The Practice and Power of Trāṭaka
Trāṭaka is the practice of steady gazing to develop concentration and purify the mind. The best object is a pure ghee lamp flame, though a candle flame, a black dot, or a sacred image are also suitable. Never gaze at your own reflection in a mirror, as it can cause psychic disturbances. Gazing at the rising sun should last only half a minute to protect eyesight. This practice dispels fear, anxiety, and mental impurities, clearing the inner instrument. When performed with discipline every morning and evening for twelve years without a single break, it bestows a siddhi: the gaze becomes pure and merciful, attracting others. However, this attainment is blocked by a negative internal state. The practice awakens Sarasvatī's power in the throat, granting eloquent speech and artistic intuition. It illuminates the inner space, calms mental fluctuations, and aids in awakening the Kuṇḍalinī. It also empowers speech, making words balanced and meaningful, while teaching the importance of non-violence in speech, as verbal wounds are deep and lasting. Full benefit requires a personal Guru Mantra and guidance from a qualified teacher to avoid mental problems. The practical method involves sitting straight, establishing the correct distance to the flame, repeating the mantra, and alternating between external gazing and internal focus on the after-image.
"By practicing Trāṭaka every morning and evening without interruption for twelve years, one attains a siddhi."
"Only Gurudev can remove the darkness of the heart."
Filming location: Australia
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Diwali Celebration
The Guru brings light to darkness, incarnating to liberate devotees and unite them in divine light. This Diwali commemorates Lord Rama's return, symbolizing the inner lamp Guru ignites within each heart through mantra and devotion. That flame must burn eternally, like the continuous lamp in the ashram. The Guru built this sacred space not for himself but for future generations; our duty is to preserve it. His grace alone is the disciple's auspiciousness.
"The Guru is the one who brings light to darkness."
"Once lit, that dīpa should not go out."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
The same light lits in all of us
The Guru is the ultimate guide and embodiment of the divine principle, surpassing all forms. The scriptures equate the Guru with the trinity of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara. When having darśan of a deity, one must not break concentration for any saint except one's own Guru, who is considered higher. The highest reality is where all three divine aspects unite as one, which is our Satguru. Even incarnated gods needed a Guru to teach. Satsaṅg refreshes existing knowledge; the ultimate peace we seek is already within but obscured. Realization comes from shifting focus from 'I' to 'thy' and going within. The Guru provides guidance and grace, but the disciple must perform the work. Spiritual progress requires time and personal effort, like metal being heated and hammered into shape. We are the witness, not the doer. The body is temporary; love opens the door to the divine. Inner enemies must be conquered first. Practice reduces negative tendencies. Be content with what you have, yet seek more spiritual devotion. The Guru gives light unconditionally, without background checks. The disciple must preserve and forward this light. Periods of difficulty are necessary phases for growth. Surrender to the Guru's will and have faith. Worldly knowledge differs from spiritual knowledge, which brings growth. Achieve peace by reducing thoughts and expectations. Nothing we possess is truly ours; only spiritual practice accompanies us. Live in the present with gratitude, focused on the path toward self-realization.
"Guru is Brahmā, Guru is Viṣṇu, Guru is Maheśa."
"The only thing which goes with is the mantra, japa, and the bhakti which we did."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
Support your heart
Live webcast from Melbourne, Australia. We all know the heart, the seat of love and life. Many people have problems with their hearts. I want to show you some simple exercises that are very good for the health of the heart. Practice and demonstration.
How a hatha yogi can reach the aim of yoga
Yoga is the singular union of the individual soul with the Supreme. It is Ādi Anādi, beginningless and endless. The eternal space contains consciousness, called cetan. Yoga is the harmonizing, balancing, and uniting of these principles into oneness. This union is between Jīvātmā, the individual soul, and Paramātmā, the Supreme Soul. The purpose of all yoga paths is to achieve this. Haṭha Yoga requires strict discipline, Kāyā Sādhana, to balance the body and mind. A true Haṭha Yogī forges their own path like a lion, not following the common road. They require purification, as energy transfers between people like an infection, disrupting meditation and clarity. The yogī must protect their energy and not change their determined course, even against opposing winds. Achieving this balance leads to liberation.
"Yoga means the balance. Harmonizing, balancing, and uniting."
"A Haṭha yogī doesn't walk only on that. It will make its own practice on sādhanā."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
