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Today, I wish to speak about one āsana: Vajrāsana. Many of you know it. When we speak of the nāḍī system in our body, yoga anatomy describes 72,000 nāḍīs. Among these, three are paramount: Iḍā, Piṅgalā, and Suṣumṇā. These represent the moon and sun, or mind and intellect, and consciousness. They are the heart, the brain, and the cetanā, and so on. Among these nāḍīs, one is called Vajranāḍī. 'Vajra' means strong, solid, like iron. This Vajranāḍī has its ending point between the big toe and the second toe of both feet. This nāḍī, ending there, exerts an influence throughout the entire body. Yogīs used to wear wooden sandals with a hook that went between these two toes to carry them, precisely to stimulate this Vajranāḍī. When we sit in Vajrāsana, the Vajranāḍī is greatly influenced. Hence the name Vajrāsana. The Vajranāḍī has a direct connection to the Ājñā center and the Bindu Chakra. Therefore, as soon as you sit in Vajrāsana, you immediately feel relaxed. All tensions dissipate; it concentrates the mind, releases tension, and removes frivolous thoughts. It prepares you for one-pointed concentration. If you go to Japan, any guest who arrives will sit in Vajrāsana. They remain seated thus until the host says, "Please make yourself comfortable." Until the host gives that permission, one remains in Vajrāsana. This is Japanese culture and tradition. I don't know how many have been to Japan, but you will observe great humbleness and a very high culture. As you travel further east—to Bangkok, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan—even their airlines give you the feeling of being in a palace, as if you are a Mahārājā and they are your helpers or servants. Many Europeans say they specifically travel with those airlines to experience this love. If you go to Taiwan, you will understand what the God Rāma still signifies; they preserve that culture, and it is very beautiful. So, when you visit Japan or these countries as a guest, you sit in Vajrāsana. Those who come to serve you tea also sit in Vajrāsana. Then the host will tell you to be comfortable, and only then may you change your posture. When they are seeking a daughter-in-law, the mother-in-law tests her. When the prospective daughter-in-law comes and sits in Vajrāsana to speak with the mother-in-law, she is being tested for how long she can sit, how she sits, the placement of her hands, how she holds her head, how she enters. It is about humbleness, kindness, love, and beauty—the beauty of being human, not like a rigid piece of wood that either stays stiff or breaks. Thus, Vajrāsana purifies your thoughts. It makes your thoughts concentrated, clear, and grants clear vision. It immediately influences our brain centers due to the Vajranāḍī. Secondly, as soon as we sit in Vajrāsana, the trunk of our body automatically becomes straight. This means the spinal column is very straight. In yoga, the spinal column is a crucial part of the body because all the chakras are located around it. When the spine is straight and the back is relaxed, all chakras begin to function properly again. This immediately increases energy in the body and develops our immunity. Therefore, people who often feel tired should practice Vajrāsana. Sit for at least 15 minutes. When the back is straight, our ribs and chest relax; the entire diaphragm relaxes. When the diaphragm relaxes, the breath automatically becomes deep without you having to force inhalation and exhalation. Many people with depression can find release by sitting in Vajrāsana. There is a very positive influence on our lungs, allowing you to take in more oxygen and become more relaxed. This also means the entire intestine relaxes because the lungs and diaphragm are relaxed. The natural breath deepens, a great deal of oxygen is consumed by the body, and the stomach muscles relax. The entire intestine, which is 8.5 meters long—a very great length, I think from here to that wall—relaxes. Whatever we eat passes through these 8.5 meters. But when we sit incorrectly, our intestine is compressed. It is no wonder we have poor digestion. Therefore, yoga texts also suggest sitting in Vajrāsana for ten minutes after eating. Now, the Vajranāḍī has a connection to the Maṇipūra Chakra, which helps unite the forces of Prāṇa and Apāna. The awakening of Kuṇḍalinī or entering into Samādhi proceeds from the navel. From the navel, one can also exit. There is a story of a master and his disciple. The master was sitting and suddenly told his disciple, "I must go to rescue one of my bhaktas. I am going to my room. Ensure no one enters or opens the door, for my bhakta is sailing on the sea, his boat is sinking, and he is calling me." The disciple said, "Okay, Master, please hurry." The master went into Samādhi and saved the boat. That is why we call the Gurū Dev the saviour. Afterwards, he wished to return, but the master had departed in such haste that he could not find the way back to his body. So the master, travelling in his astral body, was searching for how to re-enter the physical form. You all may desire Samādhi, but you must know how to return. Otherwise, you will remain in a coma forever. The disciple, through his astral connection, contacted the master and said, "Master, you left through the navel, the Maṇipūra Chakra." The master said, "Thank you," and re-entered. He then blessed his disciple and gave him the name Nābhajī Mahārāj. 'Nābhi' means the navel. Thus, the gate for entering Samādhi is the Maṇipūra. And Vajrāsana is very helpful in this due to the Vajranāḍī. Therefore, Vajrāsana is a blessing of an āsana for us. It is a blessing for our physical health, for our psychic well-being, and for spirituality. It improves the immune system. Digestion becomes strong—Vajra. The lungs become strong. The spinal column and chakras function well. The brain centers become active, meaning clear thinking, concrete thoughts, and improved physical health. All this is due to the Vajranāḍī. These postures are wonderful, which is why our Khatu Praṇām begins with Vajrāsana. You should try, before beginning Khatu Praṇām, to stay in Vajrāsana for at least one minute. You will feel it. There are individual cases, such as those who have had knee surgery or have problems with knee or ankle joints, who cannot perform Vajrāsana. For them, there is another variety, a variation of Vajrāsana, which is supplementary. I will speak about that next time. That is all. I wish you all the best. Now, everyone sit in Vajrāsana... until the master drinks tea like a mother-in-law.