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Part 1: The Space of the Self Every being, every phenomenon, and every idea needs its own space. That is why we build nests and houses—to create our own space. And then, that space, that house, builds us in return. This is what brought us back here to India, to Jadan Āśram. When we truly grow up, we need to ask ourselves the question: Who am I? In the midst of the struggle for daily bread and within the space that serves that struggle, the answer is not easy to find. That is why we build an Āśram—a place of active attraction, a place of peace and contemplation. The word Āśram means a place where we can do something good for ourselves and for others. Here, we can renew or accelerate our physical health. We can restore mental peace and thus achieve social health, the balance of the inner and outer world. Here we immerse ourselves in the ocean of the spirit, drawing closer to self-recognition. All this is enabled by the greatest treasure of the world's wisdom: yoga. It requires nothing external, only what we have always had: our body, our breath, our consciousness, and our spirit. Yoga is the science and art of conscious movement. It is the science and art of conscious peace. It is the method of self-knowledge and self-control. Yoga is the ultimate path of return to the original state of wholeness. That is why this ashram is called Om Viśvadīp Gurukul, for Om is eternal, divine wholeness. The human spirit and the human hand built this ashram as an imperishable hymn. The true bridge between the imperishable and the perishable, between God and man, between us and the mind, is the Guru. The Guru is a blessed soul who has recognized that One from which everything that exists emerges and to which it returns. This ashram grows from the depths of such a soul, from the depths of Viśvagurū Paramahaṁsa Śrī Svāmī Māheśvarānandajī. Such beings no longer live for themselves; they live for us, for all. And holy saints are Vah Sant. Sant are those who are the Sant, Sant. "I have finished all kinds of desires, all complexes, jealousy, these, that, all." Samdṛṣṭi, equal vision; santuṣṭi, satisfaction; śānti, peace. As in every desert, like in this heart of Rajasthan, the key word is water. The rains fall here only during the monsoon, which grows weaker and weaker each year. This was also the beginning of the construction of an artificial lake, a key part of a large project to collect rainwater. This lake can collect 250,000 cubic meters of water. All embankments and channels are directed toward it. This is now a reservoir of life, not only for the Ashram but for many villages in this desolate area. Water has flowed; life has flowed. Here, every drop is a blessing. Every drop is nectar for people, plants, and animals. For such a blessing, some effort and suffering are worthwhile. When the clouds parted, water covered the barren land. This was the first test of the project for the catchment of the rain. And the water flowed right into the lake. The blood of life was collected. This was the right moment to shape the hill made of earth dug from the lake. The hill will hold the wood, the wood will hold the hill. This is a symbiosis of sustainable development. No matter how much the rain was a blessing for the desert, it was still only a symbol of the blessing for the thirsty human soul. Blessings flow in conjunction with the king of spirituality, Holy Gurujī. Śrī Madhavānandajī, Swāmījī’s Guru, is both the rain clouds and the sun, and the eternally fresh breath of the presence of the stars. That is why we should engage in satsaṅg and remember Gurudev by beholding the saints. Remembering Gurudev is the purification of all sins, washing them away. To purify one’s sins, one should pray to the Lord, remember the Lord, and remember the grace of Gurudev. In the last, it is said that only the grace of the guru is the supreme welfare of the disciple, upon whom only Gurudev’s grace rests. Then, among the disciples and people, there arises supreme joy and auspiciousness. Therefore, one should constantly remember Gurudev. You sing this bhajan; it is the essence of the Vedas, it is yours. In the heart, the essence of the Vedas, that is, knowledge, manifests directly. The words that come from the mouth of Paramātmā Mahāprabhujī are even greater than the Vedas; they draw their sustenance from that ocean. The next day was the festival of enlightenment, the festival of light and consciousness: the day of Guru Pūrṇimā. Guru Pūrṇimā is the day of the glory of Gurudeva, and the ancient verses of Guru Gītā are his hymn. Every seeker of knowledge needs a teacher, and a spiritual seeker finds a guru, a knower of ātmā and paramātmā, the soul and God. India has preserved living and accessible spiritual knowledge through the direct work of the Guru with the disciple. This relationship always contains the complete devotion of the teacher and the devotion of the disciple. The relationship between the Guru and the disciple is the most exalted, purest, and most meaningful on this planet. The warmth and love of this relationship is expressed through Guru Pūjā, by worshiping the Guru as a living embodiment of the divine. This worship is the fruit of the knowledge of numerous sages and saints of India. Being a Guru is not what he says, not even what he does. Being a Guru is what he is. His knowledge and devotion to God make him the embodiment of Sat Chit Ānanda, the highest reality, the highest consciousness, and the highest bliss. The honored guest was the ambassador of the Republic of Croatia. "I would like to send my best regards from Croatia to all the people I have met here. I would also like to send my best regards to Swāmījī and, of course, to all of you who are here. It is a great honor to be here with you today. Today is a great day, a day when all of us should bow to all the teachers. I would like to thank everyone, Gurujī and Swamījī, for all the good they do for the entire society." "So in our scriptures, in our teachings, in our way of life, there cannot be any other great person than the Guru in the world for the disciple and for all the followers of the yogic way of life. Tamaso mā jyotira gamaya. Lead us from the darkness to the light." "The first, the very first day, when the first resonance was awoken in the endless universal consciousness, where the consciousness was dormant, the first was that resonance, the sound, that was the Oṁ. And through that sound, the second element, the second tattva, besides... the ākāśa, the fire element was created. And that first very moment was the beginning of Guru Pūrṇimā." "The meaning of Guru is one who dispels the darkness of ignorance and error, who removes that darkness and bestows light, giving true knowledge. The Guru becomes the form of Paramātmā, and by the grace of Gurudev, the soul attains knowledge. People gain knowledge of others, and similarly, Bhagavān has established the festival of Guru Pūrṇimā for humans to become pure and virtuous." Everyone wanted to personally come to Holy Gurujī and Swāmījī, to see him and be seen, to touch him and be touched. This is the privilege of the Gurū Bhakta. Bhajans, spiritual songs, and Yodha Guru were sung all through the night of that unforgettable full moon. During the monsoon, it is a real pleasure to climb the hill and see how the construction of the ashram progresses and how the desert is being dressed in its new green dress. Sādhanā is an indispensable part of every day. India is a famous tourist country, but for us, the true beauty of India is here, in a place that remembers the presence of the divine soul, Bhagavān Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇ Mahāprabhujī. This ashram in the barricade is a true garden of memories of his satsaṅgas. The light of his presence does not go out, both here and in the small ashram outside the village, where the perfect yogī spent decades of his long life. His room testifies to the simplicity of what he was full of: the wholeness of himself. The Krayholī Gurujī, the body of his life, the Uṣmaha Prabhujī, is reflected in those who know what they really want. If they seek, they will find. Gurujī blessed Swāmījī by organizing a gathering of the surroundings of this āśram. On that day, under the sign of greening the desert, a few thousand trees were planted. In Swamijī’s nature, he turned the jungle and the desert into a garden. May he live a long life with this hope. The future of nature is the future of man. Another visit to a place imbued with the presence of a great soul. This house in the barricade was often visited by Śrī Mahāprabhujī’s guru, Paramayogeśvar Śrī Devpurījī. The spirit of Paravairāgya, complete detachment and freedom in the world, the spirit of Śiva, makes this place a permanent magnet for all yogīs and guru-bhaktas. Śrī Devpurījī spent the longest time here in Kela Sāśram. That is why it is best here to just close your eyes and immerse yourself in his indelible presence. "Sometimes you stand on a certain spot of the earth, and there is a kind of vibration, and all negative thoughts come. And sometimes you make such an action, and for your whole life you will be sorry for that. So, when you don’t know what to do, stay a few steps away. You will see immediately, your mind will change." This is the Mahāsamādhi of Devpurījī’s samādhi, his physical embodiment. That part of his mortal being, or his pañca tattva body, is sitting here. When you touch these stones, you have already touched his body. And the bhakta knows what it means to touch here. "So, friends, continue attending Satsaṅg, keep practicing the teachings of Mahāpuruṣas, and then your life can be blissful. There is no need to become a Sannyāsī. If you do not follow the Śāstra, if you drink Amṛta, then you will become immortal. His name is Amṛt. You have to become immortal. You have to get rid of all sins. So, take the name of Mahāpuruṣas." "Guru Nānak says, 'A hundred gurus are like a ship; by boarding and disembarking, one crosses over. If one serves with devotion, then crossing over is certain. By serving Gurudev with devotion, one surely reaches the other shore.'" The desire to attend Kumbha Melā led us on a long journey to the Indian state of Mahārāṣṭra. In the city of Nasik, every 12 years, the Kumbha Mela is held—a great spiritual festival of purification and the search for the nectar of immortality. A 20-hour journey took place in the best conditions. Kumbha Mela. Part 2: The Pilgrimage of Spirit: From Kumbha to the Inner Cave Immediately upon arrival in Nāsik, Svāmījī reminded us of the symbolism of the Kumbha Melā. Immortality, nectar—amṛta, amṛtattva—is that which you can consume endlessly. Because it is nectar, ambrosia, it leads towards immortality, which is beyond time and space. Mahārāṣṭra is known as the green belt of India. Lord Rāma, the great hero of the ancient epic Rāmāyaṇa, spent fourteen years of his life in the forests of this land. Here in Ellorā, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain monasteries in the form of caves are carved into volcanic rock, and as such rank among the most beautiful not only in India, but also in the whole world. Thirty-four caves were excavated between the 5th and 9th centuries of our era. These caves, in front of which the breath stops, are real gems due to their exceptional reliefs, sculptures, and architecture. The most miraculous building in Ellorā is this temple called Kailāśa, on one of the peaks of the Himalayas, which is considered the resting place of Śiva. This is probably the largest monolithic structure in the world, because it is made of one single rock. In order for this massive, independent temple to appear, the craftsmen had to remove about two million tons of stone. The work of numerous artists left us with the picturesque reliefs of the Hindu pantheon gods. Although this temple is of gigantic proportions, it remains one of the finest remnants from ancient times. Because it is said that India is the land where the vision of the Satguru is found, where self-knowledge is attained. There is no other country where sages, munis, and all saints reside and uphold the hope of India. Without India, the Self, Brahman, and illumination cannot be attained. Revered Bhagavān Dīpa Nārāyaṇa, the compassionate, gave the teachings of Brahman. Mādhvā, through bliss, attained supreme joy in the land of India. So we all need to help ourselves to protect the country, we need to protect the Sanātana Dharma, and we should and must protect all religions. No religion should be discriminated against, no culture should be discriminated against, no country should be discriminated against; we have to respect them as they are. The procession lasted for kilometers, bringing new joy to everyone at every step. The honor of the first bath always belongs to the Mahāmaṇḍaleśvaras. The Mahāmaṇḍaleśvaras are the dṛḍhajī of yoga, the spiritual beads of India. Here, this unique land is renewed in its uniqueness. The center of this unity is the saints, the self-realized souls. Although it was cold and windy in Praskozorje, the people were delighted with Darśana, the meeting with Svāmījī and the other Mahāmaṇḍaleśvaras. We finally arrived at the swimming pool. Here, the excitement was at its peak. It was not easy to break through the crowded mass of people. Surrounded by students, Svāmījī is blessed with honor. Everyone wanted to be a part of Svāmījī’s swimming. Everyone wanted to spray him with the water of the holy river. After the bath, the visit to the Śiva temple is inevitable. Unfortunately, only the Hindus are allowed to enter this temple, but what we saw from the outside was also rich in spiritual energy. Those whose dharma is the highest good, whose resolve destroys unrighteousness—hail, hail to Maheśvarānanda, the incarnation of dharma! You can run away from anywhere, from anyone, from anything, but not from yourself. So, this time is for you to observe. When you sit in meditation, your chidākāśa is a beautiful cinema hall. So let it play on the screen of your consciousness, the film of your intellect, which is made by your emotional problems and your karma. Not all children in India have equal opportunities for education. That is why the International Association of Yoga in Everyday Life has started a program to support children and poor families. The program is called Gyān Putra and is held in numerous schools. Children get the necessary school books, equipment, and clothes. The greatest reward for those who give is the joy of those who receive. A year ago, a school for 250 students was opened in the Āśram. Here, in this oasis of spirit, these children are given space of high standard, attention, and education. Their future is given to them. They rise, sleep departs, the birds rise, the flowers bloom, all people rise saying, "Wake up, wake up,... the sun has risen today." All together. All the ideals of humanity, the Āśram turns into life. These cows found their home in an animal shelter. This shelter is self-sacrifice in practice. It provides accommodation, food, and veterinary care to these tribal creatures that have been ill and therefore abandoned until yesterday. Here, they are really returned to the status of a holy cow. The place where Gurudev lives is a magnet for all seekers and also for these exotic gardens. You can try many things until you have controlled the chitta vṛttis. And that can only be through Guru Kṛpā, Guru Kṛpā He Kevalam. Without Gurudev, nothing is accomplished; without shelter, nothing is accomplished. Without shelter, without Gurudev, nothing is accomplished; without Gurudev, nothing is accomplished... Without Gurudev, nothing is accomplished. God will say, "Okay, just get set good. I have started this charācharī game, let them go in and out, in and out." But you know that you are suffering, does God in truth come in that way? "My child, come, I will take care of you." It is not like that. Because duṣpaṇ, duṣpaṇ... it is not so. The fire engine and the volunteers are another form of free help provided by this āśram. During the summer and during the winter, this team intervenes three times a day when it comes to saving lives, property, and summer. This brigade knows no bounds. As Svāmījī says, the hands that help are worth more than the hand that prays. The source of strength and endurance for helping oneself and others lies in sādhanā, practicing yoga. Only one who understands movement can rule movement. Every movement is a kind of hunger. We move only when we need something or when something scares us. Only one who consciously rules the movement of the body, who rules the movement of the breath and the movement of the mind, can reach the ultimate goal of every movement. That goal is full, full of its own integrity, which can only be recognized in deep peace. This center provides numerous opportunities for humanitarian work and for self-employment. But in order for the center itself to be built, it needs every possible support, every man, every idea, and every opportunity. Nothing has taken it away from us here. The next few days we were taken to Jodhpur, one of the dṛḍhajī of India. Here, on the hill above the city, in Ajnichwarī Āśram, yoga has enabled these people to overcome their weakness, cruelty, and unrest in everyday life. Simple but effective yoga exercises have had an extraordinary effect. Faced with the power of yoga, these people hardly waited for the evening to see and hear Svāmījī. Where is the endurance, where is the strength to bear? Oh, focus your attention properly. If your attention is on your feet, then how will my feet hurt? We have to go inside that nirākāra, we have to journey within the chidākāśa. We have to travel through the subtle body, where is our breath? Inside the chidākāśa. And how vast is our chidākāśa? Our chidākāśa is so vast, as wide as the ocean, as wide as... Every evening, the Guru would recite the spiritual lecture. Yoga, yoga... That is very good. There are three or four different kriyās of this kind, and along with that, the vegetative nervous systems—the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and central nervous systems—through kumbhaka, special prāṇāyāma kumbhakas are performed. Know this: within the lotus of the heart-sky in this satsaṅga and in our subtle body, there is a small cave, and inside that cave, where the closed granthi or muscle tissue is, there is a space within it. Spontaneously, these precious teachings have been revealed; this is the grace of Svāmījī. Rāmabhajan rochogadīyo mane, Satguru Sāī samajāy dīyo mane. Māra gyānī guru eḍa milijā mane, māra Satguru eḍa milijā sen dīyo, samajāy dīyo. Rāmabhajan rochogadīyo mane, Satguru Sāī samajāy. In Jadān Āśram, the day of great, but troubled joy was celebrated. This was the day of Gurujī’s birth, the day of embodiment of one magnificent soul, which with its whole life radiates the beauty of love and unity between God and man. Gurujī, unfortunately, could not be with us because he was ill and kept in the hospital. The river of people went to the āśram to participate in this magnificent celebration. The honored guest was the Prime Minister of Rājasthān, Śrī Aśokjī Gelat. Mr. Prime Minister has been a guest of the Āśram several times, so he now wanted to see how the people of Radoj are doing. He was glad to see that not everyone was waiting for the government to build something for them. Although physically absent, Gurujī was an indispensable center of attention. The saint was presented with a photo monograph of Gurujī’s life. Svāmījī, Mahātma Nandājī Mahārāj Sāhab is not with us today because he was told that he is engaged in a śāstra, but his message remains among us, among you. For a long time, how did he act so that the soul attains happiness, the soul attains peace, the state of consciousness is preserved; he spent a long life and how he conveyed the message to society, the country, and the world. This is Svabhāg, in the Deshuri tehsil of Pāli district, the village of Nippal where he was born. He took a vow while residing in the āśram of the great saint Svāmī Dīp Nān Jī, and that very vow stands before all of you today in the form of a message. Today, with us, a large number of our foreign friends are also here. I would like to acknowledge their dedication to this institution. I welcome, on behalf of all the farmers here, that looking to your devotion, it is really appreciable and it is amazing. It is beyond our thought and thinking. So, Bābājī is here in mind, but the body is elsewhere. Gurujī always says, leave behind the addiction to caste and lineage discrimination, honor all dharmas, and have faith in that which... The true essence of dharma is the sattva of the guru, Svāmījī Mādhvā. Gurudev’s blessings are always with us. In these times, the āśrams in India are flourishing. These āśrams are the abode of purity and virtue. Gurudev’s teachings guide us on the path of righteousness and truth. God is endless and His glory is endless. He is beyond our imagination, beyond all boundaries, and beyond everything.