Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – evening – October 6, 2018 – Mysore
Compiled by Archana Penukonda
So far you have seen pictures from Swamiji’s 151st tour. In the old days, there used to be Akashavani music on the radio. A few would sing, and a few would be listening and they would take turns singing and listening. By the end of it, the audience would be able to sing exactly what they heard. Now as you were watching the photos from the tour and listening to the description (by Sri Prasad), you felt like you came along on the tour and did not miss anything. What to do? The entire world is calling Swamiji. It is as hard to not go as it is to go. The connection with Swamiji has been continuing from previous births. There were some 6th generation devotees as well that came to see Swamiji. Think about it. I had just completed high school and was fasting and doing Homa rituals in worship of Lord Datta and Lord Ganapathy at my grandfather’s place. The old grandmother had seen me then. The sixth-generation child since then recently came to see Swamiji. I was very happy. Many fifth-generation devotees shared their experiences about Swamiji. Many people experienced the transformation in their lives from Swamiji’s presence, but it was just not publicly known. I felt as if I went on the tour to see them.
And then, everyone asked me one question. They said, You talk so much about Bhagavad Gita, how many people in the Ashram know the Bhagavad Gita. I was embarrassed to say that there are only 30 people. “We are all doing Bhagavad Gita, why are you not having people in the Ashram do the Bhagavad Gita?”, they asked. I said the people in the Ashrama like tamarind rice. They are used to eating and leaving.
From here on, do not do that. In the US, the offices and schools have very strict rules. People have to show up at work, if not they will lose their jobs and if they lose their jobs, they lose their work permit and have to return home to India. The schools have strict rules too. They are required to be very regular to school and also get good grades, otherwise, they will be removed from the school. It is that strict there. Despite that they learned the Bhagavad Gita. “We learn the Bhagavad Gita out of love for you, do they not have that love for you?”. I felt very bad. Some of the kids did not even know the letters in the script. Yet, they learned the Bhagavad Gita. They learned the Guru Gita, Bhagavad Gita, Kavachas, Datta Stava, Sadguru Stava, Ashtalakshmi Stava. I do not know how they make time. They do not even watch TV. Ask them why they are doing this and they say it is because they only want Swamiji. They feel like no amount of monetary contribution is ever enough. So, they wanted to do this.
There were a few Muslim kids from Arab countries that chanted the Bhagavad Gita. It was in the newspapers and on TV. How many of you saw it, raise your hand. Quite a few of you saw. We should all learn from that. Arab kids – Muslims – learned the Bhagavad Gita. In a Christian school in Holland, the kids compulsorily must chant the Bhagavad Gita. When I saw these two things, I felt thrilled. Why are you not able to learn? Why do you not have that quality and determination? That surprises me. You can at least read the Bhagavad Gita.
Please do it going forward at least. It will make me happy. I will yearn to come back to Mysore. Tell me what I should come back to Mysore for? I must have something that I look forward to. I kept the birds here so I can come back for them. I am not coming back for you. You must work in such a way that I come back for you. You must have love and devotion. Is it enough if you offer a prostration, put some money in the Hundi and offer a fruit? I do not like that. You can do that, but I am not satisfied. 80-year-olds are studying the Gita. Europeans are doing the Gita. Christians and Muslims are doing the Gita. It has become such a revolution. Devotees of various castes that have left India to settle in other countries are chanting with so much clarity. It brings tears to my years listening to those children chant. You come only bringing unnecessary news to me. Once these kids go to these other countries, they are transformed. Why? I cast no spell or mantra. I did not brand them. They are determined to uphold Hindu dharma. They are all working hard to do so.
Bhagavad Gita is easy to memorize if you put in the effort. These are words from the Lord, straight from the Lords’ lips. If you repeat the Gita Dhyana Shlokas 10 times, you will be able to recite from memory the 11th time. The energy from the Gita is so tremendous. Guru Gita has the same energy. Guru Gita is so easy to learn. All of you (Veda school children also) must chant the Bhagavad Gita. If not, I will send you out of the Veda school. No school for you if you do not chant the Bhagavad Gita. You must memorize the Bhagavad Gita. We do not need kids who do not want to chant the Bhagavad Gita. The same holds true for the Bhajan group kids. How many of you know the Guru Gita? In the US, I didn’t have to be so stern with them. I told them with much love and they immediately complied. I told you with a lot of love, you did not listen. I told you normally, you did not listen. I am telling you with sternness now and you are listening. By the time Swamiji returns from his next tour, you must learn the Kavacha Manjari. Promise that you will memorize the Kavacha Manjari. This must be done by December.
It is these things that draw me. There is such good propagation in Europe, America, West Indies and other countries. There are 40-50 people doing it in West Indies. You must think about it yourself and do it with resolution because Swamiji likes it. You keep thinking you will not be able to do it. Can you eat though? Why do you not think you do not have the ability to eat? If you admit you have no ability to eat, I will accept that you have no ability to study the Bhagavad Gita. You may give up eating for one day. But third day you will want to eat, otherwise, you’ll be in the hospital. If you want Swamiji, you must do this. I want to be drawn to come back to Mysore. I am not feeling that. I should yearn to see you all, “I need to go back to Mysore, there are so many devotees, they are ready to do anything for me, I must do something for them”. I must get the determination to do something for you. If you do that, you will definitely be uplifted, there is no doubt. All your difficulties will vanish. This is the truth. This is Lord Shiva’s command, not mine. Like that you must attract me. I should not be the one attracting you. It is not enough to simply follow me around chanting my name, you must demonstrate that commitment through your work.
I’ll tell you my heart’s feelings. Quite a few people have asked me why I have birds in Mysore Ashram. The real reason that I have birds in Mysore is that it gives me a reason to come back here. I go to other places for the sake of the devotees there. You are not demonstrating the dedication that devotees in other places are. I am only telling you what’s in my heart. You need to attract me, otherwise, it is hard to come back. Why should I travel at this age? At least now, fix your ways. I do not need to do Navaratri pujas. I can stop doing those Pujas because I completed the vow already. I had vowed to do the rituals for 12 years, I did it for 51 years. This will be the 52nd year now Navaratri Pujas. No one from Mysore should miss these Pujas. Swamiji is observing everything including who’s coming and who’s leaving. Why cannot you come and sit at Puja and pray. Why cannot you sit and pray to Mother Goddess for your own welfare. You are caught up in other unimportant activities at home and with guests. In America, everyone in the family comes to Swamiji’s Pujas. Even if there are no scheduled programs, they come just in case Swamiji might come to the temple. People drive 50-60 miles to see Swamiji. They feel it is Swamiji’s grace that is helping them move forward in life. Swamiji is their life. They only want Swamiji. Some others feel “We are fine, we are only experiencing our karma. But we always need our Guru. We want Swamiji”. A small TV station interviewed different devotees. Each one had a different reason to come and see Swamiji.
We now have the 52nd year of Navaratri. I came back for Navaratri Pujas, not for you. The rituals have reduced quite a bit, we are only doing as much as needed. You must work hard to one day have me say that I am back in Mysore because I was yearning to see you. I told you what you need to do. Now think for yourself and do what makes Swamiji happy. You will be upholding Dharma. It will be good for you. Swamiji is an incarnation, but I am referring to myself in first person just so you understand.
Mother Goddess gave me the duty to take a certain number of people to higher worlds. This is a secret that I should not be revealing, but I am. I have a body, so I have to experience the difficulties and suffering. I did not want the body, I did not want to come back to earth. I pleaded with Mother Goddess. But She said this is my punishment. This is a curse. Because of a curse, I am here as Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. So, help me a little! Attract me with your work. I should not be attracting you. That is wrong. I should not be. This is reversed. You come attracted to Swamiji and his powers and fall on His feet. That is wrong. I should feel – these are such great devotees, such kind hearts, such good people. I must feel that. That will be good for you. This was a great tour. I am very happy. My next tour is to Mexico. Who would have thought I’d go to Mexico? I have seen many musicians and artists that go to Mexico. They go perform, get money and come back. But it is different with Swamiji. They feel a connection with Swamiji. We had a concert in Taiwan last year. Who would have thought about Swamiji’s concert in Taiwan? They were so happy, they showered love on Swamiji with songs and dance. Same in China.
We have a person from Russia that is here for Navaratri. She cannot speak a single other language. Neither can we understand here, nor can she understand our language. But she came running from Russia for Navaratri. There are people here from Europe. I ask some people not to come due to expenses. I go see them instead. If they all come, you will not have place to sit here. West Indies has a huge number of devotees too. There is some connection with Swamiji. Some are really attached to Swamiji. Some people, Swamiji Himself sees to go. What does Swamiji give them? What do they give Swamiji? Why do they come running to Swamiji? How do they benefit form Swamiji? What illusion (maya) might this be? Think about that a little bit. Research and analyze that. Think about why these people come running to Swamiji. Think about the attraction there. You will understand the greatness of Swamiji’s incarnation. You will realize that there is a connection with Swamiji from previous births. Same with you – you have a connection with Swamiji from prior births. Otherwise, you would not be here. We have to fulfill the purpose of that connection in this birth. You have somehow reached Swamiji. I will of course come to see you. I only said that I will not, out of anger. Do not ever think that I will not come to see you. Do not berate yourself that you have committed some egregious sins that Swamiji will never come to see you. But some of you are not doing what’s needed. So, that was a caution for you all. You are doing something, but you need to do more. All of you must vow to do the right things. I am saying that you must have love, affection, trust, respect, devotion and faith in Swamiji. I should not have to ask you to have love from Swamiji or increase the love you have for Swamiji. Love for Swamiji should overflow like the holy Ganges from your heart.