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Advice for new yoga teachers -- for consideration of others, too

A discourse on the essence of yoga and the indispensable role of the guru.

"Where there is no guru paramparā—where one is not initiated into a guru lineage—your yoga cannot be successful."

"Gurū Nānak said, 'Hundreds of moons and suns can rise.' Still, they cannot illuminate your heart. Only Gurudev can illuminate your heart."

The speaker explains yoga as the universal balancing principle and emphasizes that true spiritual yoga, aimed at self-realization, requires initiation into an authentic guru lineage. He describes the process of spiritual transmission, warns against "self-made masters," and outlines the selfless qualities of a true teacher, using the teachings of Guru Nanak to illustrate the guru's grace as the essential vehicle for crossing the ocean of ignorance.

Recording location: Hungary, Vep, Weekend seminar

We have here some friends who have passed the examination of yoga in their life. Well, yoga is yoga. According to Yoga in Daily Life, from our experiences and my experiences, yoga is that which balances the universe and universal consciousness. All elements in this endless universe, visible and invisible, are balanced through one principle, and that is yoga. It created and balanced the five elements through which our body is formed. All the thousands of different systems in this body are balanced by one principle; that is yoga. Kṛṣṇa said, "From time to time I manifest it through my yoga śāstra." This means nothing can take place without that yoga śakti. The origin and author of yoga is Svayambhū, Śiva himself. Yoga is inherited by the spiritual species. That divine light of yoga is preserved by the spiritual heritage, the spiritual lineage. Where there is no guru paramparā—where one is not initiated into a guru lineage—your yoga cannot be successful. This does not refer merely to āsanas and prāṇāyāmas; the aim is self-realization, ātmā jñāna, to become one with Brahman, only and only that. It occurs through the spiritual transmission of the Master's consciousness into the disciple. It is a long process, and the disciple must be ready. There is no question of why and how; there is complete surrender. Time brings the answer. In time, an embryo develops and is born as a beautiful baby. So too is the consciousness of the disciple an embryo in the womb of the Master. This means the consciousness of the Master. Therefore, only if you are connected with the spiritual lineage of the masters ... There are some so-called self-made masters. These are only like a footpath in the forest. It is merely a path in the forest, which cannot lead you far—a small, short path. But the spiritual lineage is the highway, without obstacles. It is without obstacles, therefore it is "guru kṛpāhi kevalam" (only the grace of the guru). That is why Yoga in Daily Life is developed and authentic, because it has the background of spirituality, and that is very important. If you follow, you will definitely realize. If you do not follow the principles, you will not realize. It is said the Master is the captain of the boat. If you remain seated, he will definitely bring you to the mainland. But if you jump out, it is not the mistake of the Master. Gurū Nānak said: "Sat Gurū Nām Jahā Jāī, Chāṛe Su Tārī Par, Jyoṁti Śraddhā Kar Seve De, Gurū Par Utāran Har." Today is the auspicious day of the incarnation of Gurū Nānak. Today is the full moon, a very important full moon. Gurū Nānak said, "Gurū Nām Jahāj Hai"—the name of your Gurū Dev is a boat or a ferry for you. "Chāṛe Su Tārī Par"—those who will board it will cross the ocean of ignorance. "Jyoṁti Śraddhā Kar Seve De, Gurū Par Utāran Har"—if you remain with confidence, definitely the Gurū will bring you across. Therefore, it is not just that you practice yoga one day this way and another day that way, going nowhere. That is called being "no one's wife." So Yoga in Daily Life is authentic, and it has the blessing of our holiness. To be a teacher is something great. But the teacher is one who merges into the Gurū consciousness, who has no selfishness, no ego, and no personal interests—only giving, giving without conditions. When there are no conditions, that teacher will be successful. A true teacher is one who does not bind you or make you dependent, but makes you free. The aim is to become free, meaning liberation. But you will not become free unless you are able to swim. When you can swim, then you are free. If you cannot swim, we will not let you fall into the water. If you cannot fly, the mother bird will not let you fall out of the nest. But when your wings are strong and you can fly, the mother bird will not let you sit in the nest. To be a teacher means a new birth, a new consciousness. When you teach others, it means you are teaching yourself. You will see how much wisdom you have and how much you have forgotten. So do not think you are teaching others; you are teaching yourself. Always, we are the student. You will be the Gurū or teacher only at the last second of your life—the last half-second, where you will have no time to think of anything: anger, jealousy, hate. As long as you are living, you have these natural things: anger, jealousy, hate, the desire to be the best. Therefore, we are a student; we are disciples. It is not easy to be a disciple, but it is most difficult to be a master. To be a teacher of yoga and dharma is a blessing. To be a teacher of Yoga in Daily Life means you are a fortunate one. It becomes your prime duty to hand over the wisdom of the Master in its originality. Do not mix your own thoughts into it. If you do, you will fail. It means neither you nor your students will be successful. There are two kinds of worlds in which we exist. One is the God-made world, and one is the man-made world. The man-made world is not perfect. The God-made world is perfect. Therefore, the words of wisdom from the Master are the ultimate truth. But what you create from your own intellect and emotions is not perfect. Thus, all Yoga in Daily Life teachers should keep to the system and the origin, and keep to the Gurū Paramparā. Otherwise, you will be lost, and others will be lost in understanding what a Gurū is. For those who cannot understand, we are sorry for them. When people think, "We practice yoga; we do not need a Gurū," this is the biggest mistake they can make in the world. We are not only practitioners of āsanas and prāṇāyāmas. And even for this, you need a master. You cannot learn anything without a teacher. In any profession you learn, you need a teacher. You cannot become a professor, a doctor, or a surgeon without a teacher. You cannot become a driver without a driving teacher. You cannot become an electrician without a teacher. The entire system is based on the Gurū system. But still, you do not accept it. That means that is ignorance. Gurū Nānak said, "Hundreds of moons and suns can rise." Still, they cannot illuminate your heart. Only Gurudev can illuminate your heart. Without Gurudev, your heart remains in darkness. Recording location: Hungary, Vep, Weekend seminar

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.

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