The Harmony of Yoga and Āyurveda
Yoga and Āyurveda are two wings for the soul's flight. This is a lifelong work of discipline. The first happiness is a healthy body, called niroga. A healthy family is the foundation; parents must remain together with children for harmony. Husband and wife require mutual understanding. Obedient children learn from parents who do not quarrel. Good neighbors are the fifth happiness. The sixth is having a milking animal and a kitchen garden. Āyurveda teaches that every plant has value, as shown in the story of Charaka. Discipline is essential: for medicine like chyavanprāś, follow strict dietary rules. Yoga begins with discipline; Āyurveda medicine begins with discipline. The cause of disease is eating constantly, which disrupts the digestive fire, Jāṭharāgni. Seek advice only from a trained Āyurvedic doctor who understands pulse diagnosis. These sciences make us healthy, grant long life, and aid spiritual achievement. The soul departs with speed, guided only by karma and spirituality.
"The first happiness is a healthy body."
"Yoga and Āyurveda will make us very healthy, happy, and give us a long life and spiritual achievement."
Filming location: Rijeka, Croatia
Up next
Sanskrit names are important
Āsana is a term with deep meaning in the yogic system, which is connected to the Sanskrit language. The word signifies a seat, a dwelling place, or a posture. One's yoga mat is a yoga āsana. The place one sleeps is an āsana. The specific postures, like Bhujaṅgāsana, are also called āsana. The term's meaning depends entirely on context. Yoga is a vast science greater than allopathic medicine, and its proper terminology carries inherent knowledge. Similarly, prāṇāyāma fundamentally consists of inhalation, retention, and exhalation. The Sanskrit alphabet resonates with the body's energy centers, and the language balances the mind. True communication begins with the heart's touch.
"Wherever you sit, that is your āsana."
"Prāṇāyāma is only three: pūraka (inhalation), kumbhaka (retention), and recaka (exhalation)."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
The Guru Gītā and the Path of the Disciple
The Guru Gītā and the Path of the Disciple
The Guru Gītā is the foundation of morning sādhanā and the disciple's relationship to the Guru. The Guru Gītā comes from the Skandapurāṇa. Western mentality demands clear specification, only one true guru, and fears the wrong guru leads to hell. Advaita Vedānta sees all fires as real fire, just as all gurus manifest the Guru Tattva. Kangaroos jump from system to system with strong Mūlādhāra and oily New Age ideas. The Guru is the ship and the bridge across the ocean of māyā. Oils, gemstones, and rudrākṣa do not save; only practice saves. No one can practice for another. The real guru is your guru, with respect for all gurus. Vyāsa means compiler, not inventor; knowledge began with Śiva as consciousness. The Guru Gītā exists in versions of 182, 216, and 352 verses. Swāmījī removed unnecessary verses about āsana benefits and directions. Trust in Gurudev removes fear of planets, evil eye, and black magic. Doubt and depression are normal in discipleship. Transformation is painful, like the wasp and the worm. The wasp is the Guru; initiation is the sting; satsaṅg is the repeated sound. Secret knowledge means only the brave who dive deep can see the ocean floor. Pārvatī asks Śiva on Kailāśa to explain the Guru, and the Guru Gītā begins.
"Real guru for you is your guru. And you have respect for all other gurus."
"Only those who are able to hear that knowledge will hear that knowledge."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
A Heartfelt Prayer and the Path of Remembrance
The path of remembrance is a heartfelt prayer of surrender and the practice of chanting to purify and connect.
Chant the name constantly, never forget, never let it leave the heart. It does not matter if one is a sinner, failing, or cheating. However one is, one belongs to the divine. Life is wasted in attachments to house, family, obstacles. One is full of sadness, full of suffering. The prayer removes all suffering, all impurities. One is a servant, a dust particle at the feet. One is alone in this mortal world. Do not forget, remove all sins, all faults. This prayer to the teacher removes all these things. Learning happens through repetition: part by part, then fast, then slow. Whatever is to be remembered must be repeated at least twenty-four times. Practice makes a master.
"However I am, I am yours."
"Practice makes a man a master. And not only men, but also women."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Bhramari and bhramari pranayama
Brahmari Pranayama balances the nervous system and refines the voice. This practice is derived from the bee known as Brahmari. The female bee constructs a nest with intricate passages. She captures a specific worm and places it inside. She nourishes it until it develops wings and emerges as a new bee. The yogic practice mimics this process of internal transformation through sound. One method involves gently biting the teeth together. This directs resonance to the temples, balancing the Ida and Pingala nerve channels. It alleviates certain tensions and improves speech. Another method keeps the lips closed but the teeth apart. This directs energy upward toward the crown chakras. Both techniques significantly benefit singers and speakers by refining vocal quality and release. Practice should be avoided during an active headache.
"The sound goes from our ears and comes back here to the temple area."
"This prāṇāyāma balances both nerve systems, Iḍā and Piṅgalā."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
