask if there are any problems. After all, they are all human, and conflicts are natural to occur. But nowadays, there are no such issues. Each one attends to his or her job, with full focus only on Swamiji. They are only thinking of their work as service to Swamiji. They have all come here of their own accord to serve Swamiji. That feeling is strong in their minds now.
How clean their work is! The garden work is excellent. So clean. Even in this hot summer, if the trees and plants are thriving, it is only because of their uncomplaining labor. They are protecting the plants carefully. Even old people are picking up dried leaves to keep the ashrama clean. There is great improvement in the attitude of the ashrama residents. I might have scolded just once or twice. But overall, without wasting food, keeping the garbage pick-up areas also clean and tidy, everyone is lending a hand to keep the place very nice. They have stopped polluting with plastic materials. They are all aware that nobody should spit outside. If any devotees spit, they at once clean it up. They are committed.
I have visited many bird parks. Most of the places, there is a bad odor even as you enter. I have visited most bird parks. Only one is left. Canary Islands, a country actually named after song birds. I will visit that also soon, somehow. We also have some canaries here, which sing. I have spoken to Suresh about making proper arrangements for their upkeep and maintenance. When I return after my visit, I will inaugurate that project. I will make all the plans ready before I leave. Early in the morning they sing so beautifully, dominating over all the other bird sounds. The frequency of their musical notes is very pleasing to hear. When you enter Shuka Vana, you will not find any mess anywhere. Even bird droppings you will not find anywhere. They are at once cleaned up. They keep the place as clean as if it were a temple. Those who work there, those who tend to the rose garden, all work together. They are all like my sisters, mothers, near and dear ones. I feel pity when I see their hard work. I feel like greeting and talking to every one of them, to enquire about their welfare, and their family’s welfare. But I have no time. Time is a big obstacle for me. I love to accost and greet everyone. In spite of being pressed for time, I still try to make conversation with them. Swamiji said, I will speak with them, don’t worry. I will relieve you of that responsibility.
Time is very scarce. I have no time to go out anywhere. You may ask, what do you do? One of you, amongst those who ask that question, stay with me night and day and you will know what I do. You won’t even have the time to eat your meals, since you have to keep track of my activities. Then you will know. Twenty four hours you have to watch me. Time is spinning very fast, like a wheel.
Why is Swamiji speaking like this today? Since fifteen years, I had wanted the ashram to run smoothly like this. Now that it is actually happening, to express my happiness, I have asked all of you to attend this gathering this evening. That is all. Many people were worried that something has gone wrong, or they are all in some kind of trouble, when it was announced that all the ashram residents must attend this meeting. It is no such thing. Each person made a self-inquiry, have I done something wrong? No. I have not. Some scolding is in store for us, everyone was afraid. Everyone asked everyone else, what happened? Has something untoward happened in the ashrama that you know about? No. No one was aware of anything gone wrong. Nothing went wrong. Everyone seems happy and cheerful. Seeing that, I felt very happy. While I was going on the bridge, I looked down and saw everyone smiling, laughing and doing their work joyfully. It made me very happy. In this hot weather, it is very difficult to even smile. Is it not? I was surprised. That is why I asked everyone to come.
Have you prepared prasadam to distribute to everyone? Please give to everyone. The workers who have come early in the morning have to leave now quickly. Please give them their share.
People were anticipating some bhajans. Some expected some scolding. People were worried for no reason. Please take the prasadam. Take the disposable container with you. Do not throw it here. In my childhood, that is what we did. In the Agastyeswara Swami temple in Proddatur, they would give you prasadam only if you took your own container or leaf, on which to receive the food. I used to wash my used leaf and take it again the next day, so that I could bring home some prasadam to also share with my sister Varalakshmi. One day, the used, dirty leaf was found by my Aunt Venkamma. She demanded who kept it there. I kept quiet. Varalakshmi told my aunt that the dirty leaf-container was mine. I got into trouble. Thereafter, I stopped sharing the prasadam with Varalakshmi, because she betrayed my trust. I felt no mercy towards her. She asked me later why I was not bringing her the treats anymore. I told her that it was because she had spoken against me. One day, the person serving prasadam asked me why my leaf was all wet. I told him that I had just then got a new one and washed it. So much effort we had to put in those days, to get a little of Tamarind Rice. Whereas here, you get plenty of prasadam effortlessly. Many people take too much home and waste it. Please do not waste the prasadam. Take a little bit just for yourselves. Don’t be greedy. It is difficult to obtain rice these days.
Spend more time in the ashrama. Attend pujas regularly. Attend the bhajans daily. Be happy. You must attend bhajans, whether or not Swamiji is present. If you do not attend bhajans, the summer heat will increase. Do come. If you are here, I see that some kind souls have donated fans for our use. That is very nice. Who has sponsored the fans?
On May 11th is Sri Jayalakshmi Mata Aradhana. Bala Swamiji will perform the rituals in Jayalakshmipuram. In Mysuru Ashrama also it will be celebrated. I will not be here. After completing the concert. I will be spending a few days in Singapore on my way back, getting cataract surgery in the second eye. For one eye, it was performed a few weeks ago. Because of looking at the bright lights, and reading all this text, my eyes got affected. I will return on May 16th. The doctors told me to wear sun glasses while going under the bright sun. But I feel shy to wear them. I feel that someone may think something. Sometimes I wear. Then I feel shy and remove. Wherever I am I will celebrate my mother’s Aradhana. We celebrated Ratha Saptami in Malaysia. This also we will celebrate in Singapore. That is all.
Jaya Guru Datta. It is just a small cleaning procedure. Don’t worry. The very next day I will speak to you all on Skype. They do not normally do both eyes at the same time.
Those who are delayed, please take the prasadam and go home. We will sing just two bhajans and then the Kakada Harati.
Bhajan: Dattam deenajana
Bhajan: Anjaneya pahi me
Hanuman Chalisa
Palaya mamiha
The Shuka Vana staff and volunteers are all here. All of you stand. Everyone take a look. Suresh, and manager, you also come. Of the two doctors, one has gone to America for special training in looking after birds. Here, some birds are taking birth, and some are going to ***. I feel sad to see some of them leave. I pray that all of them should thrive.
I am afraid to praise the staff because, if I do, some kink gets into their heads. I pray to *** that no confusion should get into their heads. You are rendering good service. This is a rare opportunity that you got. Do not lose this good fortune. Getting it is very hard. Losing takes less than three minutes. If you fail in your duties, that is the end. One small mistake, and you lose. You have seen that those who have lost their opportunity do not get it back. If necessary, go to your hometowns, to explain to your people, and then come back in a day or two. Be careful in carrying out your work. Everyone speaks Kannada now, right or wrong. Everyone understands Kannada. But if they get angry at once they switch to Telugu, and scold in their own language.
I am telling you all. Cooperate with one another. This is great Yoga for you. You were somewhere before. You have come here now. Do not lose this favor and get displaced. You have found a good place. Placing my trust upon you, I am leaving. This is summer. You must sprinkle more water. Garden also needs more water. Only then, birds and plants will be comfortable. Lots of volunteers are coming during the holidays. Cleanliness is very important. Birds appreciate clean surroundings. They behave well then. If the place is dirty, they will also give trouble because they feel uneasy.
I remember one joke told by someone during a program (Humor show) in the Nada Mantapa. A man took his young son to a doctor’s office for consultation. The doctor was away and they had to wait a long time. The doctor spoke an accent from Mangalore, where some expressions used, are funny sounding for us. There was a new attendant there at the waiting room. As the man and his boy waited, the doctor’s pet dog came in and dirtied the place. The attendant telephone and told the doctor. The doctor said: that is okay. Don’t apply it to your head (don’t let it get to your head, meaning, don’t allow it to bother you). The man was surprised. At the doctor’s place, do they apply dog’s poo to the head? Then, one small child, a relative of the doctor, came into the waiting room, and seeing the dog’s mess, also made a mess. The attendant called the doctor on the telephone again and reported the incident, and said, the child’s mother was shouting at the child. The doctor said to him: Don’t allow that to get into your mouth (don’t get provoked, and shout also, keep your mouth clean).
The man was shocked and disgusted and left the doctor’s office, thinking that the habits of people at the doctor’s office were very strange.
Take care of the birds very carefully. King Parrots are very vulnerable. They need special care. Cockatoos are very sensitive emotionally, and get attached to the owner. If the owner is absent for a long time, or becomes negligent in giving attention, the bird will pull out its feathers in frustration, will become sick, and may even die. Raga is a beautiful cockatoo. Swamiji was gone for two months and by the time he returned, it ended up in the birds’ hospital, because it missed me. Now it is receiving treatment. Never keep a cockatoo as a pet, unless you are certain that you will always be there to give it proper attention. Cockatiels are not so sensitive.
Swamiji has 32 personal birds kept in his quarters. Interested persons can sponsor their adoption by paying for their daily upkeep and expenses, for food, medicines, and lodging. For other birds in Shuka Vana also such adoption schemes were there. Now they are not actively continued. You may inquire and participate in this charitable service.
Kayena vacha..
Sri Guru Datta