Christmas with Swamiji in Vienna
We celebrate the arrival of Jesus, a festival of peace, love, and unity. The world needs light, both physical and the divine light of wisdom within every being. Since organized religion began, division has followed, unlike the universal, indivisible consciousness of Sanātana Dharma. Human greed creates ownership and mental pollution, which is more dangerous than physical waste. Before a bomb destroys others, it destroys itself; similarly, negative thoughts first harm the one who holds them. We are called not to judge, but to forgive and to hate the sin, not the sinner. Modern celebrations have become materialistic and polluting, especially with single-use plastics, which now seem immortal. The true gift is non-material, offered openly without harmful packaging. Our spiritual duty is selfless service, to pass on immortal wisdom. A true disciple, like Jesus, endures suffering without abandoning principle to deliver a divine message. We must write and share immortal wisdom through devotion and trust.
"Forgive them; they do not know what they are doing."
"We hate the sin, but not the sinner."
Filming location: Vienna, Austria
Up next
Around the world - Satsang YC Blanicka
atw blanicka 31.12.2010
Musical recording.
Around the world - Shivaratri at Jadan Ashram
atw Shivaratri at Jadan Ashram
Musical recording.
Keep your promises
Saturday's powerful constellation brings both benefit and challenge, reflecting Śani's influence. A story tells of a guru carrying a watermelon that briefly appeared as a severed head due to this energy, illustrating its transformative power. To navigate such influences, one makes a lifelong vow, a saṅkalpa, like giving up a specific food. This principle of promise extends to sacred commitments like marriage, which are not to be abandoned. On Guru Pūrṇimā, all actions and karmas from the past year are offered to the guru. The relationship with one's guru is singular and foundational, like that with one's biological parents. The core practice is to surrender everything to this guiding source.
"A promise is not just saying yes or no to something. It is a promise. When we make a promise, we have to follow it."
"On Guru Pūrṇimā... I give all my karmas, my practice, Gurudev, to you. And what mistakes I made, I also give to you."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Hanumanji
The divine play between God and devotee involves tests to purify ego.
God and devotee are ultimately one, appearing in two forms to enact a divine play. Hanuman, an incarnation of Shiva, is the perfect devotee of Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu. After Rama's victory, he tasked Hanuman with remaining on Earth to protect devotees. One day, while Hanuman chanted Rama's name, he reflected on his own indispensable deeds in Rama's mission. Sensing this rising ego, Rama devised a lesson. He praised Hanuman extensively and then gave him a simple duty: to deliver a ring to a sage in the Himalayas. Hanuman journeyed there and found the sage, who instructed him to throw the ring into a water pond. When Hanuman hesitated, the sage told him to retrieve it. Hanuman found the pond filled with identical rings. The sage explained that each ring represented a past divine incarnation, and Vishnu performed similar heroic deeds through each. Hanuman's great feats were not unique but part of the eternal divine play, accomplished through divine grace. The lesson was to dissolve the devotee's ego.
"Hanuman, whenever Vishnu incarnates on this earth, he has to pay the tax."
"Go and say to Rāma that... 'Your duty is finished, now you can go back.'"
Filming location: Wellington, New Zealand
