Video details
Balance of the four yogas
Yoga is the universal principle of balance. The entire cosmos and our own body, mind, and emotions function through equilibrium; illness arises from imbalance. Ancient scriptures describe yogic principles like discipline, compassion, and prayer, which are found in all religions, making yoga a universal alignment. The path is traditionally divided into four interconnected branches: Karma (selfless action), Bhakti (devotion), Rāja (discipline), and Jñāna (knowledge). Every physical action, even breathing or eating, is karma, and its quality affects our health. These four yogas are inseparable; claiming only one creates a crippling incompleteness, like a body missing a limb. Intellectual knowledge alone, without love, discipline, or action, leads to pride and error, akin to a crow on a church thinking the prayers are for it. True wisdom flows only to a humble heart. Hatha Yoga also requires all four elements. Our practice must be whole and free from hypocrisy, dedicated to benefiting all beings.
"If you define yourself only as a particular yogī, then you are discriminating against yourself, and you have no knowledge."
"Wisdom goes to that heart where there is humbleness. Wisdom doesn't remain on the mountain of the ego."
Filming location: Czech Republic
DVD 246
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
