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Stick to your principles

A Swami recounts his unwavering commitment to wearing his orange robe despite external pressure, using it as a parable for steadfast principles.

"I replied, 'Okay, they must not appreciate. I am as I am.'"

"Remain steadfast in your principles. There are many temptations and many things that may cause you to change after one year, two years, or ten years."

Swami narrates two main anecdotes: his polite but firm refusal to change his dress when questioned by secret police in communist Eastern Europe, and the story of a misunderstood Austrian environmental activist. He emphasizes that holding firmly to one's correct principles, especially those for universal well-being, eventually inspires others, even if one is initially ridiculed.

Recording location: Australia, Sydney, Swamiji's World Tour

The distance was only six or seven meters. Some Swāmīs and others advised me, "When you go to Western countries, you should change your dress and wear normal, other clothes. Otherwise, people will not appreciate it." I replied, "Okay, they must not appreciate. I am as I am." For twenty-two years, I taught yoga in communist countries—Eastern European nations like Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Yugoslavia. I received official invitations to teach yoga and was the only Swāmī permitted to travel there. Each time I arrived, the secret police would come and ask me several questions. Someone had complained that I was spreading religion and should not wear the orange robe. So when I went, the police came for an interview. They were always very kind and humble toward me. They said, "Mr. Swāmījī, we have one question. Must you wear this orange dress when you come here, or can you wear normal trousers and civilian clothing?" I said, "Yes, I can wear them if they are my size. That is okay. But normally, I do not want to, because this is my uniform. Your country's soldier has his uniform. If he comes to India and I ask him to remove his uniform, he will not do it. So this is my uniform. Will you accept it or not?" They said, "No, no, no, okay, we have nothing against it. We only asked because perhaps it would be better if you changed your dress." I said, "Okay, but I do not wish to." So it is like this. You must follow your principles. Remain steadfast in your principles. There are many temptations and many things that may cause you to change after one year, two years, or ten years. Then your friends or followers will be disappointed. Therefore, your decision should be firm; do not change. It is said that the moon and sun may change their direction, but my decision will not change. However, this is only possible inwardly, when you are inwardly sure. Otherwise, it could be difficult. In this way, you can become an example for anything—whether you must or must not wear an orange robe, or must or must not do something. Remain positive in your stance so that you inspire others. In Austria, where I live, there was a man. He was rich and good, working very well. But after his working hours, he used to go to the city center. He wore a crown made of grass and leaves on his head and carried a big stick. He was dressed a little funny and had written letters on his display about how important the elements—water, air, earth, fire, and space—are, and that all five must be protected. He held an apple in his hand. People said he was a crazy man, a very crazy man. Everyone called him crazy. But he stood there in the town center with his stick, a grass crown on his head, an apple in his hand, and writings about "Wasser, Luft, and Sonne"—water, air, and sunlight—and that they must be protected. He has unfortunately died. Now people realize what he meant at that time, and he has become an inspiration. So you must keep to your principles. Do not change your principle. The principle of the eyes is to see, and of the ears to hear. If you say, "No, I will put an eye here and an ear there," it cannot function. So if you want something, then accept it and remain steadfast. It does not matter what you want in the world. Have your principles and do not change them; work for them. Of course, our principles should be for the well-being of the whole world, in favor of all humanity and the environment. Recording location: Australia, Sydney, Swamiji's World Tour

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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