The attributes of the Guru
The true Guru is the principle of knowledge that dispels ignorance. The name Sanjeevani signifies a prayer for success. We begin by invoking Śrī Gaṇeśa, the remover of obstacles and protector. The Guru is defined by the mantra: Guru is Brahmā the creator, Viṣṇu the protector, and Śiva the liberator. "Gu" means darkness, "ru" means light; the Guru leads from darkness to light. This is not a physical form but the capacity for mastery, like a pilot or surgeon whose knowledge transforms their function. One must pray for the divine to speak through them as an instrument. The Guru creates knowledge within, protects from negativity, and liberates. Follow the Guru's instructions as a student pilot follows a co-pilot. Liberation ends the cycle of birth and death, determined by karma. The soul's destination is shaped by actions. The Guru is the embodiment of knowledge alone, beyond duality, like the sky. All beings seek the same bliss. The true Self within is the Guru; one must awaken to this knowledge.
"Guru Brahma, Guru Viṣṇu, Gurudevo Maheśvara, Guru Sākṣāt Parabrahma, Tasmai Śrī Gurave Namaḥ."
"Brahmānandaṁ parama-sukhadam kevalaṁ jñāna-mūrtim, Dvandvātītaṁ gagana-sadṛśyaṁ tattvamasyādi-lakṣyam."
Filming location: Alexandria, USA
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Ashram needs dedication
Seva, or selfless service, is the highest spiritual practice. Karma Yoga, the yoga of action, is the most accessible path. It involves using one's abilities for the benefit of others, leading toward liberation. God incarnates to perform seva, and saints hold a unique power to alter destiny through compassion. True service requires dedication and freedom from jealousy, which harms both the giver and receiver. The foundation of all seva begins with honoring one's parents, the primary pilgrimage. Cultivating pure relationships through selfless action is the essence of yoga in daily life.
"Gurujī used to say that if you put Mokṣa on one side of a scale and Seva on the other, the side of Seva would be heavier."
"Whoever can perform Seva achieves everything."
Filming location: Vienna, Austria
DVD 235
Morning Yoga Sādhanā: Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, and Inner Stillness
Morning Yoga Sādhanā unites āsana, prāṇāyāma, and inner stillness during Brahmamuhūrta.
Feel the whole body on the floor, press the lower back down. Bicycle the legs with ankle rotation, then relax. Twist knees to one side, head opposite, with breath. In Pavanamuktāsana, press thigh to chest, keep shoulder blades down. Move through Mārjārī variations, rounding the back with inhalation. Practice Vyāghra Śvāsa, bringing knee to forehead, stretching the spine. Rowing warms the body, strengthening thighs with a straight back. Trikoṇāsana rotation stretches side muscles, deepening leg awareness. Skandāsana raises hips, improving low blood pressure quickly. Viparīta Kāraṇī Mudrā lifts legs, interlocking fingers, then relaxes. Kāṭha Praṇāma sequence transitions to Śaśāṅkāsana, subtly stretching the upper back. Half butterfly opens hips, pressing knees toward the floor. Breath flows from stomach to throat on inhalation, reversing on exhalation. Inner stillness arises through attentive movement and breath. Early morning practice fosters positivity and health. The session closes with relaxation, embracing the silence.
“We are in Brahmamuhūrta. Regarding this time, we all know it is a special part of the day … it is very good to do some positive and good things.”
“Skandāsana is a very good āsana if you have low blood pressure; it’s much faster and much healthier than early morning coffee.”
Filming location: Umag, Croatia
Nature of our Atma
The essence of vṛtti and ātmā is the path to oneness.
A good vṛtti is seen as discipline and humility in one's life, observed by others. Vṛtti manifests in two ways: through external discipline from parents and teachers, and through one's inherent nature. It refers to one's actions and habits, such as seeking food beyond what is provided at home. The story of a man at a dinner, whose poor manners spoiled another's meal, illustrates an unconscious vṛtti. The ultimate aim is chitta vṛtti nirodha, the cessation of mental modifications. We are all one, like individual drops from a vast ocean. This drop, the jīva or soul, when it merges back into the ocean, becomes Shiva, the divine. The divine essence is within everyone, pure and indestructible. It is the ever-awakened truth, unaffected by the body or the elements. This inner ātmā is our true, limitless form. The path is through constant meditation and the soham mantra, realizing "He am I," to achieve this silent oneness.
"Stone by stone. And day by day, I will build it, my temple."
"Where are you searching for me? I am within."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
The Inner Color of the Heart
The inner sanctuary is found through humility and recognizing the divine within all life. True spiritual development is not about external education but inner feeling and simplicity. Observing humble sādhus or retired individuals reveals that peace comes from within, not from diplomas or status. The joy seen in children, animals, and community gatherings reflects this inner state. Even complex knowledge of the body points to a creation beyond human making, directing gratitude to the divine source. All practices should be done with humility and peace, focusing inward where true achievement lies. External actions and knowledge are supports, but the core reality is internal.
"There are some sādhus who have no diplomas, but they possess the supreme diploma: the knowledge of what is truly important."
"Don’t think of your body. Don’t think of your āsanas, your prāṇāyāmas, or other principles... see the soul within us."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
