Guru Gita

September 29, 2005

It is a must that all those who consider themselves Swamiji devotees/followers,

spend time each day listening to Guru Gita.

For those who understand telugu, the Guru Gita telugu version (mp3s - 7 days of

lectures) has been released in several DYCs around the world, and should provide

easy access to the teachings of Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. He has

spent nearly 7 days for your sake in elaborate explanations of each sloka of the

Guru Gita in His unique way. This opportunity should not be wasted. This should

be combined with pure listening of the regular Guru Gita CD in its un-commented

form, which allows the Beejakshara's to be absorbed.

For the non-telugu speaking devotees, the regular Guru Gita CD is itself more

than enough. Swamiji's powerful "Kantam" (voice vibration) and his unique

soul-stirring renditions of the Guru Gita will be naturally absorbed in the form

of Beejakshara's (seed letters) which exist in each sloka of the Guru Gita. By

continued daily listening (regardless of what language you speak) the

beejakshara's will unfold as a deep deep (subtle) understanding of the Guru Gita

in whatever language you happen to speak. No less than Shiva himself is saakshi

for this statement. It may take days, months, years, or even a lifetime, but the

Beejakshara's will take effect, and your understanding/experience of the truth

of the Guru Gita will be deeper than you can possibly imagine. Try to find a

english translation of Guru Gita and those specific slokas and slowly try to

understand the 'gross' meaning side by side, it will speed up the process

considerably.

It is also imperative that one practice "Mouna" (silence) both physically and

mentally... the physical will eventually lead to mental stillness. Try and try

and try again, until success is achieved. Do not accept failure. Fight yourself

until it happens.

Jaya Guru Datta!

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gurorangripadme ManaScenna Lagnam tata: kim tata: kim tata: kim tata: kim

for Good

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September 30, 2005

GURU PURNIMA

30.07.96

On this sacred occasion of Guru Purnima we all should, as per the tradition of

Bharata, we should respect, speak to, touch, worship and pray our teachers or

Gurus who have bestowed us knowledge or Mantra for our Spiritual Sadhana. This

is the way and this is the Tapas. This Tapas has come from Badarayana Sage,

Vyasa, the Saptarshis, Valmiki. Why is this day alone important ?

Since Guru is Purna [full]. Here full does not denote form or decoration. This

can be done by many. Full here denotes enlightening the six chakras and removing

the darkness of ignorance. Sadguru Darshana is capable of removing sins. This is

the importance of Guru Purnima. Chanting Mantra will not bring merits. We should

also serve the Guru who gave the Mantra , This should be physical, Verbal and

Mental. However powerful, the Mantra is, However devotion and concentration you

may devote to the Mantra chanting, this Karma body needs purification. This is

proper Seva. The present world asks: ' is not Manasa Seva enough ? is physical

or bodily Seva necessary ?' This physical body is capable of effecting ill to a

pure mind. This body needs to be taught Tapas. The Indriyas must learn Tapas.

External purification is must and necessary. About two thousand years ago, it

was different. But this Kaliyuga is different. In that golden age, a strong

Sankalpa was enough to purify the mind and

body. Both mind and body were powerful. But it is not so now. The present Manas

is a servant of the Indriyas [ senses]. Kaayaka [body] purification is

necessary. That is why physical seva of Guru is necessary. later come the Mantra

Siddhi. Then comes Mantra Deeksha.

Then how long is this physical seva necessary ? Till death. Even if you don't

get Mantra Siddhi. It may not be possible to tune this body in one life. It has

been pampered with luxuries. It demands hot water. We must start questioning the

wants f this body. That is the start. Sitting on hard surface makes you ask for

a pillow. Why do you need it ? It may look small desires. Even fan for sleeping

is not necessary. Bathe in cold water. What happens after all you may shiver.

That is all. The body learns its lessons/ This Tapas needs no Yantra or Mantra.

The help from guru is all that necessary. Vasishtha trained Rama and others made

them sleep on hard surface. One meal only. His wife was worried. Even their

mother was worried. But Vasshtha was adamant that the brothers must be prepared

for worst of the circumstances. See it was very useful later. Their desires were

limited. We are not trained for such. But let us commence in whatever manner we

can start. The Indriyas demand regular

intake of food. The working s of the internal organs relies on the power and

will of the mind to certain extent. As soon as you wake up, the tongue asks

coffee. Start your training by delaying the coffee drinking. Later, it stops

asking for coffee. This may seem small. But counts. Cheat your habits. It has

cheated you so far. Now you start cheating the senses. When Ravana died in the

battle with Rama, Ravana's wife Mandodari came to the battle field and bemoans

the death of her husband. She says" Oh my dear Ravana. What has befallen on you

? You conquered you senses and won the three worlds. Perhaps they [ the

Indriyas] were waiting to take revenge. They influenced and tempted you fully

and ensured your demise".

So far they commanded you. Now you take charge. Even in Ashrama many feel like

smoking cigarettes. But you say to yourself that Swamiji may call you any moment

and you have to stay in the Prayer hall. Prolong your stay in this prayer hall.

The asking for a smoke diminishes. You will save four cigarettes that day. The

demand of the Indriyas on the body has grown over the years. You cheat your

wishes and try to humiliate the mind whenever it asks for excessive desires.

Now the Tapas of Manas. The first complaint is that the Manas is unwilling to

concentrate. The more you concentrate, the more it flickers and brings thoughts.

When you put the senses and body in Tapas, the mind thinks that the 'Jeevi' is

asleep.. let me go for a ride' ...thinking so , it starts to run wildly. There

will be no concentration. Many thoughts come. The thoughts that the mind

generated then, takes you through a tipsy turny emotional ride of your past. You

remember many old and unwanted happenings and events. Then the mind paints a

frightening future. Some frightening.. some pleasurable.. some related to the

Indriyas .... some sinful but pleasurable ... some about your friends and

neighbors .. some thoughts trusting them some thoughts suspecting them.. Like

his the mind scans your existence and life when you sit for meditation. IS this

why you sat for meditation ? The mind is not under control. You with a sincere

motive sat for Dhyana. But the mind, like a bird. keeps

fluttering.

Here, you need to hear some sounds, so that the mind concentrated on that.

That is why Swamiji says listen to music when you meditate. The mind will be

engrossed is music. After listening to the music for some time, the mind will

get tired and tries to sleep. That state of a sleeping mind, even for just ten

minutes, is worth it. Every day this exercise is necessary. This is the Tapas of

Manas.

Next is Vachika Tapas [ Verbal Tapas] For this purpose we sit for Satsang and

do bhajans. Our mouth will be chanting "Hare Rama Hare Rama- Rama Rama Hare

Hare. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna - Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. (Swamiji

gesticulates with funny actions. Swamiji cleans the ears. Swamiji scratches

head, back, Swamiji yawns.....) Is this the Vaachika Tapas ? The Indriyas, The

Manas the eyes all will be very active while we chant. Chanting like a tape

recorder.

Many devotee perform Anagha Vrata. The scene will be like this. "The devotee

invites all his family members and friends to witness the Vratam. He sits to

perform the Vratam and somebody enters the house. He looks at them , smiles ,

invites them inside and beckons them to sit. while he is doing this, the priest

would have chanted the next shlokas. The next door neighbor would be watching

the television with full sound. You will hear more of the TV sound that the

priest's Mantras. The other neighbor's children will be playing cricket with

full noise and shouts.

After this fiasco called Vratam, he writes a letter to Swamiji " Swamiji, I

performed Anagha Vrata. This is my twelfth Vrata, I spent five thousand rupees

and served feast for two hundred people." Is this what Swamiji wants ? NO!

Swamiji wants your concentration to improve. Vaachika Tapas demands that you

forget everything when you sing a bhajan.

The above three Tapas [sharirika - bodily, Manas - mind & Vaachika - Verbal]

are important. Then there are subdivisions in these three Tapas. These develop

to twenty four Tattvas. This is not the time for that discussion.

In Datta Peetham, Dattatreya Sampradayam is followed. This is from time

immemorial Datta Tattva existed in all the four Yugas - Krita, Treta , Dwapar &

Kali. Datta was the Guru of the Devatas. Even Sri Rama went looking for Datta.

But only Atri and Anasuya were there. But on the day, Rama ascended the throne,

Dattatreya came from nowhere, blessed Rama and Seeta and disappeared. All sages

came to bless Rama that day. Datta Sampradaya, Datta tradition transcends all

barriers. It is a wonderful tradition.

Shankaracharya, in the Guru Ashtaka ,explains the Guru Tattva

(Sri Swamiji sings "Guru Ashtaka").

What is the use a of having beautiful body, family , a heap of wealth, if the

mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru ?

Scholar of Six Shastras, Vedas, Poet, a Literary expert. But what is the use if

the mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru ? If this is there the

learning gets useful.

Possessing educational qualifications from foreign universities, famous, gold

medallist, well respected . What is the use of them if the mind is not wedded on

the Sacred feet of Guru ?

All the rulers of this world are at His feet. He is an emperor. They serve him.

What is the use of him if his mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru ?

He is famous for donating. His fame has spread wide and far. But hat is the use

of him of his mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru. Then only his fame

gets qualified. Look at the story of sage Vishvamitra. Till he surrendered to a

Brahma Guru, he was not called as ' Brahmarshi'. Vishwamitra performed great

penance. But he did not seek a Guru. Until that happened, he was not recognized

as a Brahmarshi.

You may be a great devotee. You may not be interested wither in woman, or money,

or wealth or fame. But what is the use of these if your the mind is not wedded

on the Sacred feet of Guru?

You may not be interested in a life in forest. You may not be interrupted in

your wife, house, life. You are a renounciate. What is the use if the mind is

not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru ?

You might have enjoyed the possession of the greatest of gems. What is its use

if the mind is not wedded on the Sacred feet of Guru?

Who ever listens to this Guru Ashtaka, will become true devotees. That too those

who listen from the lips of a Guru, Yogi, Brahma chari. What is the use of the

life, if Guru Karuna is not there ? It is like possessing the greatest car and

not knowing how to drive. We should find a able driver. The Driver tales you

through the best possible route. Like Krishna drove Arjuna in Maha Bharata. He

drove Arjuna to safety and finally victory. At last, Krishna Tells Arjuna " If

you cannot do anything, then at least surrender to me. I will help you."

You all are lucky. You have listened to the great Guru Ashtaka from Swamiji on

this sacred day of Guru Purnima.

Gurave Buddhi Saakshine <oneinfinitezero wrote: