Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji during welcome Function – July 7 2023 – Jayalakshmi Datta Yoga Center, Maryland, USA
I think you heard about Jayalakshmi Datta Yoga Center. Jayalakshmi is our Guru. She is a great sage. We are in the tradition of Lord Dattatreya who is Maha Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. Anagha Vrata bestows everything when performed with devotion. Anagha Swamy and Anagha Lakshmi fulfil all wishes. Anagha Vrata is a powerful Vrata like Satyanarayana Vrata.
Lord Dattatreya’s incarnation is from Krta Yuga. Brahma created this world in the beginning before Krta Yuga. Brahma said to Vishnu: Lord, I created these human beings, but they cannot understand spirituality. They like kama/desire karma/action and avidya/ignorance instead. They are committing a lot of sins. Human life is miserable. Who will protect these human beings?
That is when the Lord gave us Sadguru in the form of Lord Dattatreya who is Guru to the Devatas as well as to Rakshasas. Kings also follow Datta Guru, as do animals. Datta gives Jnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga. Different yugas have different yogas prominently. In Kaliyuga, it is very difficult to follow the path of Jnana Yoga or Karma Yoga, that is why the Lord gave us Bhakti Yoga through Sage Narada. We need to follow Bhakti Yoga. Our Puranas have given us Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam and other great scriptures. If we learn Bhagavad Gita and its meaning, we understand the spiritual way. Small examples and stories are given in our Puranas such as Ramayana, Mahabharata etc. It is easy to understand devotion through these stories and examples. Learn at least Chapter 12 of Bhagavad Gita and its meaning, then you understand what Bhakti Yoga is. It is easy to follow this in Kaliyuga, because our mind does not stay still for a minute. It is always traveling and moving. Our mind is going crazy. Our only medicine is Bhakti Yoga. That is why we use the path of Bhajans through which we also gain Jnana and Karma.
We should do our daily Karma. It is very easy. Always be truthful. Be kind to each other. Learn Daya/compassion, Dharma, Danam/charity. This strengthens devotion which automatically leads to Jnana. If you get Jnana, you will understand yourself. You are your own Guru. Datta always says I am with You, I am your Self. Always through Dhyana find out who you are, what is your purpose for this birth here.
Lord Datta has taught us the very easy path of Bhakti. The Lord said – I am you. So, if we follow Bhakti Yoga, that is enough. Jnana and Karma Yogas can be a bit confusing. Bhakti Yoga is helpful in stilling the mind. That is why the Lord taught Bhakti Yoga a little bit to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita. Listen to Bhakti Yoga, your fickleness will be gone.
Therefore, Bhakti Yoga is much easier than Jnana and Karma Yogas. Narada Bhakti Sutras teach us this.Brahma, Vishnu, Siva came together to be Datta. We follow the path of Bhakti as taught by Lord Datta. It is very easy. We prostrate and surrender ourselves wholeheartedly without any hesitation, giving to the Lord everything he gave us. Jayalakshmi Bhakti Yoga Center has the intent to propagate Bhakti. In Kaliyuga, Bhakti Yoga is key.
The kids chanted the shlokas of Sri Sankara Bhagavad Pada, the shlokas related to Mother Goddess. The dance also was related to Bhakti.So, everyone come forward and support this center. This is my center, don’t give excuses saying you did not know. It is your duty to protect this place.
Why should I come all the way from India? I came here for you. You are relatives and friends from lifetimes ago. You do not know and I will not tell you, but that is why you are holding on to Swamiji. We are experiencing everything with Swamiji’s help. In bad times, we get courage because Swamiji is there. You are all members of this center. When I was talking this morning, three people joined as founding members.
In India, many people declare in their Will Deed that they do not want to be put on ventilators and tubes in their final moments. They will die anyway and do not want to spend all their wealth on all those treatments. They want very simple normal treatment, and instead give the money to Swamiji. How long can you prolong life by living on tubes and ventilators? All Indian devotees are now doing this. But it is devotees with US relatives who do not. They keep getting money from the US and they keep wasting money on extending life little by little.
My brother had blood cancer. He said, “I don’t want to spend lakhs of rupees transfusing blood frequently. Let it be. I have a small amount of land that I wrote to my children”. Then, a doctor came about and helped him by giving some medicines. He lived happily until his last breath. The Lord will heal us sometimes, we should have faith in Him. All this is part of Bhakti Yoga. Today, there are some people here who would not have attended this event, but are here. Dr. Indubala is an example. She is like my mother. She is getting very normal treatment, not spending millions on it. She is here attending this program. Sheri in Hawaii who I went to see is the same. I don’t usually take names, but I did because I have the right to in their case. Tomorrow, we’ll do Sri Chakra Archana and Bhajans. This is also part of Bhakti Yoga.
There are some programs to be done immediately in the Yoga Center. Little drops of water make a mighty ocean. Don’t ask why you should give. You owe it, it is debt you owe from a long time ago. If you support, you will find relief, otherwise it will haunt you. Why should I come from Dallas where I was staying happily? I came here seeing your devotion.