“Sri Swamiji asked for carrots, and as we started cooking we noticed that we had no carrots. As it was a Sunday, we couldn’t get some anywhere, so we went to Sri Swamiji. Very calmly He said, ‘Don’t worry, they will come’ and then you came with such beautiful carrots”.

By profession I am a psychologist, but I also studied dance. I combined both disciplines and developed a technique called ‘Dance Therapy’. While doing this, I sometimes experienced how I would be switching into the patient’s body and understand their problems from within. I did not know what to do as I had no one to help me understand this new ‘world’ that had opened up. I was attracted to reading books about India and her Gurus. I thought that, maybe, if I could find a Guru I could tear away this doubt. I said to myself, that this is what I need: A Guru to guide me in this world I cannot see.

I prayed, for over two years, and waited for this Guru to come. Then in 1983, one day a friend, Peter, informed me that his Guru, Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji was coming to Switzerland and Germany. I mentally debated if I should go to see Him. One night I had a dream where an Indian saintly man was playing a piano in a church with Peter standing next to him. I also had interest in music, so this dream convinced me that I should go to see Sri Swamiji in Germany.

I went to the venue where Sri Swamiji was staying and sat with the others awaiting His entry. I did not see Him or His picture before, so I did not know what to expect. After some time, Sri Swamiji entered the room, went straight to a Grand Piano and started playing. This incident amazed me, as it seemed almost exactly as the dream I had. I sat there and wondered as to how an Indian Guru can be so accomplished on the piano. This was my first meeting.

After this, the next Sunday, we were invited for a Homa performed by Sri Swamiji in Switzerland. I wanted to go and I knew that it was customary to take some flowers. I searched my garden and could not find any that were really beautiful, but I had grown very nice carrots that year which I took. I had an interview with Sri Swamiji and I offered Him the carrots. He took them, handed them to His assistant and mentioned something to him.

One week later I went to another program and the same thing happened. I handed Him the carrots and again He called the assistant and said to him, “Please tell her what happened”. Ramesh, the assistant explained, “Sri Swamiji asked for carrots, and as we started cooking we noticed that we had no carrots. As it was a Sunday, we couldn’t get some anywhere, so we went to Sri Swamiji. Very calmly He said, ‘Don’t worry, they will come’ and then you came with such beautiful carrots”. When Ramesh finished talking, Sri Swamiji looked at me and with a big smile, He asked, “Would you like to come to India”, very happily I said, “Yes! I would love to come”.

My first trip to India was set so I went to the Mysore Ashrama and stayed for six months. I was very fortunate to travel with Sri Swamiji on His tours outside the Ashrama for that period. Christmas time was coming and I wanted to spend that time with Sri Swamiji. Sometimes traveling with Sri Swamiji to small villages was a problem for me to adjust, but I did it somehow. One day Sri Swamiji called me and said, “I think that you should go back home, these trips are too strenuous for you”. I answered, “Oh no! Swamiji, I want to spend Christmas with you”. He replied, “Okay, but do not complain”, and I simply said, “Yes Swamiji”.

The next day a young girl came up to me and said that Sri Swamiji had instructed her to take me to her house and make me comfortable. I was touched; I was experiencing His motherly care. He had said that I shouldn’t complain, yet He was providing all the comfort for me. Everywhere we went; the local people were taking care of me.

On the eve of Christmas, the group was camping in Pithapuram, near the temple that was dedicated to Sripada Srivallabha, a previous incarnation of Sri Guru Dattatreya. In the temple there, a very old murti of Dattatreya was installed. I was invited to sit just in front of the murti to see the milk abhishekam. As I was meditating on the process, I experienced the Lord Jesus Christ. This experience was so real. Feeling His presence my soul jumped: Oh, He really exists! I was raised in the Christian belief and heard all the stories about Christ in my religious education, but it was Sri Swamiji who made me experience His real presence. This experience opened up many channels within me to meet that higher truth.

After I met Sri Swamiji, the experiences of transgressing my physical body had stopped, instead, He gave me new experiences, or the seed of spiritual life. Once a priest was explaining the meaning of Sri Swamiji’s bhajans, and he told us to sit and meditate on His Holiness. At that moment Sri Swamiji was walking pass us. He came up behind me and gave a gentle tap on the top of my head, the Sahasrara chakra. Immediately I fell into deep meditation for almost two hours. This was my first initiation.

It felt like a planted seed just beginning to sprout. Sri Swamiji was opening the spiritual door of His domain. I did Kriya Yoga classes with Him, even to this day I continue with the practice and also started to teach. Before going to the Ashram for the first time I had the idea of going there and do nothing else but meditate the whole day. But Sri Swamiji made it clear and said, “Fifty, fifty”, half meditation, half work. Which reminded me of the Latin phrase, ‘ora ed labora’ (pray and work).

During my extended stay in the Ashrama, besides yoga, I also learnt; bhajans, Kannada, Telugu, pujas and how to play the harmonium. All these skills have accompanied and supported me in pursuing my spiritual goal and attainment of ‘peace of mind’. By His grace, I further had the strength to complete my graduate degree in Indological studies at the University of Zurich, next to my challenging schedules; as a career advisor and my involvement in His DYC Switzerland seva. I feel so fortunate to experience His loving and wise guidance in my daily life.

The greatest miracle that Sri Swamiji does is the transformation He has caused in me and in the devotees that surround me. I have experienced Him as mother, as father, friend and teacher. In different instances, He has shown the qualities of each, helping me on the emotional level to evolve from the clusters of day to day sorrows and happiness. Like a mother, He has shown me unparalleled compassion, and helped me to develop self confidence. He handles all our problems in a hidden, subtle way. Often I would realize it only after the challenged situation was over getting a sudden flash of how He had walked with me through the difficulties. At times I still cannot grasp what it really means to have the good luck of being safely taken over the wild ocean of life in the boat called Guru.

For almost thirty years I have been in His fold, and I still wonder; Swamiji, who are you? What are you? Every time I visit the Mysore Ashrama, or see Him, it is like the first time. I have no answers to these questions, I just experience. How does He do the things He does? It is beyond our mental capacity to grasp it. All I do is bask in His energy and feel its warmth. He is truth, in fact, He is my life.

In silence, without expectation, He takes care. Sri Swamiji used to tell me that I should write my experiences so that other can benefit from them. In 1995 a publication, ‘The Silent Teacher’ was released. This book contains the very subtle experiences with Sri Swamiji. After that, Sri Swamiji said, “Swamiji teaches through these experiences”.

He looks after the smallest details of our lives; gives suggestions for our health and wealth, our conduct and work. He is at the same time Guru and Guide for millions of people and yet present for our individual needs. He says, “No one comes to Me, I have the responsibility to bringing them, this is my sankalpa”. When He calls, there is usually a hidden hand that guides one to meet Him, like a person who would suddenly appear and tell: Oh, that is exactly where I have to go, please follow.

During a longer stay at the Mysore Ashrama, Sri Swamiji requested that I teach yoga classes to the women who would come to the Ashrama. Smt. Gayatri had taught me step I and II of the Hatha Yoga Sri Swamiji had developed, and now I had to teach. He instructed that I should come early to the class room, and stay there whether one person, several persons or non would come to the class. If no one would show up I should sit and practice Hatha and Kriya Yoga. Many times there was no one, so I was able to sit and practice. I used to feel that I was elevated to the heavenly abodes. In the afternoons I used to do garden work or any other work. Many times I said to myself: This is how it must be in heaven.

He had said, “Don’t ask for experiences again and again, just think about the ones you have had, they will again strengthen you.” Yet He continues to give; again and again and again. Whatsoever He says or does, is very precious to me. I would normally write down every detail and reflect upon them. I observe Him, and I am still amazed as to how He can attract so many people from different levels of society. Some of them might not be interested in spiritual matter, but at least, He keeps them from involving themselves in negative karma.

Sri Swamiji is complying with modern life. He has developed a face-book account, Puttugam. He wanted to keep His multitudes of children involved, so He created this account to interact with them. He interacts with His devotees whom He lovingly calls His children. For Him there is no distinction between; age, color, creed, race, social standing, educational achievement, and all the dogmas of society. Everyone receives something from Him.

Seva is an opportunity, given by Him, where our spiritual discipline can be enhanced. Sri Swamiji has created an environment where He allows devotees to participate in Seva. He preaches, ‘Service to Man is Service to God’. He gives certain projects to certain individuals so that they can alleviate the burdens of their karma.                                                                                                                      Jaya Guru Datta

Saraswathy Moorthy, Malaysia

We are all so grateful to Swamiji for all the blessings and grace He has showered upon our entire family. We have complete faith in Him as our Guru and God. Our family’s existence on this earth is due to His grace only!

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I first met Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji in 1980 through our friend, Ramadas, who was at that time studying in Bangalore. He fell in love with a French girl, Meenakshi, who was also studying in Bangalore. With Sri Swamiji’s blessings they got married. He had told them at the time of their marriage that they must go back to Kuala Lumpur and Sri Swamiji will come and visit them there. They indeed moved to the northern part of Malaysia. As promised, Swamiji made His first visit to Malaysia to bless the couple in 1980.

Ramadas invited us to their house when Sri Swamiji was there. My husband Mr. I K Moorthy had invited Swamiji to come to Kuala Lumpur as well, but He said that He had only come to bless the newly married couple, and if my husband really wished to invite Sri Swamiji, he should come to Mysore Ashrama and invite Swamiji there. He blessed our family and asked us to visit Mysore Ashrama for the Datta Jayanti celebrations of that year.

After arriving and settling down in Mysore Ashram, Sri Swamiji told us to stay in the ashram until January. Our son Samy Das was going through some tough times with his health due to a heart operation in the previous year. Sri Swamiji told him that all he needed was one injection shot. We took him to Vellore, got him the shot and he started feeling better, only because of Sri Swamiji’s grace. Then He informed Samy Das that he had to stay in the ashrama for two more months. Samy Das and I stayed back and my husband left. He later came back for the Shivaratri celebrations. Since then, we had been regularly visiting the Mysore Ashrama.

Then in 1982 Sri Swamiji came to Malaysia and spent three weeks. As time went by, He made several trips to Malaysia. Our family was one of the first families that were in Malaysia when Swamiji started visiting initially. His visits became frequent, almost every year. We formed a small group and started having monthly satsanghas, pujas and different celebrations at the local Raja Rajeshwari temple in Kuala Lumpur. When Sri Swamiji came in 1982 He mentioned that one of His devotees will have an accident but Swamiji will come and save him, but He did not mention the name of the devotee. We had no idea that it would be us. After releasing this prediction Sri Swamiji again visited Malaysia in the following year.

He has blessed us several times in many instances and had done so many things for our family that I am ever grateful to Him. He was also going to save the family from a dangerous accident. Once, during one of Sri Swamiji’s visits, we all went to a nearby hill station. While returning, Mr. Moorthy was driving the car in which Swamiji was seated. We were passing through a tunnel and suddenly Mr. Moorthy had a black out and was facing a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle. However the car shifted to the left, came out of the tunnel and stopped.

The people following Sri Swamiji’s car saw that the car was going head-on and then proceeded for awhile and then stopped. When all rushed to the stopped car, Mr. Moorthy was unconscious in the car and Sri Swamiji sprinkled some water on his face. When he became conscious he asked what had happened and Sri Swamiji said, “Nothing.” Then everyone proceeded to the place where we were camping. I was not in the car, but when the people saw the near accident, narrated the incident. I started crying and thanked Sri Swamiji for saving my husband’s life. He said, “Do not worry, he was saved and will be alive and under His care for another ten years.” Ten years later, with the love and compassion of Sri Swamiji, Mr. Moorthy expired.

On another occasion, Sri Swamiji told Mr. Moorthy and me to come and stay in ashram for some period of time. We were not sure why we were asked to stay in the ashram, but without questioning or reasoning, we obeyed Sri Swamiji’s instructions and stayed in the ashram. He told us not to leave ashram until He tells us to do so. After a period of time, He said it was safe to leave then. We only came to know the reason behind this a couple of years later.

We learnt that some of the relatives in our village in India had done some black magic on our family to get material wealth. By the grace of Sri Swamiji, whatever black magic was set upon us did not harm us. We were well and safe only due to His wisdom. Sri Swamiji Himself had revealed this to us after two years and said that the period we were asked to stay in the ashram was a very critical period and if we would have gone to that village or if we were not in the ashram, we would not have been alive.

Our daughter Meera and her husband did not have children for a long time after marriage. Sri Swamiji blessed them and gave her an apple. She then had a boy that He named as Datta. Whenever Sri Swamiji sees the boy, He would mention to him that he came from an apple and in fact Swamiji calls this boy as apple Datta.

We are all so grateful to Swamiji for all the blessings and grace He has showered upon our entire family. We have complete faith in Him as our Guru and God. Our family’s existence on this earth is due to His grace only! Jaya Guru Datta

Sri Swamiji Says:

Sadguru is difficult to get in one’s life. It is even more difficult to work for and serve a living Sadguru. It is extremely difficult in his association. In close association with Guru, your ego will get hurt from time to time. You will find it very difficult and irritating. Only such devotees who are prepared to satisfy their egos (sense of personal identity), will be able to stay with the Guru

God is within each one of us though it may not be possible for us to see Him. The eyelids protect our eyes and yet we cannot see them without the aid of a mirror. Similarly God is very much there, but we may not be able to see him without the help of Sadguru.

Amirapu Satyanarayana, Produttur

“You must feel lucky that you are born in an age and time in which Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji is walking on the Earth”

I am a Medical Doctor attached to the S.G.S. Hospital in Mysore India since 2007. I had my first glimpse of His Holiness, Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji in 1992. Before that I was associated with many spiritual organizations, especially the Sri Ramakrishna Math and Mission when His Holiness Sri Ranganathananda Maharaj was the President. He was known as the Modern day Vivekananda Swamiji. I believe in the Hindu philosophy, of the existence of God, and conduct regular pooja at Home.

From 1986, my wife and I were working as doctors at the Government hospital in Proddatur. We spent twenty-two years working at Proddatur. Our arrival to Proddatur is by no means an accident; it was an opportunity to meet an Avathara. My friend the late Dr. Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, the then MLA asked me to serve the people of Kadapa region, and got us posted to Proddatur. Had this not happened we might not have met Sri Swamiji. The first glimpse of Sri Swamiji was when He was coming out of Sri Ramanjaneyulu’s house. At that time we were going to the hospital for duty. We saw Him and proceeded to the hospital. In our private consultation rooms, we had a nurse who was His devotee. During that period Sri Appaji was coming to Proddatur in the month of January and was staying for about five days.

The nurse who worked with us used to tell us about Him and kept asking us to visit the ashram and have His darshan. One day she brought a book, the ‘Life history of Sri Swamiji’ and asked us to read it. We kept it in the cupboard and forgot about it. However, she used to implore us to read it. Days were passing and dust was gathering over the cover. One day she excitedly told us that Sri Swamiji was coming to Proddatur, but we didn’t show any interest and the days were just passing.

Then, I believe that the nurse told us that Sri Swamiji has arrived and will stay for about six days and asked us to visit the ashrama. We tried avoiding it, and one day she told us that He will be leaving the next day and asked us to come. To satisfy her we went in the evening. As we entered the ashram we heard Sri Swamiji giving a discourse. We sat in the last row, as we sat we saw that ‘His Eyes’ shown like search lights. Sri Swamiji was taking about doctors and their services. We were bit taken with His reference to doctors the moment we entered. We were wondering how he know that we are doctors. We sat till the end of the session offered our Namaskaram and left.

Sometime later my wife was leafing through the ‘Life History’ and found the mention of Proddatur. Out of interest she started reading from that chapter. Later she told me the book and the life of Sri Swamiji is very interesting. Some weeks afterwards I developed a backache due to riding of scooter on very bad roads. I went for medical help and the doctor told me to take complete rest for seven days and gave me a number of tablets. I was force to take this rest so I started reading the book nonstop.

The foreword, “you must feel lucky that you are born in an age and time in which Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji is walking on the Earth” had a big impact on me; it is the best boon man can get. My wife is also so moved about this message; the simple living example of Sri Swamiji. Another part that moved us to the core was His training with Yogini Venkamma Atta in Proddatur. During those days He was asked by His Aunt to bring food by ‘Madhukara’; begging for food in five different houses. At that time He was only a small boy. He used to take that food home, give some to any guest, some to beggars and finally He was allowed to eat from the remaining amount.

However, there was a twist from Aunt Venkamma; He should not taste the food; whether it is hot, sweet, sour, etc, If He tastes it, she used to beat Him on His back. This was part of her yoga training. In this boo, the way the words are expressed brought tears to the reader eyes. The author says, “None realized that in the future, this boy appearing today as Sanyasi beggar, will be feeding many mouths and moving to many places, in cars, to bring relief to many souls. He was in fact, revealing the Datta Avathara, saying, “I am not doing this Madhukara to satisfy my hunger, but to lessen your Karma. When you give me the food of devotion, I am taking your Karma.” I have never read such a bold statement from anyone. Here He is proclaiming that anna or food is Parabrahma Swaroopa and for all intent and purpose, He is the Parabrahma.  He gives food of Knowledge to all and He does not require anything, because He is it. He is satiating the hunger both physically and metaphysically.

The reading of the ‘Life history’ came to an end. This reading and many other books on religions gave me some insight, and I could read between the lines. The Biography of an Avathara is never complete, because we cannot call it as life history; we can call it as ‘the Leela or the happenings in the Avathara period of great force.’ The Life History of these Avadhoota shows the life facets of characters involved or attached with the Avathara. How can mortals write about Gods or Guru? As the Avathara passes through time these devotees are men mentioned along with Him; they are the flowers that fell at their feet.

With severe back pain I decided to visit Mysore, I told my wife of my intention and boarded the bus. Even up to today, she taunts me that I didn’t asked her to accompany me. I made the long bus journey and reached the ashrama; a modest setting. There were a few persons standing near the Hanumadwara and they told me to rush inside as Sri Swamiji was giving Holy Teertham. I had yet to take a bath, so I resisted and instead asked for place to stay. The reply was not encouraging.

In the meantime, another gentleman asked me to go to Rama Shankara Kuteera and ask for a room. The lady asks me to keep my bag in a corner and get ready quickly to go and see Sri Swamiji. I took bath, went to the prayer hall and asked a gentleman as to when I can have Sri Swamiji’s darshan, He told me it will be only in the evening and left. I was so tired with the journey and my pains that I sat in the hall with my eyes closed. When I opened my eyes I saw Sri Swamiji standing in front of me. I prostrated and introduced myself. He gave me vibuthi and He went and sat on the Srichakra pooja platform and asked few of us sitting there to come near to Him.

He told us that there will be a video shooting in Tamil showing the Ganapathy pooja of many forms of Ganapathy. He started the pooja and at the end He gave us the Holly Teertham a number of times. This is how the Guru accepts and blesses the devotee. After that I retired to Kuteera where I learnt that there will be Meditation and Healing concert the next day.

The next day, I got ready and sat through the concert. What this has done to me I cannot explain fully. When sugar is mixed in water it dissolves, but because the water is sweet it means that sugar is there, but we cannot see it. Just like that, when we see a great force or Avadhoota, we become one into it. At the end of the concert I took my bag and rushed to the bus station on my return journey to Proddatur. After the bus left Bangalore I remembered my backache, however, it is not there and I haven’t taken any tablets since the morning. I was surprised and reached Proddatur safely and without pain. He gives the first boon.

After that, our family with our two sons became regular visitors to Sri Swamiji and His ashrama and we started to regularly chant Datta Stavam and attend satsangha. We have never asked for any particular wish to be fulfilled, however, at one interview Sri Swamiji told me that you should never ask for anything, but just tell about others problems; do you want me to open your book? With folded hands, I replied, Oh’ Great Guru, my life is an open book for you? Then Appaji said I know who you were, who you are now, and who you will be, also. I know what you deserve I will give it when the time comes, so don’t ask for anything. I stuck to it. He also said, “Come to me with clean plate and I will put something on it, however if you come with dirty plate don’t expect anything. I want a clean vessel; the vessel is your Atman; prepare yourself and come to me.”

There are many ways in which He prepares the devotees to receive His benedictions. Even before meeting Him I used to do early morning pooja. During one of His tours to Proddatur, Sri Swamiji ordered Sri Sadashiva Sarma and me to conduct Ganapathy Homa on every full moon day at the Proddatur Ashram. Another time He told us to clean the temple sanctums of all God and Goddess and regular do pooja and abhishekam. We did what was ordered. After few months when we came to the Mysore ashrama Sri Swamiji was so pleased that He directed us continue saying, “You look after my temple I will look after your Home.” What other assurance one requires from an Avadhoota.

Pradosha Kala abhishekam to Lord Shiva, one of the Shiva archana propagated by the Datta Avathara of Sripada Srivallabha, Sri Narasimha Saraswathi and Now Swamiji, is a boon to me from Sri Swamiji. Up until we left Proddatur we were doing this Pradosha Kala pooja. I have greatly benefitted by this. The power and wonders of Guru is great and inexplicable.

My wife and I are Medical professionals, but neither of our sons has followed our profession. My eldest son asked Sri Swamiji what course to pursue in future and Appaji told him to go for engineering studies near to Proddatur. He joined Kadapa Engineering College and after graduation asked for future guidance, Appaji asked him to go for post-graduate work in Tamil Nadu. We wanted our second son to try for dentistry, but he declined and Sri Appaji asked him to go for Law. After graduation, he worked with a great legal brain in Delhi, then came back and settled in High court in Hyderabad. Later, Sri Appaji asked him to come and work as legal advisor to Ashrama.

In 2007 Appaji called us from Switzerland and He straightaway asked me, “Satyanarayana do you remember that you have offered you services to the ashrama long time ago, do you stand by your word? My wife and I asked Him for twelve hours to prepare ourselves and I submitted my services. Sri Appaji was so happy; He said that He is happy to have such devotees. In turn He gave us five months’ preparation time. When He came from Switzerland He identified suitable rooms to us in the Ashrama.

In retrospection I learnt that when we are with Sadguru we have to be humble, we must not display our qualities like love of money, power, anger, or showing up our ego. Guru does not like the show of these qualities. In silence, without expectation, He takes care of us. I pray to my Guru with devotion that is result of surrender.

It is said that at the Parayana of Guru Gita that the Guru appears by the time the last word is finished. As a reality I started Guru Gita Parayana and on the Last day I had to come to Mysore. By the time we reach the Srichakra pooja is usually over. I sat under the Audumbara tree and started Guru Gita. When the last word was finish, Sri Swamiji appeared to do Cow or Go pooja, which was being offered to Guru. The powers, wonders and whom the Guru blesses with His love are amazing.

As discussed earlier, my wife and I were having a private consultation. The consultation room has Sri Appaji’s photo. One day we admitted a lady with dead fetus. We induced artificial labor pains to remove the dead baby. The procedure sometimes takes from one to three days. After the first day the lady developed high fever with the baby still in the womb. Our Datta Stavam chants usually goes on without any stop unless we are highly involved in other matters. After the second day, there was still no delivery. We prayed to Guru for His intervention. This was our first wish that was expressed openly.

We were praying for the welfare of the woman and on the third day at 5.00 am, our nurse rang up and informed us that the baby is expelled. We told her to keep the patient on the bed till we came. We went and examined and told her she can move now. The lady walked into our room and saw Sri Appaji’s photo and asked us whose photo it was. We replied it is our Guru who stays in Mysore. She immediately said that she saw Him and He is near to her for more than twelve hours holding a small doll in His hands. At 4.30 am that morning He threw away the doll and blessed her. She asked us to give her the photo. See how benevolent Sri Appaji is?

Another time, I was at a function in the temple and I made a comment in the ear of the priest there. When I came to Mysore after one month Sri Swamiji repeated the same words; after which I asked for His forgiveness. These are some of my most remembered Anugraha upadesam of Guru. I like to call whatever Sri Appaji says as Upadesam, as Guru’s words are nothing but orders for good conduct of devotee. There are a varieties of Guru that a person comes across; the first being mother, then father and the teachers in school and college. The Guru that teaches the way for Salvation is the Spiritual Guru. He teaches the disciple how to get over the accumulated karma of various births, and attain the feet of Lord.

Sri Swamiji is the Guru of Dattatreya lineage. His Holiness is available for the devotees all the time with a silent prayer at the Image of His or the Kalagnisamana Moorthy in the prayer hall. Now we are in the Ashram it is mandatory that whenever we go outside Mysore, we inform His Holiness, or Balaswamiji. Staying near to Him; the Guru, one should not take advantage or misbehave. Even the actions of mine are watched by many people who come to Ashram to see His Holiness and during major festivals or functions.

Once, I had an audience with Sri Appaji on a family matter on the birthday of the Lord. At the end He says, “Satyanarayana, do you think that Sri Rama was not aware of the location of Sita, did He require the help of Hanuman?” With folded hands I bowed to Sri Appaji and said “Swamiji I know or we all know that we are here to play a small stage role on your world stage; you are the producer and director, we just play in your creation. Looking at my son He said, “Things happen according to my plan; in my plan so many people are involved, I draw individuals from every part of the world to act in the drama of mine, so I called you to this Peetham. There are Hundreds of people who are willing to serve in the Hospital, but in Datta’s lottery your name has come, this is Swamijis lottery.”

Like this He searches through His devotees and find those that have their tasks to perform, when the right person fills up His requirements He calls them up; He allots them a task and they should perform them with devotion. One need not feel jealous of person whose work keeps them near His Holiness, because their roles were fixed a long time ago.

Datta Jayanti is the birthday of Lord Dattatreya. Sri Swamiji celebrates Datta Jayanti for three days. I found, like Navaratri, enormous Yogic vibrations are released by His Holiness. The waves are so penetrating that no worldly thoughts come to the Mind. I tried thinking of other things, but I failed, the thoughts come back to “Dram Dattaya Namaha”. On one such occasion, His upadesam talk consisted of  “I am here” I was taken aback, how such simple one sentence speech carries millions of words and meanings in them is made. Yes! it is true, He is there, He is here, and He will be there. Only ‘I am’ has a question mark. I don’t know about yesterday, but today I am with Him; tomorrow is the question mark. If one lives in this sentence, that is the real Guru Krupa.

Another aspect of Sri Swamiji that has captivated me is the Kirthans on Lord Venkateswara, especially “Yedukondalavada Govinda Eedukalada neeku Govinda”. A poet-saint, Tallapaka Annamacharya wrote a large number of Kirthans on the Lord and they are all great, In Sri Appaji’s bhajan the word: Eedukalada” carries voluminous meaning. It says Oh’ Lord there nothing that can be compared with you. Sri Appaji’s one word upadesam are thought provoking and He leaves it for us to infer. I like a Veda Hymn that means; once you see the Face of Guru there is nothing else to be seen; once you speak to Guru there is nothing else to speak and once you touch the Holly Feet there is nothing to ask. Guru takes care of everything; it’s from silence that He appears and does your work.

After our retirement from Proddatur, we went to Tirupati, but He called us to Mysore. He says looking after the affairs of your children is my duty. I will settle their affairs. Within twelve hours of His phone call, our first son’s marriage was fixed. In Bharatha varsha, settling the affairs of the children are parents’ duty. If the parent happens to be the GURU, what more you can ask for?

After coming to Mysore my first thought was smoking, I used to be a compulsive smoker. My fear is if some devotee sees me smoking, what is the use of staying with Guru when I myself is not practicing what He teaches? One day I made a firm resolution and went to the Datta temple. Sri Appaji was in the USA. I stood before Kalagnisamana Datta and prayed to Him; please Appaji if you give me firmness for a millionth of a second, I will achieve what I want. Lo and behold, it was a miracle. He gave me strength and I stopped smoking; this all happened in an eye’s blink.

Later I went to America and Sri Swamiji granted me an audience in New Jersey. His first question was, “Satyanarayana, how are you? What is the news?” I replied. “Appaji, I know that you are always there in Mysore and I asked my Guru to me strength for a second. He gave that strength and I stopped smoking. He was so happy and He asked me, “Who is that great Guru of yours?” When I told Him, He asked Sri Prasadi to take a photo with both of us.

Is it actually necessary for a Guru to allow Himself precious time to speak with His devotees? He is so compassionate that He wants to hear the truth from His devotee with His own ears. Sadguru feels proud when His teachings take root. Sri Swamiji’s love and compassion for devotees is unconditional. He cares for us as a mother will, protects like a father, plays like a grandparent and supports like a teacher and friend. Every act of ours is watched.

One day in Proddatur we were singing the Bhajans of Appaji and there was a power cut about 3.00 pm. My wife who is also practicing suddenly asked me, is the cooking gas cylinder is closed or open? I casually told it is the gutter smell. After some time I also smelled the methane. I put down the bhajana mala book, took a lighted candle and went into kitchen. When I entered and saw the gas cylinder the gas tap was open and cooking gas was coming out that I could listen to the sound. When I saw that, I was rooted to the spot because methane gas is highly volatile and I had a lighted candle in my hand. You can easily read my thoughts. Leaving the thoughts to Guru I put out the flame, closed the tap, opened all doors and came back to the front room. My wife asked if the cylinder was open. I said, yes! But I closed it. She was looking at me with disbelief and wanted to know what happened to the candle. I told her to forget it. However, one person who did not forget was the Guru. Later, when we came to Mysore He blasted one and all saying, “Do you think the duty of Guru and Datta is to look after your gas stoves, your homes, purses etc.” We were overwhelmed by His pure Love.

In 2001 there was a mishap in which the car carrying Sri Swamiji saved the lives of many by coming the way of a truck, in this Sri Appaji was hurt. The message from the ashram was that devotees are requested to avoid coming to ashram to enquire about His health. I didn’t make the trip. Later, when I came for Sri Swamijis darshan, the first word from His mouth was, “so you have come.” It was a rebuke for not coming immediately. I apologized and tears came to my eyes; I asked His forgiveness, because I became very disturbed. I told Him, “Appaji, why do you stay here and suffer for people like us, why don’t you go away to Himalayas and have peace?” He smiled and said “that is your love towards me; I still have a job to complete, so this has to continue.” Jaya Guru Datta

Siewnarine Singh Sharma, Trinidad

Words that comes from the lips of my Sadgurudeva, never fails; they will always come true. I comforted myself, remembering what He said to me at the airport, and I knew that Mama was taken care off.

In my early days I was involved in Hinduism and this zeal propelled me to seek spiritual knowledge. My father had left us when I was very young, and we struggled with my mother who raised us with her love and protection. As fate would have it I got my first job as a clerk on the port of Port of Spain, ultimately becoming a Custom Broker. I became one of the first secretaries of the Sanatana Dharma Maha Sabha, the largest Hindu body in the island at that time. I was also an organizer for the Bharatha Seva Ashrama Sangha on their pilgrimages to Trinidad.

In the early 1980s I organized and ran an Indian radio program ‘Dharma Prachar’ on one of the radio stations in Trinidad. In this program I tried to bring Hindu philosophical teaching and its music to the population at large. In those days many Swamis and Holy men would come and teach their ways. There were also many Hindu organizations, whose members were second, third and fourth generation Trinidadians. Our culture and traditions were being abused by those wishing to convert us into their ways, so I used this medium to help in fostering our true tradition and culture. I was also enrolled in Hindi classes at the Indian High Commission.

Sometime in 1985, I was approached by two gentlemen, David Mukunda Balroop, and Randolph Forbes Chandrakate, who presented me with a long-playing record of a mystical Indian Swami. I was told that this musician swami has been visiting Trinidad since 1976 and there were some devotees who would like to hear His music. I took the record and played the music through every program. This was my first introduction to my Sadgurudeva Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji.

I was informed that in June of 1986 Sri Swamiji would be visiting Trinidad for about a month and many programs were planned across the island. After His arrival, Mr. Balroop invited me to join the organizing group to help with the transportation of Sri Swamiji’s assistants and the musical equipment. I embraced the opportunity and went to the place where He was staying; the home of the Indian Cultural Attaché, Sri Giresh Pandey, my Hindi teacher. On June 30^th, 1986 was the first time I saw His Holiness in the physical form. His body radiated such magnetic charm that it was impossible for me to understand what was happening.

The following day I was standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting for Sri Swamiji to come downstairs. One of His Holiness assistants went rushing up the stairs in a hurry as if there was some emergency. On his way up, he knocked over a table that was on top of the landing and he became very remorseful. He stopped and very carefully he set the table in its original position while bowing to it and asking for forgiveness then he went his way. I was dumbstruck at this incident and I wondered why he did what he did. With my curiosity I ask him about it and he explained that God exists in everything. He said that he had disturbed the table and therefore he had to apologize for his transgression; that God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. I was awed by the cultural gap that we missed.

I was engrossed in the programs that followed and stayed with the group. Sometime later we were to visit the home of the Ramdath family in Princes Town where Sri Swamiji will do a satsangha and give a discourse. On the way the group stopped at the home of an Indian Expatriate doctor so that Sri Swamiji could have His Bhiksha there. That Indian doctor had purchased some new equipment that would play both western and eastern VHS cassettes. Sri Swamiji handed the doctor a cassette that He had brought from India.

The host tried to play the cassette, but every time he tried he failed. From the position where I was standing I saw Sri Swamiji watching the proceedings intently, from an open door. Then I heard Him said, “You people always asking Swamiji to bring cassettes for you, and now you cannot even play it, leave it alone Swamiji will fix it, watch”. I was amazed by this, how can a simple swami, a holy man, fix this piece of electronic without touching it? My thoughts were moving at the speed of light and my mind was grounded. Recollecting my thoughts I saw a movie playing on the television. I could not believe my eyes; He had really fixed the equipment. This was the most extraordinary event that I ever saw till that time.

From there we journeyed to Princes Town where a lot of people had gathered for the program. Tents were set up in the open areas and there was not even standing room available. After the program Sri Swamiji was sitting on a chair with one leg crossed over the other; I was sitting a little distance away in front on Him. Looking directly at me, I noticed Him rubbing the sole of His Feet and He motioned for me to come nearer to Him, so very cautiously I crept forward.

While I was moving forward I was hearing a cling-cling-cling sound. He had nothing in His hands and the clothes He was wearing did not allow anything to be hidden. But as I got within arms-length of Him He threw a large and heavy metal chain around my neck. People around me were astonished and one devotee actually made a comment that “He has gotten you now, you cannot escape from Him”. I was shellacked because I could not understand what was going on, over and over and over.

How fortunate we are without even knowing it. Sri Swamiji formed the first Datta Yoga Center and I was installed as its secretary. He informed me that in all the organizations He would normally first go to the secretary for information. I took this to mean that I will forever be with Him; that I must help in His mission. All the other posts on the executive were filled by Him with Dr. Dianan Chandool as the president. I was also given the responsibility of procuring all the documents needed for His future trips to Trinidad.

Although my name is Siewnarine Singh, Sri Swamiji calls me Siewnarayana Sharma. During the 1986 visit His Holiness called me and said, “Siewnarayana everybody in Trinidad has cars and homes. Swamiji too wants a home here, Swamiji wants at least one acre of land”. I called a childhood friend, Sri Ramesh Persad-Maharaj, whom I knew owned some property in the Orangefield area. These lands were unused rice paddies, but I thought with some work we could make this land buildable. I told Sri Ramesh that a Swamiji was here and He needed an acre of land. While speaking with him, Sri Swamiji was showing me two fingers, telling me He needed two acres instead. I relayed this to Sri Ramesh and he agreed.

A short time later Sri Ramesh arrived at the house where we were and met privately with His Holiness for some time. Earlier, Sri Swamiji told us that when that man comes he will offer Him five acres. As predicted Sri Ramesh gave five acres of property to establish His Ashrama. Sri Swamiji went to the property and staked out an area Himself for the construction of the Dattatreya Temple. With the grace of Sri Swamiji the Temple was constructed within fourteen days and consecrated by His Holiness. He had both Pundit Boloji and me trained as the first priests for the Trinidad Ashrama.

A large prayer hall was constructed adjacent to the Datta Temple and a two story structure was built as the residence for Sri Swamiji. The first floor was for His accommodation and the ground floor was for general use. During His visit in 1990 Sri Swamiji called me and said, “Siewnarayana, Swamiji wants you to occupy the ground floor, this is not a request, it is a command”. I stayed there for twenty years until it was torn down in 2010.

After Guru, the next most important person in your life is your mother. My mother, ‘Mama’ was an ardent devotee of Sri Swamiji. Whenever He was in Trinidad she would help my wife, Rita, prepare meals and look after His assistants. However, Mama was silently suffering for many years with sarcoma, or bone cancer. As she did not want to upset her family, she kept this a secret and did not discuss it with anyone. But her illness was showing and I became very concerned.

Later that year, when Sri Swamiji came to Trinidad, I went to the airport to receive Him. In the VIP lounge I sat at His Feet and started to relate the sufferings of Mama to Him. He sternly looked at me and said, “If something should happen to Mama while Swamiji is here, He does not want you to weep, He will take care of her”. That was all.

Programs were proceeding unhindered and we were all having a joyous time. Then the time to pay homage to the Aripo River had arrived. Devotees look forward for this pilgrimage to be at this sacred place with Him. There He would offer His prayers to His previous incarnations and the multitude of deities that fill the area. Various forms of His existence will be seen by different devotees. Of particular interest to me was, the opportunity to collect bottles of the water that flows over His Feet and then swim in what fell into the lower pond.

After the program, on my way back I went to Mama’s home. There were many people there who were complaining that she hadn’t eaten anything for the whole day. When she was told that I had come, she opened her eyes and was looking for me. I went to her bed and told her that Sri Swamiji had sent something for her. She looked at me with happiness in her eyes and I placed some of the water in her mouth. She drank the water, closed her eyes and was very relaxed. I sat there and sung some of Sri Swamiji’s bhajans to her and suddenly I heard a sound as if air was being forced out from a tire, and she breathed her last. Words that comes from the lips of my Sadgurudeva, never fails; they will always come true. I comforted myself, remembering what He said to me at the airport, and I knew that Mama was taken care off.

In 2001, Sri Swamiji sent an e-mail advising all those who could make it to the Baton Rouge Temple in the USA should go there at a particular period. I called my good friend, Edward Bharath, who live in Orlando, Florida and made arrangements with a few others to join him and journeyed to Baton Rouge. We learnt that Sri Swamiji was traveling en route to the US when He met with an accident. He said that the effects of the accident were for several devotees who had to face calamities, and Sri Swamiji had to bear those effects.

It so happened that on my way back I decided to extend my stay by one day to see a friend in Miami. In the early morning hours I received a telephone call from my wife informing me that our residence was gutted by fire that night and the fire started in the bedroom where I slept. I thank Sri Swamiji from the bottom of my heart, for if I had gone home as scheduled, to escape from that room would have been very difficult.

In 2009 I visited the Mysore Ashrama and during my stay I was admiring all the developments that had taken place over the years. One day while I was walking I fell and received a cut on my head, and I was awed that this would happen to me. During a program, I went up to Sri Swamiji and was telling Him that I came all the way from Trinidad to meet with an accident here. His Holiness looked at me and casually remarked, “You did not come, it was Swamiji that dragged you here. If you had stayed in Trinidad you would have had a very severe accident, so I brought you here to prevent that”. In front of the crowd of about six hundred plus, I started crying uncontrollably. How benevolent is the grace of my Guru!

When I left Mysore I visited the Bangalore Ashrama and was admiring the surroundings. I observed a spectacle as I had never seen or heard before. Hundreds of people were visiting the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple, obtaining coconuts and performing pujas, then tying these coconuts on the temple fence. After that they would join others doing pradakshina around the temples in a very organize manner. This went on from morning till night non-stop. I went to the bookshop and got a copy of a booklet filled with testimonials from people whose prayers were answered. I was amazed that people of different caste, class, and religions were simply following the dictates of Sri Swamiji.

My Sadgurudeva Parama Poojya Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, a bastion of the downtrodden has taught us that our only mantra should be;

If you are a Hindu, be a good Hindu,

If you are a Muslim, be a good Muslim, and

If you are a Christian, be a good Christian,

Care for Humanism and Humanitarianism

Follow the Master, have Faith in God,

Fight the Devil, and Finish the game.

This has been the model that I have set my life and I reventially bow to His Holiness for this understanding. Jaya Guru Datta, Sree Guru Datta

Sri Swamiji Says:

Our samsara’s (tendencies) keep either pushing us into the past or pulling up to the future. Consequently, we miss the present which Is. If you are a scholar, you may suffer from scholarly pride and say, I am a big scholar. But who can be more knowing than God. God alone is all-knowing. Therefore, think that you are God, who is all-knowing as you are a part of Him and His splendor. Do not belittle yourself by saying that you are a scholar.

Failure or loss of memory is mostly due to impure “Nadis”. By exercising proper check over the “Nadis” and keeping them trim and fit, supplemented by the practice of “asanas” suggested in the Yoga Shastras for the purpose, weakening or loss of memory can be prevented.

With God’s grace, the mute person speaks. Poison turns into nectar. Fire turns cool. This has been the experience of many great souls

Richard Clark. Trinidad

“If I give myself to you to be my teacher, I will not go elsewhere no matter what”. For me, Sri Swamiji is my deepest part. I interpret Him as Dattatreya Avadhoota.  I don’t want to get too attached to a form as what has beginning has end.

In 1986 I met Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji for the first time. My story is a little unusual as I never had an interest in following anyone, as I was never a follower. Earlier I was having a conversation with a school friend who was telling me about someone who had come to Trinidad that he thought we should visit. I was studying Gyana Yoga at this time and I was more focused on principles and not people and appearances. There is the principle of self-reliance to personal development as where you should not burden others with things that you have to fix yourself.

I was really not interested in going to see this person but since my friend explained it so well, it seemed interesting so I decided to go. I went to the California Temple where a program was being held and I just followed the crowd. All these people had come to see Him, as they had heard about Him, and I was following their lead, even sitting on the floor. Sri Swamiji was in another room and had not come out yet. I decided to meditate while waiting for Him; and for the first time it was easy to get into the right frame of mind and position to meditate. I felt the crowd starting to mill about and I opened my eyes to see Sri Swamiji entering all in white. He was very serious without a smile.

To be candid, I had a slight aversion to appearances. A physical body has a beginning and an end, so I never thought that I should pay much attention to those things. However, there was a feeling that was interestingly static. It was if my meditation efforts were increased tenfold while I was just sitting there. I was not paying attention to Him physically but to His effect. When my friend asked me later what I thought of the experience I told him that it was easier to reach a point of stillness with Him there. I have a scientific background so for me to believe in something it has to go through a period of observation, analysis, repetition, verification and conclusion. It takes a while for me to say yes to things.

That same day Sri Swamiji was going to inaugurate the site for the Datta Temple but we did not go. That was my introduction to Sri Swamiji. Sometime later the same friend told me about a Kriya Yoga course and invited me to go. This was not my background or my practice but I decided to go anyway. I believe that it you are going to do something you should do your best at it, but I still treated it as an adjunct practice to what I was already doing. One of the main objectives in Kriya Yoga is one-pointed directness and this is a main component in Gyana Yoga so I thought that it would be helpful. One of the methods in my practice is to make observation while training, and make notes. This oftentimes shows that something will seem to be off. When these notes start to get significant I will decide if I need an explanation then I will to ask questions and try to learn more.

One day during the Kriya course we were given the opportunity to sit in a room with Him alone. I was wondering of the necessity of it, but while in the room I felt very sensitive to Him. Before this time I couldn’t look directly into His eyes, however from then till this day when I look at His eyes, all I see are diamonds. Once when the yoga group went to visit the Aripo River, people were being asked to go and touch the water. When it was my turn I dived in, but was wondering about my own action as it was so spontaneous.  I came out dripping wet and Dr. Chandool asks me some questions. He wanted to know what my perception of Swamiji was, so I told him that He reminded me a lot of my own father.

Recently I had a dream where my father appeared, but with the features of Sri Swamiji’s face. I still was not interested in form so took all these experiences with a grain of salt and just observed and noted them. Then there came an opportunity for Guru Deeksha. This for me was totally about form. I also believe in self-reliance but I do think that it is helpful to have someone with knowledge guide you. However, this is Sadguru’s initiation. Now that I had some exposure to this, I was very cautious as I know that this was commitment for eternity. It would be a different kind of relationship that would be more than just taking instructions, but a bond where Sadguru would never leave you even if you left Him. I really questioned myself about this decision.

The observations and evidence that I had gathered over the time since I had met Him led me to believe that He was real. For example, once we were driving late at night on a lonely road and our lights went out. A car came and followed us and gave us light and when we reached our destination the car was gone. These kinds of events led me to test Sadguru and as He was offering Himself I decided to test by interpretation.

There were three major tests that I used. The main one was the interpretation of the fourth Mahavakya. I have been sufficiently trained in the verbal part of this; the slokas. I was looking for errors but realized that His interpretations were correct. Then I started looking closer at any sort of statement that had any philosophical statement for Vedanta. I looked at all the books like Guru Gita and Avadhoota Gita in detail. I found all his explanations were proper. Another more subtle test had to do with the Shakti, and I found that interpretation in Sri Swamiji’s book.

I have a lot of other experiences, some of which I cannot speak about here, but these things made me realize that this offer was one that I could not decline. Dattatreya means Absolute. I concluded, scientifically, that He could guide me. It was the only time that this would happen and it should never happen again. My thoughts were traveling and I was speaking to Him from my heart; “If I give myself to you to be my teacher, I will not go elsewhere no matter what”. For me, Sri Swamiji is my deepest part. I interpret Him as Dattatreya Avadhoota.  I don’t want to get too attached to a form as what has beginning has end.

However, my sense of self has neither beginning nor end and that is my formidable Sadguru. I looked at the relationship that I have and see all the positives in it. Since I have accepted His offer I have relied on Him only; the highest part of me to the Dattatreya Avadhoota. If my wife was present here today, she would tell you that this is something that is on my mind at all times as I call to the Divine in my sleep. I find myself intuitively speaking to Him. I see our relationship as being more spiritual, where we are part of each other, and I cannot tell where one begins and the other ends. Sree Guru Datta.