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Hari Om. Good evening to all dear sisters, brothers, yoga teachers, yoga students, and to all who live yoga around the whole world. We are gathered here for the ceremonies of our Yoga in Daily Life this year. We also know and respect many other yoga teachers, schools, gurus, and ashrams, and we send them all our blessings. Our lineage (paramparā) flows from our Gurus: Alak Purījī, Dev Purījī, Mahāprabhujī, and Holī Gurujī, and then to all of us. The past two years have not been so good, with what we call the corona, and still other things concerning illness arise. Yet, you know that those who practice Yoga in Daily Life, whether in Europe, America, Australia, or anywhere in the world, were not so deeply affected by COVID. Some had illness for a time, but they are much better now. This is the time of Kali Yuga, and it was foretold in the śāstras when such things would happen. There is a distinction between the solar and lunar calendars. The solar year is what we commonly use, but it is not exact because we are all moving with the sun; the count of days remains the same. However, Jyotiṣ (Vedic astrology) goes with the moon, and that is very precise. According to the moon, there are the twelve signs (rāśis). Even the sun’s position is measured within these twelve. This is the basis of good astrology. In astrology, everything is accounted for: animals, birds, fish, the ocean, everything. And we humans are also within this system. Jyotiṣ asks, "What is that which is 100% sure?" We humans know many things, but in different parts of the world, we have various languages and countries. Yet, all are influenced by both the moon and the sun. By understanding this, we can learn to control ourselves. There is that which will be and that which will not be, and only Jyotiṣ reveals this. Jyotiṣ is very powerful and great; it deals with constellations (nakṣatras). When a child is born, the exact constellation present as they emerge from the mother’s womb determines their path—the how, who, and where. Your brother was born under one constellation, your daughter under another. It is also said that for the best marriage, one should know the constellations of both the girl and the boy. A Jyotīṣī might say, "No, this match is not good for you." If the couple still wishes to marry, there are specific times and different kinds of pūjās to perform so they may proceed. Then, in our families, there will be no problems and all will be very happy. It is not merely about a very beautiful boy or a beautiful girl. True beauty lies in the harmony of heart, feelings, and compatibility. This is determined by the constellation. According to that same principle is yoga. Yoga also means union, a constellation of elements. Of course, we take exercises for our body and health. Our peace within our families resides in our bodies. But the body, too, is connected to the constellation. At a child’s birth, a constellation might indicate the child will be beautiful and good, but not necessarily healthy. If we follow this understanding, then in yoga we address it through: physical exercises, mental relaxation, and the breath—inhalation and exhalation. This works on our whole body. When we practice yoga, it means to keep our body very healthy, relaxed, and comfortable. There are many aspects to the body. Whether in our yoga or any other form of exercise from other traditions, we address our blockages and constrictions. We can become healthy. But nourishment is also very important. There are many different kinds of nourishment, and the when and how matters. There are two or three different kinds of medicine: Āyurveda, Chinese medicine, American, Indian, and now we have allopathic medicine. In every case, when someone is ill, the doctor will say, "Don’t take this, have this medicine." Similarly, it is yogic. An Indian practitioner will say, "Do these yogāsanas, these exercises." If we do not follow the exercises correctly—when and how—and if we do things that are unnecessary, it is not good. Now people are running because "I want to be a yogī, I want to have yoga," but it is not like that. What is good for one may not be good for another. Therefore, we have our anuṣṭhāna (regular practice), and within that, we will give you many instructions so that it will be very good. Everything has its place. All different medicines are different. Allopathic medicine is good, but it often suppresses the disease—not all, but certain things. They give us medicine and we feel good, but sometimes for a lifetime. Āyurveda and many other medicines require only a course of months or days. So it is with yoga. All that we have said leads to living healthy. If we do yoga exercises, it is also for a lifetime. What does a lifetime mean? That we are healthy, we can work, we can run, and we do not have disease in the body. But once again, we cannot be like that forever for everyone. Nowadays, yoga has become very quick, like when rain comes in the forest and many different kinds of flowers and grass grow. But we must discern which we can take and which not. Similarly, practicing yoga does not mean we all must do the exact same thing. In yoga, there are exercises, nourishment, water, food—everything. It is not only exercise, but also to enjoy how we eat, what water we drink, and everything around us. Then we come further, to spirituality. In this creation where God has made all creatures, He gave everything to humans. God said, "I gave you, and this is for your Brahmalokas, for the Brahmas." But God also said, "I gave you, my children, and now you know everything. Go ahead." Go in the direction you wish, think with your brain, in your mind, in your heart, in your Ātmā. That is humanity. For humans, of course, there is different nourishment. But does it mean we should not kill anything living? How this is approached varies. In this seminar, we will talk more about that. My dears, it is a very nice day today. It has been nearly a year since we came here to Strylky, to the Mahāprabhudīp Āśram. We all know this place, and for some who may be coming for the first time, it is very important to know. We came here to be happy, healthy, relaxed, and comfortable, and our practice was very good. I have already said that we have to take a little of what you call nourishment—more liquid and air, oxygen—otherwise we will sleep too long. If we eat more, we can sleep too much. When we get up, because it is eight o'clock, please stand up for the class. Yes, why not? Let's do it. We will make some exercise, meditation or something, in our anuṣṭhāna. After a few minutes, we will do prāṇāyāma. After a few minutes... yes, because we are sleeping. Yes, we did not have proper sleep, and drowsiness (piety) comes because of the food—bread and all this kind of thing. It is not good. We can eat more salad, we can have a little milk or tea if you want, we can eat with bread. But if you have five pieces of bread, please take only two. Then do the prāṇāyāma. Then you will be very happy and very good. So, I don't want to tell, but today I think I should. We will make our food half, including the water, and half the oxygen. Then you will be whole, and for ten days you will be relaxed and very good. Oh, very nice. Voda. Water. Water is the water. Jal jagadīś. Jal jagadīś. Where there is water, there is God. Jal jagadīś is with us. Wash with cold water after warming the hands a little, but use cold water. Then you are more relaxed and more awakened. You can drink cold or warm water, no problem. Also, we will now do our āsanas today. Our teacher, after one hour, will give you five minutes of beautiful practice, exercise. Bārikhāṭu Praṇām. For those who cannot do this, then do other exercises, because someone may not be able to. In that Bārikhāṭu Praṇām, I think two or three rounds. Also, the student and the teacher should be awakened at that time. Through this Bārikhāṭu Praṇām, we will now incorporate some names into it so we can perform the Praṇām. We will incorporate something for our bodies, our exercises, what we call our breathing, our concentrations. We will give some very good practices. This month, we will create a very nice name for each exercise within Bārikhāṭu Praṇām. There is only Sūrya now, but we will include Sūrya, Chandra, and take many things inside. That will be very good for you. This is very nice for everyone. It will be, and I will be here, and we will see. We will do a good program this time as well. I welcome you, and this will be a nice time. I am sure you came comfortably from your homes to here. Furthermore, we should do our exercises and practices, and not be talking all the time. We should do more exercises and not just talk all the time. We can speak, of course, why not? But only simply: "How are you? Is it good? It was good, thank you. Did you feel very good in your exercise?" Like this. We should not withdraw ourselves, but also not be too much outside. You know all. You know me, and I know you. We have satsaṅgs, bhajans, and we will be very healthy, happy, and very good. So, I wish you all the best. Once more, I bless you on behalf of Mahāprabhujī, Holī Gurujī, Devpurījī, and Alakpurījī. I give you blessings to all. Om Śānti Śānti...