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Now I invite three yoga students from the Linz group onto the stage, and they will show us Kathopranāmas. I would like to share a little about our Yoga Center in Linz. Yoga in Daily Life has been here for eleven years, and we offer classes every day from Monday to Thursday. There are basic courses, an anti-stress course, and a course focused on high blood pressure, joints, and the back. One of the classical exercises of Yoga in Daily Life is Kathopranāma. Yesterday, we heard a very beautiful lecture from Svāmījī in St. Pölten. There he explained to us how important it is to relax, to find calm, to come back to oneself. Every yoga session begins with a deep relaxation, with Yoga Nidrā. This deep relaxation is very, very important for people of today’s time, and we must learn to truly let go. The second part of the yoga session consists of the āsanas, the physical exercises. Subsequently, the breathing exercises, Prāṇāyāma, are performed, which have a calming and purifying effect on our nervous system. And then we learn step by step about concentration, about meditation. Behind that, there is also a philosophy that helps us think positively and broaden our perspective. The starting position of Kathopranāma is the heel seat. In this posture, we relax, the hands rest completely relaxed on the thighs, and we focus entirely on the body. When we practice āsanas, it is important that we do so very consciously with the breath. The slower we perform our practices, the more effective they become. When we observe this sequence of exercises, we see that the body is first stretched, extended, and then we compress the body again. The effect is on all muscles, on our cardiovascular system, on our organs. The great difference from any other kind of sport or gymnastics is that we practice with full concentration. As we perform these postures, we listen deeply to our body. What is my body capable of? How does it feel in movement? At the same time, by focusing on the body in this way, we strengthen our power of concentration. We need good concentration power in our daily lives just the same. At the same time, we switch off. Throughout the day, everything we have experienced is forgotten during the practice. Tension, relaxation. The more trained we are, the faster this switching happens. We can perform this exercise in various ways, very dynamically, moving into a different posture with each breath. Then our cardiovascular system is stimulated, which also has a very, very positive effect against depression. When we are then practiced, we remain in each posture for a few breaths or even a few minutes. Here we become very, very calm, and by holding these positions, the postures primarily affect our organs and, on the subtle level, our cakras. Within these cakras lie the hidden powers of the human being. To unfold these hidden powers is one of the goals of Yoga in Daily Life. We want to attain health in its four aspects: physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. The system of Yoga in Daily Life is structured step by step. One attends the basic course for three months, comes to the yoga class once a week or several times a week, and truly learns to practice correctly step by step. After three months, you can move on to the next level. If we truly want to do something good for ourselves, it is also important that we practice a little at home. Every day we take in food, and so not only does our physical body need food and drink, but also movement and energy. But now, shortly afterwards, we will hear from our beloved Swāmījī, Paramahaṃswāmī Mahēśvarānanda is his name, as it is written in the books. But all over the world, he is called Swāmījī. Thank you all. Lead me from asato mā satyamaya. Lead us from darkness to light. Lead us from death to immortality. Oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ. Lead us from unreality to reality, lead us from darkness to light, and lead us from death to immortality. Peace, peace, peace. A very good evening to you all. We have just witnessed what we have long awaited. Finally, my Disney. After a long time, we once again have a beautiful snowy landscape. The whole scene of Linz is completely different from last year, as is Vienna. Fifteen years were not like this year. I am very happy to see so much snow again. There is one thing we do not understand. Why is there global warming when it is so cold here and there is so much snow? Perhaps people are thinking a lot about global warming now, and therefore many things have improved. And so good times come again. The second point is very important: that we are here together in this beautiful Christmas mood, this atmosphere. And thirdly, again in Linz. Linz begins with many things. The first time I was in Linz, I gave my yoga teaching in 1973. So I cannot say that this is my first time in Linz. It was beautiful, a dance of our love Bhakti Devī. The name Bhakti means love, devotion to God. Devī means Goddess. So, in India, every woman’s name ends with Devī. Every woman. That means every woman is a goddess. Isn't that beautiful? But it doesn’t have to be only in India. You can see the same here as well. But is it not said that every man is a god? Unfortunately. That is the difference. Ancient scriptures, Upaniṣads say: Mātṛdevo bhava. The very first for us as God is the Mother, the cosmic Mother. The first place, the foremost position, the highest place is for the Mother, for her. I cannot say that we in India do not worship any female deity. Oh yes, very much. But unfortunately, now it is different. My task today is to speak about ancient wisdom, ancient wisdom for the modern world. If we had respected and truly experienced this until now, the world would be completely different. Where God Rāma is, Sītā comes first. Where Viṣṇu is, Lakṣmī comes. Where Brahmā is, Sarasvatī comes. Where Śiva comes, first Pārvatī. And where the Father is, the Mother comes first. And Sudevī means a divine power, purity, a feminine power or a woman, not as it is seen now. People or animals and so on. But the principles, that is purity, bliss, prosperity, and beauty. The symbol of a woman is purity, divinity, and beauty. And love. There is no greater love than that of a woman, as a mother. No matter which mother it is, of whichever living being. The mother loves the child above all else. A few years ago, there was an earthquake, and I experienced it myself. We were in a room or a small hall, and there were children and parents present, and suddenly the earthquake occurred there. Everyone ran away; the father was the very first to be outside, but the mother said, "My child." And she ran with the child, took her child, and then it passed away. That was the difference. I do not know if it is like this everywhere, but the mother and therefore this dance, which Bhakti Devī performed, was a dance in honor of God, a prayer, a language full of joy, devotion, and bliss, becoming one with God. And that was a radiance, or how shall we say, one glimpse of ancient wisdom, where everyone feels comfortable and happy. India is still famous as a cradle of culture, a cradle of cultures. India has given much to the world and still has much to give. The origin of wisdom, yoga, devotion to God, and everything humanity has conceived—that there is a God—began in India. First and foremost, Śiva. No one has drunk him. He is the resonance and the light that manifests itself, as they say in the Himalayas, Kailāśa. Culture is something that people need. Where there is a human being, there is culture, and where there is culture, there is a human being. Culture travels with people. Every person, regardless of which culture they come from, wherever they go, leaves a trace, a touch on the culture, the original culture of their land. When Austrians come to India, they bring culture. And just as I come to India, the Indian culture is brought here from India. Culture ends with language, dialect, and culture every 50 or 100 kilometers already. And so, throughout the entire world, people share a beautiful commonality, and that is God. Prayer, love, understanding, truth, and God. It does not matter in which form one believes or what name is used, that is irrelevant. But people have that. I read a magazine last week on the plane, and I wrote the cover story. Scientists search for God, but have not found Him. I wrote back, telling them to come to me. That would be easier. So, God is not a subject for a camera. God is not a topic for this microphone. And God is not a matter for our physical eyes and our physical heart. Rather, God requires a pure gaze of love. Different eyes and a different heart. And this is learned all over the world, no matter where you go. Praying is the main thing for human beings. Praying brings happiness. Through prayer, one can become healthier. Through prayer, one can realize everything one desires. But we need trust, faith. And most people nowadays believe only selfishly, for a short while. We all believe in God at birth, marriage, and death. On the other hand, we do not know where he is. Or once a year during Christmas time. But there are people who breathe every breath, in and out, with God's name, with grace. That is the most correct. There was a man who did not believe in God at all. Not in the slightest. I do not know whether one is called an atheist or something else. Because for me, an atheist is also a very, very loving person and believer. But he does not believe what we believe. And that is the problem. He can also say, you should not believe what you believe. Believe me as I believe. That way, one does not know who is truly right. Believing in fanaticisms or such, my religion, your religion, this path, that path, ours and so on. Or some loved nature, truth, and they truly have a great heart. Once upon a time, there was a joke, I was told, in Austria. A long time ago, it was the first highway, the Westautobahn. Right? And then came the southern highway. What do you say to that? From Vienna to Wiener Neustadt. Ah, that was fantastic, because I often traveled to Graz. A joke said that a new highway has been opened between Vienna and Wiener Neustadt. And someone is driving fast, and on the radio, it is being spoken or announced, communicated. Caution, a wrong-way driver is coming in the opposite direction, please do not overtake. And the wrong-way driver scolds and says to his wife, what do you mean one, there are so many drivers, so many are wrong-way drivers. So one does not know who is right and who is not. Who are we to judge anyone? And we are selfish ourselves. So the one who has believed in nothing in God, absolutely nothing, there is a God. And he was a passionate mountain hiker and, how do you say, climber, mountaineer, thank you. And he came to the Himalayas, of course, high up in the Himalayas. Many people come there, and many still remain there because no more salvation can reach them. And the helper cannot rise very high either, because they also need many masks and so on. So many are lying there. You can see it quickly now and so on. Sometimes after a few centuries or many, many centuries, people will discover, it was nothing other than, at least in dental technology, how good it was, so many years ago, they were already doing implantation back then. So the unbeliever, we say, he came there, the mountaineer, and equipped himself with his rope and chains and pitons and hammer and everything. And on a strong, good rock. Suddenly, his chain breaks. And now he is simply hanging there in the air. Below, about 200 meters deep, many, many rocks. It hangs in the air because it was such a rock. Now, one wishes to have an experience, an experiment. He thought, now is the last day of my life, so why shouldn't I conduct an experiment. Everyone says there is God and the Himalaya is a holy mountain. India is a sacred land, where so many gods have incarnated and so many goddesses exist. So tell me, Lord God, are you truly real or do people just say such things? If you are truly present, then come. In no time. God is already standing on the next rock. Yes, my son, I am here. Are you God? Say yes, what do you desire? What kind of God are you, that you ask me what I want in this situation? If you are God, then save me. Then I will spend all my money and have large boards and posters printed, and I will advertise all over the world: God exists, God exists. God has said so, yes. Now you believe in me. He said, yes, now I believe in you. Does anyone have faith, doubt? No, Lord God. I truly believe, through and through, that you are a God. But please hurry. God said, no problem, wait. He said, I cannot wait. My fingers are already freezing. God has said, you believe in me, has said, yes. Do you like everything I tell you? He says, yes. Then let go of your hands. He says, I'm not that foolish either. And that's how it is. How much do we truly believe in God? That is why our prayers, our efforts, are selfish, and they are not heard as much. Pray, now it is the Christmas season, a beautiful time. And let us learn the art of forgiveness and cultivate understanding, love, clarity. And we ask for our help. For me, the Christmas season means that whatever we have done throughout the year, good or bad, now is the time to make amends. And we give it to all our dear people, family members, friends, and colleagues, and we extend our hand, offer our trust, and ask for forgiveness. Yoga is a very, very ancient science for the body, mind, and soul. Yoga means union, the unification of individual consciousness with divine consciousness. The origin of all of us and all living beings is only one, and that is divine consciousness. We are all children of God. Not only human beings, but everything that lives on this planet. And that is why our planet is called The Living Planet. It is like steam rising from the ocean. It becomes like a mist, rises high, turns into a cloud, and begins to rain, falling onto the earth. Many drops come together and begin to flow, merging with a small stream that flows into a river and reaches the ocean. Back again to the origin. And so this is our goal. We do not know how many lives we have behind us. Why were we born as a human? Specifically, why as a human? What does it mean for me to be a human being? When one rises in the morning and can think, I am a human being, it can give us much and free us from many mistakes that we make, I believe. When we do something that is not right, we tell ourselves, I cannot do this because I am a human being. And so, I am a human being; what does it mean for me to be a human being, and what makes me a human being? Nothing, just this body. What qualities and value do our knowledge and our body possess? Who knows, understands the Values of the Humans, also understands the Human Rights, also understands the human rights. Those who understand people also understand human rights. There are many, many people in the world, billions, but there are few who are truly human. With human qualities, without quarrelling, without dualism. And everyone feels like my own Self. We know nothing about where we will go after death. We believe, perhaps one says Heaven or God, but we are not certain yet. As soon as we live a beautiful, good, and righteous life, we will surely reach our highest goal, which is to become one with our origin, the cosmic consciousness. And this union of the individual with the divine Self is Yoga. As individual souls, we are many. A tiny mosquito is also an individual soul. But as God's light, we are all just one. We are the universal light of a God. And how can we realize this? Through human life. But we have very little time. Therefore, you should live healthily. Why? Because you can live long. Why? So that you can realize your goal in this life. Aha. Then I must change my way of life and the manner in which I live. Health. And someone said, health is nothing, everything, but everything is nothing without health. Are we healthy? Are we capable of doing something? Yes, thank God. And at the same time, we are afraid of death. No one wants to die, no one. Fear of death. Fear of existence psychologically means that behind it lies a fear of death. That means I will suffer, experience pain, be poor, have no work, nothing at all. That is fear within us, because we have lost this art of helping others. They say, globally, an economic global crisis. But where has the money gone? Did it fly up to the heavens or go down beneath the earth? The notes have simply melted away and I understand nothing. Where are all those euros, billions of euros? Suddenly, they say the euros are gone. Where? They must be lying somewhere. Because we have forgotten to give. Love your neighbors; we share our fellow beings throughout the entire world. We are sitting here, in a building where Christus Bosaf is taught, and on the dining table, a piece of bread was shared by all 13 together. Because we will help in this way, it is not a global circle, but an economic circle. No, not us. But we have forgotten. And thus, God’s love, health, and a healthy life. And our health depends on food, solid food and liquid food, air and movement, company and thoughts. Healthy food. When I first came to Austria, 40 years ago, there was absolutely no talk of organic food. None at all. If someone asked, is the apple or vegetable organic? Then I said, what, what are you talking about? Only 40 years. And now everywhere we are causing biological concerns. Do you have organic, is that organic carrots? What have we done with this beautiful planet? Planet. Such healthy food, it is sad that one does not even think about what I eat and what I give to my children and my neighbors. Gift, gift. That means to kill. And it was said, you shall not kill. That is the first problem. Healthy nourishment and healthy movement. Yoga postures or āsanas, yoga exercises, these are psychosomatic movements. They affect our body, our mind, and our consciousness in such a way that our soul finds its way back to its origin. Society, harmony, tolerance, respect, mutual understanding between man and woman and children. This is what we need now. There are very, very few families where this harmony exists. That has been lost. Once upon a time, there was a farm, a famous farm. People from those families have always lived there. The Nasti. And now the farms are gone. If one knows nothing, who will come and who will live there. The family system is broken. Now is the time for us to come together again, and we live for others, not just for ourselves. Meditation. Meditation is the gateway to ourselves. To find the self means to find the path or God. Yesterday I was at the residence of the Bishop of Kranz, St. Pölten. And I asked His Excellency, it was a beautiful picture, a grand one. Whether he can explain these symbols to me. He has explained beautiful symbols. Saint Augustine and so forth. And then he said, and this is the temple and the path to God. And so meditation opens our inner consciousness, so that we see the inner temple where God as Ātman dwells, and from our consciousness as individuals, we move towards that God. And once we have found a path, we need guidance, which means prayer. When I pray, my dialogue is direct, speech with God, direct. And I hold his finger, like a little baby, and I walk with him on the path. This is the prayer. And how did I find it? Through my meditation. And it is very important that we hold firmly to our path and lose nothing. There are plenty of temptations of the senses in this world. There are thousands of paths that can lead us astray. But there are very few paths that can lead us in the right direction. It will cause eternal sorrow when we make certain mistakes. It will cause eternal sorrow. And life will become shorter and shorter and shorter. Therefore, a great holy Śaṅkarācārya said, Goham katam idaṃ jātaṃ gove kartashe vidyate. Who am I? I am none of this body, not this mind, nor this intellect. Who am I? And where do I come from? Where were we in the previous life? And the life before the life before the life before? Some people say, let’s do regression. But I believe nothing will be achieved through psychological regression. So, dear ones, one demonstrates. We move forward, not backward. And why have I become? And what is my duty? And am I doing it correctly? And where will I go? Only a person can give this answer to themselves. So, let love become lighter for us. Love all living beings; if nothing else, then at least as much as you love your own Self. Forgive; if you can no longer forgive anything, then at least forgive enough that you wish for yourself that people will forgive you. And so, these are the ancient wisdoms, found in many scriptures, also in the West, many, many beautiful books and sacred texts written. It is the same. The names are different. You say God, others say Bhagavān, others say Allāh, and so on. The names are different. Sometimes we say ocean, then we say mist, then the clouds, then rain, then a stream, then a river, and again ocean. Reality, just look at reality. What is reality? And so yoga, physical exercises, breathing exercises, but in truth it is praying, meditating, and self-analyzing—how many mistakes have I made. Then our yoga practices and our life will be successful. Let us reflect: today, there is one word I have said—let us think, I am a human being. If you are angry with your wife, think, no, I am a human being; I cannot be angry with you. Or when you are angry with your husband, he has not come home yet, say, no, he is also a human being. Perhaps he did not find a parking space. That is why he is coming later. So forgiveness is the most beautiful thing. And what makes me a human with beautiful qualities? That is the human being. One God and one devil, both have the same body, but their qualities are different. The quality is different. And so, for this beautiful Christmas season, I wish you much, much joy, love, clarity, and God's blessing. And please think, at least once a day, I am a human being. There will be much for us. And secondly, how can I experience more health? Health cannot be bought. Health can only be realized. Through good nourishment and practices. And God and the spiritual power can only be accessed through prayer and meditation. So, that is all. And we can have a few minutes now, in case anyone has a question. You can ask. Thank you for listening. Adios. First questions and then flowers. If you give flowers, then I will leave. Well, that means an indirect goodbye. No, no, it cannot be like that. Well, as they say in Austria, when you open the window, the guests know that it is finally time to go home. Alright then, please go ahead. Yes, Śānti. The best practice against fear is the understanding that I am an ātman. Immortal. The body dies, but my Self does not die. The flower dies, the fragrance remains. Śivo'haṃ, Śivo'haṃ,... I am the Self of pure consciousness and bliss, I am the immortal Self of pure consciousness and bliss, I am Śiva. I am divine consciousness. I am immortal. I am the Ātman. It never dies. Just as we go to sleep and we dream. In the dream, we are somewhere as visitors. And then we come back again. We awaken. Who went there in the dream? Who knows that I have dreamed? Who knows, that would be the dream that I am dreaming. And whoever now knows that I have dreamed and that reality is the Self. The Self is present everywhere throughout the entire universe. As soon as the breath is joyful, fear disappears. And as long as joyful breathing is not realized, we have fear of all kinds of things. Okay, look, Ātman cannot be killed by any weapon, cannot be disturbed by any elements, and death cannot take anything away. The Ātma is like a space, this empty space. We can move knives here millions of times, but we do not see any grazes. We can sit many times inside the sphere, but we do not see a hole in the sky. We can burn a lot of fire, but we see nothing; the space is burned. Walls, the walls, they break, but space does not. And so the body, that becomes our ego and so on. But Ātma is immortal. People crucified Jesus, but not his ātman yet. So, we have no choice but to wish you a wonderfully good night. Thank you very much, all the best, God's blessings, much joy, much health, and much happiness. Good evening.