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Part 1: A Celebration of Anniversaries and Spiritual Fellowship Pranam Swamiji, Distinguished Guests, Your Excellency, it is my pleasure to welcome you on behalf of Széchenyi István University to celebrate here the 40th anniversary of Yoga in Daily Life Hungary with the founder of the system, His Holiness, Vishwaguru Paramahamsa Swami Maheshvarananda Puriji. We further have here with us His Excellency Mr. Kumar Tuhin, the Ambassador of India to Hungary. Széchenyi István University is represented by Dr. Péter Földesi, the Rector. Yoga in Daily Life Hungary is represented by Mr. Károly Kovács. We also have among us the very distinguished Secretary General of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, Renaissance University Chancellor, Mr. Swapnil Kothari. We have with us the Honourable Mr. Róbert Balázs Simon, the Vice-Chairman of the Hungarian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Culture, Member of Parliament for the City of Győr, as well as Mr. Zoltán Németh, the President of the General Assembly of the Győr-Moson-Sopron County Council, and Dr. Dávid Fekete, the Vice-Mayor of the Győr City Municipality. The initiation of the conference—today’s celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 70th anniversary of the Indian-Hungarian diplomatic relations—will start with a traditional Gaṇeśa pūjā. I am asking His Holiness Swamiji, Dr. Földesi, and Ambassador Tuhin, as well as Madame Kothari, to join for the official opening ceremony. [Gaṇeśa Pūjā Mantras] Oṁ Saṅkarāya Namaḥ Śivāya. Oṁ Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaḥ. Oṁ Brahmā Murāri Tripurāntakāri. Oṁ Suṣṭhu Darśana Puruṣa Sukha Sādhana Sarve Bhavantu Santuṣṭāḥ. Oṁ Śrīyai Namaḥ Candramase Namaḥ. Oṁ Ādityāya Namaḥ, Prajāpataye Namaḥ. Oṁ Sūryāya Namaḥ, Sāvitryai Namaḥ, Sarve Namaḥ, Keśavāya Namaḥ, Sarve Bhavantu Śāntimayaḥ. Oṁ Brahma Gurudeva Viṣṇu, Oṁ Viṣṇu Gurudeva, Oṁ Maheśvara Guruśāstra, Brahma Satyam, Satyam... God bless you. Thank you for the official opening ceremony. And I would like to ask Professor Dr. Péter Földesi, Rector of Széchenyi István University, to kindly deliver his opening speech. Well, most respected Swamiji, dear guests, I would like to extend a very cordial welcome to all our guests of honor and plenary speakers, as well as all participants on the occasion of this extraordinary conference at Széchenyi István University. Today’s event, the chief causes for celebration, are the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as well as the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Indian-Hungarian diplomatic relations. Sincere congratulations on the 40th anniversary of the initiation of the system of Yoga in Daily Life, of which His Holiness is the founder. To the United Kingdom Houses of Parliament, on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga celebrated just ten days ago, Swāmījī was presented with a Yoga Ratna award by an all-party parliamentary group. This prestigious award is in recognition of his service to yoga and Indian traditional science. On this month’s occasion, dedicated to the celebration of the bilateral ties between our two nations and organized in collaboration with the Indian Embassy to Hungary, I extend a very gracious welcome to His Excellency Mr. Kumar Tuhin, Ambassador of India to Hungary. He has already kindly paid us a courtesy visit, during which he met a group of Indian students currently studying at Széchenyi István University. In connection with this, I am sure that Ambassador Tuhin was also pleased to learn recently that a further eight Indian students supported by a Hungarian stipendium scholarship will be joining those already studying in our English-taught programs. Considering our present dynamic internationalization process, we sincerely hope that India will provide a continuing and expanding source for the recruitment of applicants. I would also like to express our immense gratitude to Swāmījī for his own most generous contribution to the building up of the Indian community at Széchenyi University. Furthermore, we would also like to offer a most cordial welcome to Győr and the university to another distinguished guest, Mr. Swapnil Kothari, who is the Chancellor of Renaissance University Indore in the state of Madhya Pradesh. I cannot emphasize enough how the burgeoning relations between India and Hungary, created over the decades, are today indeed a true cause for celebration. For our part, ever since the beginning of our process of internationalization, Széchenyi István University has constantly strived to establish ever closer cooperation with the Indian Embassy to Hungary. In this respect, last year we joyfully celebrated the 3rd Ganges-Danube Indian Cultural Festival, which incorporated a public yoga practice session to mark the International Day of Yoga on the 21st of June. The climax of the program was a practical demonstration of a range of yoga activities and techniques according to the system Yoga in Daily Life. This year, too, the University marked the celebration of the International Day of Yoga with a much larger and very well-attended public yoga session, which received excellent press coverage. One of the goals of these programs is to present yoga activities and techniques within the system of Yoga in Daily Life. These days, Gandhījī’s legacy has become more important than ever. In the context of this conference held at Széchenyi István University, it is worth considering Mahatma Gandhi’s view of education, which means much more than the literal meaning of the word. He says, "By education I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in child and man—body, mind and spirit." Literacy is not the end of education, not even the beginning. It is one of the means whereby man and woman can be educated. Literacy in itself is no education. He considered education to be closely associated with the socio-economic development of society. What was important for Gandhi was work experience, because it stimulates the human mind for creative thinking. He thought that such creative thinking should be taken up from primary to higher level education. His view on basic education is greatly influenced by his philosophies of truth, non-violence, a firm belief in God, and the dignity of labor. "Learning by doing" is an important Gandhian principle of modern education, which aims to stimulate the individual’s mind to think creatively, independently, and critically. His great emphasis on work culture, from primary through to higher education, is to enable students to start producing right from the start. Gandhi also believed that the main aim of education is the development of human personality, and that true education stimulates the spiritual, intellectual, and physical strength of the individual, producing not only good individuals, but also someone who will understand his or her responsibilities in the environment in which they live. Understanding one’s responsibilities leads to a spirit of social consciousness and social-mindedness, so that all the activities of such people will have social content as well as cooperation with others. Gandhi emphasized the importance of values. Without values, education is impossible. These values will strengthen and improve the intellectual, moral, spiritual, and social behavior of people. We build character and symbols, and these symbols are strong in their personality, in their connection, in their kindness, and in their pure thinking. Gandhi strongly holds that education is not an end in itself, but the most powerful weapon which creates persons of genuine character. When the qualities of truthfulness, firmness, and tolerance are absent from education, that is not true education; it is somehow degenerated. True education is a life process which contributes to the cultivation of cooperation, tolerance, public spirit, and a sense of responsibility. Gandhi also maintained that education is essential for the attainment of the goal of peace. It can be attained only through morality and ethics. In the final analysis, according to Gandhi, education is the realization of the best in man’s body, soul, and spirit. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Földesi for his welcoming remarks, and now I would like to ask Mr. Károly Kovács, President and Special Advisor of the Yoga in Daily Life System, to introduce the lifetime work of Vishwa Gurujī and briefly present the 40 years of Viśvaguru’s Hungarian work. After Kovács Károly has finished his speech, we will translate it into English. Thank you. My name is Károly Kovács. Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank Dr. Péter Földesi, and I would like to express my special gratitude to him for hosting the system of Yoga in Daily Life at today’s event. His Holiness, Śrī Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Paramahaṁsa Svāmī Maheśvarānanda, founder of the system of Yoga in Daily Life, asked me to thank you, because my wife and I have been his disciples for 40 years, and I am the president of Yoga in Daily Life Hungary. I would like to thank Mr. Swapnil Kothari, the General Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Congress and Chancellor of the Indian Renaissance University. I would also like to thank His Excellency Mr. Kumar Tuhin, the Ambassador of India to Hungary. Today we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahātmā Gāndhī and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Indian-Hungarian diplomatic relations. Therefore, I would like to express my great respect to Dr. Ferenc Dancs, Deputy State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Mr. Róbert Balázs Simon, the Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Culture; Mr. Zoltán Németh, President of the Győr-Moson-Sopron County Council General Assembly; and Dr. Dávid Fekete, Deputy Mayor of Győr Municipality. Viśvagurujī Śrī Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Paramahaṁsa Svāmī Maheśvarānanda has met two Presidents of the Republic of Hungary. He was received on two occasions by President Árpád Göncz. He met President János Áder for the first time in 2012 at the UN Rio+20 conference. The President invited Viśvagurujī to participate in the Tajik-Hungarian Water Initiative conference. One of Viśvagurujī’s largest aid programs is the Desert Rainwater Harvesting Initiative, which he represented at the Rio+20 conference. Here he was invited by János Áder to participate in the Budapest Water Summit in 2013. During this summit, Viśvagurujī and Minister Dr. Sándor Fazekas planted 11 peace trees in the Őrség National Park. In Hungary, 540,000 copies of Viśvaguru’s books in Hungarian have been sold, from which we think that millions have practiced in the last four decades. This is a very short summary of Viśvaguru’s work. Thank you for the opportunity to present these to you. Praṇām Swamijī. So, Your Excellency, Mr. Kumar Tuhin, Ambassador of India to Hungary; our Rector and Vice-Rector of Széchenyi István University; our distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it is my great honor and pleasure to open this event. In this global world, everything is interconnected. Our political, cultural, and economic relations are multifaceted. We address a number of issues and challenges together in the international forum through international legal instruments, organizations, debates, and conferences. As for today, we have gathered for a memorable and important anniversary here at Széchenyi István University. Let me say a few words in remembrance of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Hungary, which we celebrate this year in 2019. Hungary is particularly proud of being among the first countries that established diplomatic relations with independent India 70 years ago. The shared fundamental principles, like democracy and the rule of law, combined with the long and rich history of culture and economic ties, provided us with an especially solid basis to build excellent bilateral ties. Hungary and India have a long history of cooperation, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th century, when a score of Hungarian Orientalists visited India and Rabindranath Tagore visited Hungary in return. Even to provide a short summary of the history of diplomatic relations between Hungary and India would require a long list of several state visits, high-level political contacts, and fruitful negotiations. Our decades-long bilateral relations and successful cooperation have always been characterized by a friendly atmosphere. Agreements in various fields have been signed to strengthen cooperation in trade, culture, education, and investment. These treaties have laid down the road to regular cooperation between ministries, education and scientific institutions, companies, and, most importantly, created contact between the people of our nations. Hungarians have always looked at Asia with a kind of curiosity and paid particular attention to the outstanding history, culture, and religions of the Asian nations. The culture and the rich spirituality of India was always, and still is, an important source of inspiration and desire to know more about the world around us. Speaking of the bilateral connections, the tomb of Sándor Csoma de Kőrös is situated in India. Whilst in Hungary, there are two statues of Rabindranath Tagore in Balatonfüred and one of Mahatma Gandhi in Pécs, which are conscious reminders of the excellent, multifaceted cultural relations between India and Hungary. Speaking of Mahatma Gandhi, there is another elevated anniversary that we have to commemorate. In 2019, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the prophet of nonviolence throughout the world. Mahatma Gandhi’s memory and teachings are highly appreciated in Hungary. His dignified humility and modesty set an example for today’s politicians, as well as for future generations. The influence of Gandhi worldwide is still vivid. His doctrines and past ways are taught in many schools and universities. Nonviolence is a main premise, and the method became the principal idea and basis of UN decisions as well. Another famous Indian, with some personal Hungarian connections, is the Budapest-born painter Amrita Sher-Gil, who created a unique synthesis of Hungarian, European, and Indian traditions in her artwork. The Amrita Sher-Gil Center in Budapest bears the great artist’s name and celebrates his exceptional artworks through permanent and temporary exhibitions and programs. Shifting to actual Indian-Hungarian relations, we must mention that the continuous high-level visits play a special role in extending bilateral cooperation. The visit of 2013 was a milestone in our bilateral history. Following his visit, as a modest expression of our commitment to further enhancing our cooperation by assisting all interested parties of both sides, we opened the Consulate General in Mumbai in 2014. During the visit of His Excellency Mr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India, to Hungary in 2016 provided an excellent opportunity to review our bilateral relations and exchange views on international developments. I also congratulate the Government of India on the occasion of its victory in the recent elections. I am deeply convinced that the re-election of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP is clear proof of the satisfaction of the people of India with the way of governance. We follow with sympathy the work of the Modi government, which has already achieved remarkable results in the field of boosting economic development and promoting business-friendly environments. These aspirations are very similar to the ideas of the Hungarian government. I must also underline that currently we live in the most exciting period of our bilateral history. Our bilateral trade is steadily growing. Indian companies have discovered the Hungarian market as a sensible investment destination. Our cultural and educational ties, and people-to-people contacts, are flourishing. The recent years have also seen a rapid uprise in our economic cooperation. I really don’t like to bore you with numbers, but there’s one I have to mention: it has reached a historical level, which is 876 million US dollars in 2018. We encourage investments of Indian companies in Hungary, particularly in the IT sector, pharmaceuticals, regional services, research and development, and tourism. India clearly possesses substantial political weight, as well as the necessary economic strength, to be a positive, significant, and stabilizing member of the international community. Hungary appreciates India’s growing international activity as well. The increasing significance of India’s international position and prestige is manifested in the external relations of the European Union as well. India is a strategic partner of the EU, and this distinguished partnership is also reflected in the practice of annual summit meetings. Finally, I’d like to highlight that we welcome the fact that the Foreign Affairs Council adopted a new strategy for India on the 10th of December 2018, which could give a new impetus to the EU-India relations and foster cooperation in areas such as global security, effective multilateralism, and—which is the most important thing these days—sustainable development. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to express my sincere appreciation to the Ambassador of India for his excellent work strengthening the relations between our countries. I am confident that, based on mutual interests, our common efforts to further deepen our traditionally friendly ties are bound to succeed. I wish you and the Indian nation a joyful celebration of prosperity in the years to come, in peace and friendship. Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, let me thank you for your kind attention. It was a great honor to open this event, which hopefully will envision a permanent and dynamic bilateral diplomatic discourse between India and Hungary. Thank you very much once again. This is to thank the Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his very kind speech on the history of diplomatic relations with India, much earlier at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, when Hungarian orientalists visited India as a group, and in return, Rabindranath Tagore visited Hungary. Part 2: A Celebration of Diplomacy, Gandhian Principles, and a Vision for Peace Mr. Sándor Titkár emphasized the strengthening diplomatic relations between Hungary and India across cultural, economic, educational, and commercial spheres, including investments. He noted the Hungarian people’s enduring desire for knowledge about Asia and its stories, cultures, and religions. India’s culture and profound spirituality have been a significant source of Hungarian knowledge, a connection that remains vital today. He referenced the memorial to Sándor Kőrösi Csoma in India and its placement in rooms dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore in Balatonfüred and to Mahātmā Gandhījī in Pécs. He also spoke about the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahātmā Gandhījī, the father of the Indian nation and the proponent of the concept of non-violent power. He mentioned that not only Gandhījī but also the artist Amrita Sher-Gil is celebrated in Hungary, with the latter being honored at the Indian Embassy's cultural center in Budapest. Subsequently, a Deputy State Secretary for political and economic relations took the floor. He highlighted the 2016 visit of India’s then-Vice President, Mr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari, to Budapest and the reciprocal visit of Hungary’s Prime Minister, Mr. Viktor Orbán, to India. He congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his re-election in May on behalf of the BJP party. Regarding economic ties, he noted their steady growth, with bilateral trade reaching 736 million dollars in 2018. He concluded by acknowledging His Excellency Mr. Kumar Tuhin, Hungary’s Ambassador to India, and thanked the attendees for opening the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of Indian-Hungarian diplomatic relations. Swapnīrjī’s Address My humble praṇām at the lotus feet of Swāmījī. Honourable dignitaries, Deputy State Secretary, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Rector, Vice Rector of this wonderful university, His Excellency Kumar Tuhin Sāhab, my dear brothers and sisters. This is my fourth consecutive visit to this peace conference. By now, all organizers and attendees know me well, which presents a problem: I cannot repeat any content, quotes, or jokes. I felt tremendous pressure to present something new. So, I bought this new suit, new shoes, a new belt, and even this new mobile cover. Except for my wife, everything is new. The Rector at the last conference asked me why my speeches always begin with a mention of my wife. I have an answer: when I give a speech, my wife is silent. Perhaps this is the only time when I speak and she is silent. All other times, she speaks, and I must be silent. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a joy to be here as we celebrate 40 years of Swāmījī’s wonderful contributions in this part of the world. I have been associated with him for several years; he is a father figure to me. His stay with us and his profound affection have shaped who I am today, and for that, I love you, Swāmījī. The first part of my speech concerns the core principle of Gandhism, a favorite topic of Swāmījī: Ahiṃsā. Ahiṃsā is the Indian concept for non-violence and is the core principle of dharma. Let us be straightforward. A child is born into a family, and everyone is happy. He lives his life. If he positively impacts society, his life is meaningful. When he dies, everyone who loves him is sad—though, of course, some may only pretend sadness while being happy about a share of property. But let us assume genuine grief. Time passes, life resumes, and all returns to normal. His birth and death anniversaries become the two most important days for remembrance. Then, after some years, one fine year, those anniversaries are missed, and no one minds, for life moves on. Time is a silent killer, a powerful healer, a ruthless transformer that changes you completely without your realization. Yet, despite this, today the 150th birth anniversary of Mahātmā Gandhi is celebrated worldwide. A conference is organized thousands of miles from India to mark it. It is not merely an anniversary celebration; every few years a film is made about him, books are written. India’s last major public movement, the Lōk Pāl movement, was fought on his principles, as was our freedom struggle. Why? The answer is that his life was his message. He derived his entire philosophy from experiments conducted on his own life. He is a classic case study of a leader’s journey from ordinary to extraordinary, and from extraordinary back to ordinary. Every ordinary Indian connected with him, despite his extraordinary stature. His core principle was Ahiṃsā, non-violence. What is Ahiṃsā? Ahiṃsā is a universal vow, a Mahāvrata. If you practice Ahiṃsā, you must put up with insults, criticisms, and assaults without retaliation. You cannot even intend to offend, even under the hardest provocation. You cannot harbor anger, curse, or entertain evil feelings—that is Ahiṃsā. If you practice it with real faith, you will face trials and threats; your strength will be tested. Yet, if you stand by this principle wholeheartedly, God’s invisible hands will protect and empower you. There is a hidden power in the principle of Ahiṃsā. It is a sublime virtue, not a policy. Policies are flexible, convenient, and situational. But Ahiṃsā is a sublime virtue, part of your value system, an essential element for anyone seeking truth. Ahiṃsā leads to self-realization, which further leads to the realization of truth. The power of Ahiṃsā surpasses the power of intellect. Intellect develops your mind, but Ahiṃsā develops your heart, mind, and soul—all three. When a person’s heart is developed, their willpower and aura become strong. Look at the aura of Swāmījī, look at the aura of Mahātmā Gandhi. These are people who have inculcated Ahiṃsā into their fundamental value system. When you follow this virtue with real faith, it affects the subconscious mind of others: hatred melts, enmity ceases, and all hostilities are abandoned. When this happens, you can do and undo things, command elements of nature, and move the whole world. If you are established in Ahiṃsā, you have attained all values. If you follow this principle with a full heart, you uphold all values. Practicing Ahiṃsā means your ethical, religious, and moral values are all subsumed into your value system. Lastly, Ahiṃsā is a weapon of the brave. Only a brave person can practice it. One who fears death cannot practice Ahiṃsā. One without endurance cannot practice Ahiṃsā. You must be ruthless to your own self to practice Ahiṃsā. It is a sublime virtue, not a policy. That concludes the first part of my speech. The second part concerns our shared desire for a better world—a happier, safer, more peaceful world with respect and empathy for all. Mahātmā Gandhi, in his writings and autobiography, mentioned seven social sins, declaring them deadly and destructive to a happy, peaceful life. I ask this gathering to recall those seven sins. The first sin is commerce without morality. I am not speaking of any specific president or person, but commerce without morality is a sin, as Gandhījī said. The second sin is science without humanity. I am not speaking of the world’s pharmaceutical companies or their actions, but Mahātmā Gandhi stated that science without humanity is a sin. The third sin is politics without principle. This is for us in politics to follow. I am not speaking of the world’s richest politician or one occupying power without a genuine electoral process, but Mahātmā Gandhi said politics without principle is a sin. The fourth sin is religion without sacrifice. I am not speaking of our neighbor country, which is on the verge of bankruptcy yet seeks to harm people in India, but Mahātmā Gandhi said religion without sacrifice is a sin. The fifth sin is knowledge without character. I am not speaking of various intelligent Hollywood directors exposed in the MeToo movement, but he said knowledge without character is a sin. The sixth sin is wealth without hard work. I am not speaking of the Bitcoin or cryptocurrency controversy, but Gandhījī said wealth without hard work is a sin. The seventh sin is pleasure without conscience. Pleasure without conscience is a sin, and we all witness relationship fiascos worldwide. Now, in the last minutes, let us discuss the world’s major problems. The world faces terrorism. Its root causes? Religion without sacrifice and commerce without morality. The world faces the major problem of drugs. The root cause? The desire for pleasure without conscience, leading to addiction where drugs govern your life. The world faces AIDS. Again, the causes are knowledge without character or pleasure without conscience. The world faces wars, fueled by weapon trade and economies dependent on it. What is responsible? Politics without principles. The world faces the major threat of cyber terrorism and cyber attacks. While we are positive toward technology, the hidden threat stems from science without humanity. The world faces depression, especially among youngsters. In India, every sixth student faces depression; many European and American students do as well. The cause? Wealth without hard work. If you do not work hard yet make money, you miss happiness. Without trusted relationships, you face depression. All major world problems have their root causes in the sins pronounced by Mahātmā Gandhi. Let us revisit his teachings, for his principles remain relevant. Gandhism is like Āyurveda; it treats patients slowly and gradually but eliminates problems from the root. Gandhism is like naturopathy; it detoxifies your entire thought process. Gandhism is like yoga; it heals you from inside. Gandhism is like meditation; it nurtures your mind, heart, and soul. Velam purifies water, and Gandhism purifies your soul. Once your soul is purified, courage takes birth. Once your soul is purified, you gain tremendous clarity. Once your soul is purified, you develop strong willpower. With strong willpower, born courage, and tremendous clarity, you become fearless. To be happy, we need to be fearless. Gandhism is perennial. Souls are perennial, and so is Gandhism. It is relevant for all ages and all times. Thank you very much. Hungarian Summary of Swapnīrjī’s Speech Our regular conference participant, a representative at events organized by Viṣṇu Gurujī—such as last year in New York’s Music Hall, previously in Vienna’s Music Hall, and now for the fourth time here—stated he could not repeat himself as we all know him. He found it difficult to renew his content, so he kindly bought new clothes. He spoke about Mahātmā Gandhi’s life and philosophy, which is essentially Ahiṃsā, the strength of the non-violent. He said Gandhi’s life was like a long cycle: a child is born, the family is happy; the person lives, dies, and loved ones are sad—except for heirs who may be happy about inheritance. This cycle of birth and death mirrors Gandhi’s political journey: he began as an ordinary politician, became an extraordinary saint, and concluded again as an ordinary man. He explained that the essence of Ahiṃsā is to endure all forms of unjust criticism, attack, and provocation. This is the ultimate test of strength. If one remains steadfast, God’s invisible hand will protect them. He emphasized that for Gandhi, Ahiṃsā was not a political concept but a fundamental virtue and hidden characteristic. The second part of his talk addressed the seven social sins defined by Mahātmā Gandhi: 1. Commerce without morality. 2. Science without humanity. 3. Politics without principles. 4. Religion without sacrifice. 5. Knowledge without character. 6. Wealth without hard work. 7. Pleasure without conscience. He concluded that these seven sins are the root causes of the world’s current major problems: terrorism, drugs, AIDS, wars, cyber-attacks, and depression—noting that every sixth university student in India suffers from depression. He stated that Gandhism is akin to Āyurveda, yoga, naturopathy, and meditation. These are not instant remedies but guarantee slow, inner healing. Gandhism purifies the soul. From a purified soul comes willpower, from willpower comes courage, from courage comes fearlessness, and from fearlessness comes eternal happiness. Thank you very much. A Vision for Peace: The Om Parvat Project Before the next session, let us watch a nine-minute video from Mr. Kumar Tuhin. Following that, we will hear from Paramahaṁsa Svāmī Maheśvarānanda about a monumental construction project. [Video Narration] Yoga, meditation, philosophy, and bringing ancient wisdom to modern society—this unique expression of mighty architecture aims to preserve the treasures of Vedic culture, carrying stories within every stone. A sculpture made of stone, precisely carved with ancient art and handicraft, will have 108 residential compartments for visitors of all nations and yogic students to embark on a journey of deep self-exploration, looking beyond the mind’s limitations. It will be the largest man-made symbol of Oṃ, located in Jādon, Rājasthān, designed from the vision of a yogī in India named Paramahaṁsa Svāmī Maheśvarānanda. Over decades, he has worked incessantly to make peace on earth an experiential reality by teaching millions yoga and meditation as tools for individual and collective transformation. He developed the scientific system "Yoga in Daily Life" for physical, mental, and spiritual health, designed so everyone can integrate yoga into every day with a clear, structured pathway. Modern science now affirms yoga's benefits for the human condition. When practiced with discipline, these techniques can decrease almost all forms of transient or chronic disease, such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension, stress, migraine, indigestion, back pain, arthritis, heart diseases, and many other physical or mental problems. Worldwide, people now practice and voluntarily teach this system. Across 26 countries on five continents, there are Yoga in Daily Life centers. But the global, large-scale focal point will be this gigantic monument, functioning as an active world peace facilitator and an education and research center—not just for adults but also for children who would otherwise lack access to good education. Many families cannot afford school; children, especially girls, often must work at home. Therefore, in 2002, a school was established on-site for children aged 5 to 17. Hundreds come daily to learn and prepare for their future, gaining access to science and sports equipment, computers, digital content, physics, chemistry, and biology laboratories, and a library. All children practice yoga daily as part of their education. To enable girls to study, no school fee is charged. A college in the same building offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs. To provide adequate medical care, a hospital was also established, working with proper equipment and diligence, offering emergency services to surrounding villages. This place designed for holistic healing also works to revive the surrounding ecosystem in an area of severe water crisis, where every drop is precious. An artificial lake was built to collect monsoon rain, because water is life. The public lake can hold 120 million liters of fresh drinking water for humans, animals, and agriculture. The groundwater level is rising due to the lake, positively impacting the microclimate, transforming dry land into fertile ground. Besides rainwater harvesting, many global projects are active in protecting life: saving birds, saving bees, and massive tree planting. To date, members of Yoga in Daily Life have planted millions of trees worldwide to counterbalance global deforestation. In public parks, together with local authorities, they plant "Peace Trees" worldwide as a sign of honoring Mother Nature—a living symbol for a sustainable future. The project also provides for old, homeless, and sick animals abandoned or expelled from villages because people cannot care for them. Part 3: A Call to Action and Commemorative Speeches They could no longer afford to feed them. To provide a home and veterinary care for those typically left in despair during droughts, they have built seven animal refugee shelters. More than 5,000 cows receive fodder and fresh water and are protected from dying of starvation or slaughter. This place is now being built, and it is a miracle it has reached this point, as it is run as a non-profit organization to accomplish a gigantic mission. That mission started from one heart’s vision: that we all live together in mutual understanding, that we may live for each other, that we never cause any pain to any creature, and that we stand here for the non-violence we wish to protect. We want to protect all cultures, traditions, and religions. We want to protect all creatures and the environment, and we shall send this message into the world. But to bring this vision to its full fruition, it needs each and everybody’s contribution. So, if you are in a position to share even the smallest amount to finish this large-scale world peace monument, do it. And do not underestimate how much power you have. A drop in the ocean? You are the entire ocean in a single drop. And now I’m turning to His Excellency, Mr. Kumar, the Ambassador of India to Hungary, to kindly deliver his speech. Thank you, respected Vishwaguru Śrīmahāmaṇḍaleśwar Paramahaṁswāmī Maheśwarānandjī, Dr. Péter Fülösi, Rector of Széchenyi István University; Dr. Ferenc Dancs, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Mr. Zoltán Németh, President of the General Assembly of Győr-Moson-Sopron County Council; Honorable Mr. Róbert Balázs Simon, Vice Chairman of the Hungarian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Culture; Dr. Dávid Fekete, Vice Mayor; Mr. Swapnil Kothari, Chancellor of the National University; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen. It gives me great pleasure to be back in Győr to speak at this important event, which is being organized to mark several anniversaries. To begin with, I would like to acknowledge the remarks made by all the distinguished speakers before me. It has eased some burden because I can very quickly associate myself with everything that has been said. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the positive assessment of India-Hungary bilateral relations made by Dr. Ferenc Dancs, Deputy State Secretary. One of the important milestones being commemorated today is the 150th birth anniversary of Mahātmā Gāndhī, who led the peaceful struggle for India’s independence. Gandhijī, popularly known as Mahātmā, was one of the greatest voices in history for the cause of peace, justice, equality, dignity, and sustainability. The teachings and thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi are as relevant today as they were during his lifetime. A series of activities are therefore being organized by Indian embassies and missions worldwide, and by various organizations within India, to remember and keep aloft Gandhi’s ideals, principles, and teachings. The activities organized by the Indian Embassy in Hungary from October 2, 2018, to October 2, 2019, include the release of a commemorative stamp on Gandhijī by Magyar Posta earlier this year; an LED projection on the walls of Buda Castle on October 2, 2018; articles by prominent Hungarian leaders on "What Gandhi Means to Me" in a Gandhian anthology published in India; the singing of Gandhijī’s favorite prayer, "Vaiṣṇava Jāna To Tene Kahiye," by a famous Hungarian singer; a vegetarian food festival; a cycling event in collaboration with I Bike Budapest; the planting of 150 saplings on World Environment Day, June 5, 2019; and an exhibition on Khadi on the theme of Khadi as an idea and not merely a garment; as well as talks on Gandhi. I am therefore very delighted that the University of Győr is dedicating the conference today in commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, whose life, mission, and message inspired hope and peaceful change for millions around the world. I hope it will also motivate many to emulate Gandhijī’s life. The second important milestone being celebrated today is the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Hungary, two countries that have always had very close, friendly, and historic ties going back several centuries and even further. Relations between our two countries are deeply rooted and have withstood the test of time despite changes in the geopolitical situation. The people of India are grateful to the people of Hungary for the love and affection shown to Rabindranāth Ṭhākur during his stay in Hungary in 1926 for his ailment. His stay provided an opportunity to intensify contacts between Hungarian and Indian artists, some of whom subsequently traveled to India and even made India their home. I would like to recall here all the Hungarians who have contributed to strengthening the friendship between India and Hungary. Presently, our two countries enjoy excellent friendly relations based on mutual respect, shared values, and interests. As mentioned by the Deputy State Secretary earlier, our political leaders enjoy excellent rapport. We have had frequent high-level visits and exchanges, which have further strengthened ties between our two countries and leaderships. Strong people-to-people relations provide a strong foundation for our overall relationship. A large number of bilateral agreements have been signed, including an air services agreement, a double taxation avoidance agreement, and agreements on cooperation in health, agriculture, science and technology, water resources, and defense. The Joint Economic Committee at the ministerial level and the committees headed by respective secretaries in foreign relations, agriculture, and water resources provide an appropriate forum for discussion and engagement on issues of bilateral, regional, and international cooperation. Bilateral trade is steadily growing. The annual volume is close to 750 million US dollars, and last year the growth rate was close to 18%. Indian investment in Hungary is close to two billion US dollars, and Indian companies now provide employment to close to 10,000 persons here. Both India and Hungary provide scholarships to students from each other’s country to promote educational cooperation, and I am happy that the number of Indian students in Hungary is growing. I also understand that for the next academic year, we would see an increase, albeit modest, in the number of students coming to this university as well. This is a happy development, and it is indeed satisfying to note that the India-Hungary relationship is poised for a higher trajectory in the years to come. At today’s event, the 40th anniversary of Yoga in Daily Life in Hungary is also being marked. The contributions of Vishwagurujī and Yoga in Daily Life in promoting yoga, as well as the life values associated with it, are indeed commendable and praiseworthy. The value of yoga has been recognized all over the world, but what has been noteworthy in the approach of Yoga in Daily Life is the manner in which the profound philosophy behind yoga has been made available simply to its students and disciples. For this, I would like to once again compliment Vishwagurujī and also mention the award of Yoga Ratna which has been bestowed upon him. The Embassy of India was very happy to partner with Yoga in Daily Life for many years to promote yoga here in Hungary, including for the International Day of Yoga event which took place on June 22, 2019. I would like to once again acknowledge and thank Yoga in Daily Life, as well as the Rector of this University, and especially Dr. Etelka Lukač, Vice Rector, for all the help in making this event a great success. We will be happy to further strengthen our partnership with you. Let me conclude by once again expressing my thanks to the University for providing me this opportunity to speak today, and I extend my greetings and best wishes to all of you. Thank you very much. This is to express our immense gratitude, Your Excellency. I will now summarize your speech in Hungarian. He thanked the strong Indian-Hungarian relations and the common perspectives. He said the Indian Embassy has organized numerous activities in Hungary for the 150th anniversary of Mahātmā Gandhi’s birth. For example, the Hungarian Post issued a commemorative stamp this year. On October 2, 2018, the commemorative year began, lasting 365 days, and an LED projection was displayed on the wall of Buda Castle. Hungarian politicians were asked to contribute to an anthology titled "What Gandhi Meant to Me." A Hungarian singer recorded one of Gandhi’s favorite songs, "Vaiṣṇava Jāna To." They organized a vegetarian food festival, a bicycle event in Budapest called iBike, planted 150 saplings, taught about Khadi cloth, and held numerous talks on Gandhi. He thanked the Rector of Széchenyi István University for accepting to commemorate Gandhi’s 150th anniversary and for reminding the world that his message is full of hope, peace, and change, motivating many to follow his life. He echoed the Prime Minister's sentiment that Hungarian-Indian diplomatic relations date back centuries. Rabindranāth Ṭhākur’s presence in Hungary in 1926 was a key event, and he thanked all Hungarians who helped build economic relations. He noted numerous bilateral agreements signed over the years covering air traffic, double taxation, health, agriculture, science, technology, and water resources. A ministerial-level economic committee was established for agriculture and water. Bilateral trade is worth $750 million, an 18% increase from last year. Indian companies have invested $2 billion in Hungary, providing 10,000 jobs. Educational cooperation is strong, and the number of Indian students at Széchenyi István University is increasing, a trend he hopes continues. He thanked Vishwagurujī for establishing the Yoga in Daily Life system in Hungary 40 years ago and congratulated him on receiving the Yoga Ratna award in the British Parliament last Saturday. He also mentioned the celebration of the International Day of Yoga in Hungary on June 22, an event hosted by Széchenyi István University, for which he expressed gratitude. He concluded with best wishes for the conference. And now I’m turning to the Honorable Mr. Róbert Balázs Simon, Vice Chairman of the Hungarian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Culture and Member of Parliament for Győr, to kindly deliver his speech. I wish you a good evening. I will try to speak briefly. Mr. President, Mr. Deputy State Secretary, Mr. Rector, Madam Rector, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, as a Member of Parliament for Győr and Vice-President of the Parliamentary Committee, I am very pleased to take part in today’s conference. I express sincere gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Kumar Tuhin for accepting the University's invitation. I also thank Dr. Ferenc Dancs, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for participating. As mentioned, we are marking several anniversaries. This year, on October 2, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mahātmā Gāndhī, which the UN has declared the International Day of Non-Violence. Gandhi’s ideals of peace and non-violence remain extremely important in today’s world. Today’s conference also jointly celebrates the 70th anniversary of official diplomatic relations between India and Hungary. Ladies and Gentlemen, the past seven decades have shown mutual respect and cooperation between our peoples, intensifying recently not only politically but also through Indian economic investments in Hungary. I highlight our cultural connections, as Hungarians show great interest in Indian music, dance, and yoga. Currently, there are over 200 yoga centers and six Indian dance schools in our country. Allow me to speak briefly about our university. I can say Széchenyi István University has become a significant and successful institution in Hungarian higher education. It is key to the development of Győr and the region, providing high-quality education and practical diplomas needed in today’s socio-economic environment. Young people consciously plan their futures and show serious interest in foreign language training. Increasing the number of international students is an important goal, and serious progress has been made. I am sure this number will rise further. Providing quality conditions is indispensable for knowledge transfer. The university infrastructure in Győr is continuously expanding. The FIEK, the Higher Education and Industrial Cooperation Center, consisting of three buildings on nearly 5,000 square meters, was inaugurated just last week. We are now in the management campus of this new center. Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you, Mr. Rector and university leaders, for organizing this conference. I hope it is successful and that personal and friendly relationships will further improve ties between Hungary and India. Thank you for the invitation and your attention. Mr. Simon, after greeting the guests, spoke about the anniversary year, noting that October 2 marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahātmā Gandhi, declared by the UN as the International Day of Non-Violence. He discussed Gandhi’s ideals of peace and non-violence, which remain valid today. He stated the conference is a joint celebration of India and Hungary, marking 70 years of diplomatic relations. He mentioned the seven decades of mutual respect and cooperation, which have intensified in recent years. He said, "I consider our cultural relations outstanding, as the Hungarian people show great interest in Indian music and dance, as well as yoga," noting over 200 yoga centers and six Indian dance schools. He spoke about Széchenyi István University as a decisive and successful institution, key to Győr's development due to its academic quality and provision of well-trained graduates with practical knowledge. He discussed young people planning their futures and the university's goal to increase international students. He emphasized that a quality environment is essential for enduring knowledge transfer and that the university infrastructure is continuously expanding. We are in the management campus of the new Center for Higher Education and Industrial Cooperation, a three-building complex on 5,000 square meters opened last week. He concluded by thanking the university leadership for organizing the conference. Thank you. I now invite Mr. Zoltán Németh, President of the General Assembly of Győr-Moson-Sopron County Council. In our music, language, and worldview, there are similarities. I will not comment on this, but it is certain there are similarities in our history. India was suppressed by the British in trade for a hundred years and then in administration for another hundred years. Its rights and freedom were restricted. India’s share of the global economy fell from 23% to 4%. In Hungary’s history, we were under Ottoman influence for 150 years, followed by Habsburg oppression and then Soviet dictatorship. This depression lasted at least 200 years. Both countries suffered; our national identity, culture, and economy suffered. Our talent has existed since ancient times. Both countries have given knowledge, discoveries, and innovations to the world, both in ancient times and today. Our culture and society have developed; our economy has been strong, and our products used worldwide. Since our values come from within, they could not be destroyed during difficult centuries. By freeing ourselves from oppression, our countries are moving forward. There are also connections in contemporary thinking. Our nations' leaders have recognized the changing world, requiring a new direction. Central to our prime ministers' programs is transforming national well-being, seen in accelerated economic development and effective governance. The new economic logic, focusing on national interests, receives significant attention domestically and internationally and is effective in both countries. The basis for India’s higher GDP growth is improved investment and productivity, aiming for technological development, a business-friendly environment, better infrastructure, and higher education levels. India’s competitiveness is steadily increasing. Hungary is on its way to entering Europe, aiming to become one of the world’s most livable countries. To achieve this, we emphasize university training without abandoning traditional industry. Today, unprecedented changes are occurring globally. New power centers are emerging in the world economy. India is a leading power in this transformation, partly due to positive economic growth. Central Europe has returned to the landscape and is ready for advantageous cooperation with India, which represents global strength with its large area and population. Hungary also provides good opportunities in Central Europe and is logistically perhaps the best place to reach the EU market. Thanks to this, Indian investment has not only doubled in five years but now exceeds 2 billion euros. We have 31 companies of Indian interest, providing livelihoods for close to 5,400 people. Trade between our countries has constantly increased for years. Our cultural connections span centuries. Famous Hungarian tourists, scientists, and explorers reached India in the 18th century. The famous Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s doctor was the Transylvanian János Börger; Sándor Kőrösi Csoma created the world’s first Tibetan-English dictionary. In recent centuries, many Hungarian artists have visited India. Indians remember their Hungarian-born relatives in Nagybecskerek. The paintings of Amrita Sher-Gil, born in Budapest to a Hungarian mother, are among India’s most respected national treasures today. Indians do not forget that their legendary poet Rabindranāth Ṭhākur found a cure for his illness in Hungary, and his visit is remembered with a grateful heart. Contemporary cultural cooperation also contributes to the economy. A new area is film industry cooperation. To increase Indian film production in Hungary, we have made significant contributions to the Hungarian film sector. As we are at a university, I emphasize that the future generation and strengthening education are equally important for our countries. In the Education Reform Programme, 800 to 900 people from India are interested in learning Hungarian annually. We encourage our students to increase their knowledge abroad and apply it at home. On behalf of our county, I am particularly pleased today’s conference is in Győr. Relations between distant countries are usually intense between major cities, but there is life outside them. Győr also has high-level education. Agricultural education in Europe began here. Agricultural education at Széchenyi University’s Mosonmagyaróvár campus is over 200 years old. In Győr, almost every field of science can be studied, except medical training. Part 4: A Celebration of Shared Heritage and the Spirit of Gandhi Currently, 24 English-language high-level trainings are also expected by foreign listeners. We have a world-famous ballet dance ensemble, a philharmonic band, a university band, and excellent sports life. The built and natural environment, our world heritage sites, are appealing to tourists. In addition, our economy is strong, especially the vehicle industry. In the latter part of the year, we have an Indian contact point, as SMR is a significant player in our county, and this year it also strengthens its social role. The women’s handball sport will be an outstanding supporter of the Moson-Magyaróvár Handball Club. As a member of the club, I would like to thank you for your cooperation and wish you success in the future. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Hungarians have always given great respect to the ancient culture of India, its philosophical and religious depth, as well as its democracy after the independent state. I am happy for the world that India lives in democracy, the oldest and richest nation. It is a great honor for us that the world’s largest democratic country is celebrating with us today. Let us honor Gandhi with his peace, strength, truthfulness, and his message about the harmony between people of different religions. I also wish the participants of today’s conference to continue working together on the basis of Gandhi’s philosophy to live in a more peaceful, nicer, and better world. Thank you for your attention. I’d like now to summarize the speech of Mr. Zoltán Németh. After thanking everybody for their contributions and expressing his special respect to Excellency Mr. Kumar Tuhin, the ambassador to Hungary, for his help in organizing the conference, he went on to compare the various aspects of Hungary and the similarities between Hungary and India. He said, although from a historical perspective, diplomatic cooperation between our countries is still young, the relationship between our peoples is quite ancient. He dedicated his life to research the obscure history of the Hungarian nation. He was convinced that the ancestors of the Hungarians could be found somewhere in India. Mr. Németh did not want to take a position on this, but there are certain parallels between our histories. Both countries suffered repression, at least 200 years of repression. I won’t go into the details of that, but he mentioned the 200 years of repression suffered by both countries; the national identities, the cultures, and the economies of both countries suffered. Then he went on to talk about the talents of both countries, which have existed since ancient times. The nations, both nations, have given the world knowledge, inventors, and innovation, just as in ancient times as nowadays. He also importantly mentioned the parallel between our nation’s thinking, both nations’ thinking. The leaders of our nations have recognized that the world is changing, and the changes require new directions. Our prime minister’s programs focus on the transformation of the country for the well-being of the population, the means to achieve this being the acceleration of economic development and effective governance. He went on to mention various aspects of the economies of both countries. The higher growth path of Indian GDP is based on greater levels of investment and improvement in productivity, achieved by targeting technological development, the creation of a business-friendly environment, and the quality of higher education. India’s competitiveness is steadily increasing. And then he went on to talk about Hungary’s economic situation. Hungary is on an individual journey within Europe, with the goal to be one of the most livable countries in the world. To this end, we place great emphasis on university education and the potentials of digitalization. Then he went on to talk about the investment of India in Hungary. Perhaps the Indian investment portfolio has almost doubled over five years, currently totaling over 2 billion euros. Operating in Hungary at the present, there are 31 companies with Indian interests providing a secure income for nearly 5,400 Hungarian people. Trade between the two countries is continually expanding. Then Mr. Németh talked about the cultural relations over the centuries. He talked about Janusz Honimberger at the court of Mahārājā Raṇjīt Siṅgh. He talked about Chandorkarāśī Choma and the first Tibetan-English dictionary. He talked about Amrita Sher-Gil, whose mother was Hungarian, and whose paintings are among the most precious treasures in India today. And then he also mentioned Rabindranath Tagore, who was cured in Hungary from his sickness. Finally, he went on to talk about the importance of higher education and the university here, how every year 800 to 900 students from India inquire about study opportunities in Hungary on educational exchange programs. We in Hungary also encourage our students to expand their knowledge abroad and use the knowledge gained abroad for the benefit of our country. Finally, he mentioned the strengths of our higher education system here in the Jö region, and at the end, he thanked again everybody for their contributions to the conference. Thank you, Paul. And now, this is to invite Dr. David Fekete, the vice mayor of the city of Győr, to kindly deliver his speech. Thank you. And Győrváros has always tried to recognize human achievement and human talent in the greatest possible way. This is no longer the case today, and we know well that 150 years ago a fantastic man was born who was able to achieve what others had been trying to achieve with weapons for many, many decades. This message that comes from Gandhi’s life, his teaching, his philosophy, I think it can be an example for everyone. It is no coincidence that we can talk about the safety of the force on the day of Gandhi’s birthday. We know well that generations have now grown up in Europe in such a way that peace, the lack of force, the lack of war was a natural state, but we should not consider it a natural state, because it must be done day by day so that in this world, in Europe and of course in the world, we live in peace with each other, and I believe that as long as we have such images in front of us as Gandhi’s example, it can be a very good example for the leaders of the countries and, of course, for every citizen. I would like to thank you very much here in the city of Győr. I am happy that this event was held here in the city, and I would like to thank the University of Széchenyi for its agility and the spirit of the organization, which takes place every year in connection with the International Day of Yoga, and in connection with all other areas, because Győr is an accepting city, Győr is an open city, and here in Győr we are always open to the conversation of cultures, and we have been open in the past period, and of course this will be the case in the future as well. I wish you a lot of exciting moments here today, and of course I wish you good fun and a pleasant time in the city. Thank you very much. Dr. David Fekete started with the quote, "Be the change you want to see in the world." The above quote comes from Mahātma Gāndhī, who not only gave this piece of wisdom to the world, but also proved by his actions how true his words were. With his life, he showed that the world can be changed without resorting to violence. The world throughout history has always been shaped by great wars. 150 years ago, a man was born and set an example for everyone because he made a change without a weapon, a change that had never even been tried before without weapons. A man without a weapon, fighting for the creation of an independent India, has become a symbol of non-violence, and his date of birth was declared a day of non-violence more than a decade ago. In addition to the remarkable anniversary of the birth of the Great Spirit, we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of Hungarian-Indian diplomatic relations. There are reasons to celebrate, as the two countries have good and diverse relationships with each other. A series of economic, cultural, and scientific relationships shows our mutual respect and recognition. Traditionally, there is a good relationship between the embassy and the city of Győr, and many programs help to raise awareness of Indian culture among the residents. One of these is International Yoga Day, which has traditions, and the campus of the university is not only a venue but also a good medium for the event and for physical and mental recharge. The conference is also an important point of contact and is another good example of cooperation and mutual respect, serving as a solid foundation of our good relationship. Dr. Fekete wished everybody a successful meeting and hopes that in the future we will all find common points in the spirit of cooperation. Thank you. I’m now inviting Mr. Gregor Kos, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Slovenia, to deliver his speech. Thank you. Gregor Kos, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Slovenia, thank you very much. His Holiness Bharat Gaurav, Viśvaguru Paramahaṁsa Viśvanī Māheśvarānandajī, most respected Swapnil Kotharījī, General Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Congress, respected Excellency, the Deputy State Secretary, the Vice Chairman of the Hungarian Parliamentary Standards Committee, the President of the General Assembly, and the Vice Mayor. Before I start my address, let me just briefly present to you where I come from. I come from Slovenia. It’s a relatively small country, and there goes a story when our first president went to visit the Chinese president. The Chinese president welcomed him and asked, "Oh, very nice of you to come, and how many are you?" And of course, our first president responded, "Two million." And the Chinese president was very happy and said, "Oh, very well, in which hotel are you staying?" And now, back to our topic for today. On this remarkable international gathering at the respected University of Győr, allow me, most respected Viśvagurujī, also the president of the Śrī Svāmī Madhavānanda World Peace Council, to thank you for bringing ancient India’s wisdom and knowledge also to our part of the world. And at the same time, congratulate you for all your work and endeavors for a better world, healthier society, and balanced mind, body, and soul of humankind. For us, you are, and you will always be, every year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner. An unbelievable number of things have changed during the past 40 years, during your incredible, indelible, great footprint. From my point of view, the former country of Yugoslavia divided into several new countries. One of them is my homeland, Slovenia. From previous dinners, which were followed by tolars, we are now using euros, and we became a full member of the European Union during that time. The Berlin Wall has fallen, and democracy prevailed in numerous countries which were part of different regimes for many years. We used to have the so-called Cold War, which is due to human footprint now, the climate change. But not only countries, political systems, and climate have changed. It is primarily we who have changed significantly. We have become better humans. Ahiṁsā, outlined by Viśva Gurujī on every occasion, has become part of our daily life. Discipline has become part of our daily life, and yoga is our daily life. It is events like today’s, the one at the respected University of Győr, when we should empower ourselves to become even more active, to actively stand for our lifestyle, for our rights, for the rights of humankind, for a world with nature and environment, and not the world with destroyed nature and environment. For healthy organic food, fresh air, and quality water for all, not just for those who can afford it. For a world without pharmaceutical obligations against the free will of men, and of course, women. For all mothers who are protecting their children. Yes, we can. We can change. We have a living proof. We can change. We can do whatever we want, and nobody can stop us, only our own personal fears and mistrust. And to all those personal fears and mistrust, today we say a very loud and clear. No, not today, because we can and we will and we do. This wish for Gurujī, thank you. He said that we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahātma Gāndhī. He also said that the 40th anniversary of the birth of the 70-year-old Indian-Hungarian diplomat, and the 40th anniversary of the birth of the system of yoga in everyday life. He thanked the rector of Széchenyi University for accepting today’s event. He said that today’s event is primarily about promoting the ancient Indian knowledge and virtue in the whole world. He said that he needs a healthy society, a society where people’s minds, bodies, and souls are balanced. That is why he communicates this knowledge to us, to the Europeans. That is why Gregor Kosul thinks that this is why it would be worth the Nobel Peace Prize. He mentioned that the history of Europe was extremely tumultuous in the last 40 years. For example, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of Yugoslavia as a country, the membership of Slovenia in the European Union, the closure of the Cold War, but at the same time there were challenges such as climate change. He also said that in order to fight against these, in order to be successful, we have to change ourselves, and we can fight for the protection of the environment and nature, that in our individual lives we strive for the consumption of healthy foods. We protect the artificial materials, and we try to do everything in the interest of protecting our children. And not at the end, but at the beginning, he said that he feels very difficult in the situation. Slovenia is a country of two million people, and he started with the joke that once he met with the president of the First Community of Slovenia, the Chinese president. The Chinese president asked how many there were, he said two million, and this was the answer of the Chinese president, which hotel he managed to accommodate them. Despite this, he says that he represents a small country, he considers Slovenia’s European role extremely important, and he would like to thank what Viśva Gurujī has brought to Europe, as well as the acceptance of the event by the university. And now, before we leave for the tea and coffee break, Viśva Gurujī asked me to kindly invite you later to the peace tree that he has planted with Professor Dr. Ferdashi. But before we leave for the peace tree, the feature point, the focal point of today’s event, is going to come now, because I am inviting Viśva Guru Paramahaṁsa Svāmī Maheśvarānandajī to kindly address the audience today. So before that, Viśva Gurujī said that we should ask the honored ones to gather together so that we can give a toast to the peace tree that was planted in 2014, before the coffee and tea break. But before that, the most important point of our today’s event is the sincerity of Viśva Guru Paramahaṁsa Svāmī Mahāśvarānandajī’s speech. Viśva Gurujī, this is to kindly ask you to deliver your speech. Thank you. Śānti, śānti, śānti. Dear sisters and brothers, all the dignitaries, our very dear rector of the university, he is by nature a yogī. And that’s why he brought all of us here. Without you and the Hemvati, I call her Yoga, Hemvati, what is her other name? They brought me here and all, because I have all the very spiritual, highest, highest names of all yoga practitioners, which have some meaning, which is not only in the material world but also for the highest, the cosmic Self. And before all these forty years, who brought me here to this beautiful country? Our dear Mr. Károly Kovács. I call him Kṛṣṇānand. And you all know who is the Kṛṣṇa, our Deputy State Security Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Trade, Mr. Dr. Ferenc Ferenc... He was talking like Modī, so I wish him great success for you and for your country. Also, His Excellency, the ambassador of India to Budapest, or your country, Hungary. In these 40 years, I have seen many, many Indian ambassadors here. But our Kumar Tuhin, he is a very spiritual and very yogic soul, the person. Thank you. Just from first looking at him, we both merged in our hearts. Yes, also many great dignitaries. I don’t want to take time, but my very dear Swapnil Kotharījī, and his respected wife, they are my brother and sister, and always when he comes, he brings very good laughing for all, the joke, and I have heard many times, but always he brings something new. His many words and languages are the talk I have seen many times, but this I did not hear again, so I must tell it once. And yes, he always brings the new things. Now he’s also in politics, and he has eight colleges and one university, a big university, and everything. And he is what we call the very famous person, and for not famous, but fashionable person, like Modī-jī. Modī per day, minimum, eight dresses changing. With the American president and Modī-jī. And always, the American president was changing his dress, and then they’d look to each other. Modījī had two more than the American president. So, Swapnaljī, he’s also changing many things. But two things he doesn’t change. I don’t want to humiliate my sister. But he said, "I change everything, but not my wife." Yes, and the second, he doesn’t change me. Also, our president of our Yoga and Daily Life, of the International Fellowship, our... What is your... Mansukh Rām, no, no, your other name, Manfred. His name is Mansukh. Very beautiful name, but I wanted to see today this name. Well, my dear, we, our very adorable, respectable Gandhījī, and Gandhījī has so many, so many, so many thoughts and many things which he has written, and we want to be there. But Gandhījī said, "Be the change you want to see." And there is one very little story of Gandhījī. One lady came with one child. The child is about seven years old. And he likes Gandhījī, likes the boy very much, Gandhījī. So the mother came with the child and said to Gandhījī, "Please, Gandhījī, can you tell this boy not to eat too much sweet, because he likes sweet very much." And Gandhījī is always talking and smiling. Gandhījī was never angry. And Gandhījī said, "Come after one month. I will tell you." She was a little bit sad. Only he should have said one word. Child, don’t eat too much sugar. After one month she came, and she was coming to Gandhījī with the child, and Gandhījī said, "My son, we in India say all our children, son and daughter, don’t eat too much sweet. It is not good." He said, "Okay, Gandhījī, I will give up. I will eat once a little bit." So the mother of the child said, "Why did you take one month’s time to tell this?" Gandhījī said, "Because that time I was also eating too much sugar." So when I eat and I tell you not to eat this other, it’s not good. So, in our own way, we also have these beautiful things in our hearts and in our brains. We are always giving good education to our children and others. As an amount of my Gurudev, my master, my holy saint, he said only one thing. One in all and all in one. One in all and all in one. We all say that we are me, my life, I will go, where will I go, what’s my destiny. But in reality, we are all one, only one soul, not two souls. Ocean, let’s say the ocean, the big ocean. But all these little drops, even in the fog or the cloud, have also very fine, very fine drops, but they are all in one adsorption. Similarly, all creatures, all creatures, we call 8.4 million different creatures on the earth, in the water, and in the space. All is one. So one in all and all in one. We are here sitting, all different persons, different natures, but our soul, ātmā, is only one. And so we are seeing all as one, ours, not yours, because we don’t have yours. Yoga is the science of humans, and yoga is the life of humans. Yoga is for peace and harmony. Yoga is for achieving the highest consciousness, and yoga cures many, many diseases. And so I used to say, "Yoga in daily life" means everyday practice. We drink water every day, we eat every day, we sleep. Similarly, we should also practice yoga. Yoga will give that achievement which you want to achieve. I’m sure. Practice yoga, and I was very happy on the day when I came to Hungary. And in Hungary, I have many, many disciples and many, many yoga centers. But there was also some hard times, there were some times. So that is different, I will not tell. This country is very beautiful. People are very humble, and people will give you everything. And people will always have a very friendly relationship. And I like Hungary. Now, how many years have I been in the college, in the WIP? Twenty-five years. Just one example, one minute, I will go. It was the time of the communist era. It’s okay. Why not? We don’t like it, so we changed. But that is good, that is good. We are changing every day, but anyhow. At communist times, they did not want to have religions talking. No politics talking, and not taking any money or anything. But I was also surprised that that government at that time printed my books, more than, I don’t know how much, but 100,000 books they printed. And in one week, all books were sold. And they always give me money. When I come here, they give me money for my coming and going. So they gave me, maybe it was only 40 euros. But it seems, and they said, it was more than 500,000 books. Then, after some months, they printed it again. Four times they printed these books. Because of the yoga and knowledge of the yoga. And my great Gandhījī is also a saint, like Gandhi. There are many things we will talk about, because our many friends are here for a short time. And hardly I could remember myself, my photo. It came there. So now I said, "Oh, I have so many hearts." This memory of this hall and this university’s buildings and our dear friends, the rector, that we are going to plant a tree. And they called me, and we all made a beautiful tree. And this tree is our memory for long, long times. And this tree is not that kind of tree. It is a tree for peace and fulfillment of the wish. To go around the tree and put one thread, your wish will be fulfilled. You can tell your students here in the university. As you touch the tree, another wish will come. That much power is given. My dear sisters and brothers, all dignitaries, Thank you very much for coming. And you have seen the home building with the 2,996 pillars. And still, there will be about 40 pillars that will remain. In one year, it will be the opening ceremony. At this, the whole building has been carved with two tools only. Hammer and saw, only. You can show yourselves that people were sitting and only with the two tools. And I wish that you all—I will send you invitations—you come to India, please. Thank you. I will not take too much of your time, and thank you very much. Thank you, thank you. God bless you, and I will again. Peace, prayer. Lord, lead us towards peace, towards immortality and happiness. Bless us. Om śānti śānti... Thank you.