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Today is the Mahāsamādhi day of our Holy Mother. We offer our adoration to Holy Mother and seek her blessings. Welcome, everyone. Our new session begins this week, and the subject is inner awakening—the hidden powers in our consciousness. In this creation, the creator has fashioned 8.4 million different creatures. God has bestowed upon each a certain talent according to the need or requirement of its life. These 8.4 million beings have different doorways to this earth, known as svedaja, jarāyuja, aṇḍaja, and so forth. The creatures created through sweating are what we call bacteria; thus, bacteria too are the creation of that creator. The second is through the bark of trees, where a sprout emerges and grows on the trunk, for this too has life. Then there are creatures born from eggs, including mosquitoes, ants, reptiles, animals, and we humans. These are the four gateways through which the individual soul arrives from the astral world. This individual soul flutters on the waves of time throughout endless space, śūnyākāśa, where there are no limitations. It can travel through any planet. Around our solar system, fourteen lokas are declared: seven lokas below and seven above. These lokas are sometimes counted as being below the earth, perhaps meaning places like Australia. Some declare it in this way, but according to Vedānta philosophy and yogic science, these fourteen lokas are distinct realms. The individual souls that enter the boundary or border of our solar system become citizens of this earth. Thus, it does not matter which creature is here; from bacteria to humans, all are citizens of this earth. According to their karma, they are transferred or automatically born into that form of life. They have their lifespan; some are only one-day flies, and some live only a few hours. This is the cycle, the Charasika Chakra, the circle of 8.4 million births. We too are citizens of this earth. Now, there are two things to be observed. If we see from the perspective of the light of God or the Ātmā, then we are all one. There are no differences, because the Ātmā is not a victim of karma or destiny. The Ātmā is not born and does not die. The Ātmā cannot be broken—akhaṇḍa (unbreakable), nitya (everlasting), nirākāra (formless), nirañjana (spotless). That is the Ātmā. The aim of this Jīvātmā... Jīvātmā is a mixture of Ātmā and anātmā. The jīva, the individual soul, is anātmā; it is not the Ātmā, but within it is a light of the Ātmā. That is called miśra, a mixer of Ātmā and anātmā. For example, consider a seed. This seed is a soul. But the awareness, the consciousness, the tendency, the energy which should sprout and grow—that is the light, that is the Ātmā. Without the Ātmā, the Jīvātmā cannot function. When all the negative karmas are dissolved, then that soul dissolves into the cosmic light, meaning it merges with the Ātmā. So, if we see as the individual soul, then there is definitely duality. But if we see the Ātmā, then there is non-duality. This duality is created through form. Ādiguru Bhagavān Śaṅkarācārya says in the "Aprokṣa Anubhūti": when the full moon is shining, if we place twenty cups filled with water—cups of different forms, colors, and sizes—in a garden, we will see the moon reflected in every cup. There are twenty cups, and we see twenty moons. But when we look up at the sky, there is only one moon. So, one in all and all in one. That is the reflection of that Ātmā, which is called Chetanā Chīlakā, as Mahāprabhujī said in a bhajan. In that bhajan, Mahāprabhujī said that Devapurījī has shown me that Ātmā, that God, that light, that glint. That is the Ātmā. Otherwise, we are Jīvātmā, individual bodies. Because the Ātmā is indestructible—jisi śāstra kāṭī nā agni jalāve, bujhāve nā pānī nā mṛtyu miṭāve—no fire can burn it, no elements can destroy it, no weapons can kill it, and the days cannot take it away. Vahee ajar amar ātmā mehu, that immortal Ātmā I am. But as long as the Ātmā is with the Jīvātmā, this Jīvātmā has two titles in human form, because karma applies mostly to humans. Animals do not possess that consciousness of good and bad; therefore, they simply go through their destiny. So, the Ātmā, as long as it is connected with the Jīvātmā... It is said that one is called Paramātmā. Paramātmā means the Ātmā of the entire universe. That Paramātmā, when it appears in some form, is called the Ātmā. It is the same: the moon reflecting in the cup. It is the same when this Ātmā is in the Jīvātmā of a human. Then, if you do good things, you are a dharmātmā. We do humanitarian work, veterinary work, environmental work, support for needy people, protect animals, protect forests, give donations to the needy, support good causes—then you are known as a dharmātmā. Then your sins are not counted. Of course, you should not sin consciously, but if something happens, it is not counted because the majority is dharma. When dharma takes over, then adharma disappears into the caves. That is called dharmātmā. That Jīvātmā with the Ātmā becomes the dharmātmā. Dharma means pure soul; that soul becomes pure consciousness. If we always do wrong things, speak wrong things—many, many bad things, backbiting, etc.—and harbor doubts, even while doing good karma, then you are not a dharmātmā; you are a pāpātmā. Pāpātmā means the sinner. That soul is full of sin, and that sinner has no place in the higher world, or heaven, or whatever you call it. Not only do they not get a place in Svarga Loka, but they have a waiting list in front of Naraka Loka, the hell. And on that waiting list in front of the doors of Naraka, as long as they do not gain access, they endure immense suffering. Yes, every religion speaks about this. Whether we believe or not, what is that suffering? There is nowhere in empty space. Waiting souls, like mosquitoes, are again on this earth but in a different form of life. It is said also of the mushroom—it too contains some soul. This is written in the Purāṇas. Therefore, many spiritual people do not eat mushrooms. Kumbhī, it is called a kumbhī. So the Ātmā is inside all. Sometimes these mushrooms... they have certain days, they walk in the forest. And that is what you are putting in your garden, those little small humans. You know what they are—they have a cap, looking like a mushroom. Therefore, eating mushroom is also not allowed. You can eat onions and garlic, but not mushrooms. My God, and those mushrooms which are poisonous, they are the greatest sinners, yes. And so these mushrooms, and other lives—so many things also, like parasites and reptiles, many, many, many. This is Naraka Loka. On this earth are both Svarga and Naraka. Both are here. Our karma shows us our living situation on this earth. So it is a language problem. You call Pāpa, it's okay. But actually, saying, "Pāpa, you are blackmailing, oh sinner, you will not get a place even in hell." So don't say papa (father). Don't say, "Daddy, dead." Don't kill him still; let him live. And, "Hi, Mom," that is also not good. When the body is under the earth and after five, six days it is getting, what you call, rotten—many worms develop. That's, "Mom, hi," means crying, "Oh, my mother. Mother." Yes, mother is mātā. That is why in Sanskrit there is a mantra. And Arjuna prays to God Kṛṣṇa. It is said: whenever you feel scared, pray. And when you don't see any way out, prayer. Prayer is a mighty power, and definitely prayer is heard by God. So finally, there was a decision. Kṛṣṇa tried very hard to avoid the battlefield of Kurukṣetra, the Mahābhārata war. But the Kauravas did not accept; Duryodhana did not accept. And there are some people—you can say, "I'm sorry, please." He said, "No, no, I will do it, I will do it." Then you do more and more sin. Arjuna tried... Duryodhana tried to invite Krishna for dinner, and he made such great, big dishes, a menu with many, many kinds of food—fifty-six different kinds of food, or maybe more than this—because he knows that Kṛṣṇa likes to eat good things, yes. Always here, this, this... if Kṛṣṇa goes to buy from twenty ice cream shops, he will take from all twenty ice creams. God does everything. Hinduism is a religion of joy. And each of our goddesses is an incarnation of joy. That joy which you enjoy is not that worldly joy. Worldly joy has no real enjoyment; it is little joy and more sorrows from that joy. But God's līlās, that is a līlā. So Duryodhana thought, "Kṛṣṇa will be surprised and will have big temptations to eat our food, and we will ask him, 'Please stay on our side, fight on our side.'" And Vidura, the uncle of Duryodhana—the stepmother's son, the stepbrother—and his wife, they both were great devotees of Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa. So Krishna came and he spoke with Duryodhana. And Duryodhana said, "Please, Krishna, come and enjoy the dinner we made for you, such a good dinner." Krishna said, "Wow, thank you. But you know, I'm going to eat with my uncle, my auntie, at Vidura's, because I promised them they should cook for me the chapatis from the corn and mustard leaves sabjī." That's called sāg. It's like spinach. And he left Duryodhana. Duryodhana was like a volcano, so angry, and he maligned Krishna. Some things you should do, some things it's not good. Inside, you still have a lot of garbage. We don't show, but he knows what is inside. Krishna came to Vidura. Vidura said, "But Lord, your dinner was there." He said, "No, no, I'm tired. And please tell your wife to make for me this way, sabjī, sāg, and roṭī." And Vidura is sitting, and his wife is sitting. They were so happy, and Kṛṣṇa was sitting beside them on the swing. They offered him first some fruits. And what is Vidura's wife doing? She takes a banana, peels it, gives the skin to Krishna, and eats the banana herself. And Krishna was eating the banana skin. Vidura said to his wife... and Krishna said, "No, this is so tasty, you can't imagine. Vidura, you always throw this away, you don't know what the taste is inside." Because that was love, the frame. Therefore, Holī Gurujī wrote one beautiful bhajan, a beautiful bhajan: Prabhu prema bina nahī āve, Prabhu prema bina nahī. Chahe yatna karlo hajār, chahe yatna karlo hajār. Prabhu prema bina nahī āve, Prabhu prema vinā naiyā. Duryodhana kā meva tyāgyā, Duryodhana kā meva. Saka binduṁ ghar kave. Saka bidur ghar kave, Prabhu prema vinā naiyā. Ve Prabhu prema bina naya, chahe yatna karlo jaar. Prabhu prema bina naya, ve Guru prema bina naya. Such a beautiful bhajan. In Ānanda Prakāśa, Gurujī wrote this beautiful bhajan. Where is the bhajan book? Can you give me the bhajan? This is our new bhajan book. Thank you so much. Gurujī said, "Prabhu prema bina nahī āve." Lord, God doesn't come without love. You can try a thousand things, but God will not come without love. Duryodhana made very delicious food. Mewa means dry fruits, milk, sweets, many, many different sweets, sent vegetables, and offered bhog. Duryodhana... Krishna denied this delicious food of Duryodhana, and he went just to eat spinach, vegetables, to eat at Vidura's, because Vidura was the bhakta of God. So without that love, nothing comes. So where there is love, there is God. But selfish love, God doesn't need. Well, evening came again for sitting, negotiation, talking. So Arjuna Pāṇḍava is sitting, and Duryodhana is sitting, and again there was talking. On that day, Kṛṣṇa came not as Kṛṣṇa; he came as an ambassador of peace, Śāntidūt. Śānti means peace, dūt means the ambassador. Kṛṣṇa said, "Duryodhana... This is the last, and last, and last which I am asking you. Please don't begin the war. How many innocent people will be killed? How many women will become widows? How many animals will be killed? Please give the Pāṇḍavas a little land so they can build a house, that's all." Duryodhana said no. Not even like the tip of a needle. "I don't want to give the point of the answer, but, Kṛṣṇa, I ask you last that you should be on my side." Kṛṣṇa said, "I am neither on your side nor Arjuna's side. I am on the right side of the Dharma, of righteousness. Where the Dharma is, I am there, and I am with the Dharma. So tomorrow morning, I will decide who will come early to me. I will be on their side." Krishna was like this, resting. If God sleeps, that time will be the end of the earth, but Krishna was residing. Duryodhana came one hour earlier, and you know that Arjuna will make pūjā and this and that, and slowly he will come before I am already there. But still, God Kṛṣṇa was like this with closed eyes. Duryodhana came, the sun rose, and Kṛṣṇa is still sleeping. "But why should I sit near his feet? Who is he? I am the prince. I am the future king. I will sit on his head side." So he sat behind the head of Kṛṣṇa. After one hour, Arjuna came. Still, Krishna's eyes were closed, same mudrā. Arjuna took his sujavi with folded hands. He was standing for a few minutes. Then he said, "Tvameva mātā ca pitā tvameva, bandhuś ca sakhā tvameva." You are my mother and my father. You are my brothers, sisters, and my relatives. You are my wisdom, and you are my knowledge. You are my wealth, and you are my Lord. Everything you are, oh my Lord Kṛṣṇa. He opens his eyes. He looks left and right. "Arjuna, I will be by your side. You came first. Duryodhana, when I was sitting behind... Unjust is Kṛṣṇa." He said, "Oh, you are also here? I came earlier." Krishna said, "For me, the one earlier is whom I see first. So I opened my eyes, and he was standing there. When he's standing there, why should I look behind you if someone is there?" "I don't need you, Krishna." He said, no problem. So, you are my mother, you are my father. So, these other words are modern English words, and people don't know what the blackmailing is there. So, say your father, Pāpa, no. Father, in your different languages, is it okay? But unfortunately, in India, and especially in the Hindu context, they are completely brainwashed. All they call their father is papa. And every time I'm going and preaching and telling... But, well, they have to go to Naraka first. And those who are saying, "Father, Pitā, Mātā, Abbā"... Muslims don't say "Papa." In India, we have many, many millions of Muslims. They don't say Papa. And they don't say "mommy"; they say something so different. You must not become blind with the language, but language should be the language of wisdom and the language of love. Therefore, it is very important. This all originated from the 8.4 million different creatures. Who knows after how many ages, yugas, manvantaras, kalpas? Kei kalpas. We had the luck to be human. And so God gave humans special permission, special rights, and the most mighty, powerful tool: that is buddhi, intellect. This intellect God gave us for protection, not for destruction. But we use our knowledge, our intellect, for destruction. So what will be our condition, therefore? Therefore, love each and every entity, if not more, then that much, as much as you love thyself, Mahāprabhujī said. Prabhu prema binao nahiya, Guru prema binao nahiya. So that hidden power in human consciousness—we shall practice and try to understand it theoretically also this week. We wish you a very nice, pleasant stay, and we thank the organizers who made it possible for us to come and have a peaceful, comfortable, and divine stay here. The webcast is every day at 10:30 in the morning and at 8 o'clock or 8 p.m. in the evening. Wish you all the best and the blessings of our divine spiritual tradition. And with the help of God and the Spirit, let us recite the Siddha Pīṭha Paramparā of Oṁ Śrī Alak Purī Jī. He gave them all śānti, śānti, śānti.