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Na’haṁ kartā, prabhudīp kartā, Mahāprabhudīp kartā, he kevalaṁ śānti, śānti,... Oṁ Śālakpūrjī Mahādevakī Jai, Devādideva Deveśvara Mahādeva Kī Jai, Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇa Bhagavān Kī Jai, Hindu Dharma Samrāṭ Paramahaṁsa Śrī Mādhavānanda Purījī, Satguru Dev Bhagavān Kī Jai, Viśvaguru Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Paramahaṁsa Śrī Maheśvarānanda Purījī, Gurudev, Kī Jāī. Sadāśiva Samārambham, Śaṅkarācārya Madhyamam, Asmadācārya Paryantam, Vande Guru Paramparām. Gurur Brahmā, Gurur Viṣṇu, Gurur Devo Maheśvaraḥ, Gurur Sākṣātpara Brahmā, Tasmai Śrī Gurave Namaḥ. Mānātha Śrī Jagannātha, Madguru Śrī Jagadguru. Māmatmā Sarvabhūtātmā, Tasme Śrī Guruvī Namaha. Salutations to the Cosmic Self. Salutations to the Śrī Alakhpurījī Siddha Pīṭha Paramparā. Hariyoma, good evening to all of you present here and watching through Swamijī TV. It is a beautiful, hot evening, so let us enjoy the heat—though it is not comparable to India, where it is slightly more, perhaps by ten or fifteen degrees. Today, we will talk about Lord Hanumān. Before that, I would like to share that every country, or every place, has a unique selling point, a USP. Each country has its own way of promoting its USP. For America, it is liberty and freedom—at least as a symbol. In the UK, it is the royal family. India is known for many things, but one of the most important is the spirituality that comes from its land. You know how to find out who is Indian? Not by skin color, but by other signs. We will take a shampoo bottle and roll it completely until every single thing comes out. But more importantly, India is known for its spirituality, its spiritual people, and the saints who come from that land. As we have been on the topic of Rāma, Hanumānjī is a great example for all of us. A real man is not known only for biceps, muscles, and six-packs. People say that men do not have emotions and men do not cry, but this is not true. Hanumānjī searched every single house and every single place in the whole of Laṅkā to find Mātā Sītā. But he was not able to find her anywhere. Then he sat down and went into depression. He said, "I cannot find her. What will happen now? How will Lord Rāma live?" Then he made a decision. How many of us have decided this in our lives? We think, "Okay, it is enough. I have had enough of my life, and I do not want it anymore." I think that point comes once in everyone's life. So Hanumānjī also had that period. He said, "I cannot find her. My life is finished; my goal is not achieved, so everything is ruined." He prepared to sit and fast until he died, to burn a fire and jump inside, or to go into the nearby ocean and drown. Everything was ready to do. And then he just looked once towards Ayodhyā, in the direction of Ayodhyā. It is said in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, and Vālmīkījī wrote this verse about what Hanumān Jī's thought process was at that time. He realized that even the air which comes from Ayodhyā is a blessing; it carries the waves and energy from Lord Rāma flowing in the air. Look how close we are. Ayodhyā is very far away, but we are so close to Guru Devī. Swamiji is always blessing us, and the air is flowing there now. So even by the glance of the Guru towards you, that energy is more than enough to give that push in your life. We are blessed to always be near him, to be blessed by him, and by his presence, his energy is flowing into all of us. So Hanumānjī looked towards Ayodhyā, and his face turned to that direction. He said, "No, I cannot give up. This is not the end." When there is a will, then he will try to do what he was meant to do. And then, when his face turned in that direction, he saw that the Ashoka Vatika was just nearby. He realized, "I searched the whole Laṅkā, I searched every single part, but this is the only place where I did not search yet." He went there and found Mātā Sītā in Aśoka Vātikā. When we decide to end our lives or do something stupid, we miss the chance for a lasting legacy. But if we persevere, people will remember you forever. That is what Gurudev brought: such a big change in the whole world. His name is Ajar Amar, which means it will always be there. There is a saying: "Japtak Surat Chandrega, Taptak Apka Namrega," which means that as long as the sun and the moon exist, your name is going to be known around. We are all blessed and thankful that we have a Guru, our beloved Guru, the Vishwagurujī, in our lives, who has changed the lives of millions and also saved many lives of animals, bees, cows, children—everyone. This is the greatness and the happiness we get from Guru Bhakti. Money cannot buy us this happiness which we receive in the presence of Guru Dev. I would like to share an example regarding money and happiness that I experienced. I have a friend from a rich family who bought a Rolls-Royce. He asked me to come and see the car, to do pūjā, and to drive with him for a while. It was actually the son of the owner of the car, but still, the father's car means the son's car. We went for a drive and stopped at a traffic light. Someone in the neighboring car—you know, we all think that in India we do not have any rules and do not stop at traffic lights, but in some big cities, we do. Before I could open the window and tell him that the car was not mine and belonged to my friend, the light turned green, so we left. After we came back and were saying our farewells, my friend was crying. I asked, "Why are you crying? You have a fancy house, you have ten different cars you can drive every single day, you have everything. Why are you crying?" He had some personal issues, and that is when I realized that money cannot buy happiness. When you have Gurudev’s kṛpā, when you have Gurudev’s blessings, then the disciple’s life is all happiness and joy. The day I surrendered to his lotus feet and said, "Gurudev, I am yours, you are mine. Whatever happens, happens," since that day, there has not been much sadness in my life. I do not need to ask anymore, "Swāmījī, I want this, I want that." Whatever I want automatically comes by his grace. As long as we think, "I want this, I want that," Gurudev is not going to give it to you. The second you say, "Okay, Gurudev, I give up. Give me what you want, and you decide what my life goes," then you will receive that which you were thinking about for years and years. If you say, "Guru Devo, I give you everything, and give me what you think is appropriate," then maybe you will get what you have desired for years. Tiribiti Umāra Harina Amābhina Sumaraṇa Karale Mīrimāṇa. Tiribiti Umāra Harina Amābhina Sumaraṇa Karale. So your life is passing. Do not waste it. Just do the sumara of the name of the Guru Mantra, and you will get everything you want. All the bhajans of Holī Gurujī, Mahāprabhujī, Lālā Nanjī, everyone—they contain the essence of all spirituality. You will get everything in those bhajans. It is all written there: when you go to Guru Dev’s lotus feet, you find everything. And that is why for Gurudev we will sing: "Yuga Yuga Jīvo Maheśvarānanda Jī, Yuga Yuga Jīvo Maheśvarānanda Jī. Śrī Pādāya Loka Amṛtāya Śiṣānīta Bhāraso, Ānanda Prabhu Pādāya Loka Amṛtāya Śiṣānīta Bhāraso, Nanda. Yuga Yuga Jīvo Maheśvarānandajī, Yuga Yuga Jīvo Maheśvarānandajī." Dhanyabhāga Bhārata Bhūmikā Pragate Balamukhanda, Itapakapā Paharatha Hai Jai Se Pūrṇamachandraḥ. Ānanda Juga Juga Jīvo Maheśvarānanda, Jīva Juga Juga Jīvo Maheśvarānanda Jīva. Pādayālu Ke Amṛtāya Śiśānitta Baraso Ānanda. Juga, juga, jīvo Maheśvarānandajī, bhakti, jñāna, aura yoga sādhanā, brahma jñāna sukha khaṇḍa, viśva vijayī ho mahāsamrāṭa, avijala jñāna baṅga, viśva vijayī o mahāsamrāṭa, avichada gyāna bhaṅgār, yoga, yoga jī o Maheśvarānanda jī, yoga, yoga. If a guru writes a bhajan dedicated to his disciple, and we are the disciple of that master, then how lucky we are. Gurujī says, "Apnā Rūpa Samajaka Rasābhako Karate Ho Nirabandha." So Gurudev, in these evening gatherings, always says, "You all are in my heart. I am in your heart." Holī Gurujī says that Swāmījī treats everyone like his own Rūpa, like himself. He removes the abundance of obstacles, He removes all the blockages, He frees us from that. Without any svārta, without any eagerness for anything, he makes his bhaktas jīvanmukta; he frees all the bhaktas. This is the greatness of Viśvagurujī. That we all can be sitting here in this beautiful nature, in this beautiful heat in this ashram, is also His blessing. Without Him, who knows where you all would be, where I would be, or if I would even be in this universe. This is all the grace of Him. Without any specific behavior, without any discrimination, without treating anyone differently, to unite everyone from the whole world and bring them together—that only He can do. That is why in life, whenever you feel low or depressed, remember Hanumānjī and remember Gurudev, and then no more problems exist. If Hanumānjī, such a strong, muscled man, could still be depressed, and just by looking toward Ayodhyā and feeling the wind coming from there, he got the energy—then consider us. We are touching Gurujī’s lotus feet, and he is taking all our bad karmas, giving us blessings, helping us, and giving us that push. Then what else? That is all we need. Hamare sat Śrī Viśvagurujī, toha me kisabhat kī cintā, caraṇame rakhā diyā javā mat, toha me kisabhat kī cintā. With us, if we have Śrī Viśvagurujī, to ham kis bāt kī cintā—then what is there to worry about? Charan means lotus feet, and rakadiyāya is when we put our mat, which means our head, to his lotus feet. To kisabāt kī cintā—then what cintā do we have? So we are all happy, blessed people to be here in the presence of Guru Dev, and we are always having his love, mercy, and blessings for all of us. Thank you, Guru Dev. Now, chanting the Guru Paduka Stotra. We will repeat the first śloka from the morning, and then continue with the second one. Namah Śrī Guru Pādukābhyām. Kavitvavarashinishakarabhyam. Daurbhagya Dhavam Buddha Maalik Abhyam—the "Ma" is half, so just join the "Ma" and "Ba" when you sing the whole line. Buddha Malik Abhyam Daurbhagya Davam Buddha Malik Abhyam. Kavitvavarashinishakarabhyam Daurbhagyadavam Budhamalikabhyam. Vipatti Tābhyām. In Vipatti, the Ta is a double Ta, so Vipatti, you make it together and put pressure on the Tā. So Vipatti Tābhyām. Vipatti are actually two Tā on each other. Dūre kṛtanamra vipatti tābhyāṁ dūre kṛtanam rave patitābhyāṁ dūre kṛtanam rave patitābhyāṁ... namo namaḥ śrī guru pādukābhyāṁ namo namaḥ śrī guru pādukābhyāṁ namo namaḥ śrī guru pādukābhyāṁ... Kavitvavara Śrīniśākarābhyāṁ, Daurbhāgya Dāvaṁ Buddhā Malikābhyāṁ Dūrīkṛta Namra Vipattitābhyāṁ Namo Namaḥ Śrī Guru Pādukābhyāṁ. Kavitvavara Śrīniśākarābhyāṁ, Daurbhāgya Dhāvaṁ Buddhā Malikābhyāṁ Dūrīkṛta Namra Vipattitābhyāṁ Namo Namaḥ Śrī Guru Pādukābhyāṁ. For those of you who are writing, please write. Salutations to the sandals of my Guru, which are the ocean of knowledge, resembling the full moon. Salutations to the sandals of my guru, which are the ocean of knowledge, resembling the full moon, which is the water that puts out the fire of misfortunes, and which removes the distress of those who prostrate before him, who make Dhanvat Praṇām in front of him. Salutation to the sandals of my Guru, which are the ocean of knowledge, resembling the full moon, which is the water that puts out the fire of misfortunes and the distress of those who prostrate before him. Samudra tara naukāyatābhyāṁ gurubhaktidābhyāṁ vairāgyasamrājadapūjanābhyāṁ namo nama śrī gurupādukābhyāṁ. Kavitva vara śini śaka rābhyāṁ, daur bhagya dāvaṁ budha mali kābhyāṁ, dūrī kṛta nāṁ ravipati tābhyāṁ, namo nama śrī guru pādukā bhyāṁ. I am not so good with rāgas, but you get the point. Svasti prajābhyāḥ paripālayantāṁ nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṁ mahīśāḥ. Go-brāhmaṇebhyaḥ śubham astu nityaṁ lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu. Oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ... Oṁ Śālapurījī Mahādeva Kī Jaya, Devādeva Deveśvara Mahādeva Kī Jaya, Śrī Dīpa Nārāyaṇa Bhagavān Kī Jaya, Hindu Dharma Samrāṭ Paramahaṁsasvāmī Śrī Mādhava Nanda Purījī, Sat Gurudeva Kavana Kī Jaya, Viśvaguru Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Paramahaṁsasvāmī Śrī Maheśvarānanda Purī Jī, Gurudeva Kī Jai, Sat Sanātana Dharma Kī Jai, Apsā Bhakto Kī Jai, Har Namaḥ Pārvati Pāteye, Hara Hara Mahādeva, Praṇām Gurudev, Hari Om. Dear brothers and sisters, we hear such nice lectures, and somehow, without planning it, we started talking about the Rāmāyaṇa almost every day. I remember a few summer seminars when Vishwagurujī was giving, not a translation, but an explanation, a commentary on the Rāmāyaṇa. That is the commentary and explanation of Satguru. Those who really know have the knowledge about what is in the book. Thank God we have a Rāmāyaṇa translated into the Croatian language. Our dear brother and friend, Mahāmaṇḍaleśwar Swāmī Gyāneśwar Jī, works on translating it. I think it is approximately three to four kilos, and it is really meant for reading. What we said is that the Rāmāyaṇa is the best mirror. Inside it, we are able to find every situation in our life and also find the explanation of how to cure that illness, that problem. Now we hear how the strong, mighty Hanumān gets depression and thinks about suicide. In that moment, you see that it is possible that every one of us has the same thoughts, and that is completely normal. But inside is the cure, how to heal that problem. However, you need proper explanation. When we printed the Rāmāyaṇa in the Croatian language, we held a few promotions for the book. The first was in Zagreb. We invited Gyāneśwarjī for that promotional talk, but online. A professor of Sanskrit from Zagreb University's Indology Department also attended, along with another professor from the university who was Croatian. He also gave a little talk about the Rāmāyaṇa. Oh my God! Swamiji Ānandī and I nearly lost our nerves. I was so disturbed, but you cannot say anything because you invited that person as a professor, someone in charge in the Indology Department, speaking about the Rāmāyaṇa. He said one good thing that I did not know: that the Rāmāyaṇa, written by Vālmīki, is the first known work written in poetry. When Brahmā, or someone, told Vālmīki that he would write the Rāmāyaṇa, Vālmīki said, "But I don't know how to write and read. I don't know Sanskrit, and what is poetry at all?" And Brahmā told him, "Don't worry, be happy." But after that, the professor started with, "Oh, my God." He said, "Yes, everybody speaks highly of Rāma, that he is great, but he did something wrong. He killed Bali from behind, and that was not honorable." Okay, fine. That is true; it is written inside. But if you do not know the meaning of that, it is a disaster. Reading the books and ancient scriptures without having the knowledge and explanation from the Guru, who really knows what the meaning of this is, we will be completely confused. That professor really has academic knowledge, but not knowledge from the guru. It is visible that with great knowledge but without right knowledge, you will be completely lost. What is the meaning of Rāma killing Vālī from behind? And putting his brother Sugrīva in his place? When you have the explanation from the guru, you say, "Yes, that is life. That is how I must also deal with some problems, like the Bali problem." Bali represents the enjoyment in the senses. Bali’s idea of life was just to enjoy the senses. One of his ideals was sleeping with all the ladies, and he also wanted to sleep with his brother’s wife. He was strong. He asked for one siddhi: that nobody would be able to defeat him. Everything you say, you think is decided. "Okay, now I will not drink coffee, and I will not, especially, take drugs or alcohol." When you say, "No, I will stop drinking alcohol," and you are not drinking, but suddenly a bottle of whisky or a nice chocolate stands in front of you. Immediately, you lose fifty percent of your strength. Everybody who has a little addiction knows that is the truth. How will you defeat your alcohol or chocolate addiction? Not from the front. You will not say, "From now, I am not drinking alcohol," and then go to the bar in your old social circle and tell them, "No, guys, from today I am not drinking anymore." Because of that, Viśvagurujī many times said, "Avoid temptation." When Gurujī spoke about temptation, he usually told that story from this morning about the bear in the water. We think we are strong enough to taste the drug once, but after that, the bear will hold us and pull us down. Never, always pray, "Never put me in the temptation." Because of that, if you want to kill Bali, you go from behind. You will not sit in front at the bar and say, "Now I am not an alcoholic." Why Sugrīva? It translates as "nice necklace," but a better translation relates to what horses have: reins. What does this mean? Our mind must be well under control. With what kind of mind will Brahmā be able to work? Only with the kind of mind that is really under our control. If you know this, it is only one little story in a big book, but you will find the solution to your problem, and you will know what you need in your life. We need a mind which is really under control. Regarding Rāma, many years ago, Swāmījī told us that we need to know the meaning of the first letter of our name. For me, it was completely science fiction, what Swamiji told us. My name starts with V. Vivek Purī. What does V mean? I did not know. We might say victory or something like this. How ignorant we are on the surface. I started to dig a little bit, and finally, I found with the name of Rāma. Rāma is two letters: Ra means the light, the sun, and Ma means "in us." So Rām means that light which is in us. And that light in us, which is in our heart—what is God—needs the mind to be under control in order to do something with us. That is the story in the Rāmāyaṇa. I told you how a professor at the university's Department of Indology spoke one story. The other is a story with explanation, with the commentary of the Divine Soul. That is the blessing for all of us. If you look at Swamiji’s past lectures through the Rāmāyaṇa, which I think are on DVD and other media, you will find it so nicely explained. Really, only one story from the Rāmāyaṇa is enough for a whole life. Like what we heard a few days ago, only one word from the satsaṅg is enough to save your life. Because of that, the Rāmāyaṇa is the mirror in which you are able to see situations from your life and also how to solve them—but only if you have good explanation and commentary of the Divine Soul. Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇa Bhagavān, Kī Jaya. Śrī Alakh Purījī, Siddha Pīṭha Paramparā, Kī Jaya. You are so good. Vishwagurūjī said it was very nice, but it was too fast.