Stories about master and disciple
Sādhanā must be properly practiced as the guru teaches. Disciples sing bhajans daily and inquire to become yogis and understand sādhanā. If sādhanā is not performed properly, life cannot be good. The sādhanā given by Alakhpurījī, Devpurījī, and Mahāprabhujī is known by some. One disciple, Premānand, did difficult sevā, living only for his guru. Gurus, parents, and worldly bonds all present challenges. A student spent time at the ashram school but left to follow his own guru; later he became a brilliant yogi drawing many seekers. Another young speaker explained that buttoning from bottom to top is correct; top-down is wrong. He then asked for a lecture but the teacher wished to hear him instead. A tale tells of a father and son evading a ticket on a train. The son extorted money for treats, threatening to reveal his true age. Finally the father lamented that buying a ticket would have cost far less. Mahāprabhujī once sent a disciple out in blazing heat to beg for food. The disciple was told to bring back whatever was given. When the disciple feared being left, the guru promised to bring him food wherever he was. That is the true bond of guru and disciple. Among countless sādhus, perhaps only one or two are genuine.
"If this is not done properly, then it is not good; your life will not be good."
"Wherever you are, I will bring you food."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
Up next
A Prayer for the Yajña
Evening satsang from Wellington Ashram, New Zealand.
Practice with Swamiji
Gentle yoga movements strengthen the back to prevent and alleviate pain. Begin with complete relaxation, releasing tension from toes to head. Focus on natural breath. Proceed with gentle spinal twists and stretches while lying down, moving knees side to side. These movements release stiffness without force. Strengthen the parallel back muscles by raising the upper body while prone. Practice concentration by sitting on the toes and focusing on a single point. Consistency is key; practice these gentle postures daily to build a foundation for more advanced practice. This harmonizes body and mind.
"Relax your whole body from the toes to the top of the head and from the top of the head to the toes."
"When they are strong, then we don’t have pain, back pain problems."
The origin of suffering
Fear arises from ignorance and creates the karma that binds us.
We are the light of the Self, yet we identify with the body and lose our true nature. Karma is not an external force but is created from our own experiences and ignorance. For example, we see a rope and mistake it for a snake, generating fear. That impression of the snake, though false, can last a lifetime. Fear resides in the subtle self, not the physical body, and weakens our confidence and strength. Stories of ghosts in graveyards persist because of our memories and attachments, not because spirits remain. Our stored fears from many lives manifest in the body, affecting glands and hormones. Loss of self-confidence disrupts these systems. Horrible dreams often stem from subconscious impressions, not direct karma. True awakening involves a healthy body and nervous system, free from the paralysis of fear. We must identify and release our fears, understanding they belong to the past.
"Karma is created within our own self out of ignorance. That creates fear in us."
"When fear is gone, all these karmic things are more or less gone."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
Gurujis Anniversary Memories
I have seen the divine embodied. My spiritual master was the divine incarnate, possessing complete awareness and power.
He once warned me of a shooting that had already occurred exactly as described. On another journey, my vehicle failed dramatically, yet I reached my destination. After his conscious departure from the body, his divine power remained active. A child suffered a severe eye injury from a pencil. His parents prayed to the master. Doctors repeatedly delayed removing the bandage, and when they finally did, the eye was fully healed. The soul is not lost; the same divine power persists from when he was in the body. Therefore, engage in worship to awaken and progress by this power.
"He told me, 'Colonel Sāhab, today some bullets are going to be fired at your stomach.'"
"After 15 days... they removed the bandage. That child... can see with both eyes—something only Bhagavān can do."
Filming location: India
