Pujya Sri Swamiji in Chennai for Tamil New Year day
April 14th, 2007

SRI SWAMIJI'S DISCOURSE

Starting of from Sri Krishna - Kuchela story, Sri Swamiji explained how Sri krishna reminds Kuchela about their Guru and explains Guru's relevance and importance in one's life.
 
Sri Swamiji went on to explain  the importance of remaining steadfast in the chosen path. "Once having chosen a sadguru, one should not be carried away by the criticism, comments, opinions or remarks of others. One should avoid talking about other Gurus. Neither praise nor criticism is proper. While one should be careful in choosing one's Guru, after having made a conscious choice one should  protect one's tender plant of  devotion by fencing it strongly with confidence so that wild animals and insects (non believers) do not destroy that tender plant of Bhakti in  the new devotee's heart"
 
"Devotion is a matter of personal choice and faith and does not require anyone else's concurrence or approval. A new devotee should not allow himself/herself to be affected  or influenced by any adverse remarks of others who are not devotees. In fact, negative things said about one's Guru should not be entertained or even heard at all by a devotee. A devotee should not allow any bullying by anyone, even if it is a non-believing family member and should sternly oppose restrictions on serving the Guru as choice and following a Guru is a personal, individual choice."
 
"While one should gladly share the experience with one's Sadguru with a true seeker, one should not try to argue for the sake of argument with a non-believer or to convince him". Sri Swamiji said "people would try to deviate a devotee by gossiping but the devotee should be careful not to fall a prey..."
 
"It is easy to pick up bad habits but very difficult to cultivate good habits. Bad habit enter us without effort but good habits cannot be cultivated without a great deal of conscious effort....this is God's phenomenon, no one can explain why....it is easy to catch cold from a cold infected person by sitting beside him on the 3rd or 4th day of his cold but good health is not transmitted by sitting beside a healthy person!"
 
"The easiest way to get rid of bad habits is to cultivate good habits.When good habits enter you, bad habits will automatically go away. There no other special effort needed to get rid of bad habits. You should keep your mind always busy and engaged in some constructive activity or the other as "an idle mind is a devil's workshop''
 
"Keep constantly in touch with the Ashrama activities, visit the Ashrama frequently and get associated with all the good work that is continuously going on in the Ashrama  and contribute your might without thinking about the negative things. Keep your mind full of positive thoughts and keep doing good. Then scope of your getting rid of your bad habits easily increases." Sri Swamiji advised.
 
"Children should be brought up in a positive atmosphere as whatever they hear and see as children will have an impact on their life as adults. Nothing negative should be talked in the presence of children. They are all like tender plants and should be protected. Their devotion should be built up carefully by the parents so that they become good human beings who lead useful lives."
 
Sri Swamiji gave practical tips to would-be mothers .....
 
"Taking care of the well being of a child starts in the womb itself. The 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th months are very crucial. Parents should not tell lies, fight, drink, gamble, cheat, politick as the child will develop a taste and a natural inclination for such habits. Bad habits are easy to make but hard to break."
 
HABIT.....remove H, a bit remains..
  
remove A, bit remains,
  
remove B, it remains......
  
"So it is the fundamental responsibility of mothers-to-be to realize their role in molding their unborn child's attitude. Good and pleasant things should be talked, good soothing music should be heard and only positive thoughts and vibrations should be allowed in the mind."
 
Later, Sri Swamiji spoke about the general prospects in the New Year.
  
"The out going year was VYAYA which means LOSS/EXPEDITURE and now all your sins have been expended"
  
Welcoming the New Year and wishing the gathering a Happy New Year Sri Swamiji explained that "SARVAJIT" means  all round success and all  people would by and large succeed in all spheres of activity in the year that has arrived.
  
Sri Swamiji said...
  
"People in the field of arts, painters, musicians, dancers, film field etc will have a very good year .... a bumper year..and would experience unimaginable success and prosperity but they should exercise caution during the months of September, October, November and December 2007"
  
"Students, traders, politicians, share market dealers, agriculturists also have a very good year ahead."
  
"Over -all every one will have happiness and unhappiness in the ratio 50-50.
  
No natural calamities will occur. There will be good rains. There will be no water scarcity and people will not have to agitate about water and have disputes.
  
All the planets spell prosperity in their positions.The Moon will have very soothing and curing effect."
  
"No one should get scared of Shani as he removes all "Papams"...more over Shani is always at the feet of Hanuman and all those who have such fears should pray to Hanuman for relief of  such fears. Hanuman will take care of Shani"