Swamiji TV

Other links



Video details

The Triangle of Thirty Years

An evening satsang reflecting on thirty years of spiritual work and the responsibilities of human life.

"Parents should only get children when they themselves are grown. Parents must know what it means to have a child. It is one of the biggest responsibilities on the parents."

"Understand, it's both. Ātmā, the soul, is the same. God, or other animals, or yourself. But qualities, what is there? And what we have, humans, those kinds of powers, others do not have."

Swami Satyananda Saraswati addresses a gathering, using the symbolism of a thirty-year triangle to discuss family, societal duty, and spiritual evolution. He emphasizes the critical role of parents in providing love and education to prevent societal decay. The talk expands into the nature of the soul, the five sheaths (kośas), and the importance of a true master (Satguru) for navigating beyond the elemental body to realize the cosmic Self.

Filming location: Ljubljana, Slovenia

Good evening. Welcome to all sisters and brothers, and to our beautiful flowers—the children. Thirty years is very symbolic; it is called the trinity: Śiva, Brahmā, and Viṣṇu. That is called the three goddesses, and there is a triangle. There are many other kinds of circles, but the triangle is something very important. This triangle, in every direction, is for us on the highest peak. Time is passing very quickly, and we have so many new generations, as I used to say. Always, the children are the culture of tomorrow, and we shall give proper love and education to them. Unfortunately, in this time of the world, what is happening is that children are not educated in a better way. We know that it's a big problem in the whole world. Day by day, the younger children are getting into drugs. It means the parents do not have such knowledge, such love for the children, and that's why the children are going outside the door and the parents don't care about that. Parents should only get children when they themselves are grown. Parents must know what it means to have a child. It is one of the biggest responsibilities on the parents. And what a situation—the child is so innocent and the parents separate. Maybe you don't have that much love for them, but children need that love; they need that love. You can't imagine, the child is crying alone in the bed. And from that time, they have very much fear. Either the mother is shouting or the father is shouting. So they don't know where to go or what to do. And they are waiting for when and how they will grow, so that they can go out of it. Many children from the school, when they go away, they are crying. Really, they are crying when they are coming home. In which direction will our generation go? Either you should not marry, finished. And no children. If you do, the husband has to surrender completely. Never, and never shout, and behave with very bad words to the wife. And in the same way, the mother also. She must, and she must, and she must adore the husband, and the husband should adore the wife. You should become so mature that you are capable to marry. Many people have mental problems, and children are suffering. Therefore, as in our yoga and daily life, we must give them love. Children look forward to when Swāmījī will come and when the seminar will be. In summer programs, there are two or three hundred children. They sit very silently. The small child, nine months old, eight months old, enjoys the satsaṅg and peace. So we should take care of our children. Educate them, social education. Through this, your nation will be a very great nation. Otherwise, the country is lost, and the culture of the country is lost. Still, it's not too late. But there are little children, and some are 10 years, 15 years; they don't want to come anymore with the parents. This will be our life, successful life. Otherwise, you know where you are going in the next life. Don't think that we are human and now we will be human; we will not go into another life. It is in our karma. We don't know in which body our soul will go. Even they may be reptilian, or different things. God gave us this beautiful, beautiful body. And God gave this to become free in the cosmic light. Otherwise, we remain in two parts. Either the prison for some days, and then again you come to the human body, or what you call hell. And that will be suffering forever. Think over. Really, tonight you should think over. What will be with me? What happened has happened. But how will it be now? This we have to think ourselves, because God gave us a very nice brain, thoughts, everything. There are different things. There is human life. There is social life, there is love with animals, and religion. Okay, we have different religions; for me, religion is different. Friend, there is one person. He studied and became a lawyer. One became a doctor, and another became a holy saint. One became a farmer. Now, in this world, what we are saying: "My lawyer is my God. My lawyer is my God. And my doctor is my God, and my God is the farmer." Please don't mind. Otherwise, you can find out. So you can say Brahmā, the grandfather, or you can say Viṣṇu or Śiva. Or you say Rāma or Kṛṣṇa or Jesus, but what you call God is not that. That is our protector. That is our guardian. And you are learning from that. It will help you. But finally, it is the cosmic Self. So every time, from time to time, the holy or God is incarnated. But finally, there is only one. You can say one word only: God. And when you understand, you will realize that there are only three letters: God. And if you don't understand, you will not respect, you will not follow that God. Then, G-O-D, you change it in the other direction. So you become now D-O-G. The dog, because you all the time are running behind the dog, caring for your dog. It's good that it is also an animal, very nice, but you can't compare the dog to God. Understand, it's both. Ātmā, the soul, is the same. God, or other animals, or yourself. But qualities, what is there? And what we have, humans, those kinds of powers, others do not have. So when we follow those gods, what we call... In Satya Yuga, there was only one word, one God. But in Kali Yuga, many, many religions began. But why not? What you like, that's good. But how will you come into that cosmic Self? Otherwise, it will happen. We will go and come, go and go, or once we will all come together, that's all. Because the soul, or you call the jīvā... What you call in your language, that Buddha is life. Buddha is life. Water is life, and that water is my life, my soul. As an element, it is only that one water. That is the solid element, not voda, the nourishment, that is called that element of the physical body. It is the space, the fire, the air, the water, and earth. We all this together, we have that. And if one of the elements is missing, we are dead. So it has to be kept together. It is not depending on us. The Creator, He has created, and He made this. We are thinking about science and scientists, and they are doing great, great work, but still, what have our scientists done till today? Maybe two percent, but the rest, not. We cannot, we cannot do as a human. Let's say one tiny ant, a very tiny ant. And she has how many legs? Two or six, or three, or four, or five, something. And how many joints do they have? Like we have the joints of our toes, ankle joint, knee, hip joint, etc. But how did God manage very tiny, very tiny, the end joints? And did you ever, ever enjoy the dance of the ant, the queen, and how she is dancing? Pagagonga rubandamira nasi de pagagonga. And he's dancing. She's chanting. She's enjoying. Yes, and then comes the husband. And how the husband is dancing. And how nicely they are walking together, hand in hand. End to end, there is one very tiny creature that's called the sand fly. Mostly in Australia. And coming, many Australian bhaktas to Jadan, now all rooms are full of that person. You can't get rid of it. And it means that you can't see them; you cannot see. It's like a fog. Fog is a drop of water. And that fly bites you, and you can't see. After she's enjoyed your blood, then she's gone, and then begins itching, so you are itching and itching and... They call, "Oh, God, this is a sand fly," not visible at all, which... how the teeth will be bigger? So we cannot compare another, our human science, with the science of God. Another, when we are young, we think, "I am the young, the strong. I will be young all the time. I know better than my parents." Once I gave a lecture in Czechoslovakia at the time of communism. In nursery school, I said, "Through yoga and this, I will ever remain young." And three years ago, in the same city, there were many people like this. And that was a nurse who was learning nursing. And now she is retired, and she came to me with a nice flower because from that day she became my disciple. She said, "Swāmījī, you told that you will be ever young, and I thought my Gurudev will keep me all the time young. Gurudev, when will you make me young?" I said, the body is old. The mind is old. Therefore, don't worry, you are ever mentally young. She said, "Well, that I know, that I brought you so far, that you are ever hanging." So don't give up, don't give up in life, anything. You are ever best and good, the mind. So it is called Annamaya Kośa, the body of nourishment. And that every creature will change its body. Body. You know the snake? You have the snakes, but not here, somewhere. On the Adriatic coast, there are a lot of little, very poisonous snakes. And you know, the snake gets twice a year the skin, such a skin like a dress. And that remains on the eyes like a blind. So then one day he goes on the bush, and with the thorns of the bush, like we are scratching, the snake goes through and the skin comes out. So this is the Annamaya Kośa; it comes and goes, comes and goes. We cannot survive through this. So, in these five elements, one is called the nourishment. Annamaya kośa, the food. Then comes the prāṇamaya kośa. Prāṇa is not visible, but it's a power. So it is coming from the Annamaya Kośa, from the nourishment. But that is power, strength. When you have not got eating food somewhere for five days, one week, we have very little energy. And when you eat, the body becomes stronger. So prāṇa, prāṇamaya kośa, this is very, very important. And that keeps us healthy and happy. As long as prāṇa is here, the soul will not go. But how will you keep your prāṇa good? Alcohol is also prāṇa. But that alcohol prāṇa is going to harm you. Any drugs you are taking, that energy will also kill you. Pure water, pure juice, pure milk, mother's milk, cow's milk, etc. That will keep us strong and very pure. So there are four different kinds of milk. And these four kinds of milk you should know. First, milk is the milk of the mother. All animals, everyone who gives birth to a baby, they also have the milk to give. And those animals which are giving eggs cannot give milk. So this kind of milk, that is the mother's milk. And then, second, it is the vegetation milk, what you are drinking sometime, the soya milk, that some trees' milk, some trees' milk, the juice of the trees, juice of the fruits, so this is the milk, that what we are, so mother's milk, then the forest milk, the trees. So, mother milk, what you call the vegetation's milk. One, I have forgotten, what is that? So, one milk, the mother's milk, then cow's milk, animal milk. Then for the vegetation milk: mother's milk, cow's milk, and vegetation milk. And the fourth milk, which you should know, and when you will know that fourth milk, your body will be very healthy and very good. Maybe you become immortal. That milk I will not open today. I cannot give you always free, but there is. One day I will say, look, this is that milk. So, this all gives us prāṇa, energy. But this energy can save us or kill us. You drink milk, or the yogurt, or juice, and you are driving your car peacefully. And you are hungry. So you drink milk and this juice and so on, and you are driving. Another prāṇa. You drink the best Slovenian alcohol. And then driving, I don't know that you can survive. So this is the prāṇa. Now we have to understand what is the prāṇa. So prāṇa is life. When an animal dies or a human dies, we say prāṇa is gone, and prāṇa is gone means the soul is gone. A certain part of the body, the heart, the breath, the brain, certain parts are still not dead, but we think it becomes cool and there is no breath, and one thinks it is dead. Yes, it is. On a certain level, we feel it has died. But still, there is life in the brain. It will take a long time when you bury the body. Sometimes, still, there is life inside. Of course, when he died and went to the hospital, the doctor will open him here, and the doctor will cut it out, take everything out, and then again, everything they take—the heart and this and that—then he opened the stomach and put it all inside and said, "And nicely put it," and you think, "Oh, my father is still like this." When someone has died, and still your hair is growing, and as long as still your hair is growing, and as long as the leaves and branches grow, it is life inside. So that is a subject, a very long one. So we should have good prāṇa, very good prāṇa, and that is sāttvic nourishment. After the prāṇamaya kośa, the life or the body of the energy, then comes the manomaya kośa. Man means the mind. You cannot kill the mind. You can't catch the mind. And you don't know where is the mind? In which part of the body is the mind? Not only in the brain. The mind is the mighty, and mind is so speedy. The thing is so quicker than the mind. I can bring your mind within nothing. Your mind like nothing. Let's say 5 million or 50 million distance. I can take you there, but not physically. The energy that will go with a little bit. But the mind is mighty. So let's go now, let's say, 50 million, the distance. You want to know now? So, let's say 50 million, okay? Maybe it's more or less. So, get ready. Jupiter, you are in the Jupiter already, yes or no? Yes, that is your brain, my brain, their brain, everything. Our mind, your mind is so powerful, and that is given by God and not by a scientist, okay? Don't go to the Jupiter. Here in Slovenia, there is a beautiful lake and one church, do you know? So you are already there, yes, and that is that our meditation, the power of the meditation and instructions of the master, the proper master. And that master, which has a paramparā. Other masters will tell you many stories and many things, no problem. Problem. But come to that cosmic self that is the Satguru. But not in the name of the Satguru. Everyone can say, "I am Satguru." I explained this morning, Alagpurījī, Alakpurījī, and Śaṅkara, and Satya Yuga. From there, the master to master to master. For example, there is one boy called Vasiṣṭha. And Vasiṣṭha knows his father. Also, it is strong in everything. The grandfather, the grandfather,... generation to generation. The genes of your ancestors are in your body now. You cannot put someone in to take your genes. So this is how the holy saints from the Satyugas are bringing all the times, and it will be for everyone, wherever you come from and wherever you belong. So, you cannot say that I am Christian, or I am Muslim, or that I am Buddhist, or I am Hindu. No. The genes are there, which are your body. So this is that mind we are coming to. So, Annamaya Kośa, the earth; Prāṇamaya Kośa, the air, the energy. The water, and ākāśa, the mind, so these are all in our body. So we have to go and achieve there, till where our paramparā, our masters, where it is. So somebody comes to you and says, "I am now your guru." So you can say, "Thank you, you are my guru, but I am your grand guru." That's it. So this, we have to realize, realization, these five elements. It is given to you; it is not yours. After that, you have to work to go further. This element helps you, but where the elements cannot anymore, then what are you going to do? What will you be then? The earth element is gone. The water element is gone. The air element is gone. The water element is gone, and now there is space. Now, what happens? You are lost, alone in this space. Who is going to liberate you? What do you have to meditate? What mantra do you have to get? You are now only in space, that's all. In the desert, in the Sahara, a thirsty deer, running here and there. And then, very thirsty, and see about half a kilometer distance, a beautiful lake, very clean, blue water. And thirsty deer running towards the lake. Running and running. As far as you go, that far is still the lake. The horizon, so what is the horizon? The horizon is that, as far as you go, that far it goes back. So the deer will fall down and die. No water. So similarly, we achieve that nothingness, and they don't have a proper master, so they say, "No mantra, just meditate." And they said, "We don't need a mala. We don't need a mantra. Just be within thyself." But if the situation, then your situation is that deer which is now running and running and running but couldn't catch the water. In the winter or summer, very strong sunlight and the road is dry, but we see about 50 meters distance on the road, water is lying, and you are driving, but there is no water. So this is nothing, but there is a reality, and that reality is from the earth that comes what you call the very fine humidity. We cannot catch it, but it is there. Similarly, it is there, but you can't get anything. So when you practice yoga and achieve your life, then do it properly and let come those ṛṣis from the other yugas. So these five elements are five different cloths over this jīva. Now, what will Jīva do when you lose these five cloths? That I will tell you this weekend in Prague. So, my dear, I am very happy to see you. And 30 years, the triangle. And we are there. What will happen? Good. If you continue, otherwise, you will say, "No, it is stupid and nothing," and then you will go into the life of the reptilian. And after the reptilian, maybe someone different will say, "Let me be the reptilian, but in the ocean, so I can swim." And everything, but there is also no safety. Somebody will come and catch you. So anywhere in the universe, enemies are behind, life is behind. And the soul, what is the soul? That soul, it is oneness, it will come into oneness. So next weekend, the coming weekend, until then, all the best.

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

Email Notifications

You are welcome to subscribe to the Swamiji.tv Live Webcast announcements.

Contact Us

If you have any comments or technical problems with swamiji.tv website, please send us an email.

Download App

YouTube Channel