Vairagya and Trapt Atma
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Morning Yoga practice, Umag, Croatia (6/9)
A guided practice integrates relaxation, breath awareness, and physical postures. Begin by relaxing the entire body and observing the natural breath without influence. Gently deepen the inhalation, allowing exhalation to happen automatically, imagining the body expanding and contracting with each breath. Use the exhalation to dispel any tension. Inhale light to purify and nourish the body and mind; exhale all unwanted qualities. Feel this light surrounding the body, then focus it at the heart center. Reside there, observing and allowing the heart to open. Let this light spread through the entire being and beyond. Practice Agnisāra Kriyā and Nauli to purify and strengthen the vital energies. Perform āsanas with correct alignment, focusing on relaxation and the breath. Practice Viparītakaraṇī Mudrā to harmonize the glandular system. Sit with a straight spine for prāṇāyāma, such as Nāḍī Śodhana, maintaining a gentle, loving breath without force. Chant Oṁ and conclude with complete relaxation.
"With inhalation, inhale light. With exhalation, you dispel all the used energy, all tension, all your unwanted qualities."
"All the time, be aware of the Guru Gītā. If we force the prāṇa, we will not gain anything, only maybe illnesses."
Filming location: Umag, Croatia
Listening to Shiv Mahapuran Uplifts the Soul
The Śiva Purāṇa reveals how ego and desire obstruct truth and peace. Brahmā and Viṣṇu debated supremacy until Śiva directed them to meditate, where the eternal truth is found within. Ego arises with "I," and desire with "want"; cutting both yields peace. Dakṣa Prajāpati, filled with pride, insulted Śiva by excluding him from a sacrifice. His devoted daughter Satī attended despite Śiva's silent warning. Hearing her father's insults, she immolated herself in the sacred fire. Śiva, though omniscient, manifested fury and sent Vīrabhadra, who destroyed the sacrifice and beheaded Dakṣa. Upon his wife's pleas, Śiva restored Dakṣa's life with a goat's head, teaching that one must bear the consequences of personal karma. The story symbolizes that ignorance and ego make one animal-like, while meditation restores purity. All pain and gain are temporary; be a witness without attachment. True education is physical fitness, mental strength, and spiritual elevation, not mere academic degrees. Divine knowledge brings lasting enjoyment, making worldly addictions unnecessary.
"When you cut 'I' and 'want,' then only say 'peace,' then you will get it."
"Everything has to go. It will go away."
Filming locations: Siprā riverbank, Ujjain, India.
A Journey of Remembrance and Reverence
I recently traveled to pay respects at the samādhi of a revered female ascetic. She was the first female Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara in our tradition, renowned for memorizing sacred texts from a very young age and receiving a title for it. She had a large spiritual family of disciples managing various ashrams. We shared a good connection from past meetings at gatherings and when she visited our Guru. Upon learning of her passing, I journeyed through the night to attend the funeral procession in Ahmedabad, which culminated in her burial at a chosen site outside the city alongside other senior ascetics. It was a full 24-hour journey of remembrance.
"She was the first female Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara in our Akhāṛā."
"Her wish was to have her samādhi in Hargośālā."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
The mind is a cheater
The inner battle is governed by the polluted antaḥkaraṇa, making bhakti yoga the essential path in Kali Yuga.
The antaḥkaraṇa consists of four principles: manas, buddhi, citta, and ahaṁkāra. These are polluted by malā, vikṣepa, and āvaraṇa. The mind is particularly greedy, tempted, restless, and a thief; it is a reflection one cannot correct by cleaning the mirror. This restless mind governs the other principles and leads one astray. Impurities from countless lives persist as tenacious saṃskāras. Knowledge and dispassion can split these deep impressions. In this age, the destructive energy is strong. The only boat for crossing the ocean of existence is the repetition of the name and mantra through bhakti yoga.
"Mana lobhī, mana lalacī, mana cañcal, mana cor."
"Kali yuga kevala nāmādhāra, sumira sumira nara hoi bhava pāra."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
