Guest guest Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 Jaya Guru Datta Happy New Year to all! This speech seems to present a great intention for a new year. Sri Guru Datta Hanuman Pujya Sri Swamiji's speech in Vijayawada Ashrama on December 30, 2002 Many people ask what is the kind of service one should be rendering to Swamiji? Some people simply try to point out at others' works and keep commenting it as wrong. Some others behave as though they are trying to protect Swamiji's property and interfere in Swamiji's activities. Both of these groups are wrong. Your service should not create unnecessary chaos and confusion. Then what is real service? After coming to Ashrama, what is the effort you have made to attain salvation? By the grace of Mother Goddess, by the grace of Datta or by the grace of Ganapati, what is the effort you have put in to gain knowledge? You should start thinking and working on these lines. If you sincerely pursue this matter you would be doing great service to Swamiji by helping his efforts to rectify you. You would be reducing his work by 50% at least. When we become capable, by Karma Yoga philosophy, to take care of all our problems by our own self, we will be putting less and lesser burden on Sadguru. This is itself a great service. One way of Guru Seva is to become independent (with reference to our own Karma). Many devotees have become dependent on Swamiji even to observe their duties. They say that they will do a particular work only if Swamiji tells them. They will eat only if Swamiji asks them to eat. They will donate only if Swamiji asks them to donate. This kind of an attitude is wrong. It is not only wrong but also cruel. Such thoughts must be destroyed at once. Having been in association with Swamiji for so many years, you must learn to practice devotion that inculcates in you gentleness, patience and serenity. This is the real spiritual growth. Growth does not mean building multistoried apartments. Even a roadside cheat can do that. That is not at all important. Spiritual growth means a contemplation about the essence of what we have learnt from Swamiji and how, through Karma Yoga he has influenced our lives. We must always keep observing these facts. You should not become dogmatic that you will do a particular work only if Swamiji instructs. There are many works, which must be done even before Swamiji instructs you to. Of course it is absolute foolishness if you don't do the work even after receiving Swamiji's instructions. Most of the works you can attempt to do even before you are told to, thinking about it in your own capacity. A great Yaga is going to take place here from 1st of January. You must all participate in that great Yaga. It brings great fortune to everyone who takes part. You should not think that Swamiji has not told you. If you start thinking like that you will be left behind. Swamiji will not tell you anything. If you stay behind thinking that Swamiji has not instructed you to do, then you must never question at a later date. You should not feel sorry later that you could not participate. You should pacify and console yourself that you were destined only for that much. Alternatively, consider yourself as a lucky instrument in the hands of Sadguru, become a sponsor for this Yaga, become the firewood for this sacrifice, become the oil for the lamp. Participate in this Yaga with sincerity and commitment and become a noble instrument in Swamiji's hands. At a later date you should not curse yourself that you were unlucky that you could not participate. You chose not to participate. So abide by your choice till the end of your life and stay happy. Don't curse yourself; it was your own decision. Those who are participating must always remember that your participation must be active and with involvement. It is not like mechanical event. You should protect the wastage of materials, you should help and guide new devotees. This is real Guru Seva. You should be longing for such service. You always think selfishly. "We have had Darshan of Swamiji, we have eaten Prasadam, and our work is over, let's go. Why should we bother about anything here?" All of us should become volunteers. Eighty percent of the people here come for their own self. You should not become a part of these 80%. All of you should become committed to your Guru, develop attachment with him and start feeling that you are a member of His Datta family. It is a sin if you think for your own self all the time. Most of the devotees think "We want to meet Swamiji once, somehow we have performed Pada Puja, somehow we offered something to Swamiji, we want to get rid of our illness, we want to touch Swamiji once. If I somehow get an opportunity to meet Swamiji it is enough. Why should I bother about all other things here." Most of these people do not have any commitment or affection for Swamiji. You should feel in your mind and heart, "He is my Guru. He is my family. He is always in my heart." You must develop that intimacy and attachment with Swamiji. You must involve yourself in His mission. You should not become one of these eighty percent who come only with a selfish motto. It is a sin to think selfishly. Consider a situation that you have been given some work in the Ashrama by Swamiji. You start to think that have not been given any importance. You start feeling disgraced that Swamiji has scolded you in front of everyone. You start thinking that you have not been assigned the leadership of that work. It is a great sin to think like that. It is a gateway to hell. Secondly you should not criticize others' work here. You should not talk arrogantly and harshly with fellow devotees. If there are any differences of opinions, just prostrate to them and leave the place. You should not hate you fellow devotees. Many people here have a bloated ego. "What do you think of me?" they say. If you are considering yourself to be a big shot then that is meant to be only in your home and for yourself, not in the vicinity of Sadguru. Here everyone is a servant. "I am a senior devotee. Swamiji has assigned this work only to me because there is nobody else able to do this work. I don't require anyone else." Such an attitude is wrong. We require everyone. All of us should be part of Swamiji's work. If somebody has spoken something wrong, even then you must take it in positive spirit. You should not react unnecessarily. This is real Guru Seva. "I am an important man. This Ashrama is because of me. This work is possible only because of me. Swamiji is great because of me." Such a foolish thought should never come to your mind. If you entertain such thoughts even in the slightest corner of your mind, then it is hell for you. Remember that it is not because of you that the activity is taking place. It is because of Swamiji that everything is going on. If He wasn't' here, none of us would have been here. Everything exists because of Sadguru. All this paraphernalia exists because of Him. He has the capacity of getting the work done even by a donkey if I am not there. We are not at all important. Swamiji is important. We must understand that. If you have ego, keep it in your home. Frame it and look at it everyday. Share it with your wife/husband and your children. But do not express it here. Here all of us are servants, slaves. You must develop such feeling in your mind. You must feel proud and happy that you have been chosen to participate in the activity. You must sincerely express your gratitude for having the opportunity to participate. You must do it with sincerity and devotion. You should not have differences in opinion, quarrels, fights, and shout at each other. If such people are there, kindly stay back at home. You need not come here at all. You can divorce from Swamiji. If you feel you have not been given importance here, then you also need not come here and suffer. Nobody gets importance here. Only a true devotee gets importance. Only such a devotee who has complete faith in Swamiji, who has completely surrendered to Swamiji will get the reward. Your stupid ego is worthless here. Till now you have gotten along with all your ego, but no more. This Kshetra is becoming the abode of mother goddess. There is no place for egoists here. Only people with devotion need to come here. Swamiji wants devotees with pure devotion only. If you devotion is pure, Swamiji becomes your devotee. If you try to show your ego though, Swamiji will react. This will unnecessarily create a bad atmosphere. So you better stay back at home. Who are you to come to my house and show your ego? This is like somebody else enjoying my property and commenting on it. Coming to my temple, my Ashrama, my shrine; who are you to act and talk funnily. Who are you to behave stupidly. I don't understand. You are supposed to come and do service. This is not a fighting arena to exercise your egos. This is not a society or political place to fight for leadership. You can fight in your home. You must not have any mental conflict in the Ashrama. You must have a very peaceful and calm mind as soon as you enter the Ashrama. You must be disciplined here. As soon as you see Datta or Ganapati you must become clam in your mind. You must practice silence, you need not talk about anyone here. How can you praise someone else's wife before your own wife? How can you praise someone else's husband before your own husband? Like that you should not talk about other Ashramas here. You talk about other people and Ashramas here. How foolish are you? When you come here you should talk about the deity here. What is the foolish compromise you are making? What is the foolish ego you are showing? If you have resigned from service, - then stay at your home and dance as you want to. Don't try to express your foolish egos here. Why do you come here and fight unnecessarily? You must all change. This is real progress. You must become calm in your mind. You must change your habits- not just listen for lectures for hours together. You must practice the changes, which are explained. You require ego for your survival outside. Keep it with you. Swamiji will bless you for that. But the moment you enter the Ashrama you should become like a gentle deer and leave all your ego outside. You should develop that faith and gentleness in you. Guru Sannidhi (abode of Guru) is like that. If you have got the opportunity to do some service, you should feel proud that you are selected for the job. You should fight to get such an opportunity to do service near Guru. Don't fight for leadership. Give a chance to everyone. God has given you the opportunity to support financially, to serve physically or many people serve intellectually speaking about Swamiji, speaking about the temple and doing this kind of service. Even remaining silent itself is a big service. Many people keep giving plans and suggestions. Swamiji does not like it. If you are giving plans and suggestions, then you must involve yourself in it. You should not only make comments. You should stand there and get the work done. This is not a factory; it is the fruit of Swamiji's Sankalpa. This temple is Swamiji's determination. It is Swamiji's inner vision that is materializing. As soon as we enter inside we must search for that peace that energy and that bliss here. We should not try to search for unhappiness. We should not try to pass unnecessary comments. A particular job has been assigned to somebody. Let him do it. "I will get some other opportunity"- you should think like that. If Swamiji has asked you to go and join them, it means that he has instructed you to shed off your ego and join them, not to go and express your ego there. It is for correcting you indirectly. You should not express you ego, your plans, your suggestions unless asked for it. No useless comments. This is the basic discipline, basic foundation, basic need for every devotee. If you practice these basic tenets, any message of Upadesha given by Swamiji, sticks to your mind firmly. Otherwise Swamiji's energy gets wastefully expended and Swamiji's throat will pain but you will never reform. You should not speak harshly and arrogantly in the presence of Guru. You must practice gentleness in devotion. You must feel happy that somebody is doing service. It is a result of his penance. You must pray that you should become capable to do such service in your field in the future. You must pledge for yourself that you will do committed service. You must pray and request for service. You should not think that only getting an interview with Swamiji and going away is your work and other works are not your domain of interest. Swamiji can speak about Guru Seva for hours and days together. Only when the stone is chiseled millions of times, a beautiful statue is formed. Only when gold is polished again and again will it shine brightly and become a beautiful ornament. Just like that Guru treats his disciples with different lessons, by punishing them, scolding them, making fun of him and many others, all different processes of reformation. Sadguru always wants to carve a beautiful idol out of the stone (us). We should not feel that the Guru has insulted or scolded us. If you think like that then there is no greater fool than you. Swamiji wants His disciples to become like him. These are the words of Jayalakshmi Mata. These are the words which mother has told Swamiji. Not one word less, not one more. I am revealing to you each and every word which mother has told me. We must have patience. We should not expect that all your works and desires will be fulfilled as soon as you come here the first time. If you really want Swamiji, you must undergo the rigorous train to obtain him. If not you can go in your own way. Accept your Karma and do what you like. If you have the feeling that you have to suffer you Karma and no Swamiji is going to help you, fine! Abide it and follow your own path. Swamiji will also teach you how to scold gurus if you want to learn. You can abuse in your home. NOT HERE. If you do such a thing here, it becomes an offence. Swamiji does not like it. You come to my home and sit on the sofa, and then you start pinching out the foam from the sofa. You think I will remain silent. When a relative comes to our home, and without permission opens the refrigerator and empties it, will you keep silent? He switches on the TV and keeps switching the channels, will you be quiet everyday, simply because he is a relative? Obviously you will stop inviting him to you house from the next day onwards. Even if he comes on his own, without invitation, you will try to evade him, saying that you have to go out for some work. We keep all our things locked and safe so that he does not open them. She may be a very close friend, but if she behaves foolishly by plucking out the foam from the sofa, opening up all drawers and taking out the items, using the phone recklessly, - will you keep quiet? One day you will become angry with him or her, and will try to evade him/her. Won't you do that? Won't you? Maybe you won' because you are also behaving like that when you go to their house. Then you are fit for such people. But I will definitely take action against such people, however close they might be. I will tell them not to come from the next day. I will make him sit on a mat instead of a sofa. Do you like such behavior on the part of your friends and family when they come to your home? Certainly not. Similarly when you come to my home you must behave yourselves. You should not act like monkeys. Your mind should be surrendered to Swamiji as you enter the Ashrama. You should not behave badly, speak foolishly or act stupidly when you enter these premises. As soon as you come here, your mind, your body and your deeds belong to Datta. You should not comment about Swamiji here. You can compare and discuss Swamiji sitting in your home. Not here. Don't you have any other work here? Go to your home, see some TV and behave like the serials. You can take a divorce from here then, and enjoy life in your own way. If you vacate your one place here, two good devotees are waiting to occupy that place. That is why, if you really seek Swamiji's help and guidance, then you must keep on getting reformed more and more. There is no end to that process of reformation. It continues till your intellect exists, as long as you have life in your body. You must accept all activities with love. Do not try to make monetary calculations about various programs. Do not make unnecessary comments. If you have any doubt about the benefit you get from Swamiji, you need not come. Just like you quit a horse, which cannot walk/run, likewise you must quit a god who does not give you boons despite your prayers. If you feel you are not being benefited by Swamiji, then why are you here still? You can quit this place at any time. No No! I am definitely benefiting from Swamiji. Oh? Is it so? Then stay disciplined here. How do you repay the benefit you obtained from Swamiji? By being disciplined, well behaved and devoted. If you hadn't had any benefit from Swamiji, you wouldn't run after me for all these years. You have been coming to Swamiji for so many years, that itself means that you have been receiving benefits from Swamiji, although maybe you cannot explain them in words. At least you might be having a hope that you will benefit by Swamiji. You have been following Swamiji from place to place because you are getting some benefits or another. If you would not get anything, then obviously you would not be mad about following Swamiji. We have been benefited, we are being benefited and we will be benefited by Swamiji in the future also. How shall we repay these benefits? Simply by being disciplined. To participate in the activities here is the first discipline. Second discipline is not to pass comments. Third discipline is to do whatever job is assigned to you, sincerely and without question. Fourth - whatever work Swamiji assigns to somebody, I will always be ready to help without causing him/her any inconvenience. Fifth - within our capacity we should do physical, mental and monetary service to Swamiji. Because you cannot leave me, you must follow these disciplines sincerely. If you cannot follow these disciplines and you won't leave me - then you become a nuisance to me. Why should I tolerate this nuisance? When there is a toothache, the tooth has to be removed, or undergo a rigorous root canal treatment. Why should you retain such a tooth and undergo suffering. Get it fixed with a root-canal treatment, clean it up to the root and refill it. You have to remove all the ill parts from the deepest past of your mind and clean it. Otherwise remove the whole tooth. You should not become such a tooth in my jaw. Swamiji will either remove it or repair it. If you want Swamiji - you have to undergo that reformation by following the disciplines mentioned. There is only one Sachchidananda here. There is only one Jayalakshmi Mata. There are no 22 Sachchidanandas. Swamiji is the only important person. Who will give you importance? Foolishness, madness to even think of trying to get importance. In the presence of Mother goddess, of lord Dattatreya, let us all learn to practice the disciplines mentioned and get devotion. You must put this entire message on the internet. Do not edit it. All the devotees must listen to it. If Swamiji says Daddammulu (foolish people) then let that word come like that only. This is a private program; Swamiji is talking to a private audience of his disciples. When you come to Swamiji, do all the service possible, otherwise quit this place chanting the name of lord Govinda. Why should we have this headache? If you have developed good faith and love towards Swamiji then please follow it up. Swamiji is a very good friend. It is very difficult to get a friend like Swamiji. Even tough my words appear harsh, my heart is very soft. If Swamiji were harsh at heart, then you wouldn't have come here. But sometimes Swamiji appears quite tough because he has to rectify you. If Swamiji does not rectify you then it becomes Swamiji's mistake. You will all become over pampered children. You should get reformed and become soft. Only then Swamiji will like you. Your minds should become pure and clean like butter. Jaya Guru Datta http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/tours/2003/vijayawada_jan/ vijayawada_speech_30_dec.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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