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May all be happy, may all be free from illness, may all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer pain. Om peace, peace, peace. Good evening, dear brothers and sisters. Welcome to this international cultural center. It is truly beautiful. Thank you for the invitation and the programs so far. Today is a very significant day. The United Nations has declared it a day of non-violence, a tribute to Mahātmā Gandhi, whose birth anniversary it is. His motto was impartiality. He said that to see the change you wish for in the world, you must first be that change. The previous speakers have spoken beautifully about non-violence, anger, and conflict, which are signs of ignorance and weakness. From the beginning, from Brahmaloka through the Yugas, two forces have existed: Āsurīśaktis and Devīśaktis—demonic or negative power and divine or positive power. Both exist in the universe and within every living being. Among the 8.4 million species, one is human. God has given humans something beautiful: intellect. Secondly, grace, mercy, love, and kindness in the heart. But the intellect needs education—not merely material education from school, but education in being human. We must recognize the difference between humans and other beings, and understand the purpose of human life. All beings are children of God, but humans are here as the custodians. We are meant to think. In the morning, we should awaken with the thought, "I am a human being." This carries great meaning; it is an awakening of consciousness. As humans, we must ask what we should and should not do. It is said, "It is nothing human," and also, "It is not Christian," for Christianity says, "You shall not kill" and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Gandhiji lived this; he did not merely preach. He said we would liberate India from the English without violence or weapons, using only ahiṃsā. He often cited the Bible: "If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other." Having lived in the Christian world for 43 years, I have not seen anyone turn the other cheek, nor have I seen anyone do the slapping. Yet everywhere, in all religions, religion has become a mere rubber stamp. In India, Gandhiji in politics has remained only a rubber stamp. Unfortunately, nothing he said is followed. Non-violence or violence is not only physical. One can kill someone emotionally, intellectually, socially, or politically. Such thoughts, anger, are a person's weakness. Greed is ignorance. Seeking revenge is human folly. A person draws close to God through actions, spiritual thoughts, practice, and life. Unfortunately, worldwide education lacks two things: spirituality and ethical principles. Everyone studies to earn money. In this Kali Yuga, this Iron Age, money is God. There is competition to be the richest in the world, in one's country, or society. There is no competition to be the holiest. No one practices; no one prays. Many churches are empty on Sundays, or only the elderly attend. We have lost interest. Where do the mistakes lie? With our parents. The best education is in the essence, in the parents' conduct. Parents must have time for their children. Today, there is a trend to arrange a babysitter before having a child. Parents are often elsewhere; the babysitter takes the child to kindergarten and school. The child scarcely knows who the parents are. The best education is within the family. The first thought: "I am a human being." The second: What does it mean? A person can forgive. Those who can forgive and understand will understand. Even Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." What is done is out of ignorance. Human is knowledge; human has the light of knowledge. The third thought: It is qualities that make me human. Which are human and which are demonic? The Vedas and Hindu religion say, "Ahiṃsā paramo dharmaḥ"—non-violence is the highest principle. No god says you should kill—not only humans, but animals too. We see how much animals suffer. Consider cows, pigs, and chickens—how they live, the pain they endure. Animals experience psychological and physical pain. Man has become greed. Gandhiji said, "Mother Nature has enough for your need, but not for your greed." Look at what is done to cows for milk. They are manipulated to become so large they cannot sit down comfortably, and if they sit, they cannot stand. Their legs swell. Who hears their suffering and inner weeping? Non-violence is not only towards humans, but towards all living beings and nature. It is a beautiful, divine path that can realize our goal. We all make mistakes; we are only human. But we have the knowledge and grace God has placed in the heart. Everyone prays, "Holy Mother Maria, I pray for thy mercy." Mercy and grace are present in every mother, every woman—and forgiveness, and the strength to understand and forgive, not to wage wars. People must understand Viveka (discernment). Looking at the world now, how many people are suffering? Wars continue. How many children and families live in fear? In Austria, thanks to God, it is truly an island of the blessed. Life here is good, with strong social securities. In my opinion, Austria is still the best in the world. I congratulate the Austrians. Burgenland is blessed by God with fertile soil and multiculturalism—Hungarians, Croatians, Slovaks, Austrians. Today we are in a multicultural cultural center. Where there is culture, there are people. Everyone brings their culture and says theirs is the best. Every culture is good, but it is said the best culture is agriculture. Yet people have corrupted even this. Earlier, a lady spoke about natural life and biological matters, avoiding excess paper use. Where is this in Austria now? When I first came, organic food was scarcely mentioned. There was a macrobiotic movement, which was healthy, but now even soybeans are genetically modified. Poison is spread everywhere. We are all at fault. The sin does not belong only to the slaughterer. It begins with whoever indulges animalistic desires. The karma increases for the seller, then for the transporter, then for the slaughterer. But the greatest share of sin goes to the one who eats. If all became vegetarian, our cows, chickens, and pigs would be free. Consider this: When I go to the dentist and he says an injection is needed, even a strong person feels fear. The pulse rises. A tiny needle causes some pain, but fear begins just from the thought. Animals feel this pain for days. Sin is the pain caused to others. We will all die. Animals are not so foolish as to be unaware of what is happening. So, non-violence is intended for all living beings, and for nature—rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans. Unfortunately, everything is confused. Last weekend, there was a Women’s Congress at the United Nations. To change the world's climate and establish peace, women can play a vital role. Women interviewed on CNN said women can change the world. I agree. Education begins with the mother. She educates the child even in the womb through her positive, spiritual thoughts and words. All mothers here, I congratulate you; you know more than I do. I have never been pregnant. But in Hinduism, the Upaniṣads and Vedas say, the first God is the Mother. "Mātṛdevo bhava, pitṛdevo bhava, ācāryadevo bhava." The mother can raise the children. But if the mother is absent, she is just a babysitter. Look at our youth today. Mother and father can change the world; otherwise, the future looks dark. Today is Gandhi's birthday; we offer him congratulations. It is a day of non-violence, celebrated worldwide, in the UN and governments. A few days ago was World Peace Day. We do a lot, but after a lecture, we forget and go home, thinking, "That was nice." Today, let us make a Saṅkalpa: "Through my body, thoughts, words, writings, and actions, I will cause pain to no one." Saṅkalpa is a promise to ourselves. Gandhiji was asked, "Look what the English are doing." As the Discovery Channel showed, the greatest holocaust, where millions were killed, was in India. But that is political, and no more is said. It happened not only in Austria, but in several countries. Gandhiji said, "Hate the sin, not the sinner." To digest so much, to understand others' feelings and faults, is the work of a wise person or a special soul. Multiculturalism today is vital to understand and live together. There are no races. Scientists say there is no racism, no race. There is only one human being. There is one cow, one horse, one snake. The first human was in the Himalayas, specifically near Mount Kailash in Tibet. There, Śiva, Svayambhū, manifests. All others have parents; only Śiva has none. So we are all human beings, whether Japanese, Australian Aborigines, the Māori, Indians, Africans, Mexicans, or Europeans. Man is human. Gandhiji said peace is not a way to be reached; peace itself is the way. Peace begins in one's own heart, and charity begins at home. None of us has yet realized the goal. Life is a journey, not a destination. But this is the final milestone; we must not miss it. Accepting spiritual and ethical principles in life means non-violence. Thank you. I wish you all the very best and God’s blessings. Let us say a prayer for peace. Asato mā sad gamaya. Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya. Mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya. Lead us from unreality to reality. Lead us from darkness to light. Lead us from death to immortality. May health, peace, harmony, and perfection be everywhere. May the whole world be happy. Peace, peace, peace. If you know it, sing the peace prayer with me: Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ Sarve santu nirāmayāḥ Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu Mā kaścid duḥkha bhāgbhavet Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ May there be well-being for all, may there be peace for all, may there be auspiciousness for all, may all be complete. May the entire world be happy. Om peace, peace, peace.