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Part 1: An Evening of Shared Experiences: The Living Connection to Swāmījī Good evening, everyone. It is wonderful to be here at this seminar. I understand a prāṇāyāma workshop has been ongoing—hard work indeed. Our mornings are filled with āsanas based on physiotherapy principles, currently at level two. The afternoons delve into deeper meditation, around level four, including the back pain course and Level One. Recently, I posed two questions to the group: What is the most important principle for yoga and daily life? And what is the greatest danger for us? The answers were inspiring and varied. A statistic was even made, a kind of hit list. Regarding the greatest dangers, the most voted point by far was the ego. This is correct, of course, though it is often hard to detect in its complete form. Others mentioned pride, laziness, kuśaṅg (bad company), losing confidence and faith, not understanding the system, or modifying it arbitrarily. For the most important principle for yoga teachers, the answers fell into three groups. The first concerned our individual life and sādhanā. It only works when the student sees that we live these principles ourselves; our example is crucial. The second group focused on our relationship with students: listening carefully, being open, treating everyone equally. One answer perfectly captured it: "teach with love and dignity." This touches on our motivation. Why do we teach? Is there selfishness? Do we feel great or powerful? Is there financial gain? Such motivations flow out, and students feel them. When the relationship is pure, it is simply love. But this love must not become attachment, leading to different relationships with different students. The third group of answers concerned our relationship to the divine, to our master. Most answers came on this point. Some spoke of keeping the Guru Vākya (the Guru's word). Others emphasized faith and keeping the system pure. Guru Tattva is the highest Tattva, the highest level of consciousness. The question is: how do we connect there? The most supported principle was Náhaṃ Kartā—"I am not the doer." So, if Náhaṃ Kartā is our most important principle, what does it mean practically? Where and how do we connect? The mantra says: "Náhaṃ Kartā, Prabhu Dīpa Kartā, Mahāprabhu Dīpa Kartā Hi Kevalam." This means the divine light is the doer, Mahāprabhujī. But we cannot connect to the divine just in general. We need a specific channel, and for us, that is our beloved Swāmījī. Therefore, I thought this evening we could speak about our relationship with Swāmījī and share our personal experiences. What you have experienced, you know. It doesn't matter what others tell you. But not everyone has had many personal experiences, so sharing can provide inspiration, especially in the present situation where some may have doubts. I will also contribute by sharing some of Swāmījī's own experiences, to remind us of what we may or may not know. Let us begin with a bhajan, and later, anyone who wishes can share. First, I would like to remind us of Swāmījī's own experiences. In the Czech edition of the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali with Swāmījī's commentary, he spoke about the entire text, likely in the mid-1980s. The original German lectures were transcribed. The first German edition was in A4 size; a later second edition was in A5. Interestingly, certain very personal passages from the first edition were removed from the second. They were removed for good reason, as Swāmījī spoke very openly about intimate experiences not meant for general publication. But there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. Given that Swāmījī is being attacked, I feel it is time to speak out. I will read from the commentary on Sūtra 51, concerning Nirvikalpa Samādhi. I will share the removed passages where Swāmījī speaks personally. "My first experiences with samādhi began in 1968-69. Later, they became more frequent... I remember very well that certain experiences like this already appeared in my early childhood. I saw and recognized certain beings around me. They had the form of light balls, similar to shiny soap bubbles. Later, too, beings in the form of light often appeared to me, invisible to the normal eye. Several times I was completely involved in a great, brilliant light, so that I was blinded and could see nothing except this huge light. At the beginning of 1969, I had my first great samādhi experience. In it, I experienced three things: the sound of my guru mantra—Oṁ Soham Śrī Biparipuram Satya Brahmā Namaḥ—then a light like a waterfall from millions of fine sun rays, and a vision of Mahāprabhujī as described by my master Swāmī Madhavānandjī in the book Līlā Amṛt (The Living Light)." To remind us of that vision from Līlā Amṛt: At dawn on Diwali, after six months of fasting and meditation (sleeping on a straw mat, eating only fruit and milk), Swāmījī felt a strong stream of energy take hold of his whole body. He saw a light as bright as a million suns and felt indescribable joy, as if submerged in an ocean of nectar. From this light appeared Bhagavān Sudhīr Nārāyaṇa Prabhujī, surrounded by gods, goddesses, ṛṣis, and munis praising him. He saw the whole universe illuminated in Mahāprabhujī's light and realized all exists in and through him. Then Mahāprabhujī laid his hand on Swāmījī's head and said: "My son, you are mine for all eternity. You are my true ambassador. All religions in the world lead to the one light. It is the aim of every human to realize God, the Almighty, to become one with Him. But mankind suffers from unspeakable physical and mental sorrow. It is your duty to soothe this pain by bringing to them the holy message of divine knowledge. Teach to all people, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, the highest techniques of the divine science of yoga. Help them to lead a natural life, free from illness, and show them the way to true knowledge. Your task is to serve your fellow beings, your brother and sister, without distinction of status or race, because all are part of me. I will always accompany you wherever you are. I will also be in the hearts of my devotees; you will see me. My sacred temple shall be the body of that one in whose heart I manifest. This human is me, and I am him." That was the first great mahāsamādhi experience. I continue from Swāmījī's commentary: "One of my strongest and most overwhelming conscious experiences I had in 1972 in Vienna. I lived in the third district. It was a Sunday afternoon, and I was meditating in my room. In this meditation, I again entered a state where all vṛttis ceased, and I was on a completely different level of consciousness. But then the doorbell rang. At first, I couldn't distinguish if it was a sound within my consciousness or the actual doorbell. It rang several times, so I came back into my body. This seems a contradiction: in samādhi, I lost all vṛttis; my whole existence was lost, I was in śūnyākāś (completely empty space). Yet, I could clearly hear the doorbell. This is explained thus: the ātmā is always connected with the physical body. No matter how far the ātmā is from the body, if something happens to the body, the ātmā instantly reconnects. Therefore, there is never danger for the body during meditation. If there is disturbance or danger, the ātmā contacts the intellect, which takes protective measures. So, I got up and opened the door. The moment I opened it, such an overwhelming light came over me that I nearly lost consciousness. Two disciples were outside, and they also saw this light around me. I asked them to carry me back into the room. I could observe everything from outside: I saw the disciples leading me into the room. I sat down, and the experience of light continued for some time. Then Mahāprabhujī appeared to me again." Swāmījī does not describe what transpired with Mahāprabhujī in this account. After that, the samādhi state ended. I share this precious knowledge to remind us: Who is Swāmījī? We see the physical body and too easily forget it is just an outer appearance. We cannot see the Guru with physical eyes, but we can feel and experience Him. It depends on our karma if we are open to it. Sometimes, inspiration can help. Let us have another bhajan. I will sing one born from my own experience. This is what I know. Others can tell me many things, but it doesn't change that. (The bhajan is sung: "Mahāmaṇḍalī’s verse is by Maiśvarānandjī Gurudeva Kī. O Swamiji, you live within me. You live in my heart, my soul, I’ll be. You are guiding me, and you are protecting me...") One of the verses is my well-known song, "Take Me Home." Now, I invite anyone who would like to share their experiences. I know there are older disciples here, with Swāmījī much longer than I. Sītā (Prague): Hari Om. Soon it will be 21 years since I became Swāmījī's disciple. Through these years, so many miracles have happened. I could talk about Swāmījī saving my son's life, protecting us from a car accident, or many events some might call coincidences. But I will speak of how my life has become beautiful through Yoga in Daily Life. Every day, I teach classes for children and adults. I prepare precisely, knowing the inspiration and motivation do not come from myself. A small experience: When we were preparing a celebration for the International Day of Peace in Prachatice, I wrote to Swāmījī. He sent a blessing, and from that moment, everything flowed smoothly—ideas, organization. Representatives from different political parties came together in a spirit of peace. A few days later, I received an email saying, "The world would probably change." Who is wrong? I know. Lastly, a yoga sister recently asked me, "How are you still so happy?" There is no argument. For 21 years, Swāmījī has given so much love. In such a situation, a person cannot be unhappy. Another Disciple (Prachatice): Hari Om. I also am from south Bohemia. I, too, will soon have my 21st anniversary of receiving the mantra. I received it together with Sītā—that was no accident. With the beautiful bhakti and the channel Swāmījī provides, Sītā has been a great support. I also received Swāmījī's blessing to stay on this path through all obstacles. Being here now is the greatest happiness Swāmījī has given me. Hari Om Praṇām. Muktananda (Prague): Hari Om. I am happy to be here among dear friends. I have been Swāmījī's disciple since 1975—a yoga grandmother! I've heard some speak of moral problems and disturbances over the last 40 years, but I cannot say that personally. I have experienced much bliss and happiness. The greatest miracle in my life is that I met Swāmījī, or that he allowed me to meet him. I remember when he first came to Czechoslovakia. We expected an old sage with a white beard. Instead, we met Swāmījī, young, with a great sense of humor and immense love for all creatures. We practiced in small spaces, like school gyms. Swāmījī heard our small group's wish and came to Prague to teach us with great care and love, as if giving his all. Even then, he commanded great respect. Once, at a secret satsaṅg for trusted disciples, Swāmījī apologized to us. He apologized because he had passed us by in a car and only waved, not stopping to speak. Such humbleness was amazing. Once, we offered him bananas—a precious commodity then. He took the bowl and told everyone to take some. We had to cut them into pieces so all could share. We had many such beautiful experiences. At summer seminars in Kopna in the Beskydy mountains, conditions were basic, with dry toilets. Swāmījī came for the whole summer. We sat packed in a small dining room. We were determined to do everything correctly. During meditation, we sat in the front row, trying to sit perfectly still despite pain. People at the back smiled, seeing us like rocks. Swāmījī kindly said, "Okay, relax." We sang kīrtans like "Om Madhavānanda," an homage to Holy Gurujī. We watched sunrises and sunsets. One night, Swāmījī said, "Sleep, and I will wake you for the sunrise." We called it a yoga New Year celebration. On evening walks, Swāmījī carried a torchlight. He said, "Remember, one day when you are in darkness, remember I am carrying this light in front of you." I remember Swāmījī saying, "I would like to give joy to people." Like a two-year-old child running towards someone with pure joy—he wanted to give that. I think he does that all the time. When Swāmījī comes, everyone feels better, purer, happier. We smile at each other. Here, we feel solidarity, love, unity. That is what Swāmījī gives us. His love and joy keep us together, whether there are 30, 100, or 1500 people. He elevates us all. His message is love, tolerance, unity, compassion. At international events, even with language barriers, we understand each other inwardly because of this connection. Swāmījī gave my life direction and light. He gave me everything. Praṇām, Swāmījī. Part 2: A Satsaṅg of Experiences I just came to ask Mahāprabhujī, because I am not really a friend of this thing, a microphone. I have been Swāmījī’s disciple since 1975, like the person before me, so she was speaking before me about this. My yoga name is Lakṣmī Nārāyaṇ, and I come from Ostrava. In the year 1987, there was a yoga seminar in Piešťany. We were registered, and we went there. We were supposed to go, but at that time I had some health problem. Still, Leo Skubin—not yet with the yoga name—told me, "Go, go there, it is definitely worth it." And so we went. This seminar, of course, as all seminars before and after that, was just great. I will tell you a story, which for me was a story for a whole life. Many of you might know it because I have been asked to tell it in many places. So for many, it will be a repetition. During an evening satsaṅg in Piešťany, which took place in the cultural center or room of Tesla, it was quite a similar room to this one, only a little shorter and more narrow. Of course, it was completely full of people. As people from Ostrava, we usually sit somewhere at the back. But three of us were sitting in front, about three meters from Swāmījī. On his left side sat the translator, Vierka Doležalová. We were singing bhajans, of course, also Czech bhajans, as was the custom at that time. During the singing, I had some sort of a feeling, and I stopped singing because even before that, Swāmījī had stopped singing. I was gazing at Swāmījī, and suddenly his face—its contours were becoming lighter. It was something like a crystal clear white light; it is really hard to describe in words. Then, suddenly, there was more and more of this light, and Swāmījī was losing the contours of his face. It was something like a ball of light, and his whole body was in this crystal white light. I was really astonished. Then something like a flow of some gold, a golden stream, was streaming from the top of his head towards Vierka, and in the end, Vierka was completely covered in this golden light. To make sure this was not an illusion, I asked my friend—you know, now his name is Kṛṣṇapurī. I pushed him, and he opened his eyes. He could see the same thing as I saw. The third person sitting right next to us was a very good person, but he could not understand this. So he quickly got lost, and we never saw him after that; he just went to Ostrava. We were lucky that the two of us saw it; no other person saw it. When I asked Vierka on the second day if she had any special feeling, she was not aware of anything. This took several minutes. Then again, Swāmījī started singing. The second day, in the morning, there was breakfast in this hall. With Karel, we went to the complete end of this room, and in front of us there were some columns. We were somehow afraid to go to Swāmījī and to look at him. I think you know what I mean. Swāmījī sat as usual at his place, and we slowly started having breakfast. At this point, Swāmījī leaned from this column and he showed to us like this. So there was nothing left for us to do but to stand up and go to him. We sat down, of course, one step lower than he was, and he gave us praśād. Since that time, I really knew who Swāmījī was. It was a great experience. Of course, there were many other occasions when Swāmījī actually showed himself to us. And I have known who he is from many other experiences that I had. I have a short question in between. I have the feeling we are in such a flow, and there are so many who want to taste something. I personally fear. Let us just continue. I say it now because time is running, and I know some might want to go to bed. But I feel we are just in a really special situation here. Maybe we can start tomorrow morning a little bit later? I just feel it would be a pity to interrupt now. Is it okay that you continue? Hari Om, good evening to everybody. My name is Pūrṇimā. Originally, I come from Brno, but now I live in Prague. I decided I would share something here with you at this satsaṅg. First, I would like to thank Swāmījī for his guidance, for the fact that he is showing me the way in this life. That he is showing to me that I don’t have to ask for love from other people, that I am always carrying it in myself. That I should give it to everybody without expecting anything in return, and giving it not only to people, but also to animals. I can dare to say that I am not on such a high level, intellectual or any other, that I would say this is something that I discovered myself. That is what I am experiencing when I am in a situation where I don’t know what to do, and I have a prayer, and I am sending a wish, and then there comes an answer which cannot be understood by reason. But when I am following this inner challenge, this path, I can see how beautiful blossoms of flowers this is bringing, and I am feeling this as one of the greatest miracles: to go beyond oneself, to overcome one’s stereotypes, expectations, or thinking. And to be in that which Swāmījī is teaching us, and what he, by his own example, by his own teaching, is showing to us. Sometimes it is very hard for me to follow the path, but anytime I really feel I want to do it, I want to follow and to be open, I have the darśana that the path is shown to me. I would like to thank Swāmījī for that from my heart. I don’t need to prove this to anybody or to show this. I am living this, and I am living this thanks to him. I thank him a lot, and although I know he is not with me in the physical form, I am really wishing for his physical darśana, and I would be really happy if he came to see us in the Czech Republic again. I think that it is the time when we are really thinking of him a lot, and it would be great if we could, for example, send him a letter with thanks, expressing this, although I know that he knows. So I thank you very much for everything, and I also thank you for listening. And that’s all. Hari Om. My name is Laliṭā. I am from Olomouc. Swāmījī has changed my whole life, but not only mine, but my whole family’s. I am immensely grateful for that, and to all our masters. I am one of these grandmothers of yoga. My son met Swāmījī when he was 7 years old; now he is 47. He used to go with me everywhere. Swāmījī was for him, as he said when he was a small boy, like a small star in the sky. In the evening, when he was going to sleep, he was asking me, "Mama, at what star is Swāmījī?" And Swāmījī for him was a great authority. I basically didn’t experience what is this puberty or these teenage years, or that the children would not do what I wanted them to do. I forgot to say I was alone with him. I wanted to tell you something about the beginnings, because I was a girl who was brought up in a Christian family. As Mīlenkā said, we had already been exercising before Swāmījī came. I personally was longing to meet my master. There had been a few Indians before Swāmījī, and always when somebody came, we thought, "Okay, so this is the teacher for the Czech Republic land." That is where Swāmījī came for the first time. I came a little bit later because of work, and there were quite a lot of people surrounding Swāmījī, so basically I couldn’t see him at all. Then it was the break, and the translator said it’s the end now. People went from Swāmījī, and then Swāmījī appeared to me in the form of this mudrā. I’m sure you know, if you are Christians, that this mudrā is the mudrā of Christ. It was actually my first sight of Swāmījī when I realized, this is my master. I had absolutely no doubt. I just stayed there, and I was astonished, with no doubt. Everything that followed afterwards just assured me that there is absolutely no difference between Swāmījī and the Christ. I would like to share with you a story that maybe some of you have heard here before, but anyway, it is from Yugoslavia. It is a story of a woman from Yugoslavia. You know, to the seminars often women came. There came one woman, and her husband was very jealous. This husband once came to the person who was the highest person in the Catholic hierarchy of Yugoslavia. He said, "You should ban this person, this Indian, from going to Yugoslavia, because my wife, she’s always coming to see him, and that is not good." Luckily, he was a very reasonable person and already on the spiritual path. He said, "I cannot really answer you now. Come in one week, and I will give you an answer." He was praying, and then Christ came to him and told him, "If you would like to ban Svāmī Maheśvarānanda from going to Yugoslavia, it is the same as if you told me not to go there." In this way, he answered the husband. We don’t know in which way he did this, but definitely he told him that he cannot tell Svāmī Maheśvarānanda not to go to the land of Yugoslavia. When we mentioned some ways in which Swāmījī was helping—and he really is helping quite a lot—I would also like to mention one occasion. We were outside. It was a full moon, and at the same time, the stars were falling. It was a very strange event, maybe some ten minutes; every ten minutes some star was falling. Swāmījī then said, "The words of Mahāprabhujī came to hear also some souls who already left this world a long time ago." There were also some astral souls there. It wasn’t only us in our physical form. New and new people keep coming, they take the keys and go up the stairs. Really, after this, I had a dream. It was at some halls of residence that some people were coming to gather the keys for this, and they were still coming and going up. Next to this entrance to the building, there was an ambulance, and there is this bed which normally you carry somebody who is going to the ambulance. There was a woman in some—I recognized this was some woman who used to come to us when I was a child. Because my father was engaged in mysticism, they always had something to say to each other. She was really begging me or asking me, but other people couldn’t see her or hear her. I was the only one who could. She was begging me, "Please lead me to Swāmījī." So I took her to this elevator, and I took her by this elevator until the highest level of this building, where Swāmījī was staying at the time. There was a swinging door, and I sent her through the swinging door so that some other people could pass her over to Swāmījī. I am aware that anything that Swāmījī is saying at a satsaṅg, it is not a hundred percent. What I am saying, it is one thousand percent. I just wanted to share this experience with you. I have many others, but always when I’m at home, I’m saying, "You have to stop me, otherwise I would spend the whole night just talking about it." I am Jyoti from Kyiv, and I would like to share with you an experience of how Swāmījī gave me my life back three times. I also was a child from a Christian family, and one thing that I could not understand was, like they say, something like, what does it mean? When you die, you will never wake up. What does this "never" mean? After the revolution, when some new movements came, I was really eager, and I was just gathering all the new information. When I realized there is some teaching from India, I thought, that’s it. That’s what’s really answering all my questions. At that time, I was working as a director in the cultural house in Kyiv. Jyoti and Lakṣmaṇ came to Kyiv, and we decided we would make some yoga courses together. I was very enthusiastic, and I also started guiding some courses. But my mind was still spread into many other directions. I was trying this and that. Because India was very near to me, we made a big program, and the name was "India Full of Colors." I invited Yoga—at that time we didn’t say brothers and sisters, just friends—and I invited Swāmījī. Here I first time met Swāmījī face to face. He smiled at me, and he gave me his hand. He looked at me with a long gaze. On the second day, Govind Jaipur, who was doing some exhibition at this event, told me, "Swāmījī, he is giving you a message that you should come and get mantra." That was clear guidance for me, giving direction to my life. Swāmījī gave me the direction in my life. The second one that was really saving my life was in the village of Bánov. I suddenly saw the lights of a car which was very quickly overtaking some other car. I could see that collision was inevitable because there was no way we could prevent it. At the last moment, I just called Swāmījī. I couldn’t feel anything. I couldn’t feel any crash or anything. I just could feel some hands that elevated me from the seat, and then they put me back onto the seat. The car was so broken down that we had to just finish it off. But nothing happened to us. At the point when they pulled us out of the car—because actually they had to especially pull us out of the car because it was really crushed—then all the parts that were damaged were coming just towards our legs, and there it stopped. It was a great miracle. Later Swāmījī told me that Mahāprabhujī granted me a new life. One more time, Swāmījī saved my life, and he took over many of my karmas. I got really sick, and I came for help to Swāmījī. Swāmījī told me not to be afraid of anything. It is hard not to be afraid when a difficult operation is in front of you, but Swāmījī said, "Don’t be afraid," so I was not afraid. The surgery was planned for a full moon day, and you know, this is actually the worst day for such a surgery. I asked Swāmījī, "Swāmījī, can I go for an operation on this day?" And he answered, "No problem." And really, there was absolutely no problem. So Swāmījī gave me my life, he gave me health, he gave me direction to my life, and I am really very grateful that I can be here today and share it with you. I suggest that we have now a five-minute bhajan break. You can say, for example, and be a little bit open the window so you get fresh prāṇa in. And who needs to go somewhere can use this time. Jānīya Bhāgavata Bhūmikā Pragata Bhāla Mukhaṇḍa Jānīya Bhāgavata Bhūmikā Pragata Bhāla Mukhaṇḍa Dānyā Bhāgabhārata-bhūmikā Pragate Vālamukandā Trītā-pākā-pāpārata-he Jīse Punamachāndā Trītā-pākā-pāpārata-he Jīse Punamachāndā Juga Juga Jīvu Maheśvarānanda Śrī Dīpa Dayāluka Amṛtāśī Jñāna Vārasohānanda Prabhupāda Dīpa Dayāluka Amṛtāśī Jñāna Vārasohānanda Juga Juga Jīvu Maheśvarānanda Juga Juga Jīvu Maheśvarānanda Bhakti Jñāna Ora Yoga Sādhanā Brahma Jñāna Sukha Kāṇḍa Bhakti Jñāna Ora Yoga Sādhanā I would also like to share with you what Swāmījī has done for me and what Swāmījī means to me. My name is Gopī. I am from Ostrava, and it has been about 20 years since I have been a disciple of Swāmījī. Also, at this yoga teacher seminar, I am becoming aware of the fact of how great a happiness and blessing it is that I can be a yoga teacher and guide yoga exercises. Because we usually start each yoga session with singing Oṁ and Namaḥkāra, and then I can really feel that I am just this channel and that it is just happening through me. So these are hours of great blessing. Sometimes, the people don’t even feel like going home after the lesson; they feel so good. So I’m really grateful for that. I am mainly grateful to Swāmījī for this: he has awakened in me a great desire for God and for knowledge. There have been really many miracles happening during my life. I would like to share with you just the greatest miracle. Now I have two daughters. One of them, when she went to basic school, she was something like a negative child. There were more children like that there, and they were using some vulgar words. At that point, she wanted everything negative. She was watching negative films, and she had negative music, negative posters. At that time, I was already on my yoga path. We couldn’t really connect with each other. I tried to explain to her, but it was useless, so I was really asking God to help me. Then, just before some seminar in Střílky, I was passing by the altar, by the pictures, and suddenly it was like an instruction from Swāmījī coming: "Take Jana to India." I suddenly called her and I told her, "You are coming to India with me." She was very surprised, and my husband was also surprised. He was trying to persuade me that maybe we might do it some other time later, when she deserves this. But through me there came arguments why she had to go, and it was so strong that he then allowed, "Okay, she can go." Then, when Swāmījī on the other day was asking what people are going to India, I raised my head, and he said, "Okay, you can go," and he gave me a blessing for this journey. Fifteen years ago, it was the first time that we came to India, and we also met there Svāmī Kājanandī. The journey had a great influence on my daughter. I think with Swāmījī, when she came back, she was completely changed. She was like an adult person, and her puberty was like it was over. She only knew one thing: that she would like to be beneficial through her life and that she would like to help. She started playing the harmonium, she started going to satsaṅgs, and between us there came a beautiful relationship. Then she started leading some sort of ascetic life, even. She had written in her diary that some people think that I’m a 15-year-old girl, but actually, in reality, I’m a reincarnated Buddhist monk. She was very much impressed by the Himalayas, and she was just saving money to get there. This dream she fulfilled when she was twenty years old. She started to travel to the Himalayas, and now she has it as a mission to travel to India on a regular basis. As a service, it is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they support Buddhist monks, nuns, old people from Tibet who escaped, small children who escaped from Tibet and live in India. In the end, she founded an organization which is supporting Tibet. It is beneficial, okay, with some sort of good fighting for good causes, and she even started going to India. When I think about all the good activities that she is doing now, I’m really grateful to Swāmījī. I’m really grateful because it was really like a miracle when she came from such negativity at one point to such a complete change at another point. So I’m really very grateful for Swāmījī, and I really feel like what he was saying, that I can feel Swāmījī in every leaf of grass. I’m really grateful to Swāmījī for everything, and I’m really grateful to you all for listening to me. Thank you. Hari Om. Śrī Dīpānanda, Jan Bhagavān, Kī Che, Paramahaṁsvāmī Maheśvarānandjī, Satgurudeva, Kī Che, Nāhaṁ Karatā, Prabodip Karatā, Mahāprabodip Karatā, Īkevalaṁ, Oṁ Śānti, Śānti, Śānti. Dear yoga friends, I am—my name is Sādhvidāyā; many of you know. I have been with Swāmījī since 1989. Many of you know that when we are together in seminars, Swāmījī is often shouting at me, saying, "No, go back, you are not, nearly for 20 years." And it’s been about 20 years. Yes. And it’s true. One time is easy. Because we know from stories, when the Guru is shouting at a disciple, he’s really working with that. And then we say, "OK, he’s working with me." But when it’s going on and on for years, it’s not easy. I was always thinking, I was observing myself inside, how I am reacting to that. From the beginning, it was my work to purify my inner reaction: my feelings, my thoughts, my intellect. I never thought Swāmījī was wrong. I was always aware that he was trying to help me purify my behavior, my qualities, and I was working to do that inside. Sometimes it took years for me to understand why Swāmījī was acting on me according to this. Years. And suddenly I thought, aha, now I understood which quality in me I had to change. When I first met Swāmījī, after 20 hours, I had a consultation with him. He was shouting at me very strongly. I was not with him for one day, and he was shouting very strongly. But for me, it was—yes, I was thinking, "Aha, now my reaction. I am not like I would like to be." I started immediately like this. When we read about Patañjali, there is the first sūtra, "Haṭha Yoga Anuśāsana." Yoga begins with discipline, and yoga means practice. I think now, in this moment, when we hear about blaming Swāmījī, and I’m sometimes reading about some sentences of this information, for me it’s clear: this is not understood what it means, practice. When the guru is behaving like we are doing to each other, because he can reach us on the level that we are. He is doing this for our help, for our liberation. That’s why he is here. Of course, we have to understand that he is a guru. We know this word, but it seems to me that it is not easy to understand that he is really a guru. Maybe it needs to be... And always when I’m thinking about all we people, it doesn’t matter if we are spiritual or not. In my feelings, in my intellect, and then there is understanding. So when I don’t understand, I’m not pure. Still, I cannot blame the guru. It’s my problem, and I should work on that. The best I can do in my life... When we had summer seminars in Slín, maybe it was 1993 or ’94. It was after a morning practice. After the practice, suddenly I became aware of what I was visiting, what I was seeing in my meditation. I was in the universe. It was a dark space, wide, wide... with sun systems and Milky Ways. And I saw the energy or the consciousness of Swāmījī and Mahāprabhujī. It was not in a human form. A huge light in the size of milk streaks, and I felt how they are connected, and I knew this is Mahāprabhujī and Swāmījī. So this came aware to me after the meditation. Then we got up and went for breakfast. In that morning, Swāmījī came to our dining hall. He was calling me to bring him breakfast. I prepared and brought it to him. There was an opening in my heart, such a feeling of bliss. I mean, I think it is only a glimpse of that, but it was a bliss I never felt before. I felt somehow Swāmījī’s greatness, and there was in my soul this wish to fall down to his feet, to bow to this beauty. When he had finished with breakfast, I took the plate, and there was still something on it. I shared these pieces of praśād with two other people. After we ate it, I saw in the behavior of these two others, and I felt in me so much love, so much love. Then we had, in the first years of the 19... until 1995, I think, in Vienna, in the old ashram in Enkelstrasse, we had this mantra Anuṣṭhāna. Some of you may know it; we were also there. We started Friday evening and continued until Monday noon, practicing mantra, personal mantra, or Swāmījī once also gave some others to us. We had to practice the mantra about 120,000 times. 120,000. When I was counting my mālā, how many pearls it has, and I was thinking about the two and a half days, I counted how many mālās I have to do per hour if I would practice 16 hours per day. How many hours a day? Sixteen, or more. It was not easy in the beginning. There was so much tamas guṇa in the phenomenon, so I lost some hours. Suddenly I recognized that I should have to practice 30 or 40 mālās per hour to reach until the end, the whole amount. And suddenly it started. Swāmījī, somehow, I think he helped. It was running so fast, like an impulse, and then after half a day, you are completely awakened. And such a joy to practice the mantra. We were with mauna and fasting, and you don’t want to eat or to speak. The energy of the mantra is so strong, you are completely full of everything that you need. When we finished on Monday noon, Swāmījī came down. I was more in the back side of the room practicing, but when he came down, I wanted to be near him. So I went nearer to him, sitting maybe four meters away. Because I think of this, practicing so much mantra and not eating, fasting and not speaking, I was somehow in a strong energy. When Swāmījī was coming there and sitting there, I was feeling a little, or I was feeling more of his pure radiance. Part 3: The Guru's Grace: Personal Experiences of Faith and Guidance I was feeling, oh my God, he is so pure. He is so pure. Unbelievable. It is only upon us to purify our prāṇas, to purify our bodies, to feel this. And it needs years and years. That is the only thing we have to practice. All that we are not understanding is because we still have some stored experiences which are not true. It’s not the truth. Truth is pure. This is about Swāmījī. A few years ago, maybe three or four, in our group in Vilach Ashram where I am living, one disciple died of cancer. A few months later, he came in the meditation of one of our disciples, in her meditation. He came and told her, "We have estimated Swāmījī completely wrong. We see him wrong. He is much more than we think." That is what he said. Another story I was thinking of, maybe three years ago, ex-Swāmī Chidānand was coming to Filach Ashram for a weekend seminar. He was telling us in the satsaṅg about a disciple from Novi Sad. A man came to the classes, and doctors told him he was very ill and maybe had only one year left to live. He was practicing yoga, feeling so good and recovering, and he lived some years more—six or seven more. He got a mantra from Swāmījī also; he was a disciple. Then, somehow, he suddenly stopped practicing. A short time later, he died. Swāmī Chidānand was meditating, and suddenly the voice of this man came to him in his meditation. Chidānand asked him, "You are this one?" He said, "Yes." And he said, "I’m so unhappy that I stopped practicing." In this astral level where he was, there was a queue of souls waiting to come back to Earth, all waiting to get birth. He wanted to come back quickly, so he ran ahead. He was not standing behind but wanted to go more to the front, to be fast, to get life, to go back to Swāmījī as a disciple. That is what he said. So I think what is happening in life, maybe we cannot understand in the moment. Or maybe we are unhappy, but we should not blame others. I have to work on myself. When I am pure and in balance, and with complete pure consciousness, nothing can harm me. We are so lucky to have our Guru. When Swāmījī, now at Diwali, a big group from our Filach Ashram was in India, Swāmījī told those people who are blaming him now that they should go to him, look into his eyes, and tell him that also. "Do you have the courage to go to Swāmījī, to look into his eyes, and to say it too?" Śrīdīp Nārāyaṇ Bhagavān Kī Jaya, Paramāṁ Swāmī Māheśvarānand Pranām Gurudev, Pranām Brothers and Sisters. My name is Vasant, I come from Prague. I would like to share an experience, actually related to what Swāmī Gajananjī was talking about—to really understand who is the Guru and to understand the inner essence, what he really means to us. It’s my own experience from the last Kumbh Melā. There was a procession with carriages, and we were going in between them. I was just 20 meters in front of Swāmījī; he was there at the carriage. As usual, he was doing many things at the time: sorting out something with Mānsā Devī, then making a phone call, then blessing somebody as he usually does. At this moment, I just sort of sank into the situation and thought, "Well, this blessing that Swāmījī is giving is not really proper, you know, like he should give a proper blessing. He’s just doing it really regularly." At this point, I got something like a virtual kick into my ribs. I couldn’t even breathe; it was hard. So I started saying inwardly, "I am really sorry, but I know you are managing anything perfectly. I can see you really are God, so sorry about this." Of course, this just passed after a while, and then I could breathe normally. So it is like that. With some people, the Guru is working gently, and some need a little bit harder kick. But it’s also about the līlā, that he is playing a different līlā with each of us. He’s playing a human role, okay, so that we should really see through this līlā, to still have our alertness or awareness, and to see the God behind this all. I am Santoṣ Purī, and I have been Swāmījī’s disciple since the year 2000. I have many reasons to be grateful to Swāmījī, and I am going to share one of them—a practical one. I am a practical doctor, and for many years I could not deal with the fact that when I came to work, all the people came in stress, in problems, in tightness, in tension, and all that was transferred to the practical doctor from the morning until the whole day. I was gathering all this and becoming very tired. I didn’t know how to come out of this vicious cycle. When I gradually started doing my sādhanā regularly and trying to follow the Guruvākya, the tension was releasing through the years. Now it has come to the point where I am just practicing my mantra all the time. I’m laughing, smiling. I start a little slowly so it’s not really obvious, so people cannot see it. People come with tension inside them and stories about what happened to them, that some other doctor didn’t listen. In between, I’m just practicing my mantra, listening to them, and observing the situation. Then the tension is just released from the people because they had somebody who was listening to them. All the time, I’m just practicing the mantra and observing. Now I’m wondering, "Okay, so what are you going to tell them now?" I observe myself, what I am actually telling to the people. It’s interesting; I’m telling different things to different people, and I mean it seriously. I can clearly see that this variation actually just fits this person. Then I turn towards the computer, quickly write it down, and also write the recipe. Then it’s finished. I just give my hand to this person. They leave with a smile and a sense of relief. And I’m still just practicing my mantra, thanking Swāmījī that it’s going the way it is going. Once more, I thank Swāmījī. Hari Om. I wish you a nice rest of a beautiful evening, dear brothers and sisters. My brother Lakṣmī Nārāyaṇ already introduced me. My yoga name is Kṛṣṇapurī. There could be a great many of these stories, but as I was observing, many people are already yawning. Some are looking at their watches, thinking, "When shall we have the end of this satsaṅg? There has not been the prayer yet." So I will just tell one story. A small thing for the start: all my three grandsons went to Swāmījī and were blessed. In the year 1990, in Luděk Zanáška, which means Kopřivnice, they were having a summer seminar. Swāmījī and all of us were living in some high blocks, and just by some sort of accident, I was staying right under Swāmījī, who was staying there with us. Each evening, some brothers and sisters were in my room, and we were having satsaṅg. The window was open, and suddenly I heard Karel Ondruch go to Swāmījī. So of course I then came to Swāmījī, and Swāmījī is saying, "Karel, how was your meditation?" Viera Doležalová was translating. Kuṇḍalinī was jumping from one person to another, so I understood that was actually the rising of the Kuṇḍalinī. Then Swāmījī was talking and talking, and suddenly he says, "I am not the only master on this earth. There are hundreds of masters. But there are some masters who only bring two, three, or four disciples to self-realization. But I will lead thousands of you, disciples, to self-realization in this life." And Swāmījī, he knows well that I keep my mouth open. Also, you know, we are doing this yoga with tourism. Maybe I wanted to say this tomorrow, but I can say it now: this winter we are also planning a weekend of yoga. It is at a recreation center called Marta at Horní Bečva. For those who don’t know me, I was actually born at Horní Bečva. The date is from the 17th to the 19th of February. Financially, it will be advantageous because the head of the center is giving us a sale, so it is actually cheaper than before. I really thank Swāmī Gajananjī that he pushed me and my brother Lakṣmī Nārāyaṇ with his finger so that we should come here and share a story about Swāmījī. I wish everybody a very beautiful experience and to enjoy the rest of the satsaṅg. I can assure you that when I look around here, I can see a beautiful golden light everywhere above all people. Not only today; I could see it yesterday also. So Swāmījī’s blessing is with us all the time and everywhere. I also thank Swāmījī and Mahāprabhujī, and also here Swāmī Gajananjī, that he was the finger who pushed me here. Now, seriously, how do you feel? I feel like continuing. Is it okay that we still continue? I feel it’s such a unique situation, and it’s really a pity to cut. This is my feeling. Okay? So let’s see who has more to say. I would like to share one lifelong experience that I have had, and I’m really grateful for that. I’m from a village family where there are some believers, but from my specific family, nobody believes in God. I want to share that in the past, I had some health problems and I was praying to God so that He would send something into my path. And to this came Swāmījī. When I was at the first meeting with him in Nitra, Slovakia, I was thinking, "What is so special? What do the people see in Swāmījī that so many are following him?" Then I realized, because my health came back to me with such strength and quality, that I am grateful to Swāmījī for this from the depths of my heart. Many a time, he persuaded me about this, so I never really had any doubts. I basically always have believed in God. But for the fact that I could meet Swāmījī and all the blessings, and also the blessing of Mahāprabhujī, for that I’m really grateful. When I remember the time I received the mantra, there was a written list for who was asking for a mantra, so I wrote my name down. But then the mind was saying, "Maybe I should wait, maybe I should come next time." I was sitting in a corner. Swāmījī was saying "next." In front of me, there were many other disciples who wanted the mantra, and then I thought, "OK, I might wait a little bit longer," so I thought I would stand up and walk out of the room. At this time, I could see Swāmījī’s finger pointing at me. My body, without really thinking about it—the soul and the body—was running towards Swāmījī and just fell, prostrate in front of him, towards his feet. At that time, I was going through a complicated period in my life. My mother died, and we were connected quite a lot. After some time, through the daily practice of yoga in Nililai, through the sādhanā—it was summer—there was a program in Střílky with Swāmījī, and there was a walk into the forest with Swāmījī. There were maybe 500 or 1000 people walking to the forest. I was somewhere at the end, and I thought I would really like to see Swāmījī. He was going at a quick pace, so I went to the forest a little quicker. Then by some miracle, I was just by Swāmījī, and we were walking through this forest. Swāmījī had around him some people who were serving him. When he was walking across irregularities of the terrain, there was always some woman supporting him. I thought, "This can never happen to me." Suddenly we were coming back to the ashram, near the main road, and there was no woman there. Swāmījī was showing that he really needed some support, so my body just jumped to Swāmījī. Swāmījī just looked at me like this, smiled at me, so we greeted each other. He held me behind the shoulder. It was some kind of instinct; I wanted to hold him around his waist. I can tell you that was the most beautiful experience—like two bodies and one soul: inhale, exhale. I could feel the presence of my mother, and she was afraid that I was not on the right path. Now that she is not afraid, that I am on the right path, that I should never be afraid of anything, I realized that Swāmījī, as it is sung in the Guru Gītā, is mother, father, and friend. We can meet him or recognize him in the Guru. So I know that Swāmījī is more than his physical form; he is the master, the Guru who is showing us the way and passing it to us, safely guiding us on this ship to take us to the other side of the ocean. There have been many similar miracles. Once I was supposed to have a car crash. At the time I was thinking, "How can he know?" I went to Střílky. It was a beautiful afternoon, and I was feeling really good, relaxed. I never really was driving in any risky way. I was driving, and there were three cars, one behind the other. It was beautiful, flat terrain. There was a part of the road where you could overtake other cars. At the end, there was a curve like an S curve, but it was a long one, so I thought I could manage. I started overtaking. I have a beautiful, strong car, but I knew what I could afford. I was overtaking one car, then a second, then a third. Suddenly, a curve appeared in front of me. Opposite, there was a car coming. I looked to the right side. I thought, "Okay, there is still a place I can go back to the right side of the road," but then I could see some children in the car, some family, so I thought it’s not possible that way. I started to put my leg on the brake quickly, but still, from the opposite direction, the car was coming. When we were suddenly drawing near to each other, I thought maybe I go to the left, out of the way, so that there is no crash. When I was keeping on the road, suddenly to my mind came the mantra Oṁ. As soon as this came to my mind, at this point, all the cars just stopped and were standing at the point. We still were quite far from each other, so luckily, nothing happened. The person going from the opposite direction went a little further but then stopped, so we all were staying there. He jumped out of the car, the door opened. I thought, "OK, there might be some trouble coming." Surprisingly, I was that calm, which I have never experienced before. I apologized and said that for the car coming from the opposite direction, there was not enough space in between the cars. When he was holding the door of the car, I was apologizing to him. He was looking at me with wide eyes, stopped, and then just went back into his car. All the cars that I was overtaking just went away. I went back into my side of the road and continued my journey to Střílky. I was thinking, "Maybe this trouble will come there." Then I came to the parking lot, parked my car, went through the park. Swāmījī was in the park. Some people were doing service to him and had some carpets. Swāmījī was choosing a carpet. As I was passing by, I asked if they needed help, and they said yes. I took one side of the carpet, and as we were unrolling it, I got right to Swāmījī’s feet. I greeted him, fell to his feet, and said, "Swāmījī, thank you." He smiled at me and patted me on the back. I’m sure he knew about this. On the path of yoga, by the guidance of the Master, it is so beautiful because I realized what joy is, what is love. I know that love can do miracles, like transport mountains, and that it can win over evil always. When I was a child, I was thinking, "How can the good actually win over the evil?" I can tell you, it’s the most beautiful thing I’m experiencing now in my life—to spread the love. We just opened some exercise in my village on Tuesday. It was all so beautifully guided. I dreamed about the area, the place where I’m doing the exercise. I hadn’t even seen that before, but the people are satisfied, happy, glad they can come. This village is in a valley, and at my first exercise, 22 people came. I was even thinking after the exercise, "Is it really Swāmījī? Does it mean seriously that it should be myself, Swāmījī?" It was full moon. The practitioners left. I was sitting there feeling the energies, then went away. I was locking the door from the gym, and when I turned, I saw the full moon in the sky. When I looked at it, I could feel a sensation of such warmth that I knew it was supposed to be me. So, from the depth of my heart, I thank Swāmījī and all the paramparā. There are many experiences, but I also leave some space for the others. Pārvatījī, I thank you. Whenever I come to Střílky, I become aware that it is a family. My heart fills with joy. I would just request, maybe the next speakers, to try to make it really short because it’s getting late. I would just ask the next speakers to try to make it really short because it’s really late. It’s really short. Hari Om. I greet you all. Greetings to everybody. I can see in some faces great question marks. I could start. So I could start with this finger. It ended up in some... And he says, "I will do it myself. I will do it myself," in Slovak. Okay, so it ended up in some type of grass the day before the seminar, and I could hear him saying, "I am going to do this." I also met one more boy like this. He had a problem with his finger, but they gave him this finger back, and the next day I came back here to Střílky. On the second day, Swāmījī was walking around the office, and I was standing on the staircase. He took this hand and looked at it. I was coming home regularly to change the plaster. The doctors couldn’t believe how well this is healing. That was just the start. I just wanted to start where Gajānanjī was talking about Swāmījī, how he was talking about his own experience. I read Līlā Amṛit also there, and then backwards. But about this, I haven’t known until this day. That’s why I will come to an experience. Actually, I told Ludek about this experience in the car. Ludek said, "Okay, so don’t leave this to yourself, just tell them." So at several satsaṅgs, I really told this to the people. Mukti is looking at me like in horror. To come to the point, Mukti was meditating beautifully, and myself, I made like a corpse, and now I am getting to the point, to the light. There was something like a fog, and from this, some person was coming out. But I’m also sometimes not a good boy. This person was carrying a stick in its hand. To get to the point, I really, really wanted to speak to Swāmījī. Then I recognized who it was; it was Mahāprabhujī. And it wasn’t a stick; it was an umbrella. He came to me and told me, "Your master is not coming. He has no time for you." Then he came to me, and over me he opened this umbrella. From this umbrella, suddenly it changed into an inverted lotus flower made of gold. After all these feelings of bliss, it felt as if I was swimming in something beautiful. There was no world existing for me anymore, and I didn’t want to go away from this. It took a while, and suddenly Mahāprabhujī closed the umbrella and says to me, "That was enough." And as he came, he also disappeared. It was really beautiful. I could also tell you another story about what happened to me with a small chain, but if anybody wants to hear that, just ask me. I would also like to tell you a story from Līlā Amṛt, about a disciple who is digging wells. We will make it shorter. It is about the fact that if you just dig one well, then you are going to get to living water. I thank Swāmījī, I thank our Masters, and I thank you for listening to me. Hari Om to everybody. I would just like to connect to what was said before and tell you one thing: believe, and you will be able to do everything. Everything is possible. It really is so. I was myself this non-believing Thomas, who somehow did not believe that I could go to Swāmījī. I always felt so small and unworthy to come to the master. I was myself this non-believing Thomas, so I didn’t dare to go to Swāmījī. I was thinking, "I’m this small, and I will never really be able to go to him." As is often the case in fairy tales, "once upon a time," it happened that there was a seminar in Brno. According to Swāmījī’s instruction, all new students were to come—those who are not yet students and would like to become students, because they don’t know if he will still be traveling here. As it is in fairy tales, once upon a time there was a seminar in Brno, and Swāmījī announced that all people who would like to be disciples but are not disciples yet should come. That was the right thing for me. I really knew I wanted a mantra, and I was just afraid to go and take it, so I felt that was really the moment for me. And then it was. Maybe there were a hundred people who took the mantra together. Like this eternal Oṁ, and in this we were just standing up and going to Swāmījī. There was a very beautiful atmosphere. Then came a problem: when are you going to get up? When I decided to stand up, of course, somebody else was standing up at the same time. So I thought, "Okay, then go." But I didn’t sit down. I thought, "No, nobody else is going to go before me." So then I went for the mantra. Now, you all received mantra, so you all have your own experience. I’m not going to explain or describe this; we all have our own experience of this kind. But I’m not sure if you all have a personal introduction to the mantra as I had. There were some rooms, and we were sharing them—always three people in one room. It was not good to keep the lights on for too long because of the roommates. But the desire for mantra was so strong that I ended up under my blanket with this mantra. So this way I was introduced to my mantra. The next introduction to the mantra, what it actually means, came the next day. I don’t know languages, as Gajananjī could tell you as well. If you are not translating something, I don’t understand. Of course, Swāmījī at the lecture was talking in English. When I sat down and started listening, I was really like Alice in Wonderland. I could understand everything, and not only that, I even understood what Swāmījī wanted to say. Since that time, I realized that if I want anything, anything is possible. If I want something, I just ask for it and I get it. If I don’t want, then I don’t get anything. So you can study at any school you want, have all kinds of diplomas, but what we really need is the school of life, which Swāmījī has given us. He can give us everything: the guidance of the teacher, of the master, and also this attitude that we can get, so that we really can understand he is the Guru, or what is the master. So as it is, without a master, there is no use of being a disciple. Without a disciple, there is no need for a master. And without all of you, I wouldn’t be here, because actually, nothing would be here. So I thank everybody, everyone, and most of all, Swāmījī. I think no one expected such a beautiful satsaṅg, huh? I thank everyone who contributed, and I thank Swāmījī and Mahāprabhujī for the enormous blessing for this evening. I hope one could feel how everyone spoke from the heart. And I hope this satsaṅg will touch many hearts.