Humans must have discipline
Rāja Yoga is the yoga of discipline, a lifelong practice beginning now. All of nature exists in perfect discipline according to its dharma, but humans have lost this human nature. Acting against our dharma creates the great problems on earth. A lack of discipline leads to destruction, as seen when impurity in holy places provoked a natural disaster. That event was a punishment for going against nature. Many modern illnesses exist because there is no discipline. Rāja Yoga provides the awareness of this need for discipline in all actions—eating, thinking, and behaving. The foundation is practicing Yama and Niyama, the ten lifelong commandments. Success in yoga depends on this discipline. Formal practices like āsana will follow naturally from a disciplined life, and samādhi will come in time. A Rāja Yogī is ever happy, comfortable, and self-aware by following these principles.
"O human, you should have discipline. Take care of nature."
"If you go against nature, nature will punish you."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
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Humans must have discipline
Rāja Yoga is the yoga of discipline, a lifelong practice beginning now. All of nature exists in perfect discipline according to its dharma, but humans have lost this human nature. Acting against our dharma creates the great problems on earth. A lack of discipline leads to destruction, as seen when impurity in holy places provoked a natural disaster. That event was a punishment for going against nature. Many modern illnesses exist because there is no discipline. Rāja Yoga provides the awareness of this need for discipline in all actions—eating, thinking, and behaving. The foundation is practicing Yama and Niyama, the ten lifelong commandments. Success in yoga depends on this discipline. Formal practices like āsana will follow naturally from a disciplined life, and samādhi will come in time. A Rāja Yogī is ever happy, comfortable, and self-aware by following these principles.
"O human, you should have discipline. Take care of nature."
"If you go against nature, nature will punish you."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Women can bring peace
The four yogic paths are interdependent, each requiring the others for fulfillment. Karma Yoga needs the knowledge of Jñāna, the devotion of Bhakti, and the discipline of Rāja. Bhakti Yoga requires the action of Karma, the understanding of Jñāna, and the structure of Rāja. These paths are united like the elements in a body. True discipline, or Rāja Yoga, means following the Guru's word without deviation. In this age, many seek blessings without discipline, believing a mantra is sufficient. This is a mistake. To attain self-realization, one must obey the Master's instructions completely. A story illustrates this: a disciple ignored his guru's specific warning and, by claiming ownership of a thief's shoes, was condemned to hang. The guru's word is paramount; its value is often understood only in hindsight. Holy scriptures constitute this essential guidance.
"Karma Yoga needs Bhakti Yoga. Karma Yoga needs Jñāna Yoga. And Karma Yoga also needs Rāja Yoga."
"If you truly wish to achieve ātmā jñāna, self-realization, liberation, immortality, divinity, and saintliness, then you must follow what the Master says."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
The play of manomaya kosha
Kuṇḍalinī is the one cosmic energy balancing the universe and manifesting within every body. Prāṇa is this life force, governing bodily functions and uniting the five elements. The body contains 72,000 nāḍīs, channels for Prāṇa's flow, and corresponding chakras governed by Kuṇḍalinī. These chakras range from the Earth Chakra at the feet to the Human Chakras along the spine, connected to the elements. The Ājñā Chakra at the skull's base is the seat of consciousness and wisdom, the border to divine chakras. It is clouded by vṛttis, or mental modifications, which must be purified alongside physical and pranic impurities. Prāṇa is cultivated through consumption, speech, and thought; negative thoughts and harsh words generate harmful energy. The company one keeps shapes one's habits and path: satsaṅg leads to upliftment, while kuṣaṅg leads to downfall. The mind processes impressions from the five senses, storing them in the subconscious and generating desires. Control the senses, not the mi
There is no end of learning
The ashram is heaven on earth, a place of immense energy where the Guru is always present in essence. A journey unfolds through divine guidance, not personal will. A trip to India for Guru Pūrṇimā was redirected by unseen forces, leading one back to the ashram family. Later, guidance came through a spoken sentence about Romania, which led to the establishment of an ashram there through inner instruction, not conversation. A pilgrimage to holy sites in the Himalayas was similarly guided, with paths clearing miraculously to allow darśan. In all endeavors, the Guru's direction is for self-learning. Yoga is a path to discover who one is. Scientific research into modified prāṇāyāma, inspired by the Guru's words, later fostered a university collaboration and a successful public yoga event, where a protective cloud appeared as a sign.
"With our yoga in daily life, it is not just āsana. It is a way to learn about ourselves and to look at ourselves."
"One sentence from Gurudev can change and influence so many things."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
