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Spiritual Awakening for World Peace

A seminar on integrating yoga into daily life for personal and global well-being.

"Yoga in daily life means living consciously for 24 hours according to yogic principles."

"Spiritual consideration according to Yoga means: Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaḥ—may all be happy."

Swami Maheshwarananda opens the first Vienna seminar of the year, reflecting on his world tour for spiritual awakening and peace. He identifies climate change, war, and toxins as interconnected global crises affecting health, arguing that conscious living through yoga is the solution. He outlines a five-point practice for spiritual awakening, focusing on cultivating human qualities like love and forgiveness to overcome selfishness and realize one's mission as a protector, not a destroyer.

Filming locations: Vienna, Austria.

DVD 337

A beautiful good evening and a warm welcome to the first seminar in Vienna this year, after six months. Many people think I am always in Vienna and have many seminars, but I myself am surprised that this is the first seminar this year. Everyone here in this center knows I have just returned from a world tour. It was very interesting and very beautiful—filled with both beautiful and unpleasant information about the state or present situation in the world. The tour's topic was spiritual awakening for world peace. Today, we are here with a theme or thought for a yoga seminar, a yoga weekend: Yoga in Daily Life. Yoga in daily life means living consciously for 24 hours according to yogic principles. Many of you who are here for the first time may have the goal of living a healthy life. Some have a goal to live more peacefully, to experience less stress. That also belongs to a healthy life. Some of us have the main goal of our life as spiritual development. And we have the greatest concerns as human beings, which we understand because we have a mind capable of instructing something. The greatest problem at the moment is climate change and global warming. It is not only in Austria. This year there was no snow, much less than usual, and little rain. This problem exists throughout the whole world. We who live in Austria or in Europe are also a part of this beautiful planet. Certainly, it is the fault on our part, as human beings, what we have caused. We have become very dependent on many machines and environmentally harmful materials, such as plastic and chemicals. On one hand, we talk about environmental protection; on the other hand, right here in this room, we have many fans and many lights—everything consumes energy. This energy consumption is also harmful to our environment. Our life as human beings has developed a habit; comfort has become a part of our life. Now, the question is, how do we solve this problem? This problem directly affects our health as well. The second great problem is war. Around the world, in many places, unfortunately, there are many wars or people fighting, using guns and other kinds of explosions. Fear of life, fear of existence, the struggle for position and power—this is also a health issue. So, when we focus on our health, nothing is merely a physical movement. The third greatest problem is all these toxins that we call artificial fertilizers. All fields are poisoned; the whole of nature is poisoned because we need more food and we have an appetite for the eyes. We want to buy a good, beautiful apple, not the small one that perhaps has a little hole. But the beautiful, good apple prompts the question to the gardener: how often was it sprayed? That is also a great problem for our health. And not only vegetation, such as vegetables and fruits, but also dairy products. So, the entire global system that we humans have created out of our greed or necessity is a primary cause of our health or illness. Therefore, Yoga in Daily Life has a program, a design-to-one program, lasting 35 years. It is important that the yoga teachers themselves live as an example and also help people progress, making them aware. Often, teachers have problems with course participants because they do not want to hear anything other than physical exercises, prāṇa exercises, relaxation, and then "Hari Om" and go home. But it would be good, and it is high time, that we make people aware. It is very certain that all people in the world are aware of these problems, but they have not yet found access, or they do not dare to change their lives. It is important that people live vegetarian lives, but also nourish themselves biologically. Do not think that you are poor, that you only eat vegetables. No—now vegetables are more expensive than meat, people say. But the main point of climate change is the animal farms, the factory farms, which destroy the forests and release the entire manure of the animals in the form of acid onto the earth. For me, a healthy path is not just movement, but everything. What are we breathing? What kind of air is there? Already 25 years ago in Austria, they observed acid rain, which has destroyed many trees in the mountains, not only in Austria but in other countries as well. Our life is nothing other than the life of a plant or a tree. Our life is just as biological as that of a tree. And we are also influenced by all kinds of weathering, air, and so on. What we breathe, what we eat, the company we keep, and how we think—all of this has a powerful effect on all five bodies: Annamaya Kośa (the body of food), Prāṇamaya Kośa (the energy body), Manomaya Kośa (the mental body), Vijñānamaya Kośa (the intellectual body), and Ānandamaya Kośa (the body of feelings, desires, longings, and so on). These five bodies are bound with the five elements: space, fire, air, water, and earth. Now, of all living beings, there are 8.4 million different species existing on our planet. There is only one human being. And man is here as the possessor, nothing but the destroyer. Human beings possess a beautiful consciousness and a beautiful intellect. But the intellect needs proper education. What we do is based on our upbringing, what we always use as the seat of the self, as the seat symbol. In our culture, in our cultural sphere, we think, "That must not be done. In our culture, we have to drink some alcohol; it is a social life, we have to eat meat. We must do nothing." That is precisely a false conditioning or thought that a person must play along, although a person knows that it is not healthy for themselves. But dearer are money, business, and position. One swallows things down, but truly wants nothing. It is an engine; it needs gasoline, petrol, but you put water into it. And our engine, this human engine, needs water, and you are putting alcohol into it. So it is no wonder that this engine will fail. So many things that move in our lives, all around me, around us—my culture, my beliefs, traditions, my country—this is the main problem. And it is very important to think globally. Global thinking does not mean that you give up your culture and everything—no. But global thinking means creating balance and harmony in life. And this harmony and balance, once we have achieved it, clarity will come. And when everything is clear, then all questions will be answered by us. On this journey, I have shared with people and focused on five points. It was a beautiful practice for spiritual awakening. And of course, it should be suitable for all faiths, for all cultures, including religions or politics. I flew from Vienna to America and began my lectures in New York. Then, in a main building of the UN, I had a conference or lecture. On the plane, I closed my eyes and reflected. The UN had given me the topic: Spiritual Awakening for World Peace. Yoga is a spiritual contemplation. But what do we understand by spiritual contemplation? It can also be fanaticism. So, spiritual consideration according to Yoga means: Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaḥ—may all be happy. And in the Bhagavad Gītā, Kṛṣṇa speaks: when you can forgive your enemy, love your enemy, and wish your enemy to live happily, which weapon do you use, or which method will you use against your enemies who are running after you, who want to kill you, who want to destroy you? But what do you hold in your thoughts for your enemies? This weapon means love. In the twelfth chapter of the Bhagavad Gītā, Lord Kṛṣṇa speaks on this subject. And how do we awaken our love and respect? Constantly chant: Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaḥ. Sarve means everywhere. May all be happy everywhere. Be certain: wars, weapons, power—these do not bring joy and peace. These thoughts, Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaḥ, written in the Upaniṣads by the Ṛṣis several thousand years ago—from these several thousand years, what thoughts the Ṛṣis have expressed. How did they know, being in India, what would happen in the future in Europe, in America, in Africa, and so on? Through the power of meditation, through self-development, one must overcome all boundaries. And here, boundary means selfishness: "I and mine." A boundary is "mine," and the other side of my boundary is also "me." "I and mine." The third side is "ours," and the fourth side is that no one has the right to enter my possession. If we think like this, then we do not have global thoughts. Then we cannot pray at all. God has also made no boundaries. One can even see that Kṛṣṇa loved his enemies. God Rāma also loved his enemies and said, "You shall not kill." And you help others, because others are killing themselves when they think negatively. Let us overcome this boundary: "mine," "ours," and "it is no one's business." Such words, such thoughts are the opposite of Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaḥ. For that, there are five points, which I have always used throughout my entire world journey, having traveled around the world 34 times. First thought, first task for all of you—because I want to share this today, since some of you are here for the first time and might say, "Tomorrow we will never come here again." That could also be the case. "Were you at the seminar?" "Yes, twice. The Indian came, he is sitting above me and speaking there. I visited twice, the first and the last time." I thought perhaps I would give you a task. It will remain in your subconscious for a lifetime. First exercise, which we should all begin with: Think that I am a human being. Did you ever think that "I am a human"? Yes, but not very clearly. So begin now to think: "I am a human." And that means, if we make a mistake, if we do something that is not right for our environment, for all living beings, and for our people, our friends, then I think, as a human being, is this right, what I am doing? As a human being, is what I am doing right? No matter what, there are thousands of things in our lives that we do. Perhaps this is not in accordance with the principles of a human being. So: I am a human being. Can I do this? What a shame that you do this as a human being. Either you do not understand what "human" means, you are not aware of your actions—and the actions are not only physical, but also in thoughts, through words, through your behavior, and also your power, whatever it may be: power, political or wealth, or your position, and so on. This means that a person misuses their power. As a human being, it is right that I act. If I take a knife in my hand and kill a hare: are the hands of humans meant for this? The moment one kills an animal, there is no awareness that "I am a human being." Second exercise: What makes me human? Because the entire bodily system is the same as that of other animals. We also have five elements. Eating, drinking, sleeping, procreating children—all living beings do these things, and so do we humans. Then where is the difference? So, what makes me human? The human attribute or quality. And what is a human quality and what is an animal quality? From the beyond, there are the two forces: Asurī Śakti and Devī Śakti—negative forces and positive forces. And we as human beings possess both. When we are angry, we are in Asurī Śakti. When we are angry, we are in negative energy. An angry person, if one wishes to overcome their anger or hatred, then there is the best medicine to take, a capsule program. And this capsule program is: I think, "I am a human being." And as always, we think of our fellow beings. And all people are human beings on this Earth. All positive, beautiful, and good qualities make us human: love, devotion, understanding, patience, forgiveness, help. All this beauty, spirituality, faith, prayer. Praying does not mean anything just for oneself, but again: may all be happy. Not only human beings, but also other living creatures. It also means our vegetation. The entire system on this planet is our system, and we belong to this system. And all negative qualities are the opposite of a human being. But if there is no spiritual awakening, consciousness means that you are a human being. That alone is already a great help for your spiritual path or for your loved ones on this planet. Third task: How do I realize the human quality? How can we develop human qualities more and more? These very thoughts are Nṛse Nārāyaṇa Banne kā. Nṛ means human and Nārāyaṇa means God. Through these qualities and thoughts, human consciousness journeys into divine consciousness. Nṛse Nārāyaṇa Banne kā sadhana: the practice of realizing human consciousness into divine consciousness. How do I awaken my good qualities? Overcoming good qualities and bad qualities—that is a task. Because in the normal state, in everyday life, we all have beautiful thoughts; we are kind, and so on. The day before yesterday I was in the Czech Republic, and suddenly a topic about caste systems came up. What one often hears is that in India there is a distinction between castes and so on. And I have reflected very deeply on how that can be. But I believe, not only in India, but also very strongly here. I asked whether there were 300, 400 people there—or am I asking you as well? Do you believe in the caste system or not? Do you believe in the caste system? Belief means that you want to have the caste system. Do you believe or not? No, others would like that caste system to remain. One person, two persons. The two want there to be a difference between people. Others do not want this. And the whole world struggles against the fact that the system is different with people. Now, all of you here, the others, hundreds of people are sitting here. Two have raised their hands that they believe and want a caste system because they believe the others do not. Now a very small example, please don’t be upset. And you may respond, but you don’t have to respond, because no response is also a response. For example, within your family circle, and you, and so on, someone marries a person from Africa, a black person. Will your society accept this with joy, or will it just swallow it and say, "Well..."? Will they accept? Please raise your hand. So it is. Dagmar, is it accepted by your German society? You raised your hand. In Germany, that is accepted. With joy? I said, with joy. Do you see? Thank you. There is the answer to my question. So, that means the distinctions still remain in our consciousness. So, do not think that my God is in India with the caste system or in the Middle East where people are fighting between Muslims and others. Who are you to judge them? You have not judged yourself. First judge yourselves. Are you very clear about everything or not? And that is the crux. It means, when the salt gets under your own skin, then you feel the burning. And so, purifying consciousness is difficult—the whole world. And that means that we thus overcome individualism. And so: what makes me human, and how to cultivate the human qualities. The fourth point is how one cultivates oneself. I am the human being, what makes me human, and what are the human qualities, and how one cultivates them. At the fifth point: What is the mission of human life? "Missionary" means nothing—that is religion, missionary woman. The religious missionary work in the world has settled much, much... has brought many, many conflicts and many problems because there is no clear presentation. But here, mission means a task given by a person. I have often said: humans are born as protectors and not as destroyers. And that already comes into our being as human, what it means to be human. Our primary goal in being born as human beings is God-realization. God is a great question mark. Be certain, God is not as you think. The form in which you think, because it has no form. It is very difficult, and therefore Arjuna asks in the 12th chapter of the Bhagavad Gītā: "Lord, which is better: to worship a personal deity or an impersonal one?" Kṛṣṇa says, both are good, but for the ignorant, who have not yet realized anything and are still on the mental, spiritual path, it is better through a personal God, a form. And that is why different religions, different masters, and different faiths have a specific symbol, and they proceed through this symbol. But in the end, it is completely different. So the mission of human life, after all this, as a protector, is to bring the message of peace, love, understanding, harmony, and forgiveness. After reconciliation, one knows thyself, self-realization, or God-realization. This practice should remain in our consciousness for 24 hours. Then spiritual contemplation will be present. Then we will understand ourselves. And whoever understands themselves can also understand others. Just sitting alone with closed eyes and meditating and meditating and doing breathing exercises and physical exercises and so on and so forth—that alone is never enough. Inwardly, be superior with this beautiful human spirit. Live your beautiful human life within your life, within your inner Self. It is a precious, beautiful thing that you possess in this body as your existence as a human being. Then your yoga in daily life. The path leads you to perfection.

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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