Gurudev found all of us
The four yogas and four kṛpās, and the Guru’s grace, show the path to liberation.
The four yogas—Bhakti, Jñāna, Raja, Karma—unite as rivers to the same ocean. Disciples live all four through devotion, study, meditation, and selfless service. Karma Yoga, done without expectation, yields sweet results. Five forces—desire, anger, pride, greed, ego—drag down spiritual progress. A moment of anger can erase a hundred malas of practice. Human birth is a precious opportunity gained after countless lives. The Guru finds and unites disciples from all corners of the world. There are four graces: blessings of the gods, scriptures, Guru, and the self. Guru kṛpā is most praised, but self-effort is essential to walk the path. Āśram means “come, do work”; service burns ego. Destiny can only be altered by the Guru, as shown in the story of the king’s twins. The Guru used loopholes in fate’s words to change the princes’ lives from poverty to prosperity. All holy places and deities reside in the dust of the Guru’s lotus feet. Even Gaṅgā, Yamunā, and Sarasvatī purify themselves through that dust. Without a Guru, there is no crossing the ocean of illusion. Surrendering all baggage at the Guru’s feet brings lightness and freedom.
“When it’s done without any expectations, then the fruit is always sweet.”
“All in one, one in all.”
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Up next
What makes our soul happy
The jīva, or soul, seeks everlasting happiness, paramānanda, beyond fleeting pleasures.
There are temporary happinesses that vanish and cause suffering. The jīva is eternal, indestructible, and cannot be perceived by physical means. It enters and leaves the body freely, untouched by fire, water, or any obstacle. Every being carries this divine light, driven to attain pleasure and remove all pain. Through the five elements, the jīva manifests the ten senses and is sustained by the life forces. Happiness and sorrow reside in the jīva, not in the body. Seeking joy in material objects yields disappointment because the world is impermanent. Disappointment itself is a process of change and growth. Attachment binds the jīva, like a caged bird prevented from flying. Renunciation requires constant movement to avoid forming attachments. The worldly life is inherently a place of disappointment, even for the Creator. Clinging to relationships brings suffering, for all are transient. Temporary pleasures inevitably turn into pain. Therefore, one must seek paramānanda, the supreme, undying bliss. The jīva is like a drop suspended over the ocean of ātmā; upon merging, individuality dissolves, and it becomes Śiva. All spiritual practices aim for this union, where the jīva finds true peace.
"Each and every entity carries the light of God, and that light of God is not for this body only but for that soul, and that soul is life."
"This jīva is like a drop of water on the whole of our palm, held over the ocean. This drop is jīva, and the ocean is ātmā."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Help for Nepal
Compassion and selfless service are the supreme spiritual practice. A devastating calamity has struck Nepal, causing immense suffering. The global community, especially India, has provided immediate relief through funds, personnel, and rescue operations. True spirituality manifests as active compassion, seeing all beings as one family. Service to others cleanses the heart and brings profound inner peace, connecting the individual soul to the Supreme. The physical practice of yoga is valuable, but its essence is the union of body, mind, and spirit, symbolized by the sacred sound Om. This universal science of harmonization transcends all religious boundaries.
"Helping hands have more value than folded hands."
"Seva is the supreme Dharma. There is nothing greater than Seva."
Filming locations: Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
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
The Space of Practice
Find your two square meters for life and death. Relax completely, aware of your body and breath. Practice āsanas to release tension and correct posture. Understand that yoga adapts to time and space, requiring guidance. Correct kyphosis to free shoulder movement. Maintain head alignment to avoid muscle strain. Practice rotation in āsanas with stretching, not force. Stimulate organs through lateral stretches and breath control. Use breath retention to influence circulation and prāṇa. Conclude by observing the effects on body, breath, and mind.
"Be aware of the hole in which you are now, and be aware of the position of your body in this hole."
"If you have a big kidney stone, do not practice this āsana, because it makes activation of the kidneys, and in that case, the kidney stone starts to move."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
