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Part 1: A Universal Center for Peace and Unity This center, established in collaboration with the Reliance Group and the Government of India’s cultural center, will serve as a hub for programs from India—dancers, cultural events, and more—providing them a space for practice. Today marks the opening of this Oṃ Āśram and Yoga in Daily Life center. The Yoga in Daily Life system is practiced globally by millions of people. All its practitioners follow a strictly sāttvic diet: vegan or vegetarian, with no eggs or meat. For this occasion, people have gathered from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, India, Serbia, and Australia. Many nations are represented here today. As part of the ceremony, we planted a World Peace Tree. I plant such trees all over the world; millions have been planted. Today's tree is dedicated to those who lost their lives in this country at Christchurch. We pray for them and offer prayers for their families—children, parents, fathers, wives. In their name, we pray for good health, peace, and harmony. We pray to the Almighty that such tragedies never happen again, anywhere in the world. This Yoga in Daily Life center is a place where you can come to learn various techniques of yoga. It represents a religion, but it is not my religion, your religion, or their religion. There is only one: one in all and all in one. Indian culture encompasses different beliefs, yet it is one. In one family, one person worships God Rāma, another worships Durgā, another Kṛṣṇa, another Hanumān, and another only the river Gaṅgā—but they are all one. There are no differences within the family. Similarly, in yoga and in life, all religions—Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Yodian, Parsi, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, etc.—we are all one. One in all, all in one. Therefore, this center is for all of you. Everyone is welcome. It is our center. The yajña was very beautiful. As you sit here, you inhale its sacred smoke. This goes into our whole body and acts as a remedy. India is a cradle of culture. It has given culture to many people. The Sanskrit language is the mother of many, many languages. Its influence extends to Europe, Africa, and even the Māori. You can see that Māori cultural activities resemble those of India. Mahāprabhujīp Karatā He Kevalam, Mahāprabhujīp Karatā He Kevalam, Mahāprabhujīp Karatā. There is no duality. We should not create duality. We should not create differences in religion. We should not create differences between countries. We should come together as one nation. We are all sisters and brothers. Out of 8.4 million life forms, one is the human. We are human; therefore, we are neither Māori, nor African, nor Indian. We are one. One in all, all in one. The culture of South India—its language, dance, and many other aspects—is very beautiful. South Indians have preserved this dance. Many have seen it, many have not. The Savardhī sisters are here, and we welcome them warmly. God bless you. Please share with us the spiritual meanings of your cultures. They will now perform a dance style called Mohiniyāṭam, from South India, to a song called "Keśavīpādam," which describes Lord Kṛṣṇa. They will begin with Namaskāram. [Following the performance] It is true that nations can be joined or divided. There are four things that bring nations together: you, language, food, and dress. We are fortunate to have a strong relationship between New Zealand and India. But beyond that, there is someone else who can unite us: Viśvagurujī, Swāmījī, and particularly the yoga and meditation India carries from its ancient sages. I have a friend whom Swāmījī met years ago at an event at Aotea Square. He is a person of Bhāratīya Samāj. I would now like to invite Devājī to say a few words and bless this āśram. We also thank Nivash in Auckland, who, along with his sister and family, takes care of many senior citizens. Devājī's Address: Praṇām Swāmījī, distinguished ladies, gentlemen, guests, everyone. Thank you for joining. I feel very privileged to be here for the opening of this spiritual and cultural center. This center is already blessed because Swāmījī has opened it. Let us acknowledge that this center has been blessed by our Param Pūjya Swāmījī. Do not feel shy to clap. Remember, when you clap, many of your acupressure points become active. So whenever you have the chance, put your hands together. Please, do so once more for yourselves. I am sure this center will thrive. Many activities like yoga and meditation will take place here. People from different backgrounds and ethnicities can come to participate and use this wonderful facility created by Parampūjya Swāmījī. I feel privileged and thank Nāgin Bhai for this opportunity. I was watching the cultural performance and listening to my sister, Kanikā Jī, sing. It means that a person who can realize the pain of others is a true human. A true human is a Vaiṣṇavajan. We are all children of one Creator. When God created us, He sent us to this earth as humans. No matter which religion we follow, we came as humans. As humans, we should treat everyone with equality and respect. If we hold this in our hearts, we will harbor no differences or hatred. We have seen this in Christchurch yesterday and in Pulwama. Many people fight for causes where they gain nothing but lose their lives. They keep dividing people. God never taught us to be divided; we should be united as humans. So let us all join together, show support for humanity, and always pray for peace. Let us preach peace and practice peace. Host: Jījī, on behalf of Yoga in Daily Life for New Zealand, the Śrī Madhavānanda World Peace Council, Viśvagurujī, and the central organizers Seva and Friends, we thank you. Let's give another round of applause for Jījī's wonderful message. Bobby MacDonald's Address: Kia ora koutou, everybody. Thank you all for coming to New Zealand from around the world. It's great to have you here in our community in Onehunga. My name is Bobby MacDonald, a local artist born and raised in Auckland. We run a youth hub down the road where we use our special powers to inspire youth to breathe life into the community. We recently started a project called Ngā Atuahau, which involves visual storytelling through murals. We just completed one a couple of weeks ago outside this building. Through this, we met Premjyoti and this place. On Tuesday, I did my first yoga class here. I go to the gym a lot, but leaving the yoga class, I felt more energized than after the gym. It was brilliant, and I want to keep coming back. The mural we completed is called "The People Weaver." It tells the story of one of our atua (gods), Hineteiwaiwa, the goddess of fertility, birth, life, weaving, and creative arts. The mural also features a wahine toa (strong woman) at its center, based on a local community leader known as the people weaver. Her name is Amiria Pua Toko Ingwa. In Te Ao Māori, today is a celebration of our cultures and a reminder of how we need to treat and care for ourselves. Especially after yesterday, it is important that we look to our culture to find solace, peace, and strength. Thank you for coming. Yoga is important, coming together is important, and most importantly, Onehunga is the pito o te ao, the center of the universe. Well done on selecting a great place to base yourselves. Nō reira, i ngā mana, i ngā reo, i ngā rau rangatira, nāi rā te mihi mahana, te mihi aroha, te mihi manaaki ki a koutou katoa, mā oko Bobby. In Māori culture, after the men speak, the women sing. That is our tikanga (custom), how we honor what we say and do. Nō reira, should I sing for you? Host: Thank you, Gaurī. We thoroughly appreciate your contribution. Practicing yoga, especially when you're not flexible and trying hard to become so, is part of the journey. That is what Viśvagurujī does for us. He says, "I’m not going to give you hard yoga," but then the next level comes, and the next, until by the eighth level you are totally flexible. The Yoga in Daily Life system is so wonderful you cannot deny its benefits—physically, mentally, or in your very being. Amina, today you reminded me of all the Indian teachings I learned. Why respect women? Women respect men. You acknowledged that, which is good. You mentioned 'Vāhinī.' Vāhinī is a Sanskrit word for woman. 'Manu' is a Sanskrit word for the mind or mankind, and also a bird in Māori. There are many such linguistic connections; Māori has words born from Sanskrit. You may be pleased to know your mother language has roots in Sanskrit. You might like to learn some Sanskrit ślokas from our devotees here. We are fortunate that Maheśvara Nanda is not here, but Rāmilā and Balitā Bābī are. They have started a medical center in Westport. I would like Rāmilā to come forward and say a few words about Yoga in Daily Life and the Oṃ Āśram. Rāmilā's father met Swāmījī when she was two. She met Swāmījī again and was so happy yesterday to see Swāmījī opening this large, man-made āśram. Rāmilā's Address: Thank you for the opportunity. Congratulations to the centre and all the bhaktas on this achievement. It is very important that organizations like this exist because they bring people together, which is sometimes lacking in our busy community lives. We also have a meditation centre in Ngāwāmāku, which is a universal centre for all cultures and faiths. Meditation is as important as yoga. So wherever you are, there is now a place for you to go. Congratulations again to Swāmījī and all the bhaktas. We wish you the very best. Host: Without local support—or 'energy,' in Viśvagurujī's language—nothing happens, nothing moves. I now invite Bridget, a local member of the Business Council Association, to say a few words. Bridget's Address: Thank you. It is a great pleasure to be here. I should point out that I am no longer your elected representative. After thirty years representing Onehunga, I decided to step down last election. Your local representative is now Don Allen. However, I did spend thirty years in Onehunga working with its various communities. Part 2: A Community's Growth and the Ancient Roots of Yoga During my time in Onehunga, I witnessed a great change. We have always had a strong and vital community here, with many people making wonderful contributions. However, when I first started in Onehunga, things were not the best financially. The mall was a pedestrian mall only; there was no traffic and, consequently, very few customers. I don't quite know why, but that was the way it was. Over those 30 years, I saw the reopening of the mall to traffic and a huge improvement in customers and business. I am happy to say the business association is now thriving. I also saw the reopening of the railway line to Onehunga. Mahāprabhujīp Karatā Mahāprabhujīp Karatā. When the motorway went in, when State Highway 21 went in—but anyway, it was wonderful to see the community working with us and to see the beach that we provided. So that was really good. As well as seeing the difference in Onehunga itself, I've seen a huge growth in the population. The population is growing, and I believe it’s set to grow even further, isn't it, Tom? Yes. Now, because of that, it’s bringing in a lot of diversity, a lot of ethnic groups, and I think it’s bringing in a lot of togetherness and a willingness to learn about each other’s groups. I think that is very strong in Onehunga. I was very happy to see on my email this morning that there will be a service at St. Peter’s Church this evening at 7:30 for anybody who would like to come in support of the victims in Christchurch. But there is one slight downside to population growth, and that is an increase in stress and tension for the people who are there. I think it is wonderful, especially today, that you are opening this centre that is going to think about peace, harmony, and well-being for all people. I know that my daughter has attended yoga classes from this group, from Yoga in Daily Life, and she has appreciated it greatly. She told me there was a great change in her attitude in life and in her ability to cope with daily problems. So I think it’s a wonderful thing that you have opened this facility for Onehunga, where there is growth and there is stress, and people can be given this opportunity to learn how to develop themselves so they can cope and interact with other people. Congratulations and all best wishes for the future. Thank you. Thank you for your support. One of my friends asked, "What are you doing?" I said, "We’re opening an ashram." He said, "Whereabouts?" I said, "Onehunga." He said, "Why Onehunga?" And I said, "It’s a beautiful place." So, when Vajñānanda and Āśāpurī started, last after leaving Wellington, and then Prem Jyoti, and I came here a few times—Swāmījī’s blessings. Swāmījī always puts you high and high. You’ve got to climb the mountain, Mount Rangitoto, then Mount Cook, then he said you’ve got to climb the Himalaya. And when you get to the Himalayas, no, no, you’ve got to go to Kailāśa. And he said it so simply and so easily that yes, we can do it. So I said to Prem and Śeva that we were taking a picture, and I said, "Oh, we should buy this action, this place here." We are so happy and privileged to have this āśram here in Onehunga. There will be a base to promote yoga, daily life, and good health in Auckland. Hopefully, with the blessings, we will have centres throughout Auckland, which has a 2 million population. So, obviously we request His Holiness, Viśvagurujī, to send us some teachers. But today, I would like to thank Lalitā Ben and Śevā. If you can give her, or Uṣājī can give her, a flower for her, for her contribution and Amar Bhai’s contribution, who is not with us, for Yoga in Daily Life. Also, we like to thank our friends, our Swāmīs, and our dedicated hard workers, 24x7, 364 days, year in, year out. I don’t know how they cope, but I know why they can cope. It is purely energy that Viśvagurujī gives through yoga, through meditation, through the higher course. Umar Purījī, who has traveled all over the world from Europe, came to Wellington, Rāmāthī, and now Auckland. And we like Umar Purī to be appreciated, and this is Umar Purījī. And the three saints. Also, we have a pillar. That’s called a pillar, right? That holds the roof. So we have three pillars, or six pillars. In fact, seven. The number increases. So Mādhav Rāmjī, Lakṣman Purījī, Dayāl Purījī, Mohanbhai, Śeva, and Prem, and Kamlā, and Divyā Purījī, and Uṣājī, and Vajñānanda, of course, they have been mentioned. Pusati will give flowers to our pillars, so they can carry more roof and more weight. So, Dakṣiṇ Purījī, Dayāl Purījī, Dayāl Purījī and his family, we want to thank on behalf of Yoga in Daily Life and Śrī Mādhavānanda’s Council for the contribution that he is physically, mentally, and financially giving to society. We thank you for all your work. Prem, for your contribution to the Dharamdevī, and Divyā Purījī, and of course to Dharamdevī and Māṭājī, we want to thank our past presidents who have helped us in organizing many activities, and Karuṇāpurī is not here, but spiritually we thank Him, and also Jñāna for his contribution. Viśvagurujī always says, "All in one, one in all," and of course, Viśvagurujī always wants to work with authorities, always wants to work with higher authorities, which are God, and then the government, then the council. Today, we are privileged and honored to have our local Board Member Don Allen. I’d like to request Don Allen Jī to say a few words. Thank you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to say a few words. I’d like to thank you for the chance to celebrate the opening of Yoga in Daily Life here in Onehunga. On behalf of our local board, the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki board, and the local police, I would like to welcome you into our community. It’s a very small community that is growing day by day. We’re getting a lot of new developments around the area with housing and infrastructure, and we’re working very hard for our communities to make sure this community, Onehunga, is the safest place in New Zealand. We work very closely with our local community groups. Me personally, I’m your local elected member, and I’m your local community constable. My purpose in the police is to increase community empowerment and, through division, create unity in our neighborhoods. I run crime prevention programmes and initiatives, and through our local board, we support local groups such as our stakeholders in the 312 hub, who have done a fantastic job with the mural out the back here. We will help to support all community groups in any way that we can. So, on behalf of the Council and Police, congratulations on the opening of Yoga in Daily Life here in Onehunga, and we would love to have you in our community. Thank you very much. Brahmā Asmeṣṭi Gurve Dhyānamūlaṁ Guru Mūrti Pūjāmūlaṁ Padaṁ Mantramūlaṁ Guruvākyaṁ Bhakṣamūlaṁ Guru Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ... Salutation to our Gurudev, dear sisters and brothers, Naginbhai, and all dignitaries here. Sorry, my throat is somehow not working. Yoga is a science of the human being. Yoga is very, very ancient. Yoga itself came from Svayambhū, Śiva. Shiva, it is said that there was nothing, empty space. Nothing was nothing. The Vedas said, in that empty space comes some kind of voice. Which voice? We don’t know. But it is said, in the Vedas, "Nādarūpa Parabrahma," Parabrahma, the highest, the supreme, God, which has no form. And now, our sister was drinking in the chanting of two or three bhajans. I was searching: where is it, who is it? And she said she was residing beside me. Well, I thought it is somewhere in the video. But God has given in her vocal cords that kind of sound that is called Nādarūpa Parabrahma. It is not easy. So, Parabrahma is such that not everyone can practice it; a master is needed. Well, there is nothing. Who said Nādarūpa Parabrahma? That is after it came. But there is only space, nothing else. So it is said that in that meditation of samādhis, the space and consciousness. Consciousness. Is the conscious in the space, or is space in the soul? We don’t know. So, who is the first one? It is said, "Chetan ke to ichchhā nahīṁ." Consciousness, the conscious, has no desires, nothing. When the material can’t do anything, there must be something between, the space and consciousness, but they have no relation, so between that there are three principles: harmony, oneness, and balancing. These are the three principles. They are balancing the whole universe. But still, I don’t know. And then it is said, "It’s not me, I’m not telling that I know." It’s from those great saints and Vedas, etc. The first Sanskrit language, the first written literature, nowhere in the world, not even the Vedas, not the Bhagavad Gītā, no Rāmāyaṇas, this is what we have. But it was the time of Bhagavān Rāma, God Rāma, whom you are chanting according to the Hare Krishna movement. Very nice, very good. But they do not worship Rāma. They say he is a demigod. My dear, God is not a semi. We are also God. You are the supreme. But only if we have those qualities, and there are some karmic factors, we will come sometimes to talk. What they are singing is Hare Rāma, Hare Kṛṣṇa. Hare Rāma is the one who is called Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa’s elder brother. Who was it? Bal Rām. Bal Rām. So they don’t say Bal Rām. They say Rāma only. Hare Rāma Hare, beginning also like Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare, Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa. So they mean, of course, the God Kṛṣṇa is an incarnation, and his brother is also holy. There is nothing to do, but why are we ourselves making dualities? So God Rāma is that Daśaratha Putra Rāma. He doesn’t have to say that he is a semi-god, neither does he ask Siddha, nor does he ask Rāma, nor does he ask anyone else, and our Indians, other people sitting here, don’t have to say that, "I am on my own." Sometimes there are words in Hindi and English that are different, and since many Indians are sitting here, they will understand my language is different. So, we people are very emotional. In this, we got hurt. What do we say? We got stuck in it. And in the same way, we have got such good spices that we don’t even know whether we have eaten them or not. Anyhow, let’s go further. Bhagavān Rām, Bhagavān Rām se pahle, Bhagavān Rām, it was about nearly 200,000 years, 200,000, 300,000, Bhagavān Rām kā avatār, aur uskā kīm kā, Hanumān jī kā, chalo, chahe āp 1000 varas bhī bāṅdo, to bhī to bahut harā hai, 1000, 100,000, sorry, 1000 hī to bahut kam ho dā hai. That time was a great saint. After he got the meditation, he became holy. Otherwise, he was also like a paṇḍit. Though that had become the Bālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, the Maharṣi Vālmīki. Vālmīki was trikāla-darśī. He knew from where God, Rāmāyaṇa’s incarnation, is coming, where, what, why, and his father Daśaratha, why, and this whole story is there. But we also close the... Bala Miki Rāmāyaṇa ko koi ghaṭpur paṭitai nihai, but it is from there. Similarly, we don’t know where is creation, etc., etc. I am giving a little glimpse of yoga. So Nāda Rūpa Parabrahman, the Nāda sound, and that sound says, "Ekohaṁ Bhauṣyam, Ekohaṁ Bhauṣyam: I am one, and now I will multiply." Who speaks? No one is there. How does it come? No one knows. What will we multiply? Who will multiply? And that is called Nādarūpa Parabrahman. First comes the sound, the resonance. And through that resonance comes the fire, jyoti, light. Surya came after, and from this comes the Swayambhū Śiva. Shiva has no mother, no father, no brother, no sisters, no house. From nothing, Shiva appears. The greatest is Śiva. And there, out of this Śiva, that begins to make the creation: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, etc. Vishnu came many times, Brahma came many times, Shiva came many times, but the original Shiva, Swayambhu, and that time these three principles, balance, harmony, and so these three begin the yoga. Yoga means union. Yoga means balance. Yoga means harmony. And that comes through the yoga. So physical exercises are not at Śiva. But there are 8.4 million creatures. And according to Patañjali, which is about 7,000 years before Patañjali, and it was the time of Vedavyāsa. Patañjali, at that time, was in the Mahābhārata Yodha, that time, so Patañjali brought those 84 postures, āsanas, but now we are more developed, we have problems, then we go to the doctor or physiotherapy, Śrī Śrī... Everything is sanātana. The human is sanātana. That is Sanātana Dharma. Now, in this Kali Yuga, many, many dharmas can develop. So Yudha, Buddhist. Buddha is Hindu. Hindu dharma. And Buddha never, never ate anything, fish or meat or this. And Buddha had meditation, and he was going for vikṣā, vikṣuk kete henko, that looking, that I am not stepping on any ant even. That has gone so far in my life. But dharma came very good; I think nothing is wrong. Christianity came, Buddhism came earlier, Sikhism came earlier. Purījī, Purījī... God bless them, and even them also, I pray for them. God gives you good thoughts, so please don’t do such things. We pray for everybody. This is number one. Number two: "Oṁ kāra bindu saṁyuktaṁ nityaṁ dhyāyanti yoginaḥ, sarva yogī puruṣābhiḥ." Oṁ is the sound here. Neither the dharma, this religion, nor the other. Only sound. And in Nāḍī Yoga, the 52 alphabets or letters of Sanskrit are all located in the navel. Our creation is from the navel. Our chakras, which I had, perhaps one day I will do. Either this, I forgot to look at.