Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji during Guru Purnima – July 3, 2012 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Till now Bala Swamiji spoke about the glory of Guru and the glory of Guru Purnima and how we begin to do meritorious deeds on this auspicious day. Tonight he begins the Ramayana discourses. Everyone should listen to them. In every lifetime this should be heard. It is very useful. He spoke about Vyasa also very briefly. We underestimate the importance of Puranas in our lives. The epics and scriptures are very precious. From Puranas there is much that we have to learn. Because the books are thick, do not be afraid to read and study them. We learn about life, and how to act in life. We have to read, listen, understand and put into practice the teachings of the Puranas. Many people avoid them thinking that they will add more to the already existing confusion. It is wrong to think like that. The Puranas very closely depict our own lives. We easily identify with the characters. It depends on how the scriptures are rendered and explained, and how attentively we hear and absorb the subject.
Ramayana has everything in it. You can pick and choose any topic, and it is covered. The knowledge that it contains is inexhaustible. The purpose of life and the particular significance of human life are all explained in the Ramayana. The principles explained are very important. There is much there that is essential for people living in the Kali Yuga.
One who gives Jnana and shows us the way is the real Guru. The one who removes our sorrows and also gives spiritual knowledge is the true guru. Those who merely remove our difficulties may be gurus or incarnations. To only give relief from sorrow is not enough. We then begin to hop from one problem to another. We bring upon ourselves more sorrows once one problem gets resolved. Guru teaches us how to deal with sorrow, and also how to prevent sorrow. We only enjoy comforts and try to run away from troubles. Hence we dream of enjoyments and question as to why we have difficulties. Guru resolves such questions. The one who only removes problems, gives comfort, good health and prosperity is not a true guru. God comes down as an incarnation sometimes only to protect mankind from difficulties. Vyasa has taught us that. Today is called Vyasa Purnima or Guru Purnima. Each individual should remember his or her own individual gurus.
It is important to remember the lineage of gurus in any field, the first teacher who had introduced the topic to you, the teacher during the interim period and the one who gave you advanced training. It is right to remember and acknowledge all the gurus who have given you knowledge. Only a few people mention all the names. Many feel ashamed to name the teachers who are not famous. They boast only of the famous gurus with whom they had studied for a short while. Many forget their own mother who truly is the guru who leads us all towards knowledge. Vyasa, Maha Vishnu and Siva are all in the lineage of gurus. Our Peetham’s tradition follows Dattatreya, Sripada Vallabha, Narasimha Saraswati, Adi Sankara and Sri Jayalakshmi Mata. They are in our lineage of gurus. We are all very fortunate. All that we have dreamed about is coming true.
Jaya Guru Datta.