Think of Puja as Self-discipline - Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda (Sri Swamiji’s Speech in Surat Ashrama on November 3, 2002)

Who is the protector and who is the protected? Let us discuss this for some time. But there are mixed people in the audience. There are those who speak Gujarati, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada. But I will choose to speak in Hindi. My Hindi is baby Hindi. I may not speak as proficiently as our learned scholar Neelkanth Shastry. But, I am sure you will understand.

Question: In scriptures like Dharma Sindhu, it has been made mandatory to perform certain rituals everyday. But in this modern times, they are difficult to follow. What to do?

Answer: This Kaliyuga has two deficiencies. It is deficient in faith and time. Also, there is confusion in life also. If you have time to eat, drink and sleep, then you certainly have time for thinking about the Almighty. You have time to go to doctor, to decorate yourself, to fight with others, to go to lawyer, to go to court, but not for God. You sleep for 10 to 12 hours and you also take holidays. You have time to do business, but not for thinking about God. If you have faith, time comes by itself. Think of Puja as self-discipline. Our life needs discipline. Discipline life breeds a disciplined mind. God never eats the fruits or flower you offer. We need God to discipline ourselves. After Puja we get tears of happiness. Tears of happiness are not salty but sweet. Tears of unhappiness and disappointment is salty. In temples, the priests decorate the image and offers worship. The priest considers that the idol is his baby and he has to care it safely. We have to develop a personal relationship with God. We have to share our happiness, joy and unhappiness with Him. Then we will get great relief and feel that a great burden has been removed from our shoulders. It is a great relief. Instill faith in your worship. Don’t make it a mechanical activity. Like you have faith in your breathing that it will keep you alive, you develop faith on God. Imagine how many sitting here believe that their breathing will keep going even in sleep? All of you. Otherwise you would not be here. Human body is an amazing mechanical creation. It is a creation of Love and affection. It is amazingly complex and mind boggling about it’s abilities. But many don’t understand it and we misuse it and use it a lot less than its potential. Many make it useless. Many feel that the main purpose of this life is a cozy family, a fat bank balance, and foreign travels. But all these are so temporary. None of this comes with you when you leave the world. When you are leaving all this and going alone, why should you care for them so much? You lie a lot and they are many times for the most unimportant reason. You need wireless phone, a split air conditioner, modern life style is everything for you. You may enjoy it for fifty years. Probably for another twenty or thirty more years. But then. . . you will have to leave it all. If you live for 100 years, then you are an exhibition piece.

© "Bhakti Mala" (November, 2002) published by Sri Bhakti Mala Trust, Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Ashram, Mysore 570025. Website: www.dattapeetham.com. Reprinted with permission.

Click here to view the full contents of the article.

<< Back