Podcast details
Guest
The art of hospitality is defined by generous, proactive service, not hesitant questioning.
Tradition dictates immediately offering a guest a drink, then food, without asking if they are hungry. Polite guests will decline even if starving. Therefore, say "Please come and eat," not "Are you hungry?" While serving, never ask "How much should I give you?" This implies scarcity. Simply give generously. When it seems enough, offer one spoon more. Do not withdraw food when a guest says thank you. The act of giving should be limitless; if you lack more, go and cook. Do not serve from the kitchen; stand and serve personally. One household member should always be in service, treating the guest as the highest personality. Avoid showing a spoonful of food as if to an animal. These practices engage finer human feelings. Even after a guest declines, politely insist once more. Happiness flows from a content stomach.
"Never ask, 'Are you hungry? Would you like to eat something?' Your best friend might say, 'Yes, I am very hungry,' but generally, people are polite."
"Always give and give. When it seems enough, give one spoon more."
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
