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Good morning. Welcome. This weekend, we will explore the subject of Haṭha Yoga. Yoga is referred to in many ways. In the Bhagavad Gītā, the eighteen chapters are named as eighteen different types of yoga. They include Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jñāna Yoga, Sannyāsa Yoga, and others. So, where shall we begin? According to Patañjali’s teaching in the Patañjali Yoga Sūtra—a very good book—yoga is not only physical exercise. It concerns the mind, consciousness, and the vṛttis (mental modifications). In Patañjali’s system, we find Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jñāna Yoga, and Rāja Yoga. We know what Karma Yoga is; we also know Bhakti Yoga; we study and know Rāja Yoga; and we know Jñāna Yoga. Now, where does Haṭha Yoga fit in? These are the different branches. There are two or three definitions. In one common explanation, it is said there are four types of Haṭha Yoga. In local explanation, haṭha means you need a lot of energy to endure and use your willpower to achieve. The first is called Bāl Haṭha. Bāl means a child. A little child, when it wants something, will cry and cry until the parents say, "Okay, take it." This is the will of an innocent child. The second is Strī Haṭha—the willpower of women. If they want something, they will achieve everything. In my opinion, if all our sisters and mothers learn good cooking, through this good cooking we can bring people back to our nature. We will save many creatures, and world peace can be achieved through our mothers and sisters. They have the capacity and understanding to do it. The third is called Rāj Haṭha. Rāj means the king. When the king wants to do something, he will do it. He changes the law, orders "do this, do that." The fourth is called Yogī Haṭha. This is the yogī who will try to achieve. So, in local languages, these are the four Haṭha Yogas: Bāl Haṭha, Strī Haṭha, Rāj Haṭha, and Yogī Haṭha. Now, here are two definitions about Haṭha Yoga. We need discipline, and sometimes discomfort in the beginning, but we want to achieve. For example, Netī, Sūtra Netī, Jala Netī, Dhautī, etc. This is the yogic willpower. Further, there is the Haṭha Yoga concerning the nervous systems. This involves the three nāḍīs: Iḍā, Piṅgalā, and Suṣumṇā. The Iḍā nāḍī is represented by the mantra Ha (like in the Ājñā Cakra, which is So’ham). According to the nāḍīs, Ha and Tha. Tha is Suṣumṇā and Ha is Iḍā. Ha and Tha: when these two come into balance and meet, that is called Yoga. From this, it has become Haṭha Yoga. This is the definition according to Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra and many other books of the great yogīs. This we can connect to the Kuṇḍalinī and the Cakras. Further, it goes to the awakening of the inner willpower and inner exercise. So here we come to Haṭha Yoga. Now, there is a physical Haṭha Yoga, and mental and spiritual practice. There is what is called Ṣaṭkarma. Ayurveda has Pañcakarma; here karma means exercises or techniques. When we say Ṣaṭkarma, we refer to the six beginning techniques: Netī, Dhautī, Bastī, Naulī, Trāṭak, and Kapālabhātī. These are the six techniques of Haṭha Yoga. When you practice Haṭha Yoga classically, you are doing these six techniques. The āsanas do not come into this yet. Nowadays, normally everywhere in Western countries, everybody says, "I want to practice Haṭha Yoga," and they take Haṭha Yoga as āsanas and prāṇāyāmas. But classically, according to the yogīs, the given techniques are these six kriyās. Then we go further with our meditation, mantras, and achievements. This is very important. Now, the techniques. First, Netī. This is connected with cleaning the nostrils. For that, we have a very nice Netī pot, which looks like a tea kettle; we call it a Netī Lotā. We use warm water, a little warmer than our body temperature, and good, clean salt—sea salt is good. Do it always in the morning, before breakfast. If you do Netī, do not sleep for at least three hours afterward; otherwise, you may get headaches or sinus problems. We always begin with the left nostril. Also, when we do prāṇāyāma, we should begin with the left nostril. When we begin āsanas, if done with hands or legs, we also begin with the left side. The left side, left nostril, the left hemisphere. Mostly, when someone has a brain hemorrhage, the left part of the body gets paralyzed. Therefore, it is said we should first awaken, purify, and warm this nāḍī. So we begin first with the left side. Then we come to the right. We call these the Candra-nāḍī and Sūrya-nāḍī. Candra is the moon. The moon changes every day, from the full moon to the dark night, and from the dark to the full moon. Therefore, we call the principle of the moon the mind. The mind always changes, and it is connected with the water element. Water is a moving element. Our mind is connected to our body; it guides or takes all our thoughts, movements, everything. So the mind is always changing, emotion is changing, and this is connected to the moon. If you balance the moon nāḍī, then our mind will become concentrated and come back. That is why a yogī first uses the left nostril so that the mind becomes calm, and then we can meditate. So, Maṅka Devtā, the principle of the mind, is the moon. The moon is the principle of water or emotion, and this is connected to our Haṭha Yoga. So, what we do when we begin prāṇāyāma: first, we should begin with the left nostril. This is called Nāḍī Śodhana. Nāḍī Śodhana means to transfer through and through, to make clean—purification of that nerve. When we inhale and exhale, we are cleaning or opening that Iḍā Nāḍī, activating it. This first stage is Candra Bhedan or Candra Śodhana—purification first. Inhale through the left, exhale through the right. Inhale through the left, exhale through the right. In this way, we purify the Iḍā Nāḍī. Then we take the Sūrya-nāḍī, the right nostril. We inhale and exhale only through the Sūrya-nāḍī fifteen times, then rest. Inhale, exhale with a longer or deeper breath. This is called Sūrya Bhedan Śodhana. Then, inhale through the right, exhale through the left. Inhale through the right, exhale through the left. This means we are purifying and awakening, or opening, the right nostril. After that comes what is called Anuloma Viloma, where they are touching the point called Yoga. We will take this tomorrow. Remember this, because I have talked so much. To repeat: According to the Bhagavad Gītā, there are eighteen different ways of yoga. According to Patañjali, it is called four yogas: Karma, Bhakti, Rāja, and Jñāna Yoga. Each has different principles. Then there is Haṭha Yoga, Kuṇḍalinī Yoga, Sahajī Yoga, Brāhmārī Yoga. There are many different yogas, but it has to go through the Iḍā and Piṅgalā. This was about Haṭha Yoga. Tomorrow we will make some demonstration and continue. Bless you all, and God bless you. Receive the blessings of Mahāprabhujī for your good journey. Eleven times we will chant our Aum with the navel, heart, vocal cord, and Sahasrāra.