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Jyotir gamaya, mṛtyor mā amṛtam gamaya. Sarveśāṁ svastir bhavatu, sarveśāṁ śāntir bhavatu, sarveśāṁ maṅgalam bhavatu, sarveśāṁ pūrṇam bhavatu. Lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu. Nāhaṁ kartā, Prabhūdīp kartā, Prabhūdīp kartā hi kevalam. Oṁ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ. Rāvāvatu Alak Purījī Mahādev Kī Devadhī Dev Deveśvar Mahādev Kī Ārādhi Bhagavān Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇ Mahāprabhujī Kī Hindu Dharm Samrāt Satguru Svāmī Madhavānandjī Bhagavān Kī Satya Sanātana Dharma Kī blessed self, dear bhaktas and spiritual seekers. Today we are all gathered together in our holy āśram. This ashram was established by our beloved and worshipped Satguru Dev, Śrī Svāmī Madhavānandjī Bhagavān. When it was established, some of Gurujī’s bhaktas donated this land and requested, "Please, establish your ashram." At that time, about four or five hundred meters away, there was a small village called Sodala. From there, you could see a very small cottage, and then there was nothing—only sand and more sand, many farms, and certainly no greenery. Now you see this place; it is one of the best colonies in Jaipur. When they say Shyāmnagar, it is indeed one of the best. Jaipur is a very ancient and beautiful city, known as the second holy Kāśī, a sacred place like Banāras. It has been home to many great scholars. It is a city of wisdom, culture, and Sanskrit. Its radiance comes from the great saints and dignitaries who gave their best to spread a divine atmosphere. Without doubt, they are still present. It is a city where you can learn and study ancient scriptures. Jaipur is one of the finest cities, known as the Pink City, a destination of spiritual culture where people come from everywhere. In all of India, there is only one city that celebrates many different kinds of festivals: Jaipur. On the 14th of this coming September—or August—there is a festival, Śrāvaṇ Kī Tej. Śrāvaṇa is the seventh and eighth month, when the monsoon begins. In Indian culture and religions, this month is dedicated to the Swayambhū, to Śiva. We call it Śravaṇa according to the Indian astrological calendar. It begins from Guru Pūrṇimā and lasts one month. Every Pūrṇimā (full moon) across India, we worship. Every Amāvasyā (dark night, when there is no moon) is also worshipped. On this day, most artisans have a holiday; they do not work or use any tools in their hands. They are followers worshipping Viśvakarmā—Bhagavān, the Lord, the Creator, whatever we call Him. Viśvakarmā is the designer and architect of this earth, and we worship Him on every Amāvasyā day, and not only then. The first day of the new moon, or dark moon phase, is also a time for worship, as are the second, third, and ninth days. And definitely, without doubt, the eleventh day of the moon, whether during the waxing or waning phase. Likewise, there are so many spiritual thoughts and observances. Worship begins from the first day a mother knows she is pregnant, and continues daily. The birthday is worshipped, and when a child is given its first solid food, that too is worshipped. These are called saṃskāras. Generally, we refer to the sixteen saṃskāras. It is said that one who observes, follows, and worships through these will go to Brahmaloka. Some say such a person goes to swarga, heaven. But heaven is not forever. When our karmas are over, we come back to this world. However, a Brahmaniṣṭha, one who has gone through those sixteen saṃskāras with Guru Bhakti—that we call Brahmalīna. What does Brahmalīna mean? Brahman is not a form of God. It is like the sky, space. It is that very pure, holy, everlasting oneness. That is called Brahman. It has no form, no birth and death, no elements, yet it is. For humans, among the 8.4 million different creatures, it is very rare, and we are fortunate ones to have obtained a human body. I do not know if animals have their birthdays and such; they are also doing something, but they do not have this intellect. They are just living life; that is all. They have their discipline. In fact, animals have more discipline than humans. Animals eat according to their nature; they will eat only that and nothing else. There is a story. Once, the king of Udaipur was eating too much meat. He did not believe in certain restrictions. Gurujī told him he should not eat meat. The king asked, "Why not? We should be strong, like tigers and lions." Gurujī said, "Yes." The king said, "Lions also eat meat; they are strong. We are Kṣatriyas, warriors; we should also eat." Gurujī replied, "Yes. The tiger eats only meat. Does he eat rice? Does he eat rabri? Does he eat chapati? Does he eat cream or mango? No. He eats only meat. Now, the dog eats rice, rabri, chapati, and sweets. So, are you a tiger? The tiger eats only meat, but you are eating everything; you are not a tiger." Anyhow, every creature has its principles. But humans, unfortunately, are eating and behaving in ways not given by God. Ācāra, vicāra, āhāra, and vihāra—these principles are for humans. The ṛṣis, the great saints, gave certain rules, regulations, and principles for humans to follow. They occupied humans with these so they would not do stupid things. Thus, there are many days one should fast. On certain days, you should not cut a tree. On that day, you should not eat this; on another day, you should eat only milk, etc. This is so the human mind is occupied with good qualities and good things. Therefore, it is said that God has given this to all jīvātmā, to humans. But when the Jīvātmā enters a human body, it does not automatically become holy. We do not know what you are thinking or what I am thinking. However, in this hall where we are sitting, there are two who know everything. If you are sitting in this room, in this hall, in this ashram, then you should know that there are two such people here who know your mind, your thoughts, your feelings. They both know. You cannot hide it. God is one. God knows everything, does He not? God knows what you will say, what you will do. God sees. A story illustrates this. A Mahātma came and had two disciples who wished to become his disciples. They said, "Gurujī, give us mantras, give us blessings, make us your disciples." Gurujī said, "Okay, let us do a test." They asked, "What test?" He said, "Both of you go and bring a pigeon." They went and brought a pigeon. Gurujī then said, "Both of you go and bring a knife, and go kill the pigeon. But go to a place and kill it so that no one sees it." One of them went to the bathroom and cut the pigeon's head. He returned and said, "Gurujī, no one has seen it." Gurujī said, "You also go." The other went to the bathroom and came back. He said, "Gurujī, you said that no one should see it. But I am seeing it." Gurujī said, "Close your eyes and go." He closed his eyes and went back. Then he returned and said, "Gurujī, you said no one should see it. I closed my eyes. But God is seeing that I am beating it. Should I tie a bandage over His eyes too?" He went and came back again. "Gurudev, I tied a bandage over my eyes. I tied a bandage over the pigeon’s eyes. But God is seeing. How can I tie the bandage over God’s eyes?" Then Gurujī said, "You are a true disciple, my son. I will give you the mantra." And the disciple said, "I will kill the pigeon here." Gurujī then made the pigeon alive again and set it free. In the same way, this story teaches us. First, God knows what you are thinking, what you want, what your problem is, what you wish to do. And the other one who knows, who is in this hall, is you yourself. So God knows, and you know. These two are the ones present here. So, in the same way, when the human soul enters the human body, God gives us freedom, but then we become bound to karma. That karma is what we call action. Where there is action, there will be reaction. Where there is reaction, there will be action. Good reaction comes from good action. Good action yields good reaction. Bad action yields bad reaction. Pāpa and Puṇya. If humans do not follow the principles, then the Ṛṣis and Munīs gave these rules: Pūrṇimā, Ekādaśī, Amāvasyā, etc. All these days are called holy, and on these days you should refrain from certain actions. In India, in our ancient culture—now things are different—in this Kali Yuga, there are many different religions. Every religion has made itself. So, there is a saying: man-made God, man-made religion, and God-made religions. The God-made principles, and man-made ones. The man-made world is not perfect, but the God-made world is perfect. Therefore, within these principles, in human life, day and night, with each and every step and each and every look, we should know what we are doing and what we are thinking, so that we may become perfect, so that we may pass as true humans. Then all this will lead to Brahmaloka. Otherwise, jitnā karam hai, us karam ke ādhār par, phir hum āyeṅge (we will return based on the karma we have accumulated). This city, Jaipur, is a very spiritual city. On the day after tomorrow, the 14th, all you Europeans here, I think you should go and see the festival of Śrāvaṇī in Jaipur. I think these people should stay here. All roads are blocked, and you go to see the festival on this day. It comes once a year. It is a festival of the divine Pārvatī and Śiva. So you should not miss this. It will be very nice. There are many foreigners there, many people. It is a beautiful festival. So do not miss this, perhaps. We have a guide here; we will ask him to bring you there as a tourist. I think you should do it. It takes place from the morning till noon. Actually, from 3:20 to 5 in the afternoon, and then you should come to the Kailash. Well, I am not talking about my birth, but somehow it happens. It is a coincidence. So this is the day of my birthday. Exactly at that time, I was also born on Śrāvaṇ Kī Tīs. There is special food for that occasion. People who try to bring me this did not know, but that is a different thing for children to eat. But each and every event, which is according to spirituality, culture, tradition, and environment—and what we call the environment, the culture of the trees... what we call—no, the trees are open. Hari Om, Hari Om. How are you? Today is my birthday. So where are you going so quickly? Wait a moment. Take something. Take something. Where is he? Why so quickly? So it is like this, I think, by the divine, by the ṛṣis, to protect human action towards spirituality and prevent it from going towards negativities. Now, negativities come too much: meat, alcohol. But in these pure festivals, there is a very pure and very good atmosphere. So today is the day of this. Someone said that my birthday is every day. I wish you all the best. Thank you, everyone.