Sri Swamiji’s evening Bhajan speech in Cochin Ashrama
Sunday, 29th September 2002

If our mind is in balance, our Buddhi will be in Balance. Whenever you take food, think of your Sadguru. Many are troubled with bad dreams. Don’t search for their results. It is good to think of Hanuman before going to bed. Then you will get good sleep. While bathing also chant the name of the lord. Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Hari. Remember the sacred rivers also. Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri, Krishna. Our breathing has the inherent sounds of SOHAM and HAMSOHAM. It means I am you and You are me. The inhalation is SOHAM and the exhalation is HAMSOHAM. This is not our place. We have come to the land of Kashyapa Rishi. Out of the Karma and sins, we have come for rent in this world. What is the rent that we need to pay the lord? Chanting the names of the Lord. You can chant whichever God's name you may want to. It does not matter. We don’t even own this physical body also. Someone brought this body to this world. Our parents brought it from the Pancha Bhutas. This mortal coil has to go back to the same Pancha Bhutas. In between the birth and death we try to achieve something in this life. Achievements do not include eating good food, drinking coffee and such things. Just sit quietly and think what you have achieved. You may make a small list like your family, children, court battles that you have won. And such. But you will leave all this. Where you came from and where you go is a divine secret. When a child is born, all the people around it will have great joy and celebration. But the child cries. Why doesn't’t it smile? It is crying that it has come to this world again. It's crying sounds like KIM ? Why Why Why ? The baby is suffering that it has returned to this world of suffering. As soon as it touches the ground, this previous life’s memory gets erased. Many people are happy to die after living a full life. They want to progress to the next world. But people around him cry. They cry that he did not leave enough money. That he left a string of court cases to battle. And so on and so forth. But the departed soul is relieved to have left. But when alive, he is engrossed and embroiled in all types of sticky web. Web of battles, web of jealousy, web of constant tension, family confusion, fights with family etc.

But what is the answer?
It is DIVYA NAMA SANKEERTANA. The great Shankaracharya also supported this idea. That is why I said in the beginning that you have to chant the name of the lord as often as possible. So that it becomes a habit for you. Then you will chant the names even when you are bed ridden. You don’t grumble and snort. It would sound like a sick and dying pig of a rat. That is such a funny noise you make when you are sick that even your family members despise you (Swamiji mimics the sounds). It would be so good if you chant DATTA, GURUVAAYURAPPA, SHIVA, PARAMESHWARA, and DEVI.
Ayyappa means – Father of the Lord Shiva.
Amma – Means mother goddess.
When you are sick, you may be cared for by your family members for one week, two weeks or may be even a year. But after that they worry when you die. They calculate how much money has been spent on medical bills. The Sanskrit Shloka says
ANAYAASENA MARANA, VINA DAINENYA JEEVANA
It means – death without difficulty and life without begging. Lets pray for that and sing the Kakadarati Bhajan of the day.

Jaya Guru Datta.