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Today is a beautiful day known as Guruvāra, the day of the Gurudeva. This Guruvāra is a very spiritual day that provides deep spiritual nourishment and extra energy, especially when we observe fasting. When we fast on days like Guru Pūrṇimā, Monday Pūrṇimā, or other occasions, it is said we must cleanse our body. During such times, we contemplate the purpose of fasting and understand what we truly need to nourish. The foremost and best nourishment is fasting itself. It allows our physical body to eliminate many unnecessary substances. Generally, we eat too much throughout the day. Many people constantly put something in their mouths, while others, busy at work, may only drink water and eat at lunchtime. Nowadays, people give excessive importance to the body, or at the very least, to chewing gum. While chewing gum was once popular, people are slowly giving it up. However, in countries like India and others, many chew tobacco or similar substances. You see teeth that are no longer white but stained red. In India, there is a very bad habit among people who add various harmful additives to their medicine or chewing mixtures. This is very damaging. Many, many people develop mouth cancer and cannot eat properly, especially anything spicy like chili. It is a terrible habit. In that part of Asia, governments earn significant revenue from this. Large factories generate billions upon billions of rupees daily—an unimaginable amount—by selling products containing harmful substances. This leads to widespread cancer and many other diseases. People spit red everywhere, a habit I think they will not give up for a long time. Previously, after meals, people used to chew something good that left a pleasant smell and taste. That older practice was better. Then there is alcohol. While not everyone is addicted, many are. They end up in hospitals. In India, the alcohol habit has become terrible. When alcohol is unavailable or too expensive, some even drink petrol. It is hard to imagine how these people die. Recently, during a period of three or four months, the government stopped the sale of alcohol. It was unavailable except perhaps in hidden places. One day, the government announced it would provide free alcohol for a limited time in the morning. Many poor people gathered. You know that through our Swamiji television and other efforts, we provided nourishment to the poor—food like chapati, lentils, vegetables, oil, spices, sugar, etc., about 40 kilos per package. We distributed this to those in need. In our area, the government requested, "Swamiji, please, if you go personally, everyone will run to you. We have a list of the genuinely poor, and our officials will accompany you." So, we used our vehicles with two or three helpers—whom we paid, of course—and reached many, many people. I want to express my deep gratitude to all of you from different countries who donated money through Swamiji TV. We reached many villages. Of course, many other organizers and NGOs were also helping. I offered to give a cheque, but the government advised, "Don't give a cheque; otherwise, the money may be diverted elsewhere. Please provide material aid instead." This was a good point about the Indian government. If you give billions, you must issue a cheque, and then we cannot be sure where it ends up. Others were very good, and they thanked all our friends and supporters. Many newspapers expressed gratitude to people from other parts of the world. Then one day, the government allowed freedom for those who wanted alcohol from morning until evening. There were lines stretching for kilometers, even longer in small villages. Poor people brought thousands of rupees and bought large quantities of alcohol. Trucks kept delivering it. Those who had received our food supplies evidently were not so poor after all; they had money. The government later stated in newspapers how many billions of rupees it earned from alcohol sales in a single day, money intended for public health. From that day, many NGOs stopped helping because they realized these people were primarily alcoholics and drug addicts. We want to help, but they do not allow us to help effectively. We also engaged in another kind of work. We went to some hills and mountains where water is scarce. Water comes from the mountains in some places. They asked if we could build a small water dam so that water could collect from different sides, allowing animals to drink. This was beneficial for birds and animals as well. Yes, I have mentioned this before. In this manner, many people from India and other countries provided help. It was greatly needed. Thank you very much. This was widely covered in newspapers, highlighting how many yogīs have gained merit and provided such support in their lifetimes. This, too, is spiritual. In Europe as well, many people struggle with drugs and alcohol. Some have the habit. This is an addiction, and it is not good. We should have an addiction to spirituality: doing our mantra, our sādhanā, our meditation, singing bhajans, reading holy books, and thinking good thoughts for all nations. We protect our country and support others. We are human, and if we can do this, it is great. We should not give up. Some are destroying many things, but that is their habit. Our habit is to give, and in that, we hold great, great spiritual, divine energy within our bodies. The body is not everything, but without the body, there is nothing. As someone said, we should do our best in every way and accomplish something great. That is very, very important. Today, you had your sādhanā, your practice, your meditation. Now it is one day, a day for further purification. What does it mean to have breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between? That is not good for our body or health. We have developed habits, but how much nourishment are we truly giving? Consider the intense effort required to process everything we drink or eat. In the past, people mostly worked in the fields. While working continuously, they had no time to eat, so they had a very good lunch and dinner. We say that in India, one should eat like a king: a best and good breakfast in the morning, then work, then a very nice lunch when hungry—about 65% of the day's food—and a very light meal in the evening before sleep. This was the traditional habit. But now we have different habits. Some work all night and sleep during the day. Our habits have changed, and that is why we have more diseases. You see, farmers are healthy, while others fall ill. Even their dogs, cats, and house pets adopt habits like ours, so they become ill too. Animals also fall ill because they are not given the natural food they would always eat. Please try to improve your health. You can fast. If not, give up two meals and consume only water. If you drink too much coffee or eat ice cream and such, it is better to drink normal water and eat normal food. Drink water, but maintain a fast for at least 20 hours. For instance, if we eat in the evening, the next meal should be the following evening. Thus, for 25 hours, we purify ourselves. This is for our health. However, many people do not want to fast or do not understand why they should eat. Most people who fast do so for spiritual reasons. But in reality, fasting is for our health and also for improving our financial situation. There is a problem: in the past, what we earned was enough to make us happy. Now we waste money, always going to restaurants. In America, someone told me 10 or 15 years ago—perhaps it was Rāmānanda or somebody—how it is possible that some Indians come from India, work in America, and within four years can buy their own home. Many Americans can hardly afford an apartment because it is very expensive. How is this possible? A neighbor said, "We have a small flat, while this Indian family has a nice house and garden." They work day and night for money, gold, etc. The Americans asked the Indians, "How do you have a car, a house, etc.?" The Indian replied, "We hardly go to restaurants." In America, you must drive to a restaurant. There are residential areas with only houses, and commercial areas with restaurants. A family of five—husband, wife, and three children—going to a restaurant might spend 100 to 120 dollars for lunch or dinner. Indians bring chapati flour, rice, and vegetables cooked at home. The whole family can eat well for 25 dollars, with leftovers. A restaurant visit costs 125 dollars. We do not go out for coffee or tea. That is why Americans have the habit of eating out exclusively. A few years ago, in San Francisco, they constructed a large building without kitchens because many people cooking creates smells. Instead, there are several restaurants nearby. You can eat there, but consider how much money you spend. When they drink and so on... Indian people take a loan, buy a house, work hard, repay the loan, and in 10 or 15 years, own a beautiful house and are very happy. This is exactly what I told Rāmānanda, I believe. Stand up, please, Rāmānanda, otherwise you will make jokes. Take the mic. Yes. Rāmānanda: Is it as it was said? It is very popular to visit restaurants in America. It is very interesting to observe now during the coronavirus situation. You see, many people do not know how to cook at home, definitely the younger generation. When I was last in America, I worked as a food delivery driver. You cannot imagine how much they ordered food, mostly because they were afraid to go outside, even to shop, and partially because they did not know how to cook. It is very sad. The lifestyle in America is simply not good. Swamiji: Thank you. Thank you. And what happens? In many Indian families, the husband works while the wife and children stay home. The ladies do not know what to do all day. Children go to kindergarten or school, and she prepares food for 10 houses or a company of 40, 20, or 100 people, earning money. They cook vegetables, chapatis, etc., and deliver at lunchtime. This is called the "tiffin" system. Now Europeans are also beginning to adopt the tiffin system. What I want to convey is how to live healthily. In certain situations, if you cannot cook, you will try to eat what you can. One should—humans have all kinds of technologies. When you do not need a technique, you do not know it. It does not matter, but the best technology is that we can cook and eat. That is it. Then you will be happy. When you have nothing, go to the forest and gather good leaves and such. So learn cooking, learn cooking, learn cooking. Of course, Czechoslovakians are very expert. Yes, Slovaks are also very good, Hungarians are the best—all are. In Europe, we still cook and eat, but very soon people are losing this skill. There is a problem: the husband comes home and asks the wife, "Did you cook something?" She says no. "If you want to eat, cook yourself." Or the wife comes and asks the husband, "Did you cook something?" He says, "I am watching television. If you want, cook it yourself." Now both are educated; one is a director, and one is an ambassador. The ambassador does not want to cook, and the director will not cook. What to do? Let's go to the restaurant. This is the problem. Therefore, if you are very intelligent, first think about your children. From childhood, teach children how to cook. Children like to do it, but parents often do not let them. You can forgo some other education for children, but cooking you should teach. You can work anywhere, but good eating is your health. There will be no cancers or other diseases. So, to summarize what we have learned from our discussion, there are two main points. When we fast, many of us do it for spirituality. But in reality, it is not only for spirituality but for our health. Many people do not want to fast because of eating habits. Therefore, we emphasize spirituality. This means we fast for spiritual reasons, and those who advocate fasting often speak of it for our good health. We think of God. Spirituality is not just that; it is for our health, but we do not understand and are unwilling to prioritize our health. So we undertake fasting on the day of God. Today we are fasting, and this is for our good health—meaning long life and happiness. That is what we must do. Now, I do not want to tell you, "Thank you for dinner." Today there is no dinner. We lost breakfast, and we will remember lunch. Evening dinner is okay? Dinner is good. My dear, tomorrow you are going, and I hope you will come again. Those who are nearby can come in the evening for satsaṅg. If the weather is clear, we have a whole big field. I think I will stay here. It has already been one week, and I will stay one month more, or two months. What will I do in Vienna? Vienna is beautiful. We have our ashrams and satsaṅgs—two or three ashrams—but here it is better. So I am here, and you are here. The problem is the economy. If you come from Budapest only for one evening and return, how much petrol do you use? And here, you would also donate something. It is better to support Swamiji television. You can give donations there, and through that, we can fund our work. Instead of spending on petrol, you can contribute to our other projects. This year will be difficult for children's gardens and our school in Jardin and other places. When you come from Vienna and back, with the petrol cost, you could give that amount for our work instead. It means stay at home. So, half you give for some programs—not for me, but for the work—and half keep for yourself. We share with each other. Half I am giving for programs, and half for yourself, and we watch lectures. You need not sit like a bowl all the time. Some sit there chewing gum. Nobody knows except me and you. So, this was about why we should fast and its many different causes: spirituality, our health, saving money, which means remaining healthy, and fifth, you need not cook too much, saving gas, water, and medicine. Thank you, all the best.