Podcast details
What is the Greatest Dan?
The greatest dāna is the gift of the divine name. Dāna is a spiritual donation, given without personal relation, directed toward temples, the needy, or noble causes. The highest form is nāma dāna, giving the name of God, a mantra, or prayers. This is the greatest wealth, which cannot be stolen or diminished. A teacher leads others from darkness to light, offering wisdom and changing the mental environment by removing pollution. This role is a great opportunity and a result of good past karma. Yet, personal development is endless, though one's capacity to retain knowledge is limited. The mind becomes overfilled, requiring the guidance of a master to cleanse it and provide a divine mantra. Therefore, as a teacher, your primary duty is to inspire and guide souls toward this light, not to give mantras or kriyās yourself. Your merit is measured by how many you can inspire toward liberation.
"I received the wealth of God’s name. I can utilize as much as I can; it will not get less, and no thief can take it from me."
"Yogaḥ citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ. Through the practice of yoga, you shall calm down all the vṛttis in your citta."
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
