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Part 1: Two Important Announcements and Reflections on Forty Years of Yoga in Daily Life in Hungary There are two very important messages I would like to convey to you. The first is that today, the Śrī Svāmī Mādhavānanda World Peace Council, with more than 200 delegates, has come from 18 countries. I will now name all the countries: India, New Zealand, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Australia, the United States of America, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Poland, Canada, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and, of course, Hungary. The second information I wish to share concerns the video we saw in the first part of our conference about the Omāśram, whose grand opening will be next year. It is our great pleasure to announce that Svāmījī has already conducted all the necessary procedures for the OṂ Āśram to be part of the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage. Hopefully, we will succeed in the following years. Because some of our most respected guests have a schedule for departure, allow us to take this opportunity to thank them for their presence and distinguished talks at the conference. I would like to ask, I think I can say, the father of Yoga in Daily Life in Hungary, Kṛṣṇānandjī, to give a gesture of thankfulness to our distinguished guest, Dr. Swapniljī, General Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Congress. Thank you for coming. I think I have to stress, Swapniljī, that the present is for both you and your wife. You will see the motif on the present; it was specially selected by Viśvagurujī for both of you. I would kindly ask Kṛṣṇānandjī also to give our present to His Excellency for coming here and addressing us. And, of course, to our host here today, the respected Rector of the Győr University, please, Kṛṣṇānandjī. We are also very honored that Mr. Zoltan Nemet is here, the President of the General Assembly of the Győr-Moson-Sopron County Council. Kṛṣṇānandjī, please, I would kindly ask you to give him a present also. And it has come to our information that respected Mr. Zoltan Nemet might also have a present for Viśvagurujī. Thank you very much. It looks like Viśvagurujī just got another citizenship. Since we have to end this session by 2 p.m., I suggest we now start with the speakers of the second session. I would kindly like to invite our dear Dr. Manfred Steponat, the President of the International Śrīdīp Mādhavānanda Āśram Fellowship, to address us. Thank you. That is why I would like to ask you to start the second part of the lecture. I would like to ask Manfred Steponat to continue his speech. We are going to celebrate three important occasions today. You know, the 40th anniversary of Yoga in Daily Life in Hungary—we have this folder here. The 70th anniversary of Indian-Hungarian diplomatic relations. And the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth, born in 1869, a few years after Mahāprabhujī, as you know. This conference signifies the coordination and cooperation of Yoga in Daily Life Hungary, the Embassy of India in Hungary, the University in Győr, and the Śrī Svāmī Mādhavānanda World Peace Council—the second large organization which Svāmījī founded. This conference is dedicated to promoting world peace through tolerance, respect, and understanding between different religions, cultures, and nations. I am delighted with the long-standing relationship between India and Hungary, which guarantees cultural enrichment, understanding, and mutual knowledge in both of these countries with great history and tradition. This long-term and friendly relationship is an example for everyone in this world. For this, I am very thankful to His Excellency, Mr. Kumar Tuhin, the Ambassador of India to Hungary. It is gratifying that on this occasion, people from all over the world meet and exchange thoughts about the peaceful coexistence of all people in a healthy and spiritual atmosphere. I am glad and thankful to Mr. Peter Földes that the University of Győr gives us the possibility to meet and share our thoughts. Also, I would like to express my thanks to the founder of the authentic and scientific system Yoga in Daily Life, Viśvagurū Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Paramahaṁsa Svāmī Maheśvarānanda, by congratulating the Hungarian Yoga in Daily Life Societies on their successful dissemination of yoga in the last 40 years, fostering the public health and spiritual well-being of the citizens of Hungary. I am thankful to all the innumerable guests who take part in these many, many seminars in Hungary. The seminars organized in recent decades have made Hungary a second home to many yoga aspirants. Together we have learned and practiced yoga. Our families and children grow, and with yoga we have all developed on our way. For this, I am very thankful, especially to all karma yogīs who helped in the last 40 years so that these seminars could take place in Hungary. "Health is not everything, but everything is nothing without health," Paracelsus said. To promote physical health, the Yoga in Daily Life system begins with a series of simple exercises designed to warm, stretch, and improve flexibility. But peace can only be achieved through a complete daily healthy life, not only through physical exercises, but also through a healthy social, mental, and spiritual life, through meditation and prayer, through what we heard already—ahiṁsā, that means a vegetarian lifestyle, and in a society of sense. First, reaching the peace inwards, then it can carry outside. It is a mindset and teaching of the great saint Mahātmā Gandhi that is carried into the present and may serve as guidance and inspiration to all people in this world, regardless of their religion, attitude, and culture. In other words, he said a peaceful mind creates a peaceful world, and therefore we must learn, through spiritual practices and examples, how to let our restless mind be peaceful. I don’t know if Gandhijī went to Hungary when he was traveling around the world, but I know that Holī Gurujī did this—the master of Paramahaṁsa Svāmī Maheśvarānanda. Svāmī Maheśvarānanda has been here in Europe a few times, and also he blessed these countries with his footsteps a few times, and gives a lot of satsaṅgs and lectures. Holī Gurujī himself realized and taught us through spiritual poems and lectures. Therefore, this conference also bears his name to remember his example, and you can see all that comes from this teaching. When we go far, far away, when a little boy had the desire to become a Svāmī, when he came as a disciple to his master, Holī Gurujī, and Holī Gurujī, who wrote all the Siddhānta Pīṭham Paramparā from the Himalaya, beginning with Śrī Agalāpurījī, continuing with Śrī Devapurījī, who is known as the incarnation of Lord Śiva, to Bhagavān Śrīdīp Nārāyaṇa Mahāprabhujī, also known as an incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu. Gurujī also wrote about his lifetime spent with Mahāprabhujī. And when he teaches our Gurudeva, Svāmījī, all this spiritual knowledge, all this bhakti and devotion, you can see what comes from this, which results appear loud, like Swapniljī mentioned before. Wealth comes only through hard, hard work. And this we can see here in person with our Gurudeva. Viśvagurujī once said, "The more wisdom you possess, the more humble becomes your mind. The more understanding you develop, the more helpful become your actions. The more goodness residing in your heart, the more love you feel for every being." With those words, I wish those present an interesting conference, a second part, and much peace for the future to all of us and around the world. Thank you very much for coming here to join us, to listen to the words, and to share your thoughts together with us. Hari Oṁ. God bless you. Thank you very much, dear Dr. Manfred Steponat. Distinguished guests and delegates, whoever believes that we don’t have the Austro-Hungarian Empire anymore—the first part started with the representative of Hungary, the second part with the representative of Austria. The only thing which changed is that we don’t have a king or a queen here, but we have His Holiness here with us. And by that saying, I would kindly like to invite the father of Yoga in Daily Life in Hungary, Mr. Károly Kovács, to address us once again. Please, Kṛṣṇānandjī. That our beloved Gurudeva arrived in Budapest, Hungary on a May day, and then we became spiritual leaders very often, and we were very happy that we finally got this. A friend of mine said, when I advertised how it is possible that there is still no spiritual leader, he said that the first thing to do is to prepare the teaching, and when the lesson is finished, the leader comes. Thank you very much, Svāmījī! As soon as Gurū Viśvā arrived in Budapest, he came to our yoga center, and as we got to know him, he praised us. This was a previous praise. Among others, he said that we practice Haṭha Yoga. He praised us for practicing the Rāja Yoga so well. This was his first teaching. In the next 30 days, he introduced Svāmījī to the basis of the system of Yoga in Daily Life. He taught satsaṅgs on a daily basis and on several occasions. He talked to us about the philosophy of yoga and spirituality. He also introduced the systematics of Yoga in Daily Life. This is very important. We have a systematic system. He did not start to teach us the basics of the house, but the foundations. He gave the main pillars, in addition to the practice of the āsanas, the prāṇāyāma, the yoga nidrā, positive thinking and positive lifestyle, that these are the important factors on the path of self-realization. This wonderful first Hungarian month with Svāmījī was full of very interesting trips. He held lectures and workshops in Miskolc, Budapest, Szeged, and many other cities in Hungary, which the time has already started to stop. But in all these places, yoga centers were established. We were doing yoga in schools, art houses, even on the stage of a music show. The following years also brought very rich programs. In our yoga life, we had a Svāmījī who came on two or three occasions a month for a weekly retreat. And he came to the yoga camp every summer. He came to Budapest, and, if I’m not mistaken, to many other towns. He introduced the system of Yoga in Daily Life to hundreds of people, and in the meantime, he also started the education of yoga teachers very intensively, so that, as soon as possible, the teaching of wonderful Yoga in Daily Life and the teaching of the paramparā, along with the golden teachings of Mahāprabhujī, would reach everyone. During the forty years of existence, Yoga in Daily Life groups were formed in every big city and in countless settlements. In the Hungarian official educational system, in the University of Physical Education, in its further education institution, as well as in the Budapest Sports University and in the organization of several county sports universities, we trained yoga teachers. The examined yoga instructors teach yoga lessons, satsaṅgs, and weekly courses. Forty years have passed since the beginning. The foundation that the next generations will continue to build and expand, so that all interested people can be inspired by the knowledge of Viśvagurujī and the wonderful yoga system created by him, by practicing Yoga in Daily Life. Viśvagurujī answered a question and said that yoga is similar to the rising sun today in Hungary, and the future of yoga in your country will be the day when the sun will be at its zenith. I see that this is the beginning of this zenith. That is why you should practice and teach the system of Yoga in Daily Life. It should also be mentioned that we had a very close, friendly cooperation with the Indian Embassy forty years ago. If I remember correctly, we were in touch with nine or ten great ambassadors of India, and they enjoyed the support of their colleagues. Yoga in Daily Life is a system, and we had many joint programs, such as the Āyush and other ones. The great ambassadors and high-ranking colleagues regularly visited the āśrams. They visited our international yoga seminar several times, where they shared their joy with the participants. We have always participated in the embassy-organized programs, the Āyush, and other yoga events that were held in the embassy, Budapest, and many other cities on Sunday nights. We regularly celebrate the birthday and work days of Mahātmā Gandhījī, among which we have to mention the World Peace Conference was held on Saturday and Sunday in October 2009. At this conference, the main topic was the message of Holī Gurujī Svāmī Mādhavānandjī and Mahātmā Gandhījī. Thank you for your attention. Hari Oṁ. Salaam Gurudev, dear brothers and sisters, dear guests. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 40 years, that sometime in May, the long-awaited spiritual teacher and yoga master, His Holiness Viśvaguru Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Paramahaṁsa Svāmī Maheśvarānandajī, arrived in Hungary. As soon as Viśvagurujī arrived in Budapest, he immediately went to our yoga center, where he saw our students practicing yoga at our course. He appraised the practitioners, and among other things, He said that we were very developed in the field of Rāja Yoga, especially in practicing āsanas. Well, in the following 30 days, Svāmījī introduced us to the basics of system Yoga in Daily Life. He had satsaṅgs daily, where he spoke about yoga philosophy and the spiritual life. He introduced us to the system of Yoga in Daily Life and its systematic structure, one of the main pillars of yoga. He emphasized the importance of prāṇāyāma, yoga nidrā, positive thinking, and a positive way of life on our way toward self-realization. This wonderful first month with Svāmījī was full of interesting trips. Svāmījī gave lectures and workshops in Miskolc, Szeged, Budapest, and many other cities. We practiced yoga with Svāmījī in schools, community halls, stages of cinemas, and in different parks. The following years also brought very rich programs to our yoga lives. There were times when Svāmījī visited us two to three times a month for the weekend programs and also at seminars during the summers. Svāmījī introduced the Yoga in Daily Life system to hundreds and hundreds of people in several other cities and towns. And at the same time, he started training yoga teachers as well. The yoga teacher training was a really intensive and, at the same time, uplifting experience, as Viśvagurujī taught us the techniques of teaching yoga step by step, along with revealing the spiritual aspects of yoga as well. During the past 40 years, many Yoga in Daily Life centers and ashrams have opened in Hungary. Yoga in Daily Life groups were created in almost all major cities and in other towns where certified yoga teachers, trained by Svāmījī and also qualified by the official Hungarian education system organized by the University of Physical Education, the Budapest Bureau of Sport, and many other municipal bureaus of sport, led yoga classes, satsaṅgs, and weekend programs. The last 40 years are the beginning, the foundation on which the following generation can build and expand upon, so that all who are interested can take from Viśvagurujī’s knowledge by practicing the wonderful system he created—Yoga in Daily Life. Viśvagurujī gave the following answer to a question: "Yoga is like the rising sun in Hungary, and the future of yoga will soon be the sun at its zenith." Therefore, practice and teach Yoga in Daily Life, the system. The close and friendly cooperation with the Embassy of India in the past 40 years also needs to be highlighted. The Yoga in Daily Life system has been supported by India’s ambassadors and their colleagues, and there have been many jointly organized yoga programs. Ambassadors and high-ranking officials regularly visited the ashrams of Budapest, also the international yoga seminars several times, sharing their wisdom with the participants. We have also participated in the embassy-organized programs, such as Āyush Day, yoga, and other events and their premises, and in the India Day events in Budapest and other cities. Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday and its achievement through his works are regularly commemorated, from which the World Peace Conference in October 2009 in Szombathely and Vác needs to be highlighted. At this conference, the message of His Holiness Holī Gurujī Svāmī Mādhavānandjī and of Mahātmā Gandhījī was the main topic. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Kṛṣṇānandjī. And even though we already gave applause, I think that the 40-year anniversary of Viśvagurujī’s work in Hungary and all the work of Kṛṣṇānandjī in the Yoga in Daily Life community deserves another applause. Now I would kindly like to invite Mr. Zoltán Kovács, head of the Kürt Foundation Grammar School, to address us. Thank you. So, welcome everybody. I am the headmaster of the Kürt Secondary School. The time is really short, so I will not mention all the respected guests, but I’m here because of the yoga, and since I’m here because of the yoga, I have to mention Viśvagurujī, Kṛṣṇānandjī Károly Kovács, and Kirán Ágnes Kun. And I am here because of them. For me, this case is a time travel on the one hand. Imagine, when we founded a school in 1990, it was called the Public Economic Polytechnic. It still exists today. I am one of the founders of that school, and we thought that we had to do a lot of things in the bodybuilding program. By the way, I am a professor of bodybuilding and bodybuilding pedagogy. And, for example, yoga. This was one of the thoughts that came to mind. I found an advertisement in a newspaper about Yoga in Daily Life, and then I opened it and found out that there was Yoga in Daily Life. Then I found an advertisement in a newspaper about Yoga in Daily Life, and then I opened it and found out that there was Yoga in Daily Life, and then I opened it and found out that there was yoga in daily life, and then I opened it and found out that there was yoga in daily life, and then I opened it and found out that there was yoga in daily life, and then I opened it and found out that there was yoga in daily life, and then I opened it and found out that there was yoga in daily life. Part 2: The Integration of Yoga: From School Life to Spiritual Light I opened it and discovered that there was yoga in daily life. I opened it again and found yoga in daily life. I kept opening it, and each time, there was yoga in daily life. Finally, I opened the phone book and found the address of a yoga āśram on Baloch Street. It was nearly thirty years ago, so my memory is not exact, but I am sure that when I called, it was Kṛṣṇānand who answered. I told him our idea: that yoga should be in the school, in the classroom, and that they could help with this. He agreed immediately, and so everything began here. I did not get too close to yoga then, not from a lack of respect, but due to time constraints. Yet, in some ways, I did draw near. I participated fully in the classes, did everything, and later incorporated elements into my own teaching. With the children, we practiced positions like the candle and the cycling pose. I applied these techniques to my own studies, believing they could replace hours of sleep. I did many such things, and yoga became part of my everyday life. I will return to why this is so significant for me. With my students, I took part in sports classes and practiced yoga with them. Soon, I began to use yoga exercises in other lessons and topics I taught. I explained to the children that a short relaxation could be like four or five hours of sleep, though of course it is not a long-term substitute. In 2012, I moved to another school where I am now the principal, at the Kürt Grammar School. There was no yoga there initially, only traditional sports like football, athletics, and gym work. For me, however, it was unquestionable that we would continue yoga with the children. So, how did Yoga in Daily Life become part of the school and the children's lives? We have a basic education module of ten hours where they try everything; afterwards, they can choose whether to continue with yoga or not. This spans two years: ten hours in one year and ten in the next. In the 11th grade, they decide if they wish to attend yoga classes. By the 12th year, they can choose whether yoga should be in their program. We have a small law school within the school, the Romina School. The question is always whether new students will fit in. Kīran, our teacher, has been with us for a long time. He always says, "He is our teacher. When we replace him, he will come to our pleasure." It is always a question if someone else can come, and the answer is always yes. The walls of the room seem to widen. Many students apply for the yoga class, and we always wonder if the small hall is enough. I always ask Kīran if one more child can join, and he always says yes. So, the space slowly expands, especially in the 11th class when the students become more conscious of what they are doing. In the 12th year, while there are popular sports like volleyball and basketball, only yoga continues through the whole year. One might think the children like it because they can just lie down and relax, but you all know the system of Yoga in Daily Life. The class led by Kṛṣṇānand and Kīran is not like that. The children are genuinely touched by it. Kṛṣṇānand and Kīran are part of our life, not only during yoga classes but also in the afternoons and during lunch breaks. I have written that I cannot imagine our school without yoga. It was a great honour that Kṛṣṇā called me and that I can speak here. I feel that with the school and with yoga, we are part of history. How does our everyday life change? There is a summer break, of course—though a principal does not really have one, but my little daughter does. I received a very honourable invitation to come here. Technically, I had to oversee things, but I did not give up. Something came in between, so I brought my six-year-old daughter. She obviously does not have the right to be here in a formal sense, but yoga has become part of our lives. It is not about sitting in the second row and enjoying a comforting situation. We came and are sitting here, and I can be with you. I can see Anna here in her little pink dress, Svāmījī, Kīran, and the others. I truly feel I can be part of a family like this. While I may not take much from my life for this, in such a short time I have been able to create such depth for myself. I am proud to be here, and there is a place for school and yoga. I see my daughter here with Svāmījī, Kṛṣṇānanda, and Kīran. It may not take a large part of my life, but in this short time, I could make such deep connections. Thank you very much for your attention and for inviting me. Thank you very much, Mr. Lajos Molnár, head of the Kürt Foundation Grammar School, and Kṛṣṇānandajī for presenting him with a gift. Now I would like to invite Dr. Jozef Sraka, President of the Slovenia Yoga Union. Since I will assist with English translation, I kindly suggest we do not proceed with translation into Hungarian. Thank you for your understanding. His Holiness Viśvagurujī, respected Excellency, dignitaries, and guests. As mentioned, with two million people, it is praiseworthy that in our national park in Muzir Gaj, we have a permanent exhibition of chakras, which you could have seen in the previous film about the Om Ashram. In the name of the Slovenia Yoga Association, I congratulate our dear yoga brothers and sisters of the Hungarian Yoga Union on their 40th anniversary. You had the privilege to meet Viśvagurujī ten years before we did in Slovenia. That means ten years earlier you were able to acknowledge the science of yoga and all that comes with it. It does not teach us only about yoga; it teaches us about mental health, societal health, our relationship with the environment, and how to live in harmony with nature. With his immense energy, transferred to us in seminars and lectures, Viśvagurujī transforms our way of looking at the world. I can proudly say that during our 30 years with Viśvagurujī, he has transformed us into better humans. Our relationship, first among ourselves and then towards nature and the environment, has become greater. We have become much more tolerant, not only towards other humans but also towards nature. Let us remain like this in the future and work together to embrace as many people as possible for the same goal. I wish you many pleasant lessons with our dear Viśvagurujī. Thank you. With this thought, I congratulate you again for 40 years of Yoga in Daily Life in Hungary, and I wish all of us many more days and years with our respected Viśvagurujī. Because you could be part of this path ten years before us in Slovenia, accepting this wisdom and knowledge. He spoke about the energy he gives in lectures and seminars. This way, we will not only be healthier but will live in harmony with ourselves and nature. Thank you very much, Dr. Jozef Sraka. Now I kindly invite dear Sādhvī Śāntījī to address us. Om Śānti, Śānti, Śānti. Praṇāmas, respected souls, divine brothers and sisters. Thank you for the opportunity to be here. First, I thank all the Hungarian organizers for this wonderful conference. It is good to remind ourselves of our roots, from where we get the essence for our spiritual life. I have been with Svāmījī for 42 years, which is quite a long time, yet I feel active and energetic. Recently, I had an ear operation. Afterwards, the professor told me I had been deaf in my left ear and said, "You will hear, definitely. Do you know why? Because your brain vibrations are very good, like a young person's." This, of course, comes from Yoga in Daily Life. I am quite sure, because for 42 years I have been practicing yoga and meditating. We must be very thankful for all we receive from Svāmījī. I have a sweet memory with Kṛṣṇānand, from about 40 years ago. When I came to Svāmījī, as a Westerner, we had no prior relation to an Indian guru. We learn nothing of this in school. My start with yoga was in Morocco, interestingly. I was there on holiday and chose a yoga class from the sports offered, as I was interested. I had many psychosomatic illnesses like gastritis and migraines. From the first moment of the first class, I felt this was right for me. I cannot remember the āsanas, but I remember the prāṇāyāma. I felt the breathing techniques and how they affected me; I became completely peaceful and very well. Returning to Vienna, I searched for a school open on Wednesday morning, my only free time. That school was Svāmījī's. In this way, many think God guides us. We were all guided to join Svāmījī, and with his guidance and protection, we can achieve much. At that time, Svāmījī gave the classes himself. We had morning classes and afterwards sat together drinking chai—Indian chai, of course—enjoying being together. When I remember this, I think those were the most beautiful mornings of my life. Every time I go near that area, I remember how beautiful it was, without sorrows, everything just Hari Om, and you could do something for yourself. Later, there was a camping seminar in Hungary, on a little hill. Gurujī and Svāmījī were there with yoga people. I came from Vienna in a big car, wondering what was happening. First, I passed by the kitchen—it was not a house but a tent, open, with people washing dishes and cooking on a gas stove. I thought, "What is this? My goodness, they are all working together." I was so impressed that they did it with joy. They were all calm yogis, though I did not know then what a calm yogi was. I was deeply impressed by how nice they were together, helping each other. In that time, Svāmījī gave satsaṅgs by an open fire. We had a fireplace with wood, and Svāmījī—you will not believe—was singing kīrtans. At that time, we did not have many bhajans, perhaps only Guru Chara and Paramaguru Svāmījī's. We sat for hours by the fire singing, and Svāmījī was the biggest and quickest singer. It was wonderful. On the other side of the hill, Gurujī was there, not so much in public. That was also interesting, as people would sit in front of his tent singing bhajans. Because Gurujī wrote so many bhajans, they sang them for him. He listened to bhajans of the whole paramparā for hours every day, until the end of his life. In 42 years, one forgets many things, but this impression from Hungary was my first and touched my heart deeply. That is why I came here to Győr to tell you this: how beautiful a first impression can be. This is something we must learn. What is Svāmījī teaching in Vienna these days? He has books, but he is not teaching the books. He is teaching ānanda, happiness. Did he not tell you in recent days that you must feel and express joy, that you must be happy? This is what we must give to others. It is a world need. I was sitting here looking at Gandhījī's words, "Be the change you want to see." Dear Gandhījī, I am sorry, but today I changed your quote a little. I say, "Be the light you want to see." We must be the light we want to see. Change must start with us. We cannot ask others to be the light; we must be the light ourselves. I was with Gurujī many times. He was different from Viśvagurujī, full of bhakti. This is what we need to open the heart. In our world of intellect, computer knowledge, and coming G5 technology, the heart is not touched enough. It is important for us to open the heart through love, understanding, and forgiveness. These are qualities of the light we must develop. Holy Gurujī, wherever he was, even in foreign countries, would always make a prayer. Prayer is a conversation with God, which we should do daily, even every hour, to give over our darkness and pray for it to change into light. Wherever he was, he would orient the altar to the north. Even in the hospital, he ensured Mahāprabhujī's picture was to the north, as that was the direction of Kāṭu, where Mahāprabhujī lived. There are many such things. We must be open. Mahāprabhujī said, "The highest development of self-realization is only through love." So, we must first develop love—as much as we can, for ourselves, for others, for nature. Speaking is not enough; we must act. To be concrete, I will point out three things: First, develop as much love as you can for yourself. Do not forget yourself; you must love and respect yourself. Respect others, all creations, all creatures, and nature. Second, try to plant as many trees as you can. Everyone has a garden, neighbours, or access to parks. The rainforests are being destroyed. Every tree you plant helps counter climate change. It is very important that we all take action—not just one tree, but hundreds. We have the possibility to be creative. If we want to do something, we can. We have the power. Do not forget this. You are everything. You are not weak; we are strong. You just have to take the aim and do it. Third, I think all here are vegetarian. This is a Saṅkalpa. Try to make more people become vegetarian, as meat consumption is the second major cause of climate change. The more people become vegetarian, the better our Earth will survive. Think of your children and the future. Swāmījī said many years ago, "Try to make 11 people per year become vegetarian." This I request of you, and I speak to myself also. Śāntī, try to bring people to love, to plant trees, and to be vegetarian. Be the light you want to see. Thank you very much, Sādhvī Śāntījī. Now I would like to invite a person who is the mayor of a town thousands of us have been visiting for the past 25 years: the lovely town of Vip. Part 3: A Gathering of Gratitude and the Essence of Yoga Address by Mayor Péter Kovács It is a great honour to speak to you. I am Péter Kovács, the mayor of Vép. I thank you for this mini-conference. What I have heard and seen here is completely in line with my principles. In leading our town, we have always tried to listen to everyone’s wishes and foster cooperation, community, and peace. Vép is a young town, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. I strive to lead it by listening to everybody, working together in cooperation and harmony, together with the environment and for the well-being of the people. It is a great pleasure that you visit our town, bringing an atmosphere of peace and harmony. Last week, we discussed planting a tree in Vép’s main square this October. When I received the invitation for today’s event, I also invited our vice mayor, who worked in the school for a long time and is now retired, but the connection remains. Thank you for the invitation. I have received thoughts here that I can use in my everyday life and work. I hope for a closer relationship and cooperation between the town and the yoga community in the future. Thank you very much. Address by Radovan Hovorka, Slovak Yoga Union Respected audience, guests, excellencies, dignitaries, your holiness. I speak on behalf of the Slovak Union Yoga in Daily Life. First, I congratulate Hungary on its long diplomatic relationship with India. Second, I congratulate the people around Krishnānand for the wonderful celebration of 40 years of Yoga in Daily Life in Hungary. It is wonderful that these two celebrations occur within the scope of another great anniversary: the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. He connects these anniversaries, as he is a living example of a yogī who brought yoga knowledge into politics. We see what can happen when such high knowledge is applied. Gandhi’s thoughts influenced the whole world. The Slovak Republic also has a long relationship with India, nearly one hundred years officially. Many of our scholars were influenced by Gandhi’s thoughts, implemented into the Slovak school system over a century ago. This is an important message: if we use the knowledge present in a system like Yoga in Daily Life, we can find a way to solve any conflict. In Europe, we face many wars and conflicts. We must learn that cooperation is better than fighting. With great personalities like our yoga master, Viśvagurujī, we have the leadership to apply these thoughts. Knowledge itself has little value without someone to interpret it. I thank Viśvagurujī for his tireless work of over 40 years in Europe and Slovakia. He came to Slovakia the year I was born, and I can feel how hard it must have been to work for so long in our environment. He faces not only the challenges of spreading yoga but also shares our problems; on his shoulders lies the life of all his disciples. I thank him once more and thank Krishnānand for spreading Swāmījī’s knowledge in Hungary for 40 years. Thank you. Address by Norbert Czerniak (Lakshman Purī), Poland It is a great blessing that Swāmījī has been coming to Hungary for 40 years. He first came to Poland in the year 2000. In 2001, I started the first Yoga in Daily Life class. Disciples in Poland appreciate that this is an authentic yoga system which speaks about ethical and moral principles, not only āsanas. This system truly helps us change our lives. We also hold open satsaṅgs, a great opportunity to proceed with Swāmījī’s thoughts and lectures. Thank you. Address by Zdravko Lončarevic, Serbia It is a great pleasure, honour, and feeling to be here. I congratulate our Hungarian friends for 40 years of keeping, saving, and spreading the knowledge of yoga, especially in the form of Yoga in Daily Life. In Serbia, we have a strong connection with Hungarians. In the name of the Society of Yoga in Daily Life from Serbia, I express my gratitude and thankfulness because in many hard times, Hungarians were true friends and supporters. Now these hard times are gone, but the friendship and relation remain strong. Thank you for everything. I wish you all the best and further success and development. Address by Jack Purī, Australia Praṇām, Viśva Gurujī. Our Gurujī came to Australia about 35 years ago, spreading the teachings of Yoga in Daily Life. We have a beautiful āśrama in Brisbane, 200 square meters, two floors, with a garden and a beautiful Śiva Liṅgam. In Sydney, the āśrama has just been renovated. We also have a beautiful retreat place in Dangog, a 300-acre area next to a National Park. There are king parrots with beautiful feathers in every colour, and wallabies and kangaroos jump on the path. The nature is beautiful, and we hold yoga retreat seminars there. Viśva Gurujī was there this year. I thank him personally and hope he will come again next year. Final Remarks by His Holiness Viśvagurujī Śāntiḥ, Śāntiḥ,... Rāvavatu, Hari. O dear sisters and brothers, our salutations to Holy Gurujī, His Holiness Swami Madhavānandajī, and to the father of India, Gandhījī, who is a light for the whole world. Yoga is very, very old. Unfortunately, some now write that yoga is 5,000 years old. This is not right. Some think of Patañjali, but Patañjali lived over 7,000 years ago. He brought together different parts of yoga into different subjects. I will give a glimpse of where and how yoga is, as told by the Vedas and great saints through the Yugas. It is said: Anant, Anant, Anant. Endless, endless, endless. Anant Brahman is what we call our space. It is said there was only darkness, no light, nothing. At that time, it is said, "Eko’haṁ Bahusyā" – "I am one, and now I will multiply." But who said this? When there was nothing, no one. The first sound, that resonance, is called Nādharūpa Parabrahma. The sound is the supreme, the highest, everything. That sound and the space. Then, consciousness. What is consciousness, and where is it? Is the space more, or the consciousness more? We do not know. Consciousness cannot do anything, and space cannot think. All is frozen, but there must be something. That is called balance, harmony, and light. That is called yoga—not exercise, not meditation alone—but that which unites space and consciousness. Between space and consciousness is a balancing harmony and light. That union is yoga. Yoga means joined, yet there is no one. There is sound in space, which we call Oṃ. That is the mantra. Oṃ comes from the navel, not from the ear. But that is a long topic. So, the Rūpa Parabrahma is said to be the Supreme, the resonance. That resonance says, "Eko’haṁ Bahusyā." But who is talking? First comes sound. Throughout the endless universe, there is a beautiful, balanced, harmonious resonance. Sound disturbances, unfortunately, are on this planet; all troubles are here. After that, there is only balance. First is sound, and from sound comes light, called Jyoti. Then Swayambhū appears, and then comes what we call Śiva. People ask: which came first, the bird or the egg? I think I found the solution: it was Śiva, who has no mother, no father, no one. From there comes this Śrīm Bhū. The first one was there, and then everything began to develop. From one resonance, the whole world is created from the five elements: space, light, air, water, and earth. From these five elements we came together, and that is yoga. In yoga, we do what we need accordingly, but ultimately these five elements are for keeping balance and health for all creatures, not only humans. The 8.4 million different creatures on earth, in water, and in space—all these moving creatures are one, and that again comes to balance. Yoga is the one. We have to return there. Therefore, yoga is not only āsanas and prāṇāyāmas. Not just moving up and down, left and right; those are just movements. Through prāṇāyāma, we must first cross the five elements. Then we come to jīvā, the soul. The soul is purified and goes further through meditation, kriyā, kuṇḍalinī, cakras, etc. At the end of this year, I will have been teaching yoga in Europe for 50 years. I teach not only āsanas and prāṇāyāmas but many different techniques and the great knowledge given by our masters. Unfortunately, Indians lost yoga. Now, Modījī has brought yoga forward—very simply, āsanas and prāṇāyāma, which is very good. But many Indians do yoga only because Modījī is there. If we compare the Indian population to practitioners here, we could say India is at zero, and Hungarians are at 15%. I am sorry, your excellency, but I am saying that the population of India, compared to Yoga in Daily Life practitioners in Europe, is very low here because they understand yoga. I told Westerners, "Please go to India." That is why so many of my bhaktas are in India, teaching yoga and doing seva. Many are in Australia, America, Mexico, Tasmania—everywhere, spreading Yoga in Daily Life from here. India has made a nice "All One Union," but only for yoga, nothing else is moving. They are also not doing it correctly. When they make a pose, it is like acrobatics; that is not yoga. I hope Indians will understand and return to real yoga. This time, the Indian embassy was very nice. Yoga came again, like to my yoga, we call it Sarabhitāsan. Modījī taught this and does Sarabhitāsan. And of course, Rāmdevjī is great. I have to send yoga teachers to India, and they are going. Indians also come here to learn from European culture, which is good. But yoga was lost here. You have yoga here, everybody. There are some sādhus and people doing it, so we have to learn yoga. For 50 years, I did it only like this. Indians would say, "What are you doing, cooking something or what?" Hungarians are great. They caught yoga very quickly, and Yoga in Daily Life spread throughout Hungary. In every country, like the Czech Republic and Slovakia, if you see their landscape, you will see our flags everywhere. I tell you, practice simple exercises, prāṇāyāma, a little concentration. And as our Dr. Śānti said, eat sāttvic food. Do not eat killed animals. Eat fresh vegetables. When I came to Europe, it was hard to find normal food, but I always had vegetables and bread. Now, millions have become vegetarian. Of course, the meat industries are not happy. Many religious people are against eating vegetables, but we began a new system called vegan food. Now, in Prague alone, there are 70 vegan restaurants. On aeroplanes, you get vegan food in all countries. This began through Yoga in Daily Life, and people are very happy and healthy. I am so happy today, especially for our actors from the university. I pray to the Almighty that your university blossoms more and more. Under you, all professors, everything will be best, and your students will be great. They will bring light to all of Europe, wherever they go. I wish God blesses you, and may all be very healthy and happy. We must return to normal, vegetarian eating. If someone holds you and cuts your throat, what do you feel? Your mother, father, or child is making love—what will they feel? What will you feel? It is the same for other animals. We call them living beings; it does not matter if they are humans or what you call animals. Even a fish: when something sticks in your throat, how long can you survive? When you throw a hook in the water to catch a fish, how does that fish suffer? It is not dying immediately, but it dies every second. It comes out of the water, opening its mouth as if to say, "Please, humans, put me back in my world, in water." The karma of how that fish dies will come to you. Therefore, if you do not want to eat meat, it does not matter, but at least do not kill them. That is very, very important. We must come to the Supreme, to God. He will not say, "My child, eat." I pray for all creatures. We will chant "Oṃ Śāntiḥ" three times for all creatures. Oṃ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ... Hari Oṃ. God bless us all. Thank you. Closing Viśva Gurujī, on behalf of Széchenyi István University, we thank you for celebrating the 40th anniversary of the foundation of Yoga in Daily Life.