Sri Swamiji's Dallas Visit

Sri Swamiji's 2008 Dallas Visit Details
April 25th Friday - Interview for Radio English Telugu - Part 1 Telugu - Part 2	April 26th Saturday - Meeting & Public Program Dr.Prakasa Rao Welcome Speech See below for Sri Swamiji's Public Program Photos & Report

 
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Jai Guru Datta!

After days of preparation and expectant hearts, the day of Sri Swamiji's arrival was finally here. On Friday, the day of Lakshmi devi, devotees in Dallas were blessed with a most rare treasure, the darshan of our beloved guru, His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. Hundreds of devotees rushed off from their daily activities to be present when Sri Swamiji set foot in Dallas. The devotees waited - decked in Datta vastrams, with flowers in hand and beautiful smiles adorning their faces - united as one Datta family. Ever benevolent, Sri Swamiji held off arriving until all devotees were able to be present to get the satisfaction of welcoming Him. Upon seeing Him, the crowd released the joy in their hearts with a jubiliant cheer! After taking some time to bless all those present, Sri Swamiji proceeded for home. The Dallas devotees arranged a police escort especially for Sri Swamiji with an entourage of devotees cars to accompany Him home. The Dallas trip was a short one and had only two public events - a meeting for Dallas Datta devotees on Saturday morning and another event for the general public on Saturday evening.

Saturday - April 26, 2008

Sri Swamiji Blesses Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple land, April 26, 2008 11AM - 2:30PM
Following a meeting with the Hanuman Temple trustees and advisors on Saturday morning, Sri Swamiji proceeded to the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple site in Frisco for the Datta devotees meeting. Sri Swamiji was as eager to meet and address the devotees as devotees were keen to hear Him. Sri Swamiji was so delighted to see the devotees. Keeping in mind the short time, He poured out his heart and shared many thoughts for us to absorb and learn. The highlights of Sri Swamiji's message are:

• Follow the Guru with Faith in God. He asked all to remember that we rent this planet. This body and all it possesses are not ours when we leave. Instead focus on "Who am I?"
• In times when there is more confusion, pain and disappointment, do silent meditation on AUM kara. We need to perform Karma to resolve accumulated karma.
• Swamiji is always thinking about His shishyas and wanting to confer bliss upon them. He is Chitapah not vitapah and always thinks about devotees mind and karma. He takes care of devotees through different paths - shaktipath, upadesha patha, mantra pahta etc.
• Do not confuse Sadguru's Grace with material success. It must result in inner transformation. Material success is only incidental. Hence Sri Swamiji often recommends action like performing homas, giving donations to remove accumulated karma. Before a doctor performs surgery, he must perform test and prepare you for the surgery. Similarly, Sri Swamiji prepares each of us in the proper way to clear our accumulated karma. He elaborated richly on the importance of clearing Karma - only then will Sri Swamiji give upadesham.
• The Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple project in Frisco is an chance for us to payoff our karmic debts by doing service for Hanuman. Hanumanta means vayu or prana. Appaji spoke about how Hanuman is His ishta devata.
• Sri Swamiji was very pleased that as simple, middle class devotees, we are united and working together to pay off the loans and support, with body, mind and spirit, the successful development of the Temple. By doing this we can achieve Tri-Karana shuddhi.

Sri Swamiji said that as captain of this Pushpaka Vimana, there is always room for each of us. He offered all devotees to come with Him on this ship. Do seva. Offer the best or move on. Don't accumulate sins. He blessed devotees that with the grace of Dattatreya and Sri Hanuman, the temple construction will be completed easily. He reminded all present of the CDs and DVDs available on Hanumanta by Sri Swamiji. He told devotees to listen to them regularly. Sri Swamiji reminded that the Hanuman Temple is "Guru's project" not just "Dallas devotees project". With the firm thought that "Swamiji knows everything" - do daily Hanumanta puja and support this project. He finally described the properties of Emerald and the significance of Emerald Hanumanta for America - the well-being, success, health and prosperity of America. He suggested renting a trailer and performing Hanuman Puja every Saturday in the meanwhile. He asked the devotees for their thoughts (though He knows everything) and lovingly listened as some expressed their ideas to Sri Swamiji. Such is the grace and love of our Guru. Sri Swamiji announced that the Sashwata Seva program would be available for the Frisco Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple - VR Raman of Chicago became the first member. Each devotee left the meeting feeling personally touched and energized by Sri Swamiji's concern for their wellbeing and karmic path. For blessed are we, indeed, to have Sri Swamiji and Sri Hanuman's grace upon us.

Sri Swamiji met with the following people:

• 1. Sri Swamiji Met with Nachiketa Tiwari who is the General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad of USA came to Hanuman Temple to update their activities and seek Sri Swamiji's blessings.
• 2. Sri Swamiji met with Phalgun, Secretary of Vedandatoday, met with Sri Swamiji to discuss about the scientific research in Vedas and Sri Swamiji insight in to the nature of scientific basis of Vedanta.
• 3. Sri Swamiji met with Prof.N.B.Sudershan Acharya, a close associate of President Kalam, National Coordinator of this Lead India 2020" project, has designed a training program titled "Aap Badho Desh ko Badhao" Individual Development leading into National Development integrating Dr. Kalam's ideals, vision and mission.

Sri Swamiji was surprised to see more than 50 devotees from Houston, TX who arrived in a bus. Then Srinivas Pokala drove Sri Swamiji in his truck to show land boundaries.

Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple welcomes Sri Swamiji Public event, April 26, 2008 4:30 pm - 10 pm
The venue, Mooneyham Elementary school in McKinney, was overflowing with devotees from all over Dallas, Houston TX and from various cities around USA Some devotees from India, Canada & Trinidad & Tobago also arrived at venue. All devotees were engaged with Sri Swamiji's bhajans. Houston, TX started bhajans around 4:30 pm which were concluded by Canada devotees. Pundit Bhanu Prakash led Hanuman archana, bringing a festive look to the venue. Many other devotees came to see Sri Swamiji for the first time. The opportunity to have darshan of Sri Swamiji and Sri Hanuman was too inviting to resist!

Sri Swamiji arrived at venue around 7:20 pm, and was received by Dr Prakasha Rao, Chairman DYCUSA, Sri Brahmadeoji & Datta Yogi Raja. Sarat Attaluri invited Sri Swamiji on stage by offering a garland. Dr. Prakasha Rao in his welcome speech introduced Sri Swamiji to the numerous new devotees attending this public meeting. Sri Brahmadeoji was honored with a garland by Datta Yogi Raja(http://www.breathoflifedivine.com/sri.htm). Sri Brahmadeoji (http://www.santdeo.com/dokuments/bio-data.html) shared his experience of how Sri Swamiji gave him darshan as Sri Hanuman.

Sri Swamiji talked about graduation of Karma, Bhakti and Jnana yoga in simple English spiced with jokes using simple examples from daily lifestyles which thrilled crowed with laughter & joy. Later Sri Swamiji released a new CD Graha Stuti, and explained importance & significance of this CD. Sri Swamiji held an auction for Graha Stuti CD with proceeds going to the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple. Sirisha Bavireddy won CD auction & Sri Swamiji blessed her with ekamukhi rudraksha pendant. Sri Swamiji presented a bracelet to Padma Sonti for her planning and organizing of Kala Malika dance program. Laxmi Tummala gave the closing speech after which a very happy Swamiji gave darshan to all devotees and closed the public event.

Sunday - April 27, 2008
Sunday morning, Sri Swamiji blessed some of the Dallas devotees with unannounced visits to their homes. How blessed are they to welcome Sri Swamiji into their homes and to have such special attention showered upon them! The message to all was the consistent - do seva, selflessly and with a pure heart.

Sri Guru Datta.