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A Call for Universal Harmony and Inner Peace
Sanātana Dharma is the universal religion based on eternal principles found in all faiths, speaking not of a personal God but the one universal God present in all.Yoga is the balancing principle of all elements, leading to harmony and the union of individual consciousness with cosmic consciousness; this inner balance is peace. Modern industrial development has created distraction and disaster, misdirecting humanity. True … read more »
Smile
The body is a natural temple requiring rest and peace.Restlessness and tension shorten lifespan, while happiness increases healthy cells. A global laughter technique involves dedicated group laughter, transforming participants' appearance and vitality after a weekend. A speaker illustrated that smiling engages only a few muscles, … read more »
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Two Types of Maya (Part Two)
Māyā manifests as siddhis, or miraculous powers, which are a great temptation for the practitioner.These powers become accessible and pleasant but are the best friends of the ego. Using them creates a pattern of distraction, causing a fall from the yoga path. Spiritual awakening is often accompanied by such miracles, … read more »
Meeting Fatima Meer and Swami Sahajanand
We gather to honor service and spirit in this community.A spiritual leader was appointed to guide humanitarian work here, providing aid without discrimination. Daily, thousands receive free food and medicine. This service has been recognized with a national humanitarian award. Today we also acknowledge a … read more »
Prana
Prāṇa is the essential life force and the very substance of existence.All living beings are holders of prāṇa. This energy animates the body and departs at death. Prāṇa is intricately linked to nourishment. The soul's journey, as described, enters vegetation and grain, making food sacred. A cosmic … read more »
Guruvakyam
The rarity of true disciples necessitates a path of absolute purity.Guru-vākya is rare, understood only by devotees. Rare disciples exist, so one must be careful when becoming a guru. Disciples are tested; most are fall overs, not true jewels. The supreme self as sound resides everywhere … read more »
Anusthana
Destiny, the product of one's own karmas, is the greatest obstacle.To remove obstacles, one undertakes anuṣṭhāna, a disciplined resolve involving renunciation and ritual. Something must be offered to achieve a desired aim. Mantra is essential; without it, practice is lifeless. This discipline requires pure thought, body, … read more »
Maitri Bhava
Cultivate the power of friendship, or maitrībhāva.Patañjali taught that immense strength lies in friendship. The Vedic sentiment "may all be happy" embodies this feeling. It is very difficult to acquire true friends, which requires dedication and an open heart. Therefore, the gathering … read more »
Opening speech at the World Peace conference in Ahmedabad
The path to peace is found in yoga, not religion.Many discuss peace, but conflict stems from disturbances in human consciousness, not poverty. Religion is not destructive; people abuse it. No religion instructs followers to fight; all major traditions uphold non-violence. Yoga purifies consciousness, as it … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Monsignor David Cappo
Authentic dialogue is the essential path to peace in a world of conflict and division.We gather to reflect on peace while war causes global anxiety. We must ask if responding to threats with violence repeats history's mistakes. The survival of humanity is at stake. Our role is to unite, pray, … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Shin'ichiro Okuyama
We stand at a precipice, tasked with choosing peace over violence through faith and reason.We entered this millennium hopeful for unity but now face widespread violence and exhausted hope. The choice to avoid the plunge belongs to all who desire to move toward wisdom. Countless people suffer from poverty, chaos, … read more »
World Peace Forum - Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda
Human conflict arises from a disbalance with nature and a lack of tolerance.War stems from human selfishness and ego, not from animal nature. Humans have created this disbalance by killing billions of innocent creatures, violating the principle of non-violence. This action creates a karmic reaction, destroying nature. Every … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - His Excellency Rajendra Rathore Indian High Commissioner
Gandhi's principles of truth and non-violence remain a guiding light for peace.His methods, rooted in refusing to cooperate with injustice through civil disobedience, overcame an empire with moral might alone. His appeal is universal; as Martin Luther King noted, we ignore him at our own risk. In … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 Message from President Mesic
The present era presents humanity with a unique chance to resolve its persistent antagonisms.The singular answer, distilled from centuries of wisdom, is to follow the path of everlasting peace and tolerance among all people. This peace leads to knowledge, respect for diversity, and ultimate harmony for all living beings. … read more »
30 years of Yoga in Daily Life in Czech and Slovak Republic
This is a historical time of spiritual transmission under changing conditions.Travel was once restricted, yet the teacher's resolve was to arrive only after a political system fell. This resolve was fulfilled, and entry was granted. An early journey was undertaken despite warnings against speaking of divinity. … read more »
Open Your Heart - Don't be Fanatic
Satsa g is the sacred river of knowledge that washes away sins.It can be with a book, with oneself, or with a group, with the group being best. One should attend weekly satsa g and a larger monthly gathering. Otherwise, a life focused only on eating and … read more »
Can we achieve realization?
Self-realization is not exclusive to monastic life but is achieved through inner purity, not external forms.Merely taking robes is a beginning, not liberation, and can inflate the ego. Realization arises from purity in action, thought, diet, and company—āchār, vichār, āhār, vihār. This purification cultivates love and humility toward all. A householder … read more »
Brothers and sisters
The language of relationship transforms impersonal address into a bond of responsibility.Using "brothers and sisters" establishes a personal, familial connection, whereas "ladies and gentlemen" maintains a formal distance. This cultural practice, observed in traditions like India's, is meant to be realized in daily life, fostering care and … read more »
What do you take with you?
Everything originates from sound, and all matter contains sound.Practicing universal mantras unites individual consciousness with cosmic consciousness. Solitude is essential for spiritual practice, allowing time for mantra, meditation, and reflection. Utilize such periods to remember the divine, as a life without this remembrance passes … read more »
The Divine Glimpse: God Sees the Heart
God sees the quality of the heart in the moment of prayer.Divine response is not based on status or lengthy prayer but on the immediate quality of love within. God recognizes the devotion but also perceives any underlying selfishness, doubt, or impurity. Therefore, the prayer must be … read more »
Stick to your principles
Remain steadfast in your principles.Many advised changing dress for acceptance in the West or in communist countries, but the commitment to one's uniform, like a soldier's, must not waver. Temptations to change will arise over years, disappointing followers. Inward certainty … read more »
Human qualities
Human life is a precious chance for spiritual realization, not to be wasted on mere animal pursuits.Life's temptations and phases pass swiftly like a river's high water, bound by time and karma. The greatest tragedy is to die without self-realization, as rebirth into human form is not guaranteed and depends on one's … read more »
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Satiji (from Ramayana)
The narrative examines a spiritual conflict arising from attachment and disrespect.A devotee wishes to attend a festival at her father's house, but her lord advises against going without an invitation, sensing deliberate disrespect. The principle is that one may visit a parent's home uninvited, but not … read more »
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About Prayer (from Ramayana)
The divine gaze perceives the quality of the heart in the moment of prayer.God recognizes the love within a devotee's request, not external status or duplicitous words. Prayer must emerge from the heart, yet if the heart contains doubt, jealousy, or anger, that is what is truly offered. God … read more »