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Welcome to Zlín in the late summer of 2006. Some people here are at work, others are enjoying their vacation, but many have headed to the local Novesta hall. Today, there is no thrilling volleyball match taking place, nor a modern fair. Instead, children have gathered from all corners of the world to express themselves through their own words, song, and dance. Through dance, they expressed what they feel, what troubles them, and what brings them joy. Views on children and youth, their contributions, and opinions on this event will shortly be shared with us by Dr. Alena Gajdušková, senator of the Parliament of the Czech Republic; Magister Tomáš Zakloukal; Member of the European Parliament Magister Tomáš Ulehla; the mayor; Dr. Zdeněk Špak, member of the council of the Zlín Region; Vlaďka Pravdíková, director of the Astra House for Children and Youth in Zlín; and Engineer Pavel Jurutka, marketing director of the Tescoma company. The initiator and spiritual father of the conference for children and youth is His Holiness, Paramahaṃsa Svāmījī Maheśvarānanda. All over the world, there are many loving conferences organized by non-governmental and governmental organizations, but only a few organize such conferences for youth. The awakened ones hold the world in the palm of their hand. But today is in the hands of mature parents and teachers. As parents raise their children, and as teachers and the entire educational system nurture the children, so will the future be. What you have, you must pass on to the children. What you yourselves have, you must pass on to the children. You cannot expect from the children anything different than what you give them. You cannot expect anything from children other than what you yourself give them. Were there no skits at the conference? Views on living together with elderly people? Do you help elderly people make their long days more pleasant? To create a close relationship and take care of practical matters that one can no longer manage alone. What about the topic of vegetarianism? First, we would like to draw your attention to the awareness of animals. This creation lives life just as we do, has emotions, and so we should treat them as equals, as friends and members of our family. We cannot simply eat without any mindfulness. Were there no songs missing here either? And there was much more. Let us also look among the children and youth. Now let us give the floor to the director of the House of Children and Youth, Astra Ve Zlíně, Vlaďka Pravdíková. The fourth international conference of children and youth was attended in person. And so we wondered whether, in today’s times, the younger generation is even capable of expressing their own opinion. If children are raised in a family where they can express their opinion and are not silenced or scolded... In whatever you choose, so is your choice; there is no need to force yourself into any speeches that someone imposes on you, nor into any tasks you do not wish to do. Thus, express yourself naturally. No, in core chanting, it is different from how generations before chanted; it is indeed abbreviated, you see, but that leads to the technique of writing and organizing in abbreviations, chanting in such abbreviations. Well, at least sometimes we should chant in flowing breaths and with whole words. So I think that this form of eternal action is more appropriate, and it is good that he speaks at this conference to children, youth, and adults. It all began just a few years ago at the university, where I was studying alongside one of my acquaintances. If we want a new independent Ukrainian society, if we want to transform the thoughts prevailing in society, if we want to enter the so-called high-level world and be successful in it, then first we must understand ourselves. This knowledge that we need cannot be imparted to us by our family nor by our educational system. That is why young people strive to find a way out and discover their true selves. My friends, you have chosen the path. However, it is a very dangerous choice. And I am every day a witness to the negative consequences of their unconscious choices. Besides a certain understanding of the self, you have brought much disorder into life, which you must now face. Their intellect has deteriorated; they are responsible for me and are more focused on themselves and their current friends, and never on their own development. Others are very dangerous. Regardless of the type of grounding you have, or the situation you are in, definitely do not take any drugs, because with drugs you will face even more problems than you have today. You have made a dangerous choice, and even every day I can observe how much suffering there is. I believe this is mutually interesting and certainly meaningful, and for those who participate, most of them, if not all, are perceived positively, both by the young and by those who are invited there. It was a pleasant gathering of young people from various corners of the world, so all these meetings have their own atmosphere, where representatives of different cultures intersect. I had very inspiring feelings with this, so I am glad that I could participate in this event. This is a topic that interests me, one to which I am continuously devoted, participating in various similar events. Even the unions have realized that it is possible to better support more and smaller actions, because they are then focused more narrowly, meaning they concentrate on a specific topic rather than just being a display of general proclamations. It is also a motivation for those who are last, similar meetings with people, with their peers, from other parts of the world. It can take place in their homeland, so it is definitely a good thing that motivates young people. In his job description, Member of the European Parliament Tomáš Zatloukal also has children and youth. Are we or have we become a good example for others? We are not. Why? Because we want that young generation to do something we ourselves do not do; fundamentally we cannot reach a good result. If we want them to change their behavior, their attitudes, and we only tell them this but do the opposite ourselves, then we have no chance. And so we have the chance to influence them in some proper directions. But back to the solitary conference. Can children and youth still express what they feel, what they are preparing for? Those who had the opportunity from early childhood within their upbringing are able to express themselves. So the school or educational systems, which directly, as it were, have their subjects where young people learn to communicate, learn to assert their opinions, present their views. And for us, the mature ones, perhaps sometimes their presentation of opinions seems like audacity. This is because they try this in our Czech conditions, where there is not much space to learn it. In this, the British are the best. Now, when an Englishman speaks in the European Parliament, everyone listens attentively, because it is an experience, a listening, this ability of communication, both verbal and nonverbal. And we learn this, just like you younger ones, by trying, by softening, so that we have a good feeling with it, not a bad one, not because someone told us it is good, but because it truly is good, and this is how the younger ones proceed. And they are also already waiting for our feedback, which needs to be adapted. Or it may happen that they do not receive feedback, or they receive a harsh reaction. Therefore, their entry was perceived as very challenging and firm, because it does not create conflict anywhere. Lord, and I did not realize it for a long time, perhaps because I did not see how a tear melted in the sunlight, we rejoice, Lord, you are the Lord. You are the Lord of joy, and I did not realize it for a long time, perhaps because I did not feel that a child’s hand is so grateful. You are the Lord of joy, You are the Lord, You are; You are the Lord of joy, and I did not realize it for a long time, perhaps because I did not hear the words—peace in the morning, joy, You are the Lord, You are the Lord, You are. For the first restless souls, Svāmījī already held this conference here in Zlín, and then I must admit, I was very surprised when I attended that conference, how interesting it was, how perfectly it was conducted, and above all, how it... The gathering contains the essence that young solitary people have proven to give, so I am deeply convinced that these things are very deserving and very necessary for them. Very interesting things that required much contemplation. As a playback teacher, I was truly very encouraged that young people come together and want to reflect on values, on things that have meaning in life. I have come to understand that this was a great awakening. Three of you gave me a very profound contribution about immigrants. This is a very, I would say, specialized, technical issue. This is not something you encounter in everyday life. And yet, that young lady who presented it there spoke very knowledgeably and truly; she had things well-founded, but she had also reflected deeply on them. Thank you for being ready for the conference. I believe this is very important. If one wishes to engage in conversation, one must first have some knowledge of that which is greatest. Morality should see the needs of people and must understand what is being contemplated. These are very precise moments where knowledge is distinctive and very transparent. I would wish the organizers of the conference, which will take place in Prague, a successful youth conference, that they manage well, that they have many young participants, and that the adults listen to them attentively. One of the great supporters of the International Conference of Children and Youth is the former mayor of Zlín and today the representative of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Magister Tomáš Ulehla. I believe it is very important for the young generation to be able to reflect on the values of everyday life and express their feelings about the world as it is today. Perhaps that is it, if that boy still has something from the past, but such a chance actually manifests not immediately, but also over time, when the children will have to walk through their longer life, whether in their profession, in community, or in some other interest. So I greatly welcome such activity, and if it is connected with some kind of spiritual aspect, then it is always even more cherished, because it is not merely a purely consumptive, materialistic, and utilitarian appreciation of a person’s best way to spend time on earth, but at the same time we can also reflect on what we could pass it on to others, that is, to those who need help, without hesitation and above all, to figure out how to be beneficial to such people, who in turn then transmit their positive energy, in which I increasingly believe, simply into the realm of human life. Magister Tomáš Ulehla was actively interested in children and youth already at the Zlín magistrate. There are many plans in this area, even in the Parliament of the Czech Republic. In elementary school, the foundation is such that everything happens generally on the surface, that those who stand out are the ones best dressed, those who can bring the best sponsorship, pay for trips for the others; naturally, this is how it can awaken such tendencies in those other children. Desire is to be overwhelmed by force, but not everyone is destined to be overwhelmed by intelligence, or something, already something, already... The horizons of knowledge are allowed to expand. The foundation is simply to make it clear that there are certain social rules we will follow, that there are definite limits of tolerance, which even the police, the court, or supervisory authorities—who perhaps ensure that everything in the family is in order—can reach. It worked, but then there simply has to be a taboo for us, something beyond an imaginary line, which, if someone crosses it, they must face the consequences and suffer for it. And if today we have young healers, this is not a consequence of children needing to be healed in order to be comforted. They are mostly cornered and do not know how to communicate with society that it cannot go on like this any longer. And from that, they have come to notice it and resolve it. So this conference is certainly very essential as part of the system of human, beautiful interaction with one another. And I will support that, and if I can, of course I will gladly participate in activities that will further enable those who, under normal circumstances, would not even think of being beneficial to others. The media is one of the most discussed topics in today’s age, especially in relation to children and youth. But have you realized that through the medium we have now gathered together? The mind has its negative and positive aspects, but from the perspective of the eternal, everything is seen differently. Thus, naturally, the approach to them differs. The children say that on television they say to turn off the radio and wait to hear that which was before years. Instead, they listen to reklami or heavy metal. Grandfathers may admire modern technology, but they do not know how to master it and become nervous because of it. They are slaves to their mobile phones. And the parents? Those parents, for example, struggle to learn computer work, through which they discover the magic of the internet. And what about us young people? We most often come into contact with mobile phones and the internet. You know, dear parents, we do not understand how that credit is disappearing from us. We must call our friends to see if they will come out. We do not eat in front of them across the entire place. We must hold the path in the community and not blame each other’s parents, as this binds us in the prison of division. And if you object, "But what, you are just sitting in front of the computer, not trying to go outside," then try to see what we are doing on that computer. Whether we are conversing with friends from all over the world, or seeking them out. We also create projects for schools, produce films and music, or develop websites. There is a small percentage of those who browse pages with games. After a few days, it becomes boring. The commander from the Zlínský region was represented at the International Conference of Children and Youth in Zlín by the regional councilor Dr. Zdeněk Špak. Dr. Zdeněk Špak still has professional responsibilities with children and youth in the Zlínsko area. How can the younger ones listen to him? And do we accept that? I do not want to say a distorted view of the world, but the view of the world, which is sometimes somewhat deformed, is influenced by its function, political thinking, or religious thinking, and at the same time it confronts, I would say, a very objective, realistic view of children. It is indeed simplified, but it rather touches upon the fundamental values. And I think that is very good, because it is actually a kind of correction, the perspective of those children. It is precisely because of the zone in which your mature thoughts move that they do not always listen. It is more a question of forms, perhaps. And for that reason, this meeting can also be regarded positively, because it can be assumed that those who were there, for the most part, were at that moment disposed to listen to you with a childlike openness and to reflect on the suggestions that came from them. Everywhere around us, we hear that contemporary life is in full swing. We teach children and youth relaxation; we teach them to pause. I believe that overall, this knowledge is not found in ordinary life. Of course, I once again place the greatest importance and emphasis on the parents. But unfortunately, I would not want to appear as someone who judges from the position of generational distance, as that is always a distorted perspective; nevertheless, I am convinced that the nature of ordinary life today does not even lead parents to raise their children in this spirit. Therefore, I am grateful for the activity here, which brings the children to what we perhaps consider the fundamental values of humanity, and which at the same time enables them, guides them to be able to reflect on the world, on their place in that world, on life as such, and on the scriptures. This is the family of the hares. The father recently had a car accident due to all his problems with alcohol. The mother is very unhappy because of the situation in the family and lives under stress. They simply no longer know what to do. Their children are naughty and sometimes even behave violently. And this is a family that lives in the neighborhood. They always strive to be the last mile and help their neighbors, even support them. It is pleasant at home, their home smells good because they do not eat meat, do not smoke, and do not drink alcohol. One day, Mrs. Hare could no longer bear it at home, so she decided to ask her neighbor for help. She saw that their family was very harmonious and wanted to know what it was because of. And that golden way of living is yoga in everyday life. In the end, let us say a few words to one of the partners of the 4th International Conference of Children and Young People in Zlín. It was the company Tescoma. In front of the camera sat the head of marketing for the Czech and Slovak Republics of the company Tescoma, engineer Pavel Jurutka. It was a very interesting experience for Tescoma. We attended such a conference, and in general, it was for the first time in our lives. And we are very happy to have been able to participate in this conference, because it has opened new horizons and new perceptions for us about how children relate to the contemporary world and how they have an attitude towards the world not only their own, but also the world of adults. If Tescoma is a company that is well-known, and its assortment includes household products, then of course it is a matter that closely concerns the family. Because respect and good respect, and as we say, respect from joy, is reflected in how the family functions, how the family is content. And the saying, love passes through the stomach, certainly has something to it. And of course, it begins in the children and in the kitchen with the children, because good food, food prepared with love, contributes to the journey, just as parents do, so too the children. So Tescoma, as one of the activists in this direction, even developed a jade specifically intended for honoring children and, even more beautifully, honoring parents with their children. As a participant and partner of the conference of children for a sustainable future, Tescoma had the opportunity to confront the harsh world of business, which is their daily bread, with the views of children and, more broadly, the perspectives of the entire child population on the current daily reality in the world. And we must say with a certain pleasant surprise that children and the entire child population have very clearly realized most of the good problems that we adults go through, and they express this very well and very openly. This was a pleasant surprise and insight from which we can draw not only for your work within our community, but also for the personal lives of those who have gathered at the conference. We are glad that the conference took place in Zlín, which is the main center and hub of our community. And one more thing, thank you for the opportunity to join the conference on time. I look forward to meeting with you again for extended sessions in support of children and youth.