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Rakshabandhan (15.8.2000)

A discourse explaining the traditions and spiritual significance of the Rakshābandhan festival.

"If you have no sister, you can choose one. And for the sisters sitting here who have no brother, you can choose someone as your brother."

"He, in turn, should not forget to make a nice present for her. If she travels a far distance to you as a brother, your duty is to pay for her travel, even if she comes in a private helicopter."

A spiritual teacher addresses a gathering ahead of the Rakshābandhan full moon, detailing the festival's customs where sisters tie a protective thread (rākhī) on brothers. He explains the reciprocal duties of protection and gift-giving, extending the tradition to those without biological siblings by allowing them to adopt spiritual siblings, while cautioning against certain misunderstandings within this sacred relationship.

Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Summer seminar

The coming full moon, which I believe is the day after tomorrow, marks the day of Rakshābandhan. This is a festival for sisters. It is a day for ladies, on which a brother promises to protect his sister in every aspect. Every man makes a saṅkalpa to protect and respect the entire feminine world. The majority of you will observe it in two days. I wish you all the best and pray to Mahāprabhujī for your protection and your happy life. For those who have no sister, you can choose someone as your sister. However, it is completely wrong to choose an elder sister and then later get married to her. If you have no sister, you can choose one. And for the sisters sitting here who have no brother, you can choose someone as your brother. Then he will have all the rights of your own brother, and she will have all the rights of your own sister. This will become your truly adopted spiritual, karmic, and dharmic sister. Every eighth full moon of the year is Rakshā Bandhan. On this day, no matter where you are, you should not forget your brother. You must send him a thread—we call it a rākhī—though you can send any nice thread for him to tie on his ankle or wrist. You must send it some days before to ensure it reaches him on the day. Alternatively, you can go yourself and place this thread on his wrist. He, in turn, should not forget to make a nice present for her. If she travels a far distance to you as a brother, your duty is to pay for her travel, even if she comes in a private helicopter, and to give her some nice cloth and hospitality, or to write a letter. You can send the proposed present or a cheque in any form. Or you can say, "Sister, I will invite you this time for the Kumbh Melā or for a yoga seminar." Sisters have the right to ask the brother, and the brother has the right to give her something. If the sister is elder than you, then actually she should give you something. But still, as a brother, you have to give her something. This sister and brother will be among the most honest relationships for you as a brother. This is a very nice system and tradition to protect a certain atmosphere and to show respect to others. So on this day, I bless you now, all sisters and brothers. This is what I wanted to tell. Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Summer seminar

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.

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