Video details
How did yoga begin in Czechoslovakia?
A spiritual teacher shares memories and reflections on introducing yoga and bhajans to Czechoslovakia during the communist era.
"Concentrate not only on the sound; you know what it means. Because if we know exactly what it means, then we have in our heart, in our brain, in our mind, it is the reality."
"They said that our workers should be healthy again thanks to yoga. But what you are singing, something we don’t understand, this is not yoga. I said, yes, it is called sound yoga."
Swami Avatarpuri recounts his early experiences teaching yoga and leading bhajan sessions in Czechoslovakia, emphasizing the importance of understanding the devotional songs' meaning. He narrates anecdotes about winter travels, friendly police interactions, and the three rules given to him: not to deal with money/gold, religion, or politics. A disciple interjects to recall the first seminar at the Kopná chalet, noting its spiritual history.
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.
The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:
- Yoga in Daily Life - The System
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2000. ISBN 978-3-85052-000-3 - The Hidden Power in Humans - Chakras and Kundalini
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2004. ISBN 978-3-85052-197-0 - Lila Amrit - The Divine Life of Sri Mahaprabhuji
Paramhans Swami Madhavananda. Int. Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship, Vienna, 1998. ISBN 3-85052-104-4
