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
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Practicing for the animals
The soul's journey is determined by karma, the law of action and reaction, as it moves through the five sheaths of being. The physical body dissolves at death, but the soul continues, viewing its accumulated actions. This karma, like a boomerang, returns to its source. The soul is identical in all beings, from an elephant to a bacterium. Our current actions, performed with discernment, shape our future course. Liberation from the cycle is possible through spiritual practice, which can purify karmic inheritances. One's good consciousness can free generations.
"Where there is action, there will be a reaction. And where there is a reaction, there will be another action."
"The soul is the same. Whether it is in an elephant, a big shark, or a small bacterium, the soul is the same."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Nadis and Chakras - energy channels and centers in the body
The subject is Kuṇḍalinī and the three primary nāḍīs, symbolically represented as sacred rivers. The 72,000 nāḍīs channel energy, with Iḍā, Piṅgalā, and Suṣumnā being paramount. These correspond to the Gaṅgā, Yamunā, and Sarasvatī rivers. Their confluence symbolizes union and higher consciousness. Harmonizing these energies through practices like nāḍī śodhana prāṇāyāma is essential. This convergence occurs at the ājñā cakra, the point between the eyebrows, also called the third eye. When balanced, it can lead to trikāladarśī, perception of past, present, and future. The ultimate aim is for energy to ascend to the sahasrāra cakra, yielding supreme bliss and knowledge of Brahman. Four principles support this path: alpāhāra (moderate eating), vihāra (moving in harmonious environments), ācāra (good conduct), and vicāra (positive thinking). Kuṇḍalinī science allows one to become an inner engineer. True awakening is a gradual process of knowledge and purification, not dramatic physical phenomena. The diversity of spiritual paths reflects the beautiful variety of creation.
"The less food you eat, the more energy there is."
"When all comes together, then we get higher consciousness, samādhi."
Filming location: Vancouver, Canada
Remembering Holy Guruji's Mahasamadhi
Every breath is a priceless diamond; do not squander it.
Time is very precious; time is money. Satsang is priceless, received without cost, but one is not worthy to enter it. The bliss of Brahman does not come again and again, so liberation is not possible. The cow serves alive and even after death; the human body is useless after death. Human beings have forgotten how to value time. Humanness is far away. One forgets the Giver, squandering on actions. The heart is stained with sin. One lies, gossips, sings impure songs, defaming the mind. The tongue is not worthy of singing the Lord’s songs. Not serving mother and father makes one unworthy of coming into this world. At every turn, let compassion, modesty, and a smile remain. One must attain life’s secret, renounce restlessness, control mind and senses, know oneself, and remain blissful. The mother of dharma is compassion; the father is contentment. One who serves parents is a true child. One who knows oneself is a human being.
“Every breath is a priceless diamond, it is not worthy of being squandered.”
“In life, one must attain the secret of life; one must renounce restlessness and unrighteousness.”
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
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
