Bhramari pranayama and concentration on the navel
The practice focuses on Bhramarī and relaxation.
Place index fingers gently in ears.
No external sounds.
Elbows natural.
Perform Bhramarī eleven times.
Exhalation not too prolonged.
After eleven, hands down.
Close eyes.
Concentrate on the Bhramarī resonance.
Then lie on the back.
Place right middle finger on navel.
Hand rests lightly.
Then fold both hands.
Bend knees.
Feet on floor.
Head rests.
Relax deeply.
"In Bhramarī, the index fingers are placed gently in the ears so that you will not hear any external sounds."
"The authentic practice, which we have in our tradition, is pure and very well preserved."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Up next
A Tapestry of Devotional Prayers and Bhajans
A teaching on inner light, non-dual realization, and steadfast practice.
The teaching presents the path to the inner light and non-dual realization. Kindle the heart's flame with the divine light. Dispelling darkness, unite the individual light with the universal. The Satguru's direction reveals the true Self within. Oil in seed, fire in wood, fragrance in flower—all powers lie dormant. One is the temple, deity, priest, pilgrim, and river. "You are me and I am You"—non-duality is the essence of scriptures. Strength is life; weakness is death. Face inner demons with mantra and concentration; dissolve them. Long for divine vision; it liberates from ignorance. Satsang is highest; leave worldly ties. Meditate on So'ham; break chains of birth and death. The holy name purifies all. Touch the master's feet to recognize the Self. Through the fire of practice, reach the goal swiftly. All sorrows uproot when the inner light unites with the source.
"You are me and I am You—we are not separate."
"Strength is life, weakness is death."
Filming location: Debrecen, Hungary
The True Pilgrimage
The true pilgrimage is to the Guru's feet.
The aim of all pilgrimage is where the Guru lives. At those feet, disciples cross the river of wisdom. Reaching that presence brings immense bliss. The Guru comes to liberate, not merely to provide comfort. Longing for this is essential. Reading the Guru's books reveals our inner qualities and how to change. Purifying oneself brings one nearer to one's true, blissful nature. As consciousness clarifies, understanding deepens. The direct way is true love and devotion. Through mercy and practice, one reaches the aim. All pilgrimages are at the Guru's Lotus Feet.
"Knowledge is found at the Gurudeva’s doorstep."
"Forget worldly pleasures. Only then can you meet God."
Sri Swami Maheshwarananda Festival from Vienna
Devotion is expressed through song and remembrance of the divine. A bhajan written in 1983 conveys receiving the divine name for constant repetition, coloring the singer with devotion and a plea for eternal protection. Another famous bhajan requests the divine light to inflame the heart and dispel darkness. The following song honors the Guru as the highest Self, stating this realization is impossible without devotion to the grace-bestowing saints. Meeting the Guru is described as life's highest attainment. The gathering concludes with a kīrtan to Śiva, invoking his various names as the auspicious destroyer and supreme lord.
"I received the divine name from you to repeat it again and again."
"Please inflame the light in my heart. May your light dispel my darkness."
The glory of Satsang
There are two paths: pātan (fall, distraction) and uṭhān (upliftment, development).
Both paths sprout from one seed. That seed is saṅga, the company kept. Negative company leads to downfall; positive, spiritual company leads to development. Movement itself brings achievement, but the direction of movement is determined by association. The same source can manifest as divine energy or demonic energy, both dormant in consciousness. Culture and saṃskāras received on a parent’s lap guide this potential. Yet destiny, shaped by those associations and actions, ultimately determines the outcome. A story from scripture illustrates this. Viṣṇu and Lakṣmī tested a wealthy merchant’s devotion. Viṣṇu came as a sādhu seeking a fixed seat for four months. Lakṣmī came as a sādhu demanding the same room and throwing away everything after a single use. The merchant, choosing the allure of māyā over his given word, expelled Viṣṇu. Then Lakṣmī also left, revealing the merchant’s devotion was never to the divine but to worldly wealth. Thus, one’s company reveals one’s true devotion. The street of love is too narrow for two; duality must dissolve into oneness. Satsaṅg—true company—is the path to that unity. Neither happiness, heaven, nor Brahmaloka are difficult to attain, for everything is found in satsaṅg.
“Prem Gali Ati Shankari, Jisme Do Nahi Samay. When I was here, God was not here. And now God is here, I am not here.”
“Neither happiness, nor pleasure, nor heaven, nor Brahmaloka are difficult to attain — all is found in satsaṅg.”
Filming location: Wellington, New Zealand
