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Saraswati

The grace of Sarasvatī and the necessity of self-effort define the spiritual path. Sarasvatī is the goddess of wisdom; her grace grants eloquence and knowledge, making her adored by all. In spirituality, all are supreme and equal, a principle reflected in human rights concepts originating from ancient texts. True spirituality promotes freedom and happiness, not opposition between faiths. However, one must be wary of self-made masters who create commercial territories. Ultimately, you must practice for yourself. Watching another's practice only increases your desire, not your attainment. Spiritual fulfillment requires your own disciplined effort. "If she is pleased with you, you become the wisest of the wise." "If I eat, my stomach becomes full... you must practice for yourself."

Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic

According to Indian tradition, there is a goddess named Sarasvatī. She is the deity of knowledge and wisdom. If she is pleased with you, you become the wisest of the wise and the most eloquent of speakers. If she resides upon your tongue, your words flow like the nectar of wisdom. Otherwise, our speech may become foolish, destructive, angry, hateful, or otherwise negative. But when she is present, others delight in what you say. Thus, she is of utmost importance. She is the sovereign of wisdom, adored even by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva. Recently, a question arose: who is greater, Viṣṇu or Śiva, or Brahmā, or the demigods? In truth, there are no demigods. All are supreme; none are inferior. All are elevated. We now live in a world of democracy and human rights, where everyone has an equal position. No one should face discrimination or humiliation, and this principle exists within spirituality as well. You should know that 80% of the tenets of human rights originate from the Upaniṣads, the ancient Indian scriptures of Hinduism. Just one or two months ago, the United Nations praised Indian religion, its people, Hinduism, and its tolerance. Despite low literacy rates in some areas, democracy is maintained because there is a foundational love for all. I will not teach my disciples to oppose Christianity or Islam. I will give examples from the Bible and the Qur'ān. Why not? They are also holy, just as other scriptures are holy to Hindus. But one might ask whether, in churches or mosques, examples from the Vedas and Upaniṣads are given. This inclusive spirit was praised by the United Nations. Therefore, it is crucial, my dear, to guide people toward freedom. Of course, there are individuals who call themselves masters. I refer to them as self-made masters. They tend to be more commercial and attempt to establish rigid territories of influence, which confuses many people. This is not correct. Enjoy your life. Be free and happy. If spirituality does not grant you freedom and happiness, then what will? But it must be done correctly. You must exercise self-control. You must teach yourself. Only you can achieve this; only you can practice for yourself. If I eat, my stomach becomes full and my hunger is satisfied, but your stomach will not be full. You will merely watch me, and your appetite will only increase—I can understand that. Yes, my stomach fills, but in you, it is the appetite that grows. It is like scenes in films where actors eat and drink, tempting viewers to go to their own refrigerators for a snack or drink. It is a great temptation; the eyes provoke strong desire. Therefore, if I eat, I am satiated. If I practice, I will attain. So, you must practice for yourself. If you are lazy, if you avoid effort and disregard discipline, and then blame another, that is not right.

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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