Sri Swamiji from Sadguru Sookti Sangraha

"The force of meditation is infinitely more powerful than speeches and writings. Lectures and books are of little benefit. They are useful only to show the way to the beginners. They may increase your curiosity and interest in spiritual matters, give you food for thought and intellectual stimulation; but they can not give you the vision of the Light (Truth)."

From Pujya Sri Swamiji

"Let the words spoken be true;
Let your eyes be full of compassion true;
All that you say, all that you see, all that you hear,
Let it all be auspicious and straight and pure.
Let no crookedness creep in,
O, Sadguru Datta, Giver of the good!
O, Sachchidananda, Lord of true bliss eternal!!

Pujya Sri Swamiji's discourse, Datta Jayanthi Celebrations, Mysore Ashrama, 10th December 2008

"People are always curious to know the reason for everything, especially for bad things. They always ask the question why? This is not a good question. Swamiji asks them why you are asking such a question? Many times there is no answer to this question. In fact you will get different kinds of answers and it will confuse you even more. Experience itself is the real answer to such questions. If you ask about Swamiji, so many different opinions are coming. You will get confused. Best thing is don’t ask. What connection you have with Swamiji, develop that."

Pujya Sri Swamiji's discourse on Bhakti, 11th December 2008 - Thursday, Mysore Ashrama

"Some people are born in violent families. Some others are those who are not undergoing the prescribed rituals; don’t practice austerities and daily-recommended chores of spiritual practices, not following the teachings of Guru, not reading scriptures etc. Both these categories can be transformed by devotion to the almighty. If you see the stories of great devotees, you will see MANY such examples and transformations. Ahimsa (non violence), truth, and devotion are not anybody’s sole property. Everyone has a right to them."

Pujya Sri Swamiji, from Dharma Divine Diary:

"An uncontrolled tongue is easily tempted by alluring tastes. If the tongue which determines taste is controlled, then all the other senses may be more easily controlled. Jihva Chaapalyam is the worst obstacle to the development of satva buddhi."

Message of Sri Swamiji on Guru Purnima - 16.7.2000

"Guru is one who removes our darkness. We must follow Guru without any wishes. We have to pray to Him to remove our darkness in us. We have to inquire about self-realization. We have to ask questions like who am I? Why I came here (being born) again and again? We should never ask silly things."

Sri Swamiji's speech at Datta Yoga Center, Trinidad - Aug 10, 2000

"By whose command is the sun giving light to planets, by whose command is the Agni giving warmth to cook food? Under whose command are they? Are they under any Government or committee of people? Only electricity is under governments! If Sun were to be under someone's control, we would be paying bills for sunshine also. The fan next to me is turning fast to throw air on me. Who is controlling the air? There is ONE unique force that controls these forces. My prayers to that force."

Pujya Sri Swamiji in Trinidad, Tobago, 1998

"There is no short cut for riddance of karma. Sadguru is capable. But, I am no Viswamithra or Vasishta. I believe in karma theory. Karma here means actions. After the way of karma comes the way of Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya. I don't want to take your karma. My bag is already full; it weighs 58 kilos. What to do to get rid of karma? Pray, help others, and love and respect nature."

Sri Swamiji at Datta Temple, Princes Town , Trinidad on 11th August 2000

"When time is ripe the teacher will come to you. Whoever says 'I am God' is the fakest person possible. Even Lord Krishna said that he follows Dharma. So, every one on earth is bound by the most basic principle of Dharma. What is Dharma? Most simply put, it means Truth, Love and Sacrifice."

Discourse of Pujya Sri Swamiji at Navarathris, Hyderabad, 28 September 2008

"If the person’s leg is fractured, he should not think that injustice has been done to him. The person should think that the leg is fractured due to his negligence and carelessness . In fact, the person should think that Paramatma saved him by breaking his leg. And, that he has been given justice. When we are into a trouble, a blame, or poverty, we should not think that it is injustice. We should pray God to give us strength to withstand the situation. Then only we become true devotees, otherwise we are not devotees at all."

Sri Swamiji, from Seven Hundred Sayings of Sachchidananda

"The neem twig makes the teeth strong;

The cow's urine is a disinfectant;

Rice hand-pounded is good for the stomach;

Savories made of Ragi give you strength;

Life lived in consonance with Nature

Blesses you with long life --

Sachchidananda, Lord of true bliss eternal."

Pujya Sri Swamiji at Preton School, London, May 5, 1990

"Discipline is important to get knowledge. Therefore, I sometimes punish my devotees. A mother may punish the child, but remember that she does it for the good of the child."

Pujya Sri Swamiji from Seven Hundred Sayings of Sachchidananda

"In a place clean and tidy, installed the image of the God

Adorned it with flowers and offered it all

Ritual-dictated honors, The worship ended

But the dirt in mind, why didn't you get rid of?

Sachchidananda, Lord of true bliss eternal!."

Pujya Sri Swamiji's Dattatreya Jayanti Message, Mysore Ashrama, 12th December 2008

"If you practice Satvik qualities, there is no complication with Sadguru at all. If you practice Rajasik and Tamasik qualities, how can you befriend Swamiji? You TALK of Satvik Guna, but behave like Rajo or Tamo guna (mood fluctuations). Two minutes you are good with your family, friends, government etc. Next moment you are angry with everyone. This is Rajoguna. Tamoguna is always hatred. No satisfaction with wife, husband, children or Sadguru also. It is often very difficult to practice pure Satvik temperament. At least practice Rajasik temperament. Some day you will be promoted to Satvik temperament."

Pujya Sri Swamiji's Dattatreya Jayanti Message, Mysore Ashrama, 12th December 2008

"Many people think Swamiji is Avatar (incarnation). Actually everybody is an Avatar. We have taken birth due to our previous Karmic actions. Pure Avatar (real incarnation) is Satvik in nature. Such people are Mahatmas (great souls). On the contrary ordinary human beings are born with Rajasik and Tamasik tendencies. Some times even Sadguru displays Rajasik and Tamasik tendencies in order to fight the Karma of the disciples."

The Visit of His Holiness Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji to Dattatreya Yoga Centre, Carapichaima, Trinidad, from 25th to 29 the April, 2002

"There are so many confusions. One Upanishad says like this, one Upanishad says like that, an other Upanishad says different,etc., etc. But, if you research all Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata,... the same goal and the same taste. You must practice patience, that is very important. For in our life we are in a hurry for everything - eating, sleeping, working and decisions. Everything is hurry.”

Sri Swamiji’s Surprise Visit to DRC, April 2008 - Discourse

"If you have any problems, then only you are saying, ‘Swamiji, Swamiji, Swamiji, ....telephone, telephone, ...go, go go…’. Then you are looking into internet and start typing, ...tak, tak tak, tak….., ‘Swamiji, this is very serious, now admitting to the hospital….my job is lost….my insurance is lost….my car is lost….’, etc. This is not good. Prasad, Subbu are giving your email information to me all the time. Latest news is, now they also download your email to my iPhone. I show you now. I have all of it completely. Now and then, I check. All problems only. Nobody says, ‘Swamiji! Your concert is good, you appeared in my dreams, your sayings are good….’. NO email like this, not even one."

Pujya Sri Swamiji Discourse at Hindu Temple, Augusta, Georgia, USA, April 8, 1990

"Maya will toss you from pleasure to pain and from pain to pleasure, happiness to sadness and sadness to happiness; and will subject you to so many kinds of opposites. Being tossed so many times, man becomes heavily damaged, and one day he will be declared invalid. So, make the decision for yourself, here and now, while you have still not reached that point of no return. Once you cross this point, even repentance will add to your frustration."

Sri Swamiji speaks about bonsai on 6th February 2009 for the inaguration of Silver Jublee Function of Bonsai Association in Hyderabad

• Bonsai is not alien to our culture. The word Bon – signifies comfort and the term Sai – symbolises effort and movement.
• It reminds us of our duty to be friendly to the nature.
• We have come across differing views about Bonsai, maligning it as a restrictive practice, which curtails the growth of the plant. But, at the same time, the same set of critics is oblivious to the drastic reduction of forest cover.
  Hence, it is my hobby and passion to resurrect plants, which are in dying stage due to malnourishment/ uprooting/ chopping; in Bonsai form.
• We have to do away with euphemism and nurture the bondage and affection towards plants. Raise at least a plant in your home, in pots, if you do not have back yard.
• Make your children feel that the plant is an inseparable part of your extended family. In a society depending on apartment complex for its habitation, Bonsai is the minimal solution.

Pujya Sri Swamiji, from Bhakti Mala, January 1998

"What is Dhyaana? Dhyaana means constant thinking or contemplation. Usually, our thoughts do not stay on one object for a long time. The process of fixing the thought process on an idol or a candle light or a star or a mantra or music for an extended period of time is Dhyaana. In other words, our thought should return to the same object repeatedly in very quick succession. By doing so, one can ensure that the object gets firmly imprinted in one's mind. The process by which an object or an idea becomes imprinted in the mind is Dhyaana."

Pujya Sri Swamiji's Dattatreya Jayanti Message, Mysore Ashrama, 12th December 2008

"Datta means Gift. The devotee gifts himself to Datta. Datta gifts Himself to devotee. What does this mean? It means that the devotee has surrendered his body, sense organs and mind to Datta. Datta in turn gives off Himself to the devotee."

Pujya Sri Swamiji's Dattatreya Jayanti Message, Mysore Ashrama, 12 December 2008

"A Satvik man is not attached to his physical body, its pleasures and pains. He regards this body as a rental house with five owners (Panchabhootas). Your body may become old, sense organs weak, ready to wither off but inside, you are always young. You are experiencing the body feelings because you are giving too much respect to the body not realizing its limited nature. When in pain you start chanting the divine name and the pain vanishes. This is because you let loose your attachment to the body and involve your thought in divine principle. If you attach a lot of importance to the physical and Karmic feelings, you will suffer pain."

Speech of Sri Swamiji after Sri Chakra Puja on 19th August 2000, Toronto, Canada

"Many say, 'I am thinking of my Master'. Don’t just remember Him. Remember his sayings. And, act as it teaches. Then it is more effective. You act, feel and experience what Guru says. Then, Swamiji is always with you. One hour of Puja ritual and you go to your business. What transformation has it brought in you and your life? Think about it; assess it periodically. It is very important. More than thinking of Guru and his teachings, following it and implementing it is very important."

Sri Swamiji’s Discourse in Mysore Ashrama, April 1975

"I am immortal and above everything. It is the duty of a devotee, a truthful and doubly powerful one, to hold me down. If a devotee is a true disciple, he or she should observe keenly every twist and turn of the Guru. When one finds the Guru in a melancholic and depressive mood, one should immediately try to humor Him. When one finds the Guru happy, one should praise Him and glorify Him. Finally, when the Guru is in a state of stillness (equivalent to leaving the body), the devotee should plead with Him to remain. Then the devotee is called as great as the sage Yagnavalkya."

Sri Swamiji’s Discourse, Sep 28, 1984

"From birth to death, humans face many obstacles. Seeking remedies to the multiple problems that one comes across, one wanders and searches. To be rid of material poverty, we bend low and serve a rich person, even when we know that, by this, our poverty will not be gone. We forget that there is a higher person fully capable of removing these strifes -- the Lord Almighty."

From Pujya Sri Swamiji

"The word 'sorry' is no anodyne,
You cannot remedy pain with it;
Nor can you make the dead wake up-
Sachchidananda, Lord of true bliss eternal.
Jai Hanuman"

Pujya Sri Swamiji's Dattatreya Jayanti Message, Mysore Ashrama, 12th December 2008

"Don’t try to find out the root of Guru or Ganga. Just experience the divinity. If you share your love, respect, affection with Sadguru, He will share His Happiness with you. He will give His Guna (quality) to you."

Sri Swamiji's Discourse in Hyderabad, AP, India, March 19, 1996

"Guru schedules a purification agenda for His devotees on individual basis. To some, He gives the benefit of touching Him, while some others may get the blessings through His eyes. To some, He may give upadesha (initiation with a Mantra). This should not be mistaken for partiality. All patients coming to the hospital do not get the same prescription."