Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji after Sri Chakra Puja – September 8, 2019 – Chicago
Compiled by Archana Penukonda
śrī mahāganapate namaha
śrī sarasvtyai namaha
śrī pādavallabha narasimha sarasvati
śrī guru dattātreyāya namaha
The Bhagavad Gita chanting from memory (by local Chicago children) and reading by adults was wonderful. More and more people should join the Bhagavad Gita Yajña. The Bhagavad Gita gives not only greater memory and strength, but also grants liberation. The Gita has everything. It completely transforms your life. Many leaders and scientists in history have spoken extensively about the Gita. They transformed their own lives and personalities with the Bhagavad Gita. Many of them wrote commentaries on the Gita. The meaning and essence of the Bhagavad Gita is wonderful. It has great mantras because it is the scripture given by Lord Vishnu himself. That is why we say kriṣṇam vande jagadgurum. The Lord gave us complete brahma vidya (Knowledge of the Absolute) through the Gita. Bhagavad Gita contains all the Vedanta. It contains the essence of the Upanishads and the Puranas. If you are apprehensive about memorizing the Bhagavad Gita, you can learn to read fluently. It is very easy to memorize the Bhagavad Gita. It is even easier to read. It really depends on your mind. If you believe it is tough, it will be tough. Otherwise, it is not. ātma jñāna (knowledge of the self) is always easy.
Once you memorize the Gita Dhyana Shlokas, you will slowly develop interest. It will also increase your memorizing ability. There is a tiny flower in the crown chakra that will slowly start blossoming as you memorize. Right now, the flower is asleep. You are not giving it any exercise. Exercising makes your body stronger too. Many people refuse to walk saying they cannot. But they never say they cannot eat. They eat, sleep and watch movies even though they deny being able to do those things. They complain to the doctor that they are unable to walk. The doctor gives them injections and pain killers for temporary relief. The pain recurs in due course. When you exercise, your body parts wake up. Look at Sri Jayaraman. He is an old man. He served in the Chennai Ashram. He is jumping, running, talking and doing all activities unhindered. He is a wonderful man. You should also walk.
I usually share this joke. There was a market in Mumbai where they sold the same television set for different prices. One was priced at Rs. 30,000, the other for Rs. 25,000 and the third for Rs. 10,000. Although people were confused about why the same model had three different prices, they frantically booked the cheaper Rs. 10k model. The contract prohibited returns. The Rs. 20k model came with a remote, but the Rs. 10K model did not have a remote. The company advertised the Rs. 10k model as one that helps diabetics. Consumers wondered if they were being given some medicine with the TV set.
People watching TV usually want to browse channels all the time. Many people watch multiple TV series simultaneously, switching channels and watching a little bit of each series. The mind gets confused. The Rs. 10k model however did not come with a remote. This model was advertised as being good for diabetics because they would have to keep walking back and forth to the TV set to change channels. This really helped control their sugar complaint due to constant walking back and forth between the TV set and the couch. If you sit for 3-4 hours at a stretch in front of the TV, your sugar levels rise. In addition, you are devouring 2-3 packets of chips and sipping coffee and tea in between. You are binging on the endless supply of snacks your mother brings you. As a result, the body expands sideways, bringing pain and difficulty walking.
That is why you must go walking and do yoga. We strictly observe Yoga Day in India. You must compulsorily do Yoga. Do Prayanayam and hatha yoga or go walking, swimming or play cricket or some other sport. There are active games and sports you can play around the house too. Walk as much as possible – it strengthens your body. Stay active. Or, lock the door and dance to some music like you are crazy. That is good exercise too. Dance in front of a mirror and watch your own expressions. Your facial organs will also get some exercise. Your entire body will get some exercise with the dance as the senses of perception and of action are all working. That is good for you.
It is a good habit to sit on the floor and eat, like the people in India do. But we eat at the table and our weight keeps increasing. You are unhappy that your weight is increasing from eating even small quantities. You eat small quantities, no doubt, but you eat ten times a day. Practice moderation in food and speech. You talk endlessly. You can talk about positive things or memorize hymns like the Vishnu Sahasra Nama or Lalita Sahasra Nama. It refreshes your mind. Recently two of my devotees became IAS officers. These devotees are always chanting prayers. They do so because Swamiji recommends chanting prayers. Believe it or not, they graduated in first class to become IAS officers. So, memorize Vishnu Sahasra Nama. Train children to chant prayers. Practice Bhagavad Gita or Vishnu Sahasra Nama or Lalita Sahasra Nama or some others hymns and children will follow suit. Once you memorize a verse of the Bhagavad Gita, you experience much happiness. You realize you are able to do something you have not done before. Slowly progress to the second verse. Chanting of the hymns helps children do better in their studies.
First start with the Gita prayers – Dhyana Shlokas. Once you succeed with the Dhyana Shlokas, everything becomes easy. Share your experience with friends and encourage them to learn the Bhagavad Gita. Do not hesitate to share with others. Do not be shy. Share the experience of how you went from no knowledge of the Gita to fully memorizing the Gita. Share the experience with members of your family so everyone can join the wonderful Bhagavad Gita Yajña. The outward show and drama are unnecessary. Many people dress beautifully and paint their foreheads with tilaks, but cannot recite a verse. Decorations are not necessary. They do not give knowledge. Everyone, not just scholars and priests, has freedom to learn. Scholars and priests are human too. Once they complete the rituals, they go back to their normal routine and pant/shirt attire like everyone else. Your attire, rosaries and paints on the foreheads do not help. Your mind, faith, belief and devotion are more important.
First start with listening to verses from Gita. Slowly learn the wonderful meaning of the verses. The Bhagavad Gita has deep, rich meaning. The Internet has a lot of enriching Bhagavad Gita related experiences that many renowned scientists and leaders have shared. Lord Krishna has given us an easy method of worship through the Bhagavad Gita. I am very happy to hear the Chicago children chant the Gita. Get more people to join the Bhagavad Gita MahaYajña.
One of the MahaYajña students attended the Sringeri Sarada Peetham Bhagavad Gita contests and won a college scholarship of $10k, three years in a row. She offered the scholarship to Swamiji. Is it not amazing for a child to offer ten thousand dollars to Swamiji? Even elders calculate what they offer to Swamiji. This is a real miracle. Bhagavad Gita is a lifetime companion. It is good for you. All gods are in the Gita.
gītā gangā ca gayatrī
sītā satyā sarasvatī
brahmavidyā brahmavallī trisandhyā muktigehinī
ardhamātrā cidānandā
bhavaghnī bhrānti nāśinī
vedatrayī parānandā
tattvārtha jñāna manjarī
ityetāni japenityam naro niścala mānasāh
jñāna siddhim labhecchīgram
tathānante paramam padam
ityetāni japenityam naro niścala mānasāh
jñāna siddhim labhecchīgram
This means, those who chant the Bhagavad Gita with a pure heart and unwavering devotion will attain supreme knowledge quickly.
We all want knowledge. This material world comes and goes. Money comes and goes. We put up with the ups and downs and fight the battle of life. Sometimes we are like millionaires and sometimes like beggars. Some people with chronic body pain adjust to the situation and consider the pain their friend. They realize that is their Karma. They realize, “This is my fault. My Guru instructed that we exercise regularly and eat in moderation. I did not exercise. I am lazy. I used to go to work, and then come back home to eat and sleep”. You must exercise. Those who work at a computer desk must exercise for at least a half hour each day. You can exercise even while being seated. From Pujya Swamiji’s Kriya Yoga book you will learn that you can do many exercises while being seated. Go for a short walk after. Deliberately wash your own clothes. Help in the kitchen. Otherwise, you are only sitting on the couch and demanding snacks and drinks. You complain about the food you are served. If your husband complains about the taste of the food, whack him on the head with the same plate. How much can you do? You have to go to work, take care of the kids your husband has given you and yet put up with this?
May be write a legal contract before the wedding that the husband is required to do 80% of the work. Only then go ahead with the wedding. You earn as much as the husband does. Ask the husband to participate in the work at home. Do not be afraid of the husband. Remind the man this is America and not India. Do not be afraid. Why are you always afraid? There are many husbands who are friendly. It generates more love when you lend your wife a hand at home. It creates good understanding and affection. Your spouse is your first friend. Children come second. Do not always talk about your, and your previous generations. Kids get bored. Talk about the present, talk about how to budget things and bring up children and how you can attend Swamiji’s programs etc. Have friendly conversations with your children. Do not get upset. Your spouse is your first friend and your children are next. Of course, Swamiji is a good friend, that is different. You are always fighting. If the spouse fights, let it be. There is no need to go fall at your husband’s feet. Ladies rights are first always. Gentleman is only for security. Before the wedding, the man is superman. After the wedding, the man is a gentleman. Sometime after, the husband becomes a Doberman. Likewise, before the wedding, the girl is a Suvarna Sundari (golden beauty). After the wedding she is Kalyani (auspicious). Sometime after the wedding, she is Bhadrakali (ferocious).