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Oṁkārabindu saṁyuktaṁ nityaṁ dhyānti yoginaḥ, kāmadhaṁ mokṣadhaṁ caiva, oṁkārāya namo namaḥ. Respected Viśwa Gurujī, distinguished guests, and all peace-loving brothers and sisters, my salutations. I offer my reverence to those ancient, enlightened sages and philosophers who discovered this divine path and way of life to deliver peace to the universe. My salutations to Viśwa Gurujī, whose utmost effort has made this magnificent event possible. I thank the World Peace Council for this invitation and opportunity. I also thank you on behalf of the millions of yogīs meditating for peace worldwide, and in the name of Nepal—the land of height and light, the land of the first and foremost yogī, Śiva. It is said: if you want a result in one year, plant crops; in ten years, plant fruit trees; if you want a result forever, practice yoga. Now is the time to begin. The Western world taught the East to drink Coca-Cola. Now it is time for the West to learn yoga for peace. The East has studied Othello and Man’s Search for Meaning. Now it is time for the West to listen to and read the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali, the Rāmāyaṇa, the Gītā, and Vedic philosophy. Though these originate in the East, they are a common good for all humankind. Today, I am here to raise the voice of the voiceless millions of animals with nowhere left to go. I am here to raise the voice for those suffering from violence, war, and discrimination. This Earth can be a place of peace. Your presence here is a contribution to that peace process. Your participation is wonderful; it signifies that a peaceful era is possible. Before we proceed, let me explain: during the Mahābhārata war, a council was held. NASA scientists have found that sound from the past still exists in the universe. Whatever we speak, whatever voice we raise, remains forever. We may not live forever, but our voice for peace will endure. So, can we all please chant "Aum Śānti" together? Let us create a unified vibration at this peace conference. Let us begin as the Eastern philosopher Cāṇakya said: what you create depends on your body, mind, and spirit. If we regularly practice directing these toward a positive path, we will definitely achieve peace. Commonly, yoga is misunderstood as merely standing on your toes or shoulders. Yoga is not only physical flexibility. If only flexible people were yogīs, then circus performers would all be yogīs. Yoga is less than 30% physical; it is more than that—it is emotional, mental, and spiritual. For humankind, it is the interconnection from the individual to people, from people to nature, and from nature to the planet. Understanding this interconnection is a wonderful gift to the universe. The Upaniṣads speak of the ten commandments of Dharma, the ten Yamas. The foundation of yoga is peace, Ahiṃsā. The Vedic scripture states, ahiṃsā paramo dharma—non-violence is the supreme duty. Hence, practicing ahiṃsā and yoga leads definitively to peace. Today, people are rich. From Satya Yuga through Tretā, Dvāpara, to Kali Yuga, we have accumulated material wealth, yet there is no peace. Wealth is not the solution. Throughout human history, political rule and other philosophies have not brought peace. Yoga brings peace. We are all soldiers of yoga. Wherever you go, you must carry peace. Now, when you return home, we must request our governments: if we truly want peace, we must not invest more in the military or in drug and alcohol factories. We need more investment for yoga studios, a yoga curriculum, and to train yogīs. We need millions of yogīs to make this world beautiful. Yoga carries the spirit of all faiths; it is a way of life, not a religion. The core meaning of the Veda is to know yourself from within. What you see outside is your thought; to fix the world, you must fix your mind. The Bible says, "Man, know thyself"—look inside. The Tripiṭaka says, as Buddha taught, "Appa Deepo Bhava"—be a light unto yourself. In the Quran, Muhammad stated similarly, "Nur al-Masih"—know the light within. Yoga is the only practice that gives peace to everyone without harm, judgment, or discrimination. Therefore, one yogī can integrate all these teachings. According to the Śiva Purāṇa, Śiva asked Pārvatī, "Who can defeat violence? Who can defeat death?" Śiva said only one being in the universe can defeat death and remain in peace: the yogī. If we truly want peace, now is the time to practice yoga. When you practice yoga, you do not need to forcibly renounce meat, drugs, or alcohol; they will leave you automatically. Through regular practice of āsana and the yogic path, positivity grows. Yoga is the manual for life. When you buy a computer, you read the user manual first. Similarly, yoga is the manual for a happy, peaceful, and non-violent life—for all humankind, not just Indians or Nepalese. This manual is essential from the start of life. We need a yoga curriculum. Yoga is education for school, not just for old age. It is never too late to start. This practice is our shared human asset. I was born in a remote village in Nepal, Sindhupalchowk. My father used to say: in this world, the rich often have plenty but do not want to share; the poor have little but want to share. I asked him, "What can be shared by everyone?" He said: a smile and peace. Even with nothing, you can share peace and a smile. Yoga does not require money; it can be practiced on a zero budget. It provides health insurance, peace, and fosters non-violence in society. The yogic life is the best life, practiced for millions of years by sages and ṛṣis. Now is our time. Do not practice only for yourself; inspire others. Every day is an opportunity to learn and change. This conference is a prime opportunity to transform ourselves and the world. The "world" is just a word; you and I are the world. If I transform myself, and if you are ready to transform yourself, we can change the world. Mere talk and scripture cannot change anything. Large-scale individual change leads to global change. Let us commit today: first, we transform ourselves. We must take a pledge and then spread peace. Otherwise, we merely arrange peace conferences without spreading peace. As Viśwa Gurujī always says, peace begins within you. If you do not change today, tomorrow will never come. We will just keep talking, remaining restless. If you have a light, you can see. If you have a smile, you can share it. If you have peace, you can spread it. A restless mind cannot go beyond. Let our actions speak louder than our words. Let us transform ourselves and each other. There is good news: for the first time, the Nepal government is ready to declare a district a "yoga district"—Bhaktapur. Millions of yogīs have agreed. Just as there is Yoga Prague and Yoga Zagreb, there will be Yoga Bhaktapur. The initiation has started. We practice yoga not only for ourselves but for future generations, to share this planet with all beings—humans, animals, every creature. On this path, we will definitely achieve peace and non-violence. Our sincere wishes will come true. Vedic scripture asks: what is the meaning of the human body? It is not merely for eating, sleeping, procreation, and death. It is for a greater purpose. We can elevate our consciousness to a higher level. If we live an animal-like life, we do not use our brain's higher capacity. Now is the time to uplift ourselves. If you are sleeping, now is the time to awaken. Yoga reminds us of the three important days of human life: birth, death, and the day we discover why we came to Earth. If you have not found your reason, yoga provides the answer. Therefore, yoga is the solution for peace and non-violence everywhere. The journey starts now. Wherever you are from, from today, as we return home, let us make a difference. Let us change ourselves and start giving peace to others. Nowadays, political and organizational leaders say they have no time. Without time, how can you manage peace? When do you close your eyes? When do you empty your mind? Without emptying the mind, there can be no peace. This world needs yoga in action, not just in word. That action can start today. Let us utilize this human body for a good purpose and for the solution of this universe. It is said animals do only four things: āhāra (eat), nidrā (sleep), bhaya (fear), and maithuna (procreate). They live by four or five instincts. Human beings have more than fifty instincts, yet we use hardly three percent of our brain. Yoga boosts your brain capacity and inner potential, allowing us to say goodbye to stress and anxiety. In Australia, doctors now prescribe yoga for incurable conditions. Furthermore, yoga is being taught in Australian government schools. I hope the Czech Republic, hosting this peace conference, will also become a yoga capital. We can expect more schools to start yoga education, more places to become yoga centers, investment in missiles and alcohol to decrease, and investment in yoga systems, universities, and philosophy to increase. One day, we will definitely find peace. It is said: choose between meditation and medication. We want meditation for peace, and that comes from yoga. Yoga starts with the path of ahiṃsā: Yama, Niyama, Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, Pratyāhāra, Dhāraṇā, Dhyāna, Samādhi. The first Yama is ahiṃsā, non-violence. Let that start today. Can we start today? At least today, let us not be upset with anyone. Let us deal with everything calmly, wake up tomorrow calmly, and share this calm. We should not send only diplomats and ambassadors; we should send yogīs as ambassadors. You see here a yogī from Vedic culture spreading the philosophy of peace—a wonderful example. We must teach the new generation. When we send diplomats, we should also send a yoga teacher. Wherever you go, yoga should be part of your life. People say this is the age of remote controls and robots. How can you hold your nose and breathe deeply? The more time you invest in yoga, meditation, and the spiritual path, the more you become peace itself. This is the practice of yogīs, saints, and Maharṣis for thousands of years—a wonderful way of life. You have time to brush your teeth, to eat, to use Facebook and email. Why no time for yoga, meditation, and peace? A smile begins peace on your lips. A positive thought is the next step. Humble words put it into action. And when you realize, "Vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam"—the world is one family—we are all brothers and sisters regardless of origin, color, or stature. When you feel that the ātmā and paramātmā are the same, discrimination and violence will disappear from this world. Therefore, we must now raise our voice to our governments and politicians: we need to send a yoga teacher to the United Nations. We need to send groups of yogīs to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kabul, and the Middle East—not just military and security forces. Security forces cannot give true protection, but one yogī can start the change. You see the example here. Can we start the peace process today? Can we? Yes. Thank you very much. Let us chant Om Śānti again. Feel peace within yourself. Place your feet on the ground. Smile once more. Keep your backbone straight, shoulders back. Inhale deeply, exhale deeply. Commit: "I am an ambassador of peace from today." Let us chant: Om Śānti, Śānti, Śānti.