What makes our soul happy
The jīva, or soul, seeks everlasting happiness, paramānanda, beyond fleeting pleasures.
There are temporary happinesses that vanish and cause suffering. The jīva is eternal, indestructible, and cannot be perceived by physical means. It enters and leaves the body freely, untouched by fire, water, or any obstacle. Every being carries this divine light, driven to attain pleasure and remove all pain. Through the five elements, the jīva manifests the ten senses and is sustained by the life forces. Happiness and sorrow reside in the jīva, not in the body. Seeking joy in material objects yields disappointment because the world is impermanent. Disappointment itself is a process of change and growth. Attachment binds the jīva, like a caged bird prevented from flying. Renunciation requires constant movement to avoid forming attachments. The worldly life is inherently a place of disappointment, even for the Creator. Clinging to relationships brings suffering, for all are transient. Temporary pleasures inevitably turn into pain. Therefore, one must seek paramānanda, the supreme, undying bliss. The jīva is like a drop suspended over the ocean of ātmā; upon merging, individuality dissolves, and it becomes Śiva. All spiritual practices aim for this union, where the jīva finds true peace.
"Each and every entity carries the light of God, and that light of God is not for this body only but for that soul, and that soul is life."
"This jīva is like a drop of water on the whole of our palm, held over the ocean. This drop is jīva, and the ocean is ātmā."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
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Searching for the Guru
The body is a divine vehicle for the soul's journey. A disciple suffered severe brain damage and paralysis from an accident. Years later, a second accident caused further injury, with doctors offering a dire prognosis. A spiritual teacher was urgently summoned to the hospital's intensive care unit, where access is typically restricted. The teacher arrived, and the disciple, while in a coma, perceived a profound light entering his being during the teacher's blessing. This experience is held as a testament to the miraculous potential of yoga and complete devotion. The physical form is a wondrous coach pulled by the ten senses, with the intellect as the reins and the soul as the king within. This intricate body, a divine miracle no scientist can replicate, operates with profound intelligence, like the heart's ceaseless labor. True yoga involves exploring this inner universe through practice, expanding consciousness, and surrendering to grace. One must discover and share their unique talents; otherwise, these gifts are lost. The highest practice is satsang and offering a heart full of devotion.
"By the blessing of Gurudeva, He is the Supreme; everything He can do. But there should be complete confidence, devotion, and surrender."
"This body—some aspects we understand, and some we do not. No scientist can do that; it is a God-made world, and that is God's work. It is a miracle."
Practicing Asanas 2
A gentle yoga practice integrates postures, breath, and focused awareness to calm the mind and strengthen the body. Begin by relaxing in a comfortable position, observing the natural breath. Practice postures like Pavanamuktāsana and Vyāghrāsana with smooth, controlled movements and coordinated breathing. Maintain awareness of alignment, such as keeping the pelvis level. Vīrāsana is highlighted for its benefits to the feet and mental state, despite potential discomfort from inflexibility. The practice emphasizes eliminating unnecessary movements to settle mental restlessness. Postures like Skandharāsana and Viparītakaraṇī Mudrā are detailed for their physical and energetic effects, including strengthening muscles and balancing prāṇa. Always breathe consciously and maintain control, concluding with relaxation and observation of the body and mind.
"When we have many vṛttis... you are restless inside. That is why we practice āsanas: to ensure we do not have extra movements. By eliminating extra movements, we calm our mind."
"Viparītakaraṇī Mudrā is excellent for your circulation... It influences your Bindu cakra. You will regenerate energy very quickly."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Unity, love, forgiveness, and devotion
Unity is essential, especially in difficult times when the intellect tends toward destruction. When all power unites positively, it can transform the age. Humans possess a unique mind for processing information, yet awareness is often missing. True awareness must be present in all actions, from eating to meditation. Service and spiritual practice are incomplete without devotion and feeling. The mind is restless, not the soul. Do not be stuck in the future or past, but be present now. Unity is the thread, like devotion, that holds all together. A single branch breaks, but united we stand strong. Modern life fragments families, eroding love and shared space. To love others, one must first love and accept oneself without blame. The world is one family; all beings contain the divine. Protect righteousness, and it will protect you. Forgiveness is for one's own peace, releasing the inner grudge that consumes. Perform your duty without attachment to the outcome.
"When all the power comes together, they have the power to change Kali Yuga to Satya Yuga."
"Forgive them. It’s not for them, it’s for us. Because when we forgive them, it gives us that sense of peace."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Candle meditation - Tratak
Trāṭak is a Haṭha Yoga practice of one-pointed concentration, best performed on a candle flame. It aids sleep, reduces stress, and improves concentration for those above ten years. Practice in a meditation posture, using a Guru Mantra if available. Close the eyes, relax the body and breath, and withdraw from external awareness. Open the eyes to gaze steadily at the flame's brightest middle point without blinking. After gazing, close the eyes and concentrate on the inner light perceived at the center of the brows, repeating the mantra. The flame's three sections—dark bottom, bright middle, and gray top—symbolize the guṇas: Rajas, Sattva, and Tamas. The practice concludes by internalizing the flame, chanting "Tamaso Mā Jyotir Gamaya," and extinguishing the candle.
"Gaze on the middle point of the flame, or the tip of the middle flame, and you will not close your eyes without my instructions."
"Become one with the flame, a beautiful tiny flame, and say mentally, 'Tamaso Mā Jyotir Gamaya.'"
