Only God can make You rich
A story illustrates the destructive nature of jealousy. While walking, I thought of you. A master once instructed me to recount a tale from 1966. It concerns a jealous man fixated on his prosperous neighbor. He performed austerities, and a divine voice offered a boon: a magical object granting any wish. However, a condition was attached: whatever he received, his neighbor would receive double. Consumed by envy, the man rejected the object, choosing instead to labor in poverty for fifteen years to avoid benefiting his rival. His desperate family later used the object, receiving food and riches, which the neighbor also received doubled. Upon returning, the man's jealousy erupted. He used the object to curse himself with mutilation, knowing his neighbor would suffer doubly, and finally destroyed the object, becoming a beggar. This shows how jealousy ruins oneself and others. Spiritual practice is meaningless without cultivating goodness, mercy, and kindness.
"God said, 'If you ask this kuṇḍ for one million dollars, he will give you immediately. But at the same time, your neighbor will get two million.'"
"He used the object to curse himself... and finally destroyed the object, becoming a beggar."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
DVD 251
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The Monkey-Minded Seeker: Desire, True Wisdom, and the Art of Coping
Desire for supernatural powers leads to monkey-mind, while true wisdom is cultivated through steady practice and acceptance.
Supernatural powers are not gained by mere wishing. A flower grows when an expert plants a seed, waters it, and lets time unfold. A seeker yearned for levitation, yet gurus refused to grant powers easily. He walked to a Tibetan monastery. Monks asked no questions; a bell rang for meals, leaving fasting voluntary. An old monk knew his desire and offered meditation. The seeker refused, demanding only powers. The monk imparted a mantra with a warning: do not think of monkeys while reciting. Instantly, monkeys filled his mind, blocking all practice. He returned to the monk in frustration. Instructing the mind to avoid something makes it fixate there. True progress comes through yoga and meditation. Rise during Brahma Muhurta, touch the earth in respect, then silently touch your parents’ feet. At this hour, cosmic energies intensify your mantra and kriya. Lord Rama’s life was suffering—exile, wife’s abduction, fire ordeal—yet he coped without comparing. When joy comes, be cheerful; when pain comes, discover your strength. Never compare your life to another’s. Be content as you are, while striving sincerely. Equanimity in all circumstances creates a perfect being.
"Do not think of monkeys. Do not think of monkeys while reciting."
"Meditation will benefit you far more through yoga. What will you do with such powers?"
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
Bhramari and bhramari pranayama
Brahmari Pranayama balances the nervous system and refines the voice. This practice is derived from the bee known as Brahmari. The female bee constructs a nest with intricate passages. She captures a specific worm and places it inside. She nourishes it until it develops wings and emerges as a new bee. The yogic practice mimics this process of internal transformation through sound. One method involves gently biting the teeth together. This directs resonance to the temples, balancing the Ida and Pingala nerve channels. It alleviates certain tensions and improves speech. Another method keeps the lips closed but the teeth apart. This directs energy upward toward the crown chakras. Both techniques significantly benefit singers and speakers by refining vocal quality and release. Practice should be avoided during an active headache.
"The sound goes from our ears and comes back here to the temple area."
"This prāṇāyāma balances both nerve systems, Iḍā and Piṅgalā."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
The Guru Gītā and the Path of the Disciple
The Guru Gītā and the Path of the Disciple
The Guru Gītā is the foundation of morning sādhanā and the disciple's relationship to the Guru. The Guru Gītā comes from the Skandapurāṇa. Western mentality demands clear specification, only one true guru, and fears the wrong guru leads to hell. Advaita Vedānta sees all fires as real fire, just as all gurus manifest the Guru Tattva. Kangaroos jump from system to system with strong Mūlādhāra and oily New Age ideas. The Guru is the ship and the bridge across the ocean of māyā. Oils, gemstones, and rudrākṣa do not save; only practice saves. No one can practice for another. The real guru is your guru, with respect for all gurus. Vyāsa means compiler, not inventor; knowledge began with Śiva as consciousness. The Guru Gītā exists in versions of 182, 216, and 352 verses. Swāmījī removed unnecessary verses about āsana benefits and directions. Trust in Gurudev removes fear of planets, evil eye, and black magic. Doubt and depression are normal in discipleship. Transformation is painful, like the wasp and the worm. The wasp is the Guru; initiation is the sting; satsaṅg is the repeated sound. Secret knowledge means only the brave who dive deep can see the ocean floor. Pārvatī asks Śiva on Kailāśa to explain the Guru, and the Guru Gītā begins.
"Real guru for you is your guru. And you have respect for all other gurus."
"Only those who are able to hear that knowledge will hear that knowledge."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
A Heartfelt Prayer and the Path of Remembrance
The path of remembrance is a heartfelt prayer of surrender and the practice of chanting to purify and connect.
Chant the name constantly, never forget, never let it leave the heart. It does not matter if one is a sinner, failing, or cheating. However one is, one belongs to the divine. Life is wasted in attachments to house, family, obstacles. One is full of sadness, full of suffering. The prayer removes all suffering, all impurities. One is a servant, a dust particle at the feet. One is alone in this mortal world. Do not forget, remove all sins, all faults. This prayer to the teacher removes all these things. Learning happens through repetition: part by part, then fast, then slow. Whatever is to be remembered must be repeated at least twenty-four times. Practice makes a master.
"However I am, I am yours."
"Practice makes a man a master. And not only men, but also women."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
