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Coming here is like coming to a Temple

A temple is a place to receive spiritual energy and charge one's inner battery. Coming to this gathering felt like entering such a temple. This connection between lands is historical. Over a century ago, Czech scholars established Indology, discovering linguistic ties to Sanskrit. The poet Rabindranath Tagore visited here, bringing his vision for education in nature at Shantiniketan, which Czechs supported. Now, a century later, that same supportive spirit continues for this new project and university. The work done in a challenging region shows great passion. This university will become a magnet for global students, just as the temple project will succeed through collective love and affection.

"Swāmījī is our permanent ambassador of India, spreading the message of love and humanity."

"Just as India has become a magnet, I am sure this university will also become a magnet to attract many students."

Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic

Vishwaguru Swāmījī and all his disciples, it is indeed an honor for me and my wife to be with you in your satsaṅg. In India, we always like to go to a temple to receive that spiritual energy, to feel good. Of course, we do not have the regularity of going on a Sunday or any particular day. We go to the temple to charge our batteries. When I came to the Czech Republic, I realized there was no temple, and I felt so blessed when I learned about Yoga in Daily Life. I heard about it and decided to come during the lockdown—a complete lockdown. When we came from Prague to this place, there was nobody; Swāmījī was with only a few people. That was when I felt I had come to a temple. The last few months, in fact, I think I am coming here after a very long time. Yesterday, I am very thankful that Swāmījī called me, saying he was in Střeky for only a few days. Within minutes, I decided to come to Sítárkí. I am truly thankful to Swāmījī for informing me and giving me the opportunity to be with you and to address you. When I see so many people here, I don't think even the Indian ambassador could have such a gathering. We can have an official meeting, but not one born of love, of that humanity. I may be an official ambassador, but Swāmījī is our permanent ambassador of India. He is spreading the message of love and humanity for which India is known. I will take a few more minutes to narrate another incident, a little history from over 150 or 200 years ago. In those days, the Czech people were part of the Austro-Hungarian Habsburg Empire. About 200 years ago, very few Czechs had gone to India. There is documentary evidence of one Czech missionary who went to Goa and translated a dictionary from Marathi to Czech. I was a little fascinated because Marathi is my mother tongue, the language of my state. That was when Czechs realized there is so much similarity between the Czech language and Sanskrit. At a certain time, people here realized there are incredible similarities or connections between Czech and Sanskrit. In 1870—over 150 years ago—Charles University decided to open an Indology department to learn about Indian languages: Marathi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Bengali. Many Czech scholars have since done PhDs and studied India. There was another Gurudev, just like Gurudev Vishwaguru Maheśvara Nandajī: Gurudev Rabindranath Ṭhākur. He came to the Czech Republic exactly 100 years ago, in 1921. People here knew about Gurudev Ṭhākur, and he was fascinated to come to this part of the world. Gurudev Ṭhākur won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. He became very popular worldwide because of this. He was among the very few, as the Nobel Prize started around 1905 or 1906, and he won it just a few years later. He was a philosopher, writer, poet, and painter. He also wanted to start a school in Bengal called Śāntiniketan. Śāntiniketan was very different because he did not want Indian students to follow the Western system of education. I had the pleasure of visiting Śāntiniketan. Its beauty is that you study with nature, under a tree; you do not have classrooms and big buildings. Even in those days, many Czechs supported Ṭhākur’s project in Śāntiniketan. Now, 100 years later, you are again supporting the project of Swāmījī in this Aum Āśram, Aum University. I see so many similarities between the two Gurudevs. I am truly impressed with the kind of work done in Rajasthan, which is a very backward region. I can see the passion in Swāmījī and also among you to go there and work for this project. Just as India has become a magnet, I am sure this university will also become a magnet to attract many students from different countries. I wish you all the best, and thank you so much. To begin to start, generally... Thank you. All translators. Thank you so much. When I came here, I saw the foundation stone laid for the temple. Swāmījī is very passionate about the temple, and I am so happy he is able to do something here. Even in Islamic countries like the United Arab Emirates, we have been able to construct a beautiful temple. In the UAE, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we have constructed the temple. Of course, as the Government of India, we cannot support it financially, but we will always be behind this big initiative. If Swāmījī can construct such a beautiful university called Aum University in India, I think the temple is a very small project for him. With your love and affection, I think it will be possible very easily. All the best. Om śānti śānti śānti. Om śānti śānti... Śānti śānti... Śānti śānti... Śānti śānti... Śānti śānti... Śānti śānti... Śānti śānti...

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:

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