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Good evening to everyone gathered in this hall. This is the hall of our Guru Paramparā—Alak Purījī, Dev Purījī, Mahāprabhujī, our Satguru Dev Swāmī Madhvanājī Bhagavān, and all our yoga practitioners, disciples, spiritual devotees, and organizers. From the beginning, everyone has worked very hard. Now, we have our dear Vasant and Gaṅgā, who worked especially hard for this. Please stand up. Thank you. When our ashram, Mahāprabhū Deep Satsaṅg Ashram, was first established, farmers were still using this land. They had four gates here, and big trucks would come in to dry their crops. This place belonged to them. After we acquired it, they asked if they could continue using it for a year or two. With great respect, I said, "Not only for two years, you can use it for three or even four years." They were very happy and built a large hall, bigger than this one, on the other part of the property. You know, the condition of this hall then and now is completely different. We asked the government for permission to demolish it and build a bigger, better one. I considered it, but it would have cost a great deal of money, and the result would have been more or less the same, perhaps with some improvements like better water supply. As more and more people began coming here, especially in winter, we needed a large hall. Now we have this beautiful hall. We began our Anuṣṭhāna Kṛiyā here. Because so many people came, we used this hall and the other one, but we still needed more space. There was another building that had been a pigsty. It was not very high; it was lower. Again, our yogī friends from different countries, even from New Zealand and Australia, asked what we should do. They suggested we lower the floor and rebuild. We asked if we could open the windows to improve the echo. So, we decided to dig one and a half meters deep. There was a strong smell from the pigs. We removed all the old wood, put in a new floor, and it became beautiful. Our engineer, Vasant, raised the floor slightly and created another level with beautiful rooms and all facilities inside. Now, many people stay there and are very happy. We are all working together, slowly but surely. When we first sat here, many people said, "Oh my God, it's not a good place." But it was like an old woman—she is strong. Now, this old lady has had make-up applied by Vasant, and look how good it is. Do you like it? Now, Vasant would like to work on the floor. It is good that he always consults me. Of course, he is the engineer, not me, but I also have a little knowledge. We are still deciding on the exact color. I was sitting here thinking of many different things; my mind goes in many directions. I thought we must give some chocolate to Vasant and his wife. But for what? Instead, we shall create a very nice plan for him. I said we should ask him, before he begins more work, if we can install underfloor heating. This would be for everyone. In winter, we could use only this hall because it would be immediately warm. They say it may cost a little initially, but the electricity usage would be low. We are all here and very happy. I give you all my blessings. This is our ashram. How many of us are here? Can someone count? Please stand up and count. Take your time. I don't know why I am counting. In this, there is the principle of "Eko Brahm Dvitīya Nāsti"—There is One Brahman, a second does not exist. We will make something very nice, perhaps with a scientist who can manage the sound perfectly. But we already have that. Did someone count? Thank you. How many square meters is this hall? Five hundred. Very good. How much does heating cost per square meter? We can calculate it. If we heat only one square meter, it would be very expensive. But if we heat all of it, it will not be cheaper per meter, but it will be for the whole space. You might say, "Swāmījī, you are always asking for something." This is not for me, but for you and for all. It is for all the devotees who will come. We have time now, today and tomorrow. Vasant will make the calculations tomorrow. Then, each of you can decide today: half a square meter, a quarter, two square meters—whatever donation you wish to give for this specific purpose. What do you think? There are two people who did not say anything. Who was that? Both husband and wife. That means they will give more money themselves! Thank you very much. I can tell you, our anuṣṭhāna sādhanā here will be very nice. Because it is for summer and winter, we will have a kind of air conditioning for winter. That will be for next time, when I come again. My dear friends, this is a very nice hall with very good light. Every program in this center is beautiful. We should have only good people here—spiritual people, without disturbances, alcohol, fighting, or anything like that. We have one hall, two halls, three halls, and four halls here. You have many yoga teachers from other countries. You can bring your students here for a weekend or a whole week. They will be so happy. This is for all of us, not just for one person. Many people will come. Look how many chairs we can fit for a conference. The square meterage is 500, so we can fit 400 chairs comfortably. We can build a nice outside bathroom and other facilities. This will be a conference hall. On that side, we can have a one-day or two-day conference. People can come, have their conference, and leave. We will do many things together. Now, I will ask: for the opening, let's say 15 euros per square meter. Does that sound good? So, for example, 125 euros for two meters. For those who cannot give that much, you can give for at least one square meter. Thank you very much. Today is the opening ceremony. Before our dear Bhakti Devī dances, I would like to welcome and ask our dear Vasant to perform the opening ceremony. Please, is there a candle here? One more? Otherwise, take this one. Do you have a candle? Okay. Please, come in front of the altar. And you? Wait, please. Umapurī, Pārvatī, and others—what is her name? Mantrapurī? Mantrapurī and Kṛṣṇānanda, and our patient, please light the candles here. Come. God, Guru, Śakti, Parātman, Tasmai Śrī Gurave Namaḥ. Dhyānamūlaṁ Guru Mūrtiḥ, Pūjāmūlaṁ Guru Padam, Mantramūlaṁ Guru Vākyaṁ, Mokṣamūlaṁ Guru Kripa. Jyoti par brahma dīpam sarve mohanaṁ sajyate, sarvabhāṣānta dīpam sarva satyam. Oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ... Sarasvatī Mātā kī jai, Sarasvatī Mātā kī jai, Sarasvatī Mātā kī jai. Oṁ. Thank you. On that side, yes. More to the right side, more inside. Yes, a little to the left. Thank you. Vasant speaks: In his efforts to teach us something and to fill our lives, I would like to thank Gurudev for the opportunity of sevā—not only for me, but for all the people who could do sevā here to make this place and enable Gurudev to teach us here. Come closer, closer... That's it, the back side. It is really interesting, the destiny of this hall. In the beginning, it was an agricultural building. In 2003, we planned to build a big hall there. After a lot of effort, we got the building permit. In 2006, we were just putting panels on this wall temporarily, before we collected money for the big hall. You may remember we had a long fabric hanging here. Swāmījī went around the hall, stood on the veranda, and said, "Paint these pipes black." Again, we thought it was only temporary. But as soon as Swāmījī stepped on the pipe and said it should be black, the whole thing started to come together. The idea of a big new hall faded beyond the horizon and probably will never happen now. We thought there was no sense in painting, as we would break it down in a year and start building. But as soon as Swāmījī touched it, as soon as Swāmījī decided, "Let's work on it," it meant we were working on it. It became the place for our most sacred anuṣṭhāna, that branch of Gurudeva's teaching—the place for our holy Anuṣṭhānas and really the place for us. Thank you, Swāmījī, for this opportunity for sevā. Thanks to this sevā, we can all develop. The donation box is already here. Of course, we don't have it in our pockets with us. We have two more days. Anyone, or any company, who can give more, it will be appreciated. I don't think this winter, but perhaps next winter will be warm, no? Now, you know our very dear Krishnanandajī from Hungary. He always has big conferences there in a castle. Maybe we will buy it; we will see. Otherwise, we can have a big hall in a Hungarian city. It would be very nice. So, Krishnanandajī, please, who is speaking? Translation (of another speaker): To the Paramparā, whose presence we can always feel whenever we are in the Mahāprabhu Ashram, wherever we are, here in a satsaṅg... Their children are already grown up, and they already have children, so more generations come here to the ashram. This ashram spans more generations now, as it has been here for over 30 years. In Europe, we say this is already more than a generation. The people who were here at the beginning now have their children here. Certainly, someone will write the history of this shrine. I can only add that I remember 30 years ago we were in Zlín, maybe called by a different name then. Pārvatī came and said there was this wonderful place in the Czech Republic, and maybe some of us should go see it. It was a beautiful picture—a beautiful garden with a beautiful castle. Swāmījī said we should get in the car and go right now. Swāmījī mentioned that those who saw the castle, the ashram, and the buildings at that time can imagine what it was like, but those who came later cannot imagine how we felt when we entered the castle. I was a young man then, and you know, at that time the ego is bigger, and I thought I could handle anything. Swāmījī said, "Come, come inside." I said I would rather stay here. Swāmījī said, "Just come." I tried to stay as close as possible to Swāmījī because I was specifically afraid in the castle. There were such pressures that I thought I would never sleep here. Swāmījī told me to come nearer and nearer, but I really didn't want to go because I had this bad feeling. I couldn't imagine it. Swāmījī said, "Don't worry, don't worry, because other people will feel the same way. This ashram will be very clear, and it will help a lot of people in their spiritual development. Don't be afraid." There were many people who didn't feel very good, but Swāmījī said, "Don't be afraid, it will all be cleared up, and then a lot of people will be helped here." Swāmījī said a part of his vision then really came true, as karma yogīs came to help from four parts of the world—from America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and almost all of Europe. A lot of karma yogīs came who worked tirelessly to create the wonderful programs we have today. Then came Vasantjī and his wonderful wife, and all the people from Prague and the Czech Republic, and all the karma yogīs who worked a lot to make this place where people can meditate. Through meditation itself, this place became so clear. Many thanks to the hundreds, or rather thousands, of karma yogīs who have worked tirelessly over the last 30 years. Special thanks to Vasant and his wife, who are trying to perfect all of Swāmījī's teachings and create better conditions for us, for our disciples, so we can follow what we would like to realize for ourselves and our ancestors. And thanks to our family father, our Viśva Gurujī, who always gives us the possibility to become better people and realize what we need by giving us the necessary conditions for self-realization and to follow our paramparā. Thank you for listening. Swāmījī concludes: All dear brothers and sisters, now our dear Bhakti Devī will make some preparations, and then our program will begin. The first dance is from a Sanskrit śloka. Gaṇeśa’s hands are always ready to give. He removes all problems. I bow to him. Sarasvatī Śloka: Goddess of Wisdom, please bestow on me. Mahā Lakṣmī Śloka: I adore the goddess of wealth, Mahā Lakṣmī. She is decorated with the moon and stars. I bow before her. The next dance will be Tāla Ādi and Rāga Mālika. This śloka is in Sanskrit from Ambā Pañcaratnam by Ādi Śaṅkara. It describes the protective and also the destructive aspects of the divine power, the energy (śakti), the goddess in the whole universe. She who killed two demons without splashing a single drop of blood. She has eyes as beautiful as... She is the source of the highest knowledge. She lives in Ambāpur and is the mother of the elephant-headed god Gaṇeśa. She is the embodiment of beauty and all-embracing, selfless, divine love. She is called Lakṣmī Barambar. This dance is about the goddess of wealth and happiness, Lakṣmī. People sometimes think that riches could destroy one's character. This can happen only when Māyā attachment takes over. Māyā brings wild greed, envy, jealousy, and destruction. Lakṣmī, on the other hand, brings wisdom, fulfillment, and prosperity on all levels. It means great material wealth, inner satisfaction, happiness, and harmony in relationships. Goddess Lakṣmī, Bhojan Lakṣmī, please come to us. She is gracious. Her eyes are beautiful like lotus flowers. She is Vishnu’s wife. She is emitting a holy aura. Please come to us. Lakṣmī Bāram Jai Me Jutabā.