TV Channel

May it bring auspiciousness, well-being, health, and wealth; may it destroy the intellect’s enemies. I bow to the lamp’s light. The lamp’s light is the supreme Brahman, the lamp that enchants all, the lamp from which all arises, the evening lamp, the lamp of all truth. Salutation to the cosmic light, Lord of our hearts, omniscient, omnipresent. Our adoration to all the holy saints, all incarnations. This is our Alakpuri Siddha Pīṭha Paramparā. Dear brothers and sisters, good evening. The president, Mr. Bhaktānanda, spoke very beautifully about the significance of the names and said in the end that it is easy for him to speak in his mother tongue. And so I will speak now as well. This is how it is today. We are celebrating a beautiful event, namely the arrival of Jesus. All over the world, celebrations are held, but unfortunately, we do not know the exact date in Hagenau, because back then only the year was recorded, not the day or the birthday. In many countries, there is still no birth certificate for the elderly, because nothing was left behind. But now, before birth, it is determined when he will be born, according to medicine. But the time when we celebrate the festival is in peace with love, devotion, friendship, understanding, forgiveness, and unity. We have had a beautiful summer; at the beginning of autumn we had a wonderful harvest. And now it is time, because the day is short, it gets dark faster, and therefore we need the light. And so the light gives two types of light: a physical light, namely from oil, wax, wood fire, electric, etc., and a second light—the light of love, the light of wisdom, to recognize the divine light within us. It has been said in the Vedas, where this mantra originates, and in the Upaniṣads for many, many thousands of years: Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya—let me be led from darkness to light. So, we recognize the divine light in every living being and we see the divine light. If we have forgotten, we now remember through beautiful holidays, such as Christmas, Diwali, etc. And so, my dear brothers and sisters around the world, here and there, wherever on any continent you may be, the blessings are coming to you from the beautiful city and country, Austria-Vienna. This is the Ashram of our revered Satgurudev Svāmī Mādhāvanandajī, the ashram of Gurujī. It does not matter which country, which culture, or what we call religion. The world of religion was created very late. Since the world of religion came into being, people began to divide. "My religion is this, my religion is that," and thus it began—the conflicts within human consciousness. But if there was only one Sanātana Dharma, the universal spirituality, the God-consciousness that cannot be divided. A few minutes ago, an article from 1844 in America came into my hands. It said that the people who came from Europe to America were there and wanted to buy the lands from the American men and women. The President of the USA wanted to buy a few hundred thousand or millions of square meters or kilometers or hectares. And one of the leaders of the American Indians received the message that the so-called Westerners wanted to buy the land. And he knew that whether we give it or not, they will do it. But he writes that we cannot share this heaven. And at the same time, we cannot divide Mother Earth. We cannot separate these beautiful elements like air, fire, water, and so on. And we cannot divide and make homeless the wildlife like deer, bears, bees, butterflies, etc. So when the human begins to think to own something, then dualities and different names begin. It is therefore impossible to grant anything. A great soul, Neem Karoli Bābā, said: "You cannot hold me; I am like the wind. You cannot disregard me; I am like the entire universe. I belong to no one, but I will always be yours. I will be with you." So, if such thoughts of unity and love arise, then there can be peace in the world. And again, what we dream to create or have, what we call heaven or what they call paradise or what they call Svargaloka, whatever. It is written in the day diary or day book of Mahātmā Gandhījī. And he said, "We need nature. Nature does not need us." So, for our way of survival, we should protect our nature. That means that we are all water, earth, fire, air, forests, fields, spaces, plants, and oceans, yet we pollute. And the most dangerous pollution that came into this universe was in the form of greed in humanity. And this greed is known as mental pollution. The physical pollution can purify itself and can slowly become pure and serene again. But the mental pollution, which is not visible, is subtle. And so subtle, it is stronger and more dangerous. Every thought is a subtle energy within us that can destroy everything. But before one destroys others, one destroys oneself. For example, in today's times there are many different forms of bombs, suicide bombs, or other types of bombs. The bomb itself is now individual and has a huge capacity to destroy, to kill—numerous people, animals, or pain, everything. But before this bomb destroys others, it destroys itself. Similarly, when there is negative power in our thoughts, in our visions, ambitions, and grievances, sooner or later we will destroy ourselves, meaning others, through blackmailing and negative thinking about others in many ways. But who are we to judge them? There is only one judge who judges with the justice of everything—the Supreme, God. And that is why it is said on this day of Christmas, the farewell reminds us of the last words of the Father, Jesus: "Forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." At the same time, under this beautiful tree of life, when we can all say our farewells, it does not matter who is who. Mahatma Gandhi said, "We hate the sin, but not the sinner." If we were to create this love, then our Christmas celebration would be successful. If we ensure this Christmas evening, it will be successful. On the other hand, you come, receive a gift under the trees, eat some sweets, sing a few songs, say goodbye, and go home. What we take from it, we should know. It is not material. A man gave a beautiful, beautiful presentation for his wife, and she was still not satisfied. So he brought a beautiful coffee box, with a beautiful suitcase, not plastic, okay? You know, Jesus is not to blame for us packing everything in plastic and aluminum, and that will cause great pollution. Jesus thinks it better not to give the present than to pollute my world, into which I have also come, our world. And it was beautiful, beautiful with beautiful clothes and natural colors, steel colors. All that time, all the paintings were done with steel colors and wood. Yes, many people have not used the wood color. You know, when Western people, mostly from this one country, which is very far away—it is hard to believe that it belongs to Europe, but it does belong to Europe, Portugal. And the Portuguese people, they traded as far as Brazil. And in Brazil, there is a beautiful tree called Pau Brasil, the Brazilian tree. And this tree, this tree has a special quality. It feels like a human or other creatures. Every tree is a living person—not just alive, but a living person. And when you destroy this tree, it flows out like the blood of a human or an animal. And this color that the Portuguese used to color all colors. And so they have destroyed vast forests, rainforests, because of these colors. Now, because we have no boundaries: when an animal is hungry, it goes and finds something to eat. When the stomach is full, the animal will simply walk away because it has had enough. But we humans, when we are very hungry and we get a beautiful horse, beautiful, sharp, red, harder onions—if you just take one onion into your mouth, then it is simply a bite. The fruit explodes throughout the entire mouth. If one now has a thin mouth, one also feels that. What can the mother tree give? We eat, but not just eat. We carry a lot with us, but we have no bag. So we break the onions and take a handful of onions with us. That is a human boundary. Animals will take nothing with them. So, Ati sarvatra varjayet—one should avoid excess in everything, everywhere we do not know slander. At that time, they had the colors that came from nature—stones, earth—and it was very good, natural oil. On one hand, we celebrate the Christmas tree, a beautiful gift, and on the other hand, how much plastic, how much aluminum foil, and how many plastic strings we use. How much plastic is worn just on this one evening and on Christmas Eve? Christmas was always celebrated, but not in this way. They had a very beautiful meal; they prepared a lovely meal at home, lit a candle, and the whole family sang together, singing spiritual songs. And everyone offered others a good dough or delicious fruit roasts and so on, according to the climate. So this is the information or the message for us. God needs nothing. Arjuna asked Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa why he worked so much. He said, "Yes, you know, nothing exists in the universe that is impossible for me. Whatever I desire is already present. I can have it. But I still practice Karma-Yoga because people do what I do." And so, the holy spirits do not have a presentation with plastic or anything like that, but today it is too late, this year it is too late. Let us begin with the understanding that next year you will bring nothing and give nothing to anyone who is attached to such material that is not friendly to the environment. Last year, you know, I gave you the Saṅkalpa to plant trees and to not think negatively about anyone. I don't know if you were successful or not, but many kept telling me negative things about others. And I thought that the Christmas festival was not successful. I hope this year Jesus is pleased with us and will fulfill our wish, so that next year we do not use plastic. We will not use the plastic. And I think if it begins, we shall see that Austria should be the first country. Austria was always the first country in everything. No? Yes. And so it is beautiful. I just now heard again that in Africa and the Middle East, people are in danger, and Austria has helped a lot. You have given much money and help. If one can give so much money and things, can't Austria do something that is painful as well? Plastic. Without plastic, we can hardly remember. But this kind of plastic that one uses and throws is more painful. One uses and throws, but where does one throw? So plastic has become immortal. Ātman is immortal. No weapon can kill it. No elements can destroy it. It is unborn and will always remain so. And the second is plastic. Plastic has now become immortal. When one is burning, one sees only the flame, but the plastic lives. It lives in the atmosphere; in the atmosphere, it lives. So, next year you can offer the presence, but in a kind of clothing that is recyclable or without anything. So that people offer you a beautiful cake openly, not with two or three plastic grains. This will be successful in celebrating. Last year, I also spoke about Christmas. Some people said, "Oh, Svāmījī, what a joyful celebration, and you have made us sad." Happiness comes after sadness, and sadness comes after happiness. The joy one wishes to enjoy has less joy than the pains of that joy. So we always glorify the parents. Happy indeed are the parents whose son was such a great poet, actor, musician, social worker, and so forth. For the trees are recognized by their fruits. Thus, the parents are glorified through their children; they are the fruits. And if one asks, what was the situation of the mother of Jesus when she got married? In those times, the people, society, the rules, and so forth were very different. Now no one thinks about it, but a few decades ago, even in Austria, when an unmarried woman got married, the whole family felt a bit ashamed. But that was okay. At that time, it was impossible. What was their situation? And what brought them here? What conditions did she have that required her to give birth to a child in the bones of the animals? Donkeys, cows, pigs. No helper was there, and she did not even have a piece of cloth to adorn her child. She seated them on the cold grass. I do not know. I can only see how it is described and how people create the image. If that was the case, then first we should offer our support and prayers to the Almighty, to this divine Mother and Father. So there are both, light and shadow. When a mother gets married, she is happy or perhaps not. The father is happy or perhaps not. But the mother, after nine months, is asked how she spent it and gives the birth date. Thus, my dear, pain and joy are present together. And so dharma and adharma go together. That always makes us happy, we feel free; happy is the Dharma. Adharma is pain. When there is a battlefield, when it comes to wars, that is Dharma. And when there is a Satsaṅg where everyone sits together, from different countries, that is the Dharma that makes us happy. Dharma rakṣita rakṣitaḥ. So Dharma is what we call Sanātana. So in this year, 2014, the Christmas celebration, this occasion, I pray to the Almighty for your good health, happiness, long life, and a very joyful, prosperous New Year. And thank you for coming. And thanks to our little flowers, little children. They were here, and they also received something. So next time, children do not like the pocket being packed. That is simply called child safety. When you have medicine, you know, do not keep it where a child can reach it. But we give something good, give it to them openly and nicely. Next time, okay? This time is too late. So please try to spread this message; you still have one month, nearly 20 days, to celebrate Christmas. Do not use any packing—no plastic or aluminum foil for wrapping. Create something; this awareness will awaken, but it will take time. We said no to plastic, we did so 8 years ago, no, even longer, my God. It was in 1998 when I began to say No to plastic. And now many countries are saying no to plastic. And the first was Rajasthan, who used the plastic cheeks. And the second, the Premier from Australia, South Australia, he introduced the plastic cheek guards for every household and said, "No to plastic." And in the three cities in Sydney, in every household, they gave clothing and said no to plastic. One of our best friends, Father David, unfortunately had stomach pain, underwent intense interventions, and had to have plastic inserted—plastic pain. And he found me and said, "Svāmījī, I cannot say no to plastic. Now the plastic is in my body." I said, "Yes, let us begin." In some form, plastic is also present in every blood. Airplanes are made of plastic, cars are made of plastic, many things. But this kind of plastic that we use and take every day, use and take, that is not good. So, once again, I wish you all the best. Yes, this day also came, the Mahāprabhujī Mahāsamādhi Day, the birthday of Mahāprabhujī. Today, in two hours or three, four hours, is a moment when Mahāprabhujī has also reunited with this world, the physical body, together with everyone. So I will speak about Mahāprabhujī a little later. There is another program shortly, with singing bhajans and some Christmas songs today, and also some friends would like to share a few words. So bless you all, and remember, think positively, strive to create harmony and peace within yourselves and in your families. Yes, so I forgot to finish the story. The man has brought a very beautiful box. In the coming years, I was to open them. And she came and opened everything. And she opened a beautiful box. Inside, do you know what was in there? Space. What was it? She said it was nothing. He said, "I have given you my entire universe, my beloved, and you say nothing. I do not want to give you anything. I give you nothing." That means, the entire universe. So you never know what is inside the plastic bank. Sometimes people have placed explosives, even those who were stationed there. Certain injuries have occurred in Austria. So bring it and give it to them with open hands, not hidden. So if you want to give beautiful diamonds, necklaces to your wife, give them into her hand and she will say, "Oh beautiful." So this packing, packing means hiding. So we should not hide. Okay? Alright, so all the best. There is a beautiful lecture by Dīp Nārāyaṇa Bhagavān, Devīśvara Mahādeva Satguru Svāmījī Mādhāvanāndajī Bhagavān of Sanātana Dharma, which says: "I am the Ajar Amar, I am neither born nor do I die, I am immortal. I never die; it is the body that dies. Therefore, everything is immortal. Knowledge never dies, knowledge never grows old or young." But, it is said, whatever you have, you should give. If one does not give, one is lost. This remains true in the external world, but if one has not given to someone, that person is lost. So, Bhagavān Śrī Dīp Nānak Mahāprabhujī, the secrets, his birthday, his incarnation, which comes to this earth, and he was present, and he manifested the divine light of the highest good. But if Mahāprabhujī said nothing, if Devapurījī said nothing, and if Alakpurījī did not return to Devapurījī and pray to him, we would know nothing about them. So, I mentioned that in the last decade, Dr. Śānti, Sādhvī Śānti, has been traveling through the Himalayas, especially to the places where Alakpurījī's presence is. And I think even she doesn't know why she must always go to the same place. The Himalaya is very vast, thousands of kilometers long, with many beautiful places, glaciers, the waterfalls, mountains, various vegetation, but she always brought something there. This is found in many stories. You know the story of Śiva and Śakti or Pārvatī, etc. It always comes there, but one does not know why. That is called Prārabdha. Prārabdha is destiny. First, destiny is created, and then the body is given. Our destiny was something good, that we have received the human body. And then, at the very top of it, like a diamond on the crown, we have received the Alakpurījī Siddhapīṭha Paramparā lineage. Under the inspiration of the experiences of our spiritual masters, Devapurījī, Holī Gurujī, Mahāprabhujī, and in the form of poems, songs, they have conveyed to us the creation of the entire universe, which is not only represented on this Earth, it will go with us, but we must pass it on before we leave. This is the foundation of Seva, of Karma-Yoga. When we perform Seva, it means that we are giving the new generations the most precious divine gift. Giving is not easy. Taking is easy. But those who can give will have an easy life, until the very end. The dharma of the body is different. Compare your karma with the body. The body has its karma; it is a material being. These are elements. But still the Jīvātmā suffers in it. You are a Sākṣī. Sākṣī means observer. But when Sākṣī becomes one with it, then Sākṣī will also play and feel the pain and unhappiness. On the other hand, we are Sākṣīs, we are observers. We observe, but when we cling, then we feel pain. Sākṣībhāva is not so simple, because we dwell more in our physical body. But still, through that, when we can give to someone, there is only one way—the very precise destiny through Śiva. There is no other way. There is no other way. Even God Himself comes and gives everything through Śiva. Today we think of the Christian. And you know, there was a time when Jesus was completely relaxed. It was too much for him. He had the worst, most difficult life. He was sitting somewhere in the forests, near the husks, near the dry husks, and wept. "Why me? Why me? Is it not someone else who can do that more?" And then come the Rākṣasas, the gods, the gods. So there is both life and death. And from Ākāśavāṇī comes the voice. "My son, because I trust you. I trust that you will not betray me." That is a true disciple. "That is why I place it in your hands, and you will carry forth my message." And he did. Even he had to suffer. He had to face the crucifixion. But he did not abandon his principles. That is called a Parīkṣā, the test of the disciple. And why did he have to suffer that? To give that pure, immortal message to mankind, two messages. One is the message of God. All vessels are my shadow, no vessel is empty; in every heart is Lord, Bhagavān. No heart is empty of any creature. In everyone, God is dwelling. I bow to that pot which speaks openly, but with surrender, my adoration to that heart, through which heart God himself speaks, and there, what we call the Sacred Heart. Because it is the same in the Ramayana. Hanumānjī was in the seva and he said, "Rāma and Sītā are in my heart." They asked, "Where?" He opened his heart and said, "Sītā and Rāma." This is the same image that we see Jesus calling the Sacred Heart. The heart thus becomes a sacred space in which God appears and speaks. So, first is that we are bringing that Seva, meaning to deliver this immortal wisdom. Second, the message is that even I have to face death, but I will not give up. "Gurudeva, I am going to die. Even I have to walk through these thorns and stones and fire. Even I have to leave my country. Even if death becomes a snake around my neck, Gurudeva, I will be dying." That one becomes a true warrior of the supreme power. At that time, one becomes like a god himself. That is transformed from a crow into the beautiful swan, from stone into diamond. That transforms from a mere caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. So, those Vākyas of Gurudev, Bhagavān Śrī Dīpānanda, Mahāprabhujī, through his bhajans, try to write one bhajan, write one bhajan. It's easy to read the book, it's easy to give the commentary, but create something that is immortal. So, bhajans, which transcend the sun's rays, those Vākyas are the Guruvākyas, the word of the gods. Do you believe or do you not believe? Someone can write a story, everyone says, "My mother is the best." Gurujī is speaking about Mahāprabhujī. Yes, Gurujī is speaking about Mahāprabhujī, we are drawn to him. But you can write a page or a verse. We cannot do that because we are blind; we do not have that knowledge in our hearts. So writing is a sevā. And bringing this message is a sevā, but you cannot bring it if you do not trust. When one trusts oneself, one knows that one is on the right path. When one knows the path and the road, then one travels on the right path. On the other hand, one will turn around. As long as one is not happy, happy and content, one will seek this and that side. Serve those who are my Gurubhakta. That is why Mahāprabhu himself composes the bhajan. The true Satguru is the one who uplifts, the one who uplifts dispels all doubts. How deeply I love my brothers and sisters of my Gurudev who come to the Satsaṅg. And how angry are you, perhaps like me, why he came, why she came, why he speaks, why he does not? How deeply do you experience unity and harmony here in this small group of a few hundred people sitting together? How will you become the friends of the entire universe and the whole world? How are you going to create peace? And if then you try to begin to speak in such a way that you are separated from any path, there you have it, you are neither here nor there. It is said, there is one very, very old film, from a time before you were born, many of you were not yet born. The Korean was still in the cradle. I watched a film. It is a film called Mother India. It is a reality, just as the Greek manager can destroy the entire family. Even if they are willing to remove the mouth, they will not let you eat. First they pay me money and then they eat. And this situation has now arisen in this Kali-Yuga. Money, money, money for me. In the end, she lost everything. All her possessions, and this is a very insightful film. Lastly, she said, "Wood burned and became coal, and coal burned and became ash. I am so unfortunate, neither remaining as wood nor becoming ash. Half-burned black coal, yes?" And so, when you are searching here and there, you have abandoned your guru-sevā. Guru-sevā does not mean the guru himself. It is about bringing this message to everyone and connecting all; that is the Guru-sevā. On the other hand, you, yes, you have burned, fire was within you, but still you have not been burned by a clean, pure, black coal. And wherever this cabbage comes, the black spots form in every mind, heart, consciousness, and faith. But the life of Jesus, he came across like a pure heart, like on Wednesday, like on Wednesday... like on Wednesday. Outside the city is my hut. My home is in my own breath, but my residence is in your breath. Where are you searching for me, my dear? I am with you. And so, in teachings, bhajans, Bhagavān Śrī Dīp Nānak Mahāprabhujī and his disciples, that legend will remain through yugas upon yugas. The flower will wither, but the fragrance will remain. We will depart, but what we ought to attain—that immortality, that knowledge—will remain, knowledge will remain. Someone may not like it, but they will not dare to destroy. But something written by a rabbi—one will read it, a second will read it, five, ten will read it, but the eleventh one will simply tear it up and throw it into the abyss. It doesn't matter who dislikes any holy book, yet does not dare to tear it or do anything to it. When one does it, then it is Rākṣasavṛtti, then it is Rākṣasavṛtti. So the next day, and the day after, and the next evening, we speak about Mahāprabhujī. For now is precisely the time when Mahāprabhujī is preparing to enter Brahmaloka, the Śivaloka. The Brahmaloka, the Śivaloka, is here, and one reads about it in the Līlāmṛta. So, my dear ones, decide to do the Seva. You can give to someone only with love, not with hate or anger. And love means surrendering in Seva. Kṣaṇika sukha, for a temporary time, for a few seconds, a few minutes. Kṣaṇika means a few minutes, seconds. Happiness, for that you will endure many, many lifetimes. Birth after birth, you have suffered, my brother, wake up. And therefore, if you can do something, Sādhanā, to realize spirituality, renounce Seva and do not be angry or sad, and do not be judgmental if someone tells you that you are Seva. Try to become good friends with all of you who are sitting here. Look at me next Christmas Satsaṅg, how much you help us all. When one drinks a coffee, one says, "No, I will do it." She says, "No, I will do it." You sit there doing so much that my coffee gets spilled. Well, I don’t like that. But how much? I believe I am speaking about everyone. Everyone. I am not everyone. Therefore, I am not everyone. But someone is invited in everyone. So, look at whom you do not like. So I wish you blessings from all holy festivals, holy Diwālis, Christmas, I mean, and Mahāprabhujī's divine blessings. And until next year, write me some beautiful bhajan about Mahāprabhujī, just as Mahāprabhujī composed. Then I will say, it is dwelling in your heart. It doesn't matter; the bhajan must be on any one name, and you can do it wherever you want. But at the end of the bhajan, it is the expression of gratitude from which you receive the knowledge. So, after one year, we enjoyed YouTube and all the videos. And we enjoyed, so at the end of our joy, we expressed gratitude for Kṛpā and gave her chocolate. And that is the reason why, at the end of the bhajan, every poet writes their name. Who is that? On the other hand, it is said that a peacock has danced in the forests. Who like that? Anyone can say that a peacock has danced. So there should be evidence, because evidence will never perish. Siddhi is the prāṇa of Bhagavān. Deveśvara is the essence. Mādhava is Kṛṣṇa Bhagavān.