The Weight of Life and the Resolve of a Student
The Weight of Life and the Resolve of a Student
Bhāra means weight. All weight on our shoulders—negativity, happiness, sadness—we give to Gurudev. Life’s troubles and joys, we place in Gurudev’s hands. We remember God and Gurudev when troubles come. Dhṛḍha Niścaya means determination. The five qualities of a student include the determination of a crow. A crow wanted water from a pot with a narrow opening. It collected pebbles and dropped them in until the water rose. The subconscious mind can make anything reality. We are not worthy, but within, everything is possible. Live in the world like a lotus in muddy water. Offer all bad qualities at Gurudev’s lotus feet. Act without expectation. In the last moment, let that be in Gurudev’s hands. The world is in Gurudev’s hands. Our actions and mālās are in our hands. The lotus has a protective layer; mud falls off. Responsibilities are like mud. Two wolves live in the mind—one of bad qualities, one of goodness. Thoughts are food; whichever wolf we feed awakens. Sarasvatī holds a vīṇā. Strings too tight break; too loose make no sound. Life is balance. Too much work is stress; too little is boredom. Too much talking creates confusion; too little creates distance. Sarasvatī teaches harmony, balance, unity, clarity, awareness. Words have power. One person believing in us changes life. Gurudev thinks of us before we think of ourselves. Speak with awareness, listen with patience. Arguments start without awareness and patience. Mālā teaches awareness and patience. Everything originates from somewhere. All forms of the Goddess originate from Bhagavatī Parāmbhā.
"Jo jag me rahū̃, to aise rahū̃, jo jal me kamal kā phūl rahe."
"Jaba jaba saṁsāra kā kārya banū, niṣkāma bhāva se karma karū."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
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Devas and Asuras
The path of prāṇa is the inner churning to reach the nectar within.
Prāṇāyāma consists of inhalation, exhalation, and retention; these three occur naturally in everyone. Specific breath techniques produce distinct effects on body, mind, emotion, intellect, and consciousness. The myth of ocean churning is a metaphor: the ocean is existence and consciousness. The spinal column is the mountain; kuṇḍalinī is the snake. Negative and positive qualities are the asuras and devas within, fighting through overthinking. This churning produces nectar, which is immortality located in the Bindu Cakra. Āyurveda originated from this churning, brought by Dhanvantari, an incarnation of Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu later appeared as Mohinī to distribute the nectar, using illusion to give true nectar to devas and a deceptive drink to asuras. One asura sneaked true nectar, was cut in two, and became Rāhu and Ketu. Rāhu vowed to disrupt auspicious events, so propitiation is necessary at gatherings. The nectar is within every being. Through Kriyā, balance is achieved in cakras and prāṇa. Prāṇa leads to Brahmaloka, which is pure energy. Killing or suicide brings bad karma and suffering. The divine is found within through unconditional surrender and devotion. Inner churning awakens good qualities and leads to liberation.
“O my friend, what you are searching for outside, you are me. I am within you. My hut is outside the city, but my dwelling is in your breath.”
“If you search for me, I will meet you at once; in a single second you will see me.”
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
The Guru will never die
The many forms of yoga are a beautiful garden of diverse flowers, all leading to the same truth. All teachers and techniques are valuable parts of one whole, like different children of the same parents. Harmony among all paths is essential; we must unite in Satya Yoga. The Guru's blessings are eternal, transcending the physical body. Criticizing other paths reveals a burning heart and causes inner harm. Modern medicine and ancient wisdom both have their place in preserving life. The soul is attached to the body but seeks release. Specific practices like Brahmari pranayama use sound to heal and awaken the system through careful, gradual practice.
"All yoga teachers, yoga practitioners, their schools, and their ashrams should be in harmony together."
"One in all and all in one."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Practicing from Strilky
The practice is guided relaxation and synchronized movement.
Lie down and make yourself very comfortable. Keep legs together, arms beside your body, palms facing upward. Remove pillows and glasses; lengthen the neck, draw the chin slightly toward the collarbone. Stabilize the lower back, pressing it gently toward the mat. Take a deep, long breath between throat and belly, then exhale completely. Only move when instructed; do not go on your own. With inhalation, slowly raise both arms overhead, keeping them at shoulder width. Hands remain relaxed, not interlocking thumbs or fingers. Head stays still, eyes not looking at neighbors. With exhalation, lower the arms back beside the body. Repeat this movement continuously with normal breath, no holding. Then, place arms beside the body, palms facing down. Inhale deeply, lift both legs up, knees straight, heels pointing upward. Place hands under the hips for support, lower legs slowly without noise. Relax completely, turning onto the stomach if comfortable. Finally, sit for meditation, placing palms up or down as preferred.
“Only mantra, bhajan, and sitting—only these three points.”
“Do not shorten your breath; make it comfortable, long, and relaxed.”
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Nada Yoga
The Supreme Brahman is of the form of Nāda.
The Vedas declare Nāda Rūpa Parabrahma. The Supreme has no other form. Infinite sun systems are created out of that one sound. From the vast emptiness, the primordial vibration Oṃ awakened. Through that resonance everything visible and invisible was created from a single point. Whatever exists in the macrocosm exists in this body. Alongside the four Vedas exists a fifth, Gandharva Veda, which is Nāda Yoga. The Nāda manifested in the body can be realized through human intellect and practice. A bamboo in the Lord’s garden harbored deep inferiority and stubbornness. Its rigidity left no way through. The Lord cut the bamboo’s arm to fashion a flute. The Lord said, “When the sound of My breath emerges, Nāda Brahma will manifest.” The heart of humanity hardens like stone. The harshness is removed through that sound. We are all flutes. The prāṇa coursing through is bestowed by Parabrahma Paramātmā. Practice makes perfect. Yet without the Guru, the work is not accomplished.
“Nāda Rūpa Parabrahma.”
“Jo baṛā ho gayā, baṛā huā to kyā huā? Jaise peṛ khajūr, paṇḍit ko chhāyā nahīṁ, phal lāge ati dūr.”
Filming location: Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
