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Part 1: Spirituality and Inner Management Bhagavān, Kī Jai, Śrī Mādhav Kṛṣṇa Bhagavān, Kī Jai. Sādhvī Pārvatī from Strilky Āśram will now speak on spirituality and inner management. Sādhvī Pārvatī begins: I am not sure I am the right person to address this topic, but if it is acceptable, I would like to share my personal experience regarding Mānasik Pūjā. Spirituality is something that helps us; without spirituality, we cannot do anything correctly or properly. From the perspective of the ashram, I think it is very important that spirituality remains alive there. It should be present all the time. As Swamiji says, while we build the outer ashram, we are simultaneously building the inner ashram. If we concentrate only on the outer building, the work remains incomplete; an āśram would then be merely a building, not a real āśram. That is why it is so essential to practice our sādhanā, to work on ourselves, and to accept the opportunities and situations that arise. Our relationships with others are a reflection of our inner feelings and inner experience. For example, if we have problems with someone—which can happen anywhere—it is because these things exist inside us. Either we are not aware of them, or we do not want to accept them. If we can become aware and purify them, we will stop minding that person's behavior. Management and spirituality are deeply interconnected. This subject also relates to the world economic crisis. Management is spirituality, and spirituality is management. Our aim is to bring the positive message of health, environment, spirituality, and self-realization to many. Among those who exemplify this is our dear professor Dayal Purī (Dayal Dineški) from Maribor, Slovenia, who is receiving an award from Yoga in Daily Life for his successful work. Swamiji invites Dayal Purī to share his experience. Dayal Purī responds: I hope my wife agrees with what Swamijī said! Swamiji asked me today how things are going in Maribor with the yoga classes. I told him we are actually doing very, very good management—but the credit is not mine. We are forty yoga teachers, and we have been fortunate to work in harmony for twenty-three years. In the northwestern part of Slovenia, we now have one thousand people in our classes. We are present in this area for a long time, and we put effort into public presence and good relations with society. For instance, last year we published fifty articles about yoga in the local weekly newspaper. We convinced the editor to give us a regular page in the main weekly paper, which proved very successful. Almost every one of the forty teachers contributed an article on yoga in daily life—covering many subjects: personal experiences, Swāmījī, yoga masters, the spiritual path, health, and so on. Another way we bring yoga closer to people is through Yoga in the Park. Every week from June to September, many people join us in the city park. I think it is important to use every opportunity to present yoga in a way that is close to them. Regarding management, the most important thing is that in our yoga center, nobody gives orders. Yoga teachers are not employed by the center, so it is not proper for anyone to issue orders. We try to reach decisions together. At our teachers' meetings, we present problems—organization of classes, etc.—and we try to arrive at a common decision. Of course, it is very hard for several people to agree on one thing, but we are lucky that Swāmījī gave us excellent direction and motivation. When we follow that direction, we somehow manage to reach a consensus. Our center is not as hard to govern as, say, Strilky, so I do not want to sound too clever about management. Swamiji asks how the teachers coordinate without giving orders. Dayal Purī replies: Working in harmony is crucial. I do not know if there is a magic formula, but as we grew up together, we came to know and respect each other. We try to fulfill everyone's wishes, but one must accept compromises—not all wishes can be fulfilled. It is also very important to be together outside of satsaṅgs. We go for trips in nature, cycle together, or do voluntary work together. Blaming someone for not participating as we think they should is something we try to avoid. Swamiji taught us to have understanding and accept people the way they are functioning. Swamiji inquires about the reach of Yoga in Daily Life in Maribor. Dayal Purī explains: Maribor has a population of about 150,000, and with the surrounding area, about 300,000. Five years ago, when we checked our records, ten thousand people had come to yoga during their lives. Now it is probably around fifteen thousand. There are other yoga centers, and we are perceived as competition, but Yoga in Daily Life is recognized as the highest quality standard for teaching yoga. We are by far the largest center, and the system is seen as the pinnacle of quality. Swamiji thanks Dayal Purī and then calls upon Swāmī Vivek Purī, whose spirituality and management are admirable, though the work often brings some sweating. Swāmī Vivek Purī says: I think yesterday Swamijī shared the essence of management. First, when we work on something, we must always work as if we are not the owner but the householder—the caretaker—of all projects. When we think we are mere workers, as in socialism there was a saying: "I can't solve less work; they can't give me less money than the little I work." If we have that mentality, thinking "it is not mine," yet in another sense we also say "the ashram is our ashram," which is true. But when we have made something and must work for it, we must simultaneously hold the thought that it is not my personal job, not my personal concern. Everything goes down otherwise. Who is the best manager of all time that I know? Someone who should receive a Nobel Prize for management is Swamijī. Studying management for ordinary enterprises is much easier than for an NGO; for NGO management you must study two years more, especially on that topic. But if you are a karma yogī, your study must go even further. Swamijī works with karma yogīs, and it is very, very hard. What we can learn from Swamijī is to give love first—only through love can we accomplish something. But not just love; you must dedicate your work one thousand percent to an idea, dedicating all of yourself to a goal one hundred percent. Only because of that, because Swamijī truly dedicates his life, every breath, to Yoga in Daily Life, bringing the light of Mahāprabhujī to us, does Yoga in Daily Life have such standing. That standing will endure only if we hold one idea all the time: Nā'haṁ kartā Prabhudīp kartā, Mahāprabhujī kartā, he kevalam. Swamiji has said that when he came to Europe and the West, the map of India, Gurujī, Mahāprabhujī were always behind him. Everyone in Yoga in Daily Life must have the same in mind: Swamijī and our Paramparā. We have to work in the same way—when we do anything in this world, the whole paramparā must be in our head. We are lucky to have the opportunity to work for Yoga in Daily Life, and I thank Swamijī and Pārvatī for that. Swamiji then elaborates on spiritual management principles: In Rāja Yoga, it is said, Ṣaṭ Sampatti—six treasures hidden within you. These are: Samādhi, Śraddhā, and Kāryapraṇām Samādhi Vichāra. Because this is the yoga of knowledge, the yoga of philosophy, the yoga of wisdom, and the yoga of management—first manage thyself. According to Jñāna Yoga, there are six principles. If you can follow them, then your company, your work, even your family and everyday life, can be properly balanced and developed. First is Śama and Dama. "Śama" means śayam—discipline, equal vision (sama-darśan), and śrama, active working. "Dama" means to control the self, not others. Control your vṛttis, your senses, your greed, anger, hate, jealousy, and so on. One Mahatma said in a book: "Hansyār reṇā bandhe na jānā bhūl ṭhagā ke"—don’t forget, don’t go away, lest you lose everything. This world is the city of cheaters; they cheat you while offering drugs, alcohol, and the like. Further, it is said: you are the king of that city, and the senses and desires are your subjects. Mat karo kisī kī gulāmī—don’t be anyone’s slave; be the governor. Management without spirituality fails. After six decades, the entire world economy collapsed together. Mighty Europe's economy fell; poor ministers have no time to meditate. The American economy dropped, and look at Japan and everywhere. If the management system included ethical and spiritual principles, people would be happy and healthy, and we would not be in this position. As Dayāl Purī said, we don’t demand or order; we simply know that something has to be done. There were once a few people working together: one was Somebody, one was Anybody, one was Everybody, and the fourth was Nobody. There was very important work to do. In the ashram, all four knew it had to be completed by the evening satsaṅg. But it was not done. When they came together, everyone complained. Nobody said, "Why me?" It was supposed to be the work of Somebody. Somebody became angry: "Das will ich nicht mehr haben zu hören. Das ist nicht mein Café." Then Somebody said, "No, no, no, it was the work of Everybody." And Everybody got angry. Somebody thought Anybody could have done it. Why do you blame Nobody? Mr. Nobody, why do you blame Somebody? Everybody is guilty. So when personal interest grows, people don't coordinate, don't speak to each other, and think, "It’s not in my interest." Therefore, there are two things: svaratha and paramārtha—selfishness and selflessness. For example, when Gurudeva establishes an āśram, say in Jaipur, a few disciples emerge. Then a second one says, "I will make my ashram in Jaipur." The third says, "I will buy land near the ashram and make my ashram there." That means you have divided, you have lost, and you have caused damage. There must be dedication to the original ashram, the Guru Āśram, the main ashram. That is where the divine light resides. Why do we always go to Kailāsh Ashram? Because our roots are there. Part 2: Unity, Devotion, and Selfless Service in Spiritual Practice And there we receive blessings. Now, Devpurījī is not there. Other people who were taking care are not there. And those who are there, I don’t like them. So you are not going for someone else; you are going for yourself. Thus, it does not matter in which city you have an ashram, and you think, “No, we will open our own yoga studio.” You did not understand Guru Kṛpā. You did not understand spirituality. And you did not understand yoga. And you did not understand your life’s aim. So, it does not matter if we have ashrams in Rajasthan or other places, but we do care about Kailāśa Āśrama because of Mahāprabhujī, and we do care about Kāṭhū Āśrama because of Mahāprabhujī, and we do care about Nīppala Āśrama because of Gurujī, and Jaipur Āśrama because of Gurujī, and Jāḍaṇa Āśrama because of Gurujī. Daily, Āśrama Gurujī – so the company, your firm, all falls apart when individual interest grows in different directions. And therefore, if it is about, let’s say, a big city and there is about 30 to 40 kilometers distance, then you get permission – blessing, permission means blessing – from the main center, the first center, and center. And render all this to the main center. All disciples who come, all practices that happen, all income, whatever comes, go and render it to the main center. Otherwise, it is like a beautiful flower. A beautiful flower that is drying, very thirsty, and I take water and pour it on the leaves like this. It will not get water. But in one act, if I pour this water on the roots, every branch, every leaf, every blossom equally receives what they need automatically. Therefore, Gurujī often used to say, “Eka sādhye saba sādhye” – if you practice one, if you do this one thing, you accomplish everything. “Saba sādhye saba jāye” – if you try to get everything, you will lose everything. There was a greedy dog, and he stole some bread. He was hungry and wild, and he ran away. While running, there was a little pond with clear water. The point was about two to three meters deep, and the dog went to drink water, but he was looking inside. What did he see? He saw his own face, but he did not know his own face. He saw a dog inside – okay, no problem. But the greedy one said, “That dog I see in the water has a bread in its mouth. I will take it away from him.” So what did he do? He had a bread. But he said, “Wow!” He opened his mouth, the bread fell in, and nothing remained. And that is what happens when greed grows: you lose everything. Manasā bha kho yore kusaṅga yoke kesaṅga, you are working in a big company that makes dresses. Now, you tell the customers, “You can come to me. I will do it for half price. Here is my card.” Another person does the same thing. And the customers are ordering one thousand shirts and one thousand trousers. And fifty people are working, but they cannot produce even a hundred a day, because they look at the watch and run quickly home, and again sit near the machine, setting up a side business. So in management, when there is no communication, no mutual understanding, and no harmony, people hurry to register for their next year’s class. “Diyé binā deunai devā, janama janama karo sevā” – Mahāprabhujī’s bhajana: “Without giving, I will not give you.” Do seva life after life, and you will have everything. So, dedication and love, and working and understanding why I teach yoga, what is my motivation? Not to get money, not to do this and that, but to bring this divine science for the well-being of humans – physical, mental, social, spiritual health – for the development of spirituality. And wherever we have ashrams, even in India, there is no ashram in my name. No, except Daily. But even there, I gave it to the Śrī Devpurījī Āśrama Trust. And I receive symbolically 100 rupees a month, which is 1.30 euros. So everything, when you give, goes to our organization. All Nīpala, Jādaṇa, Kailāśa – everything, Kāṭhū – we have built it for you, all my dears. And who am I to build? Nothing. Who gets 100 rupees a month from this? He is from the Āśrama. What will he do? It is you who are doing it. That’s it. And you did it, you got it, your comfort. So both hands cleanse together. And that’s it. Don’t say Swamiji has built the āśrama. I don’t know how to mix cement. How should I build? So it is thanks to all our bhaktas around the world and all volunteer yoga teachers who are really supporting all these projects. Your center is as beautiful as your inner beautiful thoughts. If something is missing in your center, you are thinking, designing the beauty within. New color, new pictures, new posters. New yoga mat, clean. And the teacher must be there before the students come. And all our teachers here who are successfully running the centers are not sitting in front like this, relaxing the whole body: “Now we will do Paścimottānāsana. Stretch your legs. Hands up. Remain there until I can drink my water.” And look in the book. And come up. Teachers should be able to demonstrate all the postures they teach. That’s it. When the teacher’s body proposes to go out of the lines, out of the boundaries, then students will come to you out of respect and love for you. Otherwise, they will not come. So that’s why nobody comes to me. I can’t demonstrate Paścimottānāsana. When I do the Paścimottānāsana perfectly, between my thighs and my body there is a football in between. So I don’t go into Paścimottānāsana, and I am making myself like that. So there is a new posture in yoga and daily life. And now we are making a project and new classes that advance the last three levels of yoga and daily life, and every yoga teacher has to learn and perform them. And there will be extra weekend seminars to do this. Not standing only on the head, but on the hands. So standing on the hands, on the head, and going home to lie in bed. That’s it. So, how is it? Love, spirituality, and ethics, feelings towards your colleagues, your students, and your guru brothers and sisters who are teachers – and every city, practitioners, to concentrate on the center, the middle center. We have in Zagreb our main center, many people coming. But there were some people, and there are some people, “I will teach and get money.” So they split off, maybe, but they have no money even for a coffee, because they are spoiled. Money comes and goes so quickly, running like a kuna. When you go to the car, under the car is sitting one kuṇā. And when you come there, they quickly run away. That’s it. Another thing. Often, Gurujī told me something. I said, “Well, I will go alone.” Gurujī said, “No, no, take your bhaktas with you.” I said, “Gurujī, I have to take two cars and this and that.” Guruji said, “No problem.” Guruji said, “A flower plant – this blossom has beauty because of all these leaves. The beauty of the trees is where the leaves and blossoms and fruits are. So, the beauty of your spirituality and the beauty of your spiritual center is you all.” So, otherwise you lose the bhakti. Then, even you don’t go to the main center. That is called the holy seat of the master. You go and systematically perform praṇāma. That is very important. Very successfully doing Novo Mesto in Slovenia, yes. Erwin and his wife, and our Gaṇeśa, and many others, they are very disciplined. So there are many, many centers. You go inside, and it doesn’t look harmonious. Because people didn’t have harmony, and suddenly new management comes in and creates beauty. Clean windows. Walls of different colors. The entrance is very important; it has an effect. You are very beautiful, no problem, but still you would like to make it something like that. Why? Because you said somebody will be happy to see my face. So makeup is not so important, but on the other hand, makeup is called self-respect. Self-respect is not ego. Self-respect means that others will like to look up to you. People who have a big beard like me and come out from an Italian restaurant after eating spaghetti, with a few pieces hanging somewhere – people will say, “Oh, it’s an Indian Guru.” They will not see how beautiful I am. But they will see the hanging spaghetti. That spaghetti was a symbol of my greed, which I ate quickly, quickly. Spiritually, spirituality is in our activity, and this activity should be in unity, and that unity leads us to divinity. So, management means spirituality, spirituality, and spirituality means management. And there will be many people who will try to misguide you. There are many. They will say, “Ah, Viveka Purī is not good, Swāmījī. We can do it. We are more harmonious.” And Anandi comes, and she looks at everything, and this and that. “We don’t want this. I think it is time to change the management.” I say, “Yes, we will do it, but wait.” Then the visiting is coming, Swamiji. And he tells them, “Can you come for karma yoga? Can you do this? Can you do that?” “I have to go with my family to the seaside, to the coast. But Swamiji is coming now, yes. The floor is dirty, so we will put a carpet, and it’s okay.” So spirituality, the development of spirituality, goes parallel to materialistic life too. Then your name will be successful. The name is Lakṣmī. “And I have no money.” What a wonder. Surprise. We all go to Lakṣmī for money, and Lakṣmī says, “I have nothing.” But if you keep spirituality and this management, inner and outer, Lakṣmī – you become a Lakṣmī because Lakṣmī is running behind you. So, I am very happy to congratulate many, many – there are many, yes, not only one. Ljubljana is very successful. Also, there are many places even I don’t remember, like Prague. Praga, there are many different centers. But they are connected to the main center. The Czech people have this specialty, to be in that oneness. Brno, we have many places and classes, but they are all connected to one center. And similarly, it should be everywhere. Someone told me in Budapest, “Swamiji, we are making on the pest, or I don’t know, Budā, or the pest, or somewhere, on Budā and pork, I don’t know what it is. We opened a studio. Will you come to bless us?” This invitation should come from Kṛṣṇānanda. And invite Kṛṣṇānanda to bless first. And link it to the Baroset Yosef Club. All who have centers around and in Budapest, the income of the center should go entirely to the Baroset Yosef Club. They will look after you for the electric bill, for your rent. And they will bring you some prasāda and chocolate. So what I want to tell you today is that, in the entire world, it doesn’t matter which department it is, when personal interest grows, distraction begins. Kali Yuga is money. You know when Kali Yuga entered here? After the Tretā Yuga, Kali Yuga comes. And there was a king who ruled the whole world. And the king was, I’ve forgotten the name – maybe you know someone. And the king was so generous, so good. So Kali Yuga came. Kali Yuga came to the king and said, “Your Highness, I know that you are very generous. And in your kingdom, on your planet, this Earth, everyone is welcome. Everyone has a place. Your Highness, can you give me also a place on this earth?” So the king asked, “Who are you? Kali Yuga? What does that mean? What is the specialty of Kali Yuga?” So Kali Yuga told his qualities and specialties: hate, greed, jealousy. Brothers fighting brothers, fighting for inheritance from the parents. Even son and father fighting. Wife and husband will separate, not caring about children. No ethics, no morals, no spirituality. That’s my quality. And please give me a little place. The king said, “You have no place here. My people are so happy in it. I don’t want these troubles.” He said, “Your Highness, if you give me a place or not, I know how to take a place. But I have one humbleness: though I am Kali Yuga, I am asking you, give me a little place.” So the king, who was very gentle like God Śiva – you know, Śiva is very gentle – said, “Where would you like to have a place?” He said, “Anything, the smallest thing on this earth.” So the king said, “You tell me. Okay, in gold.” The king said, “Gold is so rare, so little.” He said, “Okay, I give you residence in gold.” And Kali Yuga began to laugh: “Ha, ha, ha.” Immediately, he said, “Now I will sit on your head.” He said, “You will sit on my head?” He said, “Yes, wait.” And what happened? The king had a crown made of gold. And the king placed the golden crown upon his head. And Kali Yuga said, “Hey, I am on your head.” And that means, now you will fight for me. I will not ask you to fight. Now you are in my position. Now, anyone who takes the crown of the king will bring war. How they are fighting for the chair of the president; the election will come. Position. And when that position comes, Kali Yuga brought this situation. Between husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters, good friends, and society – why? Oh, do you live again? Oh, do you live again? Oh, dear money! Oh, gold, you are the gold. Gold is God. Jesus said, “Disciples, come on, come on, don’t stay here. This gold is wrong, what you believe. Gold is not a way to God. I am the way to God, not gold.” So that’s what we call – Jesus said, “I am the way to God.” Who was Jesus? A master. To whom did he tell it? His disciples. Guru Vākya. Guru Vākya. Tavai Guru Pūrṇimā, I said we shall plant as many trees as we can. And I do hope many of you did it. Native trees, those trees that are growing there. And Śrī Svāmī Mādhavānanda World Peace Council, also managing the environmental programs and water harvesting projects. Now we have two possibilities. One place is in Croatia, where there is also very little rain, and we asked the authorities. They were very, very happy, and we can plant trees there. They will provide the trees, but each tree will cost half a euro, so you can sponsor two trees, ten trees, five trees. When all of you have one walking stick, it’s just nothing. It’s a walking stick. But your sticks, one person has to carry them, are too heavy. Of course, it’s free will. No force. This project, we have to do it. Next year, maybe, we begin. And as I told you, at the United Nations, at our conference Rio+20 in June, where delegations from 180 countries, government delegations of more than 50,000, and Jains, nearly 3,000 delegations, and I think 18 or 27 thousand security personnel, and 12 thousand volunteers – it was very big. It was wonderful. Big. And then everyone presented their projects. Mostly, people come with complaints, and asking, finding if someone can fund them… Complaining about this and that. Our Śrī Svāmī Mādhavānanda World Peace Council and Yoga and Daily Life came with a solution, with a practical example, and so there was praise and addressing. And the whole place was there. And they said, “I didn’t see.” The work of His Holiness has given a solution. Practical. So our project was positively received and accepted. And there was a Hungarian governmental delegation, and they met me, as well as Australian and New Zealand delegations, and we spoke. And we have continued our talks. Dear friends, here in the hall and outside in the world, those of you who watched us on the webcast, please accept my blessings. We focus on our good things. Tomorrow morning, again, we will have a lecture. And then His Excellency, the Ambassador of India, Mr. Gaurī Śaṅkara Gupta will come. And he is going to give a talk on the mystery of the universe. Last time he spoke about the mystery of life. So let’s see what comes. And before that, I will also have some talk. And those who are going home this evening, I wish you a good journey. Jyotat Kivanok.