Bhajan singing in the Jadan Ashram
The promise to the divine must be fulfilled. A vow made to the Guru and the Lord is an absolute commitment that defines the spiritual path. This promise is the essence of devotion and the means to liberation. The devotee's role is to uphold this word above all else, regardless of the coming and going of other followers. The ultimate aim is to realize one's divine nature, supported by grace. Fulfilling this sacred promise is the core duty.
"He has to keep his promise to the Lord."
"When I die into my eyes, they will mutely say, 'I will be God.'"
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
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Searching for the Guru
The body is a divine vehicle for the soul's journey. A disciple suffered severe brain damage and paralysis from an accident. Years later, a second accident caused further injury, with doctors offering a dire prognosis. A spiritual teacher was urgently summoned to the hospital's intensive care unit, where access is typically restricted. The teacher arrived, and the disciple, while in a coma, perceived a profound light entering his being during the teacher's blessing. This experience is held as a testament to the miraculous potential of yoga and complete devotion. The physical form is a wondrous coach pulled by the ten senses, with the intellect as the reins and the soul as the king within. This intricate body, a divine miracle no scientist can replicate, operates with profound intelligence, like the heart's ceaseless labor. True yoga involves exploring this inner universe through practice, expanding consciousness, and surrendering to grace. One must discover and share their unique talents; otherwise, these gifts are lost. The highest practice is satsang and offering a heart full of devotion.
"By the blessing of Gurudeva, He is the Supreme; everything He can do. But there should be complete confidence, devotion, and surrender."
"This body—some aspects we understand, and some we do not. No scientist can do that; it is a God-made world, and that is God's work. It is a miracle."
The Yogic Anatomy and Practice
The subject is Kuṇḍalinī and Chakras. Humans possess a highly developed consciousness capable of realizing the divine energy within. The self is experienced in the heart, yet is present throughout the entire body. The human system is composed of five sheaths: the physical, energetic, mental, intellectual, and blissful bodies. The 72,000 nerve channels converge at points called chakras, which are centers of energy and consciousness. Desires and mental power are strong forces that can bind or liberate. Various yoga paths exist to purify these layers and direct energy upward from the base chakras, associated with primal instincts, toward the higher centers of perception and unity. The ultimate aim is to transcend all sheaths and realize the oneness of the individual soul with the universal consciousness, which is present everywhere.
"Though it is here, yes, but I am... I am here, but I am everywhere."
"Everyone is God. So everywhere is God."
Filming location: Vancouver, Canada
Good Health and Peace
Yoga is the science of the human being, the culmination of life's evolution. Animals evolve toward humanity, but humans can regress if they do not heed divine instruction. Do not kill other creatures; animals kill from ignorance, but humans know better. God is one, like an ocean of which we are all drops. Science progresses but leads away from God, while yoga leads toward God. The ego resides in the heart and brain; one part is for self, the other for all. A yogi must never give negative talk or do negative things to anyone. Life is a staircase; one goes down through harmful actions, and one goes up through respect and care for all creatures. The soul passes through one door determined by our actions. Protect all life; that is yoga.
"Don't kill them. Protect them, love them, protect them, don't kill them. That is yoga."
"Science is good... but we have to come, please, all animals."
Filming location: Brno, Czech Republic
How can we go on the path of spirituality?
The essence of human life and the spiritual path is revealed through sacred tradition. Human birth is rare and granted intellect and free will within a limited time. The purpose is to realize the divine Self, the all-pervasive ātmā identical in all beings. This realization ends suffering. The Guru is essential, considered greater than God for the seeker. The path requires balancing worldly duties with spiritual practice. Foundational disciplines like purity in diet and conduct are necessary. The eight limbs of Yoga provide the structure, beginning with ethical restraints and observances, not merely physical postures. True progress involves inward withdrawal, concentration, meditation, and ultimately union. Devotion progresses through stages of listening, remembrance, and surrender. The final knowledge stages involve merging one's consciousness with the Guru's, achieving complete detachment from all worldly objects and identifications. The journey is one road with many names, culminating in liberation.
"If there is someone greater than God, then he is the guru."
"That which liberates you is called vidyā."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
