Learning in the Gurukul
The Gurukul provides traditional education rooted in Indian culture and spirituality, distinct from modern commercial systems. Education began with the ṛṣis, and the first university was Takshilā in India. Our Gurukul adopts students as Jñānaputra, offering free education. The ancient Pītāmbara uniform symbolizes purity and focus. True education is cultural, ethical, and spiritual, not merely for earning money. Knowledge itself is an imperishable wealth. Sanskrit is the mother of most languages, and Indian culture spread globally. The Gurukul system was dismantled under British rule, replaced by a limited English system. We now blend modern competitiveness with foundational morality, teaching why to use knowledge, not just how. Education must be daily and consistent, like eating. Supporters make this possible.
"Knowledge itself is an imperishable wealth. From the hand, you can steal money... but in the mind, the knowledge, no one can take it."
"We have to have modern education to be competitive in this world. But still, on top of that, Gurudev is trying to put one more layer, which was actually there before."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
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Questions and answers from Debrecen
A yogic path integrates self-sufficient living with disciplined practice. Begin a farm with both greenhouse and organic garden crops, developing it from a hobby into a community offering yoga retreats. The first spiritual step is dietary control: consume limited, home-prepared meals without sweets or junk food. Fast for four to five hours between meals, consuming only water. This discipline eliminates most bodily difficulties, strengthens immunity, and supports meditation, which requires a mantra. Prāṇāyāma cleanses physical diseases, and satsaṅg with virtuous friends is essential. Avoid all intoxicants, as they embody destructive energies. Prefer local, seasonal, organic produce; soy is nutritious only if organic. Raw milk is healthful, but regulations sometimes adulterate it. True practice requires organizing life around these principles.
"Meditation without a mantra is a body without a soul."
"Prāṇāyāma will tell them, 'Get out of this body! What are you doing here?'"
Filming location: Debrecen, Hungary
Christmas with Swamiji in Vienna
We celebrate the arrival of Jesus, a festival of peace, love, and unity. The world needs light, both physical and the divine light of wisdom within every being. Since organized religion began, division has followed, unlike the universal, indivisible consciousness of Sanātana Dharma. Human greed creates ownership and mental pollution, which is more dangerous than physical waste. Before a bomb destroys others, it destroys itself; similarly, negative thoughts first harm the one who holds them. We are called not to judge, but to forgive and to hate the sin, not the sinner. Modern celebrations have become materialistic and polluting, especially with single-use plastics, which now seem immortal. The true gift is non-material, offered openly without harmful packaging. Our spiritual duty is selfless service, to pass on immortal wisdom. A true disciple, like Jesus, endures suffering without abandoning principle to deliver a divine message. We must write and share immortal wisdom through devotion and trust.
"Forgive them; they do not know what they are doing."
"We hate the sin, but not the sinner."
Filming location: Vienna, Austria
How to find peace
The path to peace, memory, and fearlessness is found through yogic health. Peace begins within the heart and cannot be gained from outside. A primary cause of disease and nervousness is stress from an imbalanced nervous system. Health requires disciplined nourishment. Practice Alpāhāra, eating little. After a meal, eat nothing for six hours, only water. This gives the digestive system rest. A healthy body sleeps well, a sign of peace. Memory is connected to the Mūlādhāra cakra. Practice Aśvinī Mudrā to strengthen the nervous system and develop memory. Practice Kapālabhāti Prāṇāyāma to activate the brain. Perform Śaṅkhaprakṣālana for internal purification. Health is primarily in your hands through practice. Control the diet, reduce quantity, and peace will follow.
"Śānti is within your heart. Peace begins from our heart."
"Eat as much as you can. But then, for six hours, nothing to eat."
The Festival of Holī: From Darkness to Light
The festival of Holī celebrates the victory of light over darkness. Culture and tradition unite us, creating family and community. Human life is a precious opportunity for spiritual progress, the final step toward self-realization. The journey is like a river seeking the ocean or a leaf separated from its tree, fraught with obstacles. Ego and negative qualities must die for the pure self to live. This is not easily achieved, as illustrated by a disciple who claimed enlightenment yet reacted with anger when tested. The story of Holī originates from the demon king Hiraṇyakaśipu, who sought immortality through a boon making him nearly invincible. His devout son Prahlāda, protected by divine grace, survived all attempts on his life. The king’s sister Holikā, who was immune to fire, perished when trying to burn Prahlāda, while he remained unharmed. The king was ultimately destroyed by the divine Narasiṁha avatāra, a half-man, half-lion form, at twilight, at a threshold, fulfilling the conditions of the boon. The festival thus symbolizes the destruction of negative forces and the protection of devotion. It is a day for joy, color, and harmony, reminding us to cultivate goodness and reduce negativity within.
"Human life is the last milestone to enter into that kingdom of the Supreme."
"‘Die’ means ego, selfishness, greed, anger, hate, jealousy, revenge, cruelties, backbiting, negative thinking."
Filming location: Brisbane, Australia
