Stories about master and disciple
Sādhanā must be properly practiced as the guru teaches. Disciples sing bhajans daily and inquire to become yogis and understand sādhanā. If sādhanā is not performed properly, life cannot be good. The sādhanā given by Alakhpurījī, Devpurījī, and Mahāprabhujī is known by some. One disciple, Premānand, did difficult sevā, living only for his guru. Gurus, parents, and worldly bonds all present challenges. A student spent time at the ashram school but left to follow his own guru; later he became a brilliant yogi drawing many seekers. Another young speaker explained that buttoning from bottom to top is correct; top-down is wrong. He then asked for a lecture but the teacher wished to hear him instead. A tale tells of a father and son evading a ticket on a train. The son extorted money for treats, threatening to reveal his true age. Finally the father lamented that buying a ticket would have cost far less. Mahāprabhujī once sent a disciple out in blazing heat to beg for food. The disciple was told to bring back whatever was given. When the disciple feared being left, the guru promised to bring him food wherever he was. That is the true bond of guru and disciple. Among countless sādhus, perhaps only one or two are genuine.
"If this is not done properly, then it is not good; your life will not be good."
"Wherever you are, I will bring you food."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
Up next
Heaven and Hell
Time is a human construct, yet it governs all life. Humans count seconds and years, but time does not count for us; it moves in cycles with the sun. No being is immortal, not even deities who have their appointed times in each age. A creator may become an ant, and an ant may become a creator, as time brings all transformations. We grow and we go; this cannot be stopped.
A sage in the mountains received the Vedas and wished to study them for eternity. When death's messenger came for him, the sage repeatedly requested more time to learn. The messenger finally showed him that the knowledge he had acquired was merely a handful of sand compared to the vast mountain of wisdom. The sage then understood and departed willingly.
Our allotted time should be used for spiritual practice and good deeds. Pride and anger destroy spiritual attainment, as shown by a yogi who lost his power through cursing a bird and displaying arrogance to a humble woman. The knowledge and abilities we possess must be utilized, or they are lost. The breath is the rope of life; its length is unknown.
"Ṛṣi, till now, what have you learned? Only that much which is dust in your hands."
"You have yoga. Use it or lose it."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
We must be in unity
Yoga and daily life lead to peace, purity, and realization of the Absolute.
Yoga practice is peaceful and extends beyond the physical body to Paramātmā. Food must be very clean and pure. Many medicines contain hidden animal products, which is not good. In India, pure yogic food is traditionally given. Some teachers maintain this purity completely. Modern food nourishes diseases like cancer. Cancer always existed but now increases. Yoga centers and gurus follow sanātana dharma, teaching pure practices, exercises, meditation, and right food. Some now avoid speaking of dietary restrictions. All paths and techniques lead to one reality. India’s ancient knowledge is vast, with Vedas considered very old. The four Vedas and scriptures preserve this wisdom. Before invasions, the Gurukul system offered broad, deep education. The great library at Takṣaśilā burned for six months, destroying much knowledge. The system persisted until removed by the British. When Europe had nomads, India had culture. Efforts recover lost knowledge, as the tradition remains a source of truth.
"Yoga practice is that which is very peaceful and harmonious, and not only for the physical body, but further, for all, till Parabrahma, Paramātmā."
"We should all be one... They are teaching the same thing, and we are all coming to one point, because that is the reality."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
The Lamp of Knowledge and the Duty of the Household
The householder's duty is to cultivate a pure home through discipline, education, and rejecting vice to secure the family's spiritual future.
A long struggle shaped a mindset of distrusting our own voice while overvaluing foreign words. True spiritual attainment comes not from lineage but from personal foundation in knowledge, inquiry, and practice, blessed by the Guru. You must resolve to keep the home free from intoxicants and impure foods like meat, tobacco, and eggs, for these corrupt the environment and damage your children's destiny. Do not give children tea, as it weakens digestion; provide nourishing food like sesame and ghee to energize the mind for study. Parents are sacred; their duty is to nurture the child's intellect with education and culture from within the home. Perform daily disciplines: offer salutations, recite mantras, and maintain customs. Honest work and diligent effort are the basis for livelihood. Embrace your culture fully; do not neglect its practices.
"Provide good food to the children, give them a good education."
"Parents are not just ordinary; they are revered."
We need peace in the whole world
Peace is the essential state and practice.
The word "Śāntiḥ" encompasses perfect happiness and is invoked to conclude prayers. The world desperately needs this peace. Our practice and mantras are good and must be shared. Life is like a flame sustained by energy; when that is gone, the flame goes out. Our bodies contain the five elements. We should begin the day with reverence for earth and water. Observing nature, like birds and dogs greeting the sun, reveals a shared vitality. Dietary choices, like abstaining from meat, can bring more peace and clarity. Personal rituals, like morning Pūjā, connect us to this energy. We should send prayers for others from our own prāṇa. The flame of a lamp is powerful; showing it to a child can aid sleep. Our practices and words are a spiritual wealth to be given to all. We will face difficulties but should build and give goodness. Practice Trāṭak by gazing softly at a flame's clean light, then closing the eyes.
"Śānti is both a feminine principle and the state of perfect happiness and joy."
"Life is like this fire. When everything, like ghee, is consumed, it will go away."
Filming location: Vienna, Austria
