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Part 1: Reflections on Twenty Years of Sannyāsa Oṁ dīp jyoti para brahma dīpaṁ sarve mohanaṁ Dīpaṁ sarjate savaṁ sandhyāṁ dīpaṁ sarat satyam. Oṁ Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇa Bhagavān Kī Jai. Śrī Śrī Alakh Purī Jī Mahādeva Kī Jai. Śrī Śrī Devaśvara Mahādeva Kī Jai, Śrī Mārākṛṣṇa Bhagavān Kī Jai. Viśvaguru Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Paramahaṁsvāmī Maheśvarānandajī Gurudeva Kī Jai. Hari Om. Good evening, good morning, good afternoon, whatever. Hello, this webcast is coming to you from Jadan Ashram, Rajasthan, India. I am happy to meet you at this time. It is a very special time for me personally, because tomorrow is my 20th anniversary of Sannyāsa Dīkṣā. So, it is a very great time. I would also like to welcome all the people in Austria and in Germany, and I am happy that I can speak to you today. This sannyāsa initiation was given in Kailāś, an āśram dedicated to Lord Śiva, an āśram which has very great power, very great strength. It is an ashram. If you have the opportunity, then visit this ashram. Your meditation will be very strong. I remember the time I was there. Before receiving such an initiation, of course, you are not really peaceful. You are thinking how it will be, or what will be, and what changes will occur, and how you will succeed in all this. Even at this time, twenty years ago, we did not know on which day and at which time the celebration would be. We started here from Jaipur, and it was not even certain which person would get the initiation. So, at the last minute, actually just one day before, Swāmījī put the question, "Who wants to also become a sannyāsī?" And it was Sādhvī Pārvatī who raised her hand up. It was just one day before the sannyāsa dīkṣā, she asked and requested Swāmījī if she could become a sannyāsī. He agreed, and now you know that she is leading the ashram in Czechoslovakia very successfully. So, dear Pārvatī, Hari Om, I greet you. I hope you see this. And at the same time, there was also Sādhvī Yamunā in Spain. So we have been in the same time, in the same field, under the same fire, under the same Guru, and it was a great day. As I told you, we did not know at which time the ceremony would be, because if you are with a Guru, if you are with a Master, you have to learn one thing especially: to be flexible. Do not ask anything about what will happen in the next minute. Because even if he says what will happen in the next minute, in one second, everything can change. So we did not know whether the ceremony would be in the morning or in the evening. I remember that when I came to the Ashram Kelāś, which is situated in a desertic area and a very, very peaceful landscape, very peaceful, with some mountains at the back, I felt so much of this peace which is given in nature, and I calmed down completely. I will never forget this, how the nature and the environment in which we are can give you peace of mind. I think nowadays we should also often go into nature and not just breathe in only the oxygen, but breathe in the prāṇa, the śakti, the force, the energy, and the balancing from nature. This gives us a very deep inner peace. This was 20 years ago, and today is Thursday. Thursday is Guru Day, the day of the Master, and I want to dedicate this evening. I want to thank, also via webcast, Swāmījī, who has guided me for 34 years now. I have been with him for 34 years. In Germany we say we went together through thick and thin—through everything, highs and lows—and he was the one who always protected me, always. I had a very difficult time in my life, especially after the Sannyāsa Dīkṣā, because you know, this color is not only a lightening color on the street, it is the color of fire. That means that you have, maybe more than others, also to burn your karmas. And this happened immediately after my sannyāsa dīkṣā. Sometimes in your life, when big difficulties are there, friends are also very rare because sometimes they cannot deal with such difficulties. But who was always, always in the 34 years standing on my side as a father, mother, friend, was Swāmījī at any time. His personal love, kindness, and help are something indescribable. I can say he saved my life, because I had big health problems and also many, many difficulties. I feel now, after 20 years of Sannyāsa Dīkṣā, not perfect at all, but I feel very balanced. I feel very peaceful inside of myself, and this is due to many years of practice, and many years of being together with a master. Being together with a master does not mean that there is always fun and happiness. It also means that he is putting you in the fire, that he is throwing you out, maybe in the cold, just to make you strong. In this way, Swāmījī many times trained me like this, and now he also gives me the opportunity to show my devotion by doing sevā in the hospital in Jadān. You know, that was three years ago. The hospital building was finished after 15 years of collecting donations, and I was thinking, "My job is over. The building is standing. Hurry home, Shanti. You can go to the Himalayas and meditate in a cave." That was my mind saying this. Two years ago, I decided that this year, because the work is over and I am free now, I would go to the Himalayas and stay there for six months for meditation. Then, during a satsaṅg like here in Jadan where we are now, suddenly Swāmījī said, "Yes, Śāntī, and now someone has to start the hospital, and that is you. So in the next years, you should come here." So that was it. I finished the dream of the cave and the meditation. I was a little bit shocked, but after one or two days, I realized one thing. It is like this. It is said, if God closes one small door, on the other side he will open a very big door for you. It is often in life like this, meaning if something is not according to your intention or your wishes, then there is a reason behind. I understood one thing, that God knows exactly why I wanted to go for six months in the Himalayas. There is a reason behind it. I wanted to reach God, actually. But the time was not right for this. And he said, "You have to learn something." This is what you have to learn to develop your personality as a sādhu; this you have to practice in the hospital. That is why I accepted this sevā, and I am very happy about it. You learn when we are all the same. Let us say if we are only with one kind of culture together, we think that the whole world is like this. But if we have to deal with other cultures, with other persons, we have to show which kind of tolerance we have, which kind of acceptance we have, how we are able to change our behavior towards them, how we can show our respect, and how much we can learn from them. I think that one of the best ways to learn acceptance and tolerance is to be in other countries with other cultures, where you can learn many things from them. I also learned a great many things from the hospital staff, and I saw very directly how people are living in this area. This touched me very, very much, and this gives me a big motivation to further request you to donate for the people of this area. You know, in Europe we have so many things, but one thing we do not have, and that is the smiling face and the happiness. Here in India, especially in this area, there are so many people living with maybe 50 euros per month for four to five members in the family. But they have a different approach to life, to God, and they are managing their life. They do not have much in a material way, but they are very rich in a spiritual way. And out of this, they show a happiness which we in Europe and overseas are missing. That is a thing which we can learn here very much from them. I respect very much how the people, without complaining, are dealing with their life here. It is admirable. I hope that I or others will not anymore complain about anything in Europe or somewhere else, and be happy about all the gifts which God gives us, to be in such countries where the water is running, where the food is there, where money is there, where we have clothes, where we have assurance, where we can go to the doctor. Many things are missing here, and out of this, I think it is important for us, and especially as yogīs, to have a social approach to the rest of the world. We are not isolated, we are not alone in this universe, and we are all connected, not only through our ātmā, through the soul, but we are responsible, one for each other. That is why let us always see the others and how fortunate we are, and let us do something for them. In this way, it is a good sevā we can do. Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad Gītā, several times, again and again, he is repeating: sevā dharma is the highest dharma. And when you are doing this, then it is like this, you can reach me. So, for our saviors from Europe and overseas who are so fortunate in material ways, I think it is a very good deed for yourself, for your development, for your karma, to do something for others in whatever way, but to help just others. Actually, I wanted in the beginning also to sing one bhajan and dedicate it to our Guru Paramparā. Today is Thursday also, so it is the day of the master. This bhajan is called "Oṁ Brahma Śiva Alaka Nabhi." It is a bhajan that was written by Holy Gurujī. In this bhajan he says that Oṁ Brahma Śiva Alaka Anādi—the highest Brahm is Śiva, the lord of the yogīs. He is the supreme God, and He is alaka, indescribable. And He gave His powers to Śrī Alakhpurījī, who is residing in the Himalayas and who is seated on the Abhichala Gāḍī, on the seat of the teacher, of the master, which is unmovable. So, who is giving the knowledge from Śiva to Alakhpurījī and further to the others, to their disciples? In the bhajan is described then all our master lineage of yoga and daily life. So the disciple from Alakhpurījī is Śrī Devpurījī, who is the oldest Śaṅkara and resides in Kailāśa. His disciple is Siddhip Nārāyaṇa, Mahāprabhujī, who gives his prasāda, he gives the prasāda, the divya, the divine brahmajñāna, the ātmajñāna, the self-realization. And he gives then his knowledge to Holy Gurujī. He became Holy Gurujī, receiving from them, from the higher masters, the blessings, and giving this blessing and this kṛpā further to his bhaktas. And the Holy Gurujī gave then these blessings to the great Śiva Yogī, Swāmī Maheśvarānanda, who is now on the Gāḍī, on the throne of Śrī Alakhpurījī. And he made this Susobitakari, he made this throne even more beautiful, bigger, and shining. Part 2: The Radiance of the Guru Paramparā He enhanced the beauty of the Guru Paramparā, the Guru tradition. Out of these masters, light, Prakāśa, was spread in the whole universe. And everyone, in his memory, realized the real Śiva, who is accepting all bhaktas. And all bhaktas are making the pūjā and are giving their devotion to the Guru Paramparā. Through their blessings, the light of the ātmā is uniting with the light of Brahman. And Gaṇeśa Purī, meaning this Holy Gurujī, is singing full of joy to those who want to hear it and understand it: that all of you who are in the shelter of this Guru Paramparā are very fortunate. Siddhī Nārāyaṇa Bhagavān, Kī Jai. I hope we can sing this bhajan together. When Swāmījī told me yesterday that I should speak a little bit today, there is a very big subject which all of us are searching for: how to be happy. Isn’t it? This is the main question for all of us. If I had the opportunity another time, I could speak for five years about this subject. That’s why I want to start just today with a little part out of it. Two years ago, I was in the Himalayas, near the area where he said that Śrī Alakhpurījī is still there. I received a kind of lecture from him. We get many lectures sometimes, but sometimes we are not listening to them. The flute of Kṛṣṇa is very, very soft, and we have to reduce the sound of the orchestra of the world to hear the voice of God. That is why it is important to retire from the world. Mahāprabhujī kī karatā, Mahāprabhujī kī karatā. It is not describable. You can only experience it. So what I tell you is just a question of your own experience. It’s not describable. Anyhow, it happens at Satopanth Lake, which is 4,300 meters high. The first thing for happiness is: do not expect. It’s easy to say, "I know, don’t expect," but if we expect and things are not happening, then we are deeply disappointed. So, the best is not to have expectations, as little expectation as possible, or better, not to have any expectation. Out of this, there will be no suffering, no bamboo, no flute, no noise, as Swāmījī often says. So: no expectation, no disappointment, no suffering. Sometimes things are not complicated; they are easy. Easy in the word, but not so easy to realize. But if we have the main headlines, it is very important. So the headline for this is: don’t have expectations. But this is a negative insight. Our subconscious doesn’t like so much negativity. So what is the positive version you can say of this? That is: accept. Accept. Yes, don’t expect, but try to accept. Accept each and everything without judgment. You will say this is very difficult. Yeah, but life is like this. We came to this planet not to dance rock and roll, I think. There is maybe another aim for why we came into this life. God puts us here on this karmabhūmi to go through our karmas, but to overcome them. The less emotion we have in dealing with any kind of circumstance in our life, the more we center ourselves in the inner deep peace—like a rock in the waves of the ocean—the happier we can be. So this acceptance is an essential part. If we can observe ourselves, how we are reacting daily to this or that, and if we take a little Saṅkalpa, a vow that I try to accept each and everything that happens in my life, you will see, with time, with every day, you are increasing your inner contentment. There is a little story about this, about the judgment of people, because people are always judging. I will tell you two stories, if you allow me. One is about judgment, and the other one is about acceptance. Stories can describe and make a clearer picture. Śiva and Pārvatī were sitting on the Kailāśa mountain. You know that Śiva is sometimes very strict with his bhaktas, but strict with love. Pārvatī sometimes doesn’t like that he’s so strict. So she told him, "Why are you so strict?" Śiva said, "Yes, but the people, they are never satisfied, they are never satisfied." Pārvatī said, "No, I cannot believe this. I cannot believe that they are never satisfied, so don’t be so strict with them." Śiva said, "Okay, Pārvatī, I will show you." They went to the earth in another shape, in another body, to a place like here in Jadān, in the villages. He took the shape of an old man, a very old man going on a stick, and she took the shape of a young woman. They were passing, and they led an ox with them on a rope. They passed the first village, with him leading the ox on the rope, and both walking on the road beside the ox. All the villagers were looking at them and speaking: "My goodness, they are walking on the road. They are really stupid. There are two people. There is an ox. Why are they not sitting on the ox?" They were not happy with them, judging. They went through and went to another village. Śiva said, "Okay, you saw? That was village number one. Now we will change it. Pārvatī, now you sit on the ox, and I will walk beside." Paramparā, Siddha Karatā Paramparā, Siddha Karatā... Mahāprabhujī Karatā, Mahāprabhujī Karatā He Kevalam. Then the villagers said, "My goodness, what is this? This old man is walking and could walk. Why doesn’t he let the lady also sit on the ox?" So again they were judging. They passed also this village. Before they came to the next village, Śiva said, "Okay, Pārvatī, last option, we have only one option more. We will sit both on the ox." And so, by the next village, they were sitting both on the ox. Of course, again, the people were watching them, and then they said, "My goodness, what is this? This poor ox, two people..." Mahāprabhujī, Karatā, Mahāprabhujī, Karatā, He Kevalam. And so, to be content with whatever is coming. The second story about acceptance is a very nice story. It’s again on the village side, and there was an old wise man. He had only one son. This son was the security of his old age, because here in India you don’t have any assurance; the family is your assurance, who will take care of you when you are old. One day this son was going outside in the woods and in the fields, and suddenly one white, beautiful horse came to him and stayed with him, a wild horse. He took it home, and the father was very happy because it is quite precious to have a beautiful white horse. The people of the village started to speak. They said, "My goodness, what do you want to do, old man, with this horse? You cannot manage this horse. You cannot feed it, and it is nothing for you." The old wise man, a very wise, old, beautiful man with white hair and a long beard, said, "Don’t say it is not good, just say it is like it is. Don’t say it is not good that this horse is there; just say the horse came. And that’s all you should say. Just say it is like it is, and that’s all." Time passed, and one day the horse disappeared. The villagers again started to speak. "Oh, we told you, old man, you should not have kept this horse. It will be a disaster for you," and so on. But again, the old man said, "Don’t say it is a disaster. Just say the horse left, and that’s all. Just take it as it is. Just say it is like it is. That’s all. Without any comment, without any emotion." After some time, what happened? Not only one horse came, but this same horse came back and brought six other horses with him. So the old man suddenly had seven beautiful white horses at home. Of course he was very happy, but the villagers were not happy. They said, "What will you do with one son and seven wild horses? Who will train them? Who will feed them?" And so on. They were very, very unhappy. But the old wise man said, "Why do you say this is bad, that seven horses came? Just say seven horses came. That’s all. Just say it is like it is, and that’s all. They came, and that’s all." Then it happened that by riding these wild horses, the son fell down and broke both legs very severely. Now again the people of the village said, "You see, old man, we told you that it is very bad if you have these seven horses and only this one son. Now you see what is happening: your son broke his legs, and he cannot help you for your future, for your old age. He will not be any support because now he is a cripple. He’s now handicapped forever." The old wise man with white hair and the long white beard and the beautiful peaceful eyes said, "Don’t say it is bad that my son broke his legs. Just say that my son broke his legs. That’s all. It is like it is. Just take it as it is." What happened in the country where they lived? A very big war started. All young men of the village had to go to the battlefield, and most of them were dying. But only the young man from the wise man survived, and he could be with his father in satsaṅg. So everything was good for something. These very wise words his father said again and again: "Don’t say it is good, don’t say it is bad. Just accept it as it is." We can change ourselves, we can change, but we cannot change the situation, the circumstances. We cannot change the weather, we cannot change the sky, we cannot change the earth. Many things we cannot change. What we can change, we should change, and that is especially ourselves. I hope that a little bit I could give you an input to develop acceptance, because acceptance is the main pillar for contentment and happiness. For this, I thank you very much for listening, and I thank Swāmījī once more for giving me the opportunity to be by his side for so many years. I wish you a wonderful day, a wonderful night, a wonderful morning, and especially also, on today’s Rakṣā Bandhan, to give love and friendship to each and everyone. Siddhīp Nārāyaṇ Bhagavān Akhī Jai.