Stories about master and disciple
Sādhanā must be properly practiced as the guru teaches. Disciples sing bhajans daily and inquire to become yogis and understand sādhanā. If sādhanā is not performed properly, life cannot be good. The sādhanā given by Alakhpurījī, Devpurījī, and Mahāprabhujī is known by some. One disciple, Premānand, did difficult sevā, living only for his guru. Gurus, parents, and worldly bonds all present challenges. A student spent time at the ashram school but left to follow his own guru; later he became a brilliant yogi drawing many seekers. Another young speaker explained that buttoning from bottom to top is correct; top-down is wrong. He then asked for a lecture but the teacher wished to hear him instead. A tale tells of a father and son evading a ticket on a train. The son extorted money for treats, threatening to reveal his true age. Finally the father lamented that buying a ticket would have cost far less. Mahāprabhujī once sent a disciple out in blazing heat to beg for food. The disciple was told to bring back whatever was given. When the disciple feared being left, the guru promised to bring him food wherever he was. That is the true bond of guru and disciple. Among countless sādhus, perhaps only one or two are genuine.
"If this is not done properly, then it is not good; your life will not be good."
"Wherever you are, I will bring you food."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
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Heaven and Hell
Time is a human construct, yet it governs all life. Humans count seconds and years, but time does not count for us; it moves in cycles with the sun. No being is immortal, not even deities who have their appointed times in each age. A creator may become an ant, and an ant may become a creator, as time brings all transformations. We grow and we go; this cannot be stopped.
A sage in the mountains received the Vedas and wished to study them for eternity. When death's messenger came for him, the sage repeatedly requested more time to learn. The messenger finally showed him that the knowledge he had acquired was merely a handful of sand compared to the vast mountain of wisdom. The sage then understood and departed willingly.
Our allotted time should be used for spiritual practice and good deeds. Pride and anger destroy spiritual attainment, as shown by a yogi who lost his power through cursing a bird and displaying arrogance to a humble woman. The knowledge and abilities we possess must be utilized, or they are lost. The breath is the rope of life; its length is unknown.
"Ṛṣi, till now, what have you learned? Only that much which is dust in your hands."
"You have yoga. Use it or lose it."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
The Sun Shines in the Kingdom of God: On Habit, Mind, and the Kośas
Yoga in daily life is the ever-shining sun, present everywhere. The program begins with purifying the body's impurities. Habit becomes one's second nature. A story illustrates this: a man jumps into a river to retrieve a coat, which is actually a bear. The bear catches him. The man wishes to leave the coat, but the coat does not leave him. This is the condition of dependency. People find time for negative habits but claim to have no time for meditation or good deeds. The mind is a reflection, like a face in a mirror; one cleans the mirror, but the spot is on the face. The mind must be corrected through techniques, good society, and meditation. The five sheaths of the being are the body of nourishment, energy, mind, intellect, and bliss. Liberation comes from mastering the mind, attachment, hope, and thirst. Give charity without expectation of return. This is the science of yoga for body, mind, and soul.
"Habit is the second nature of the human."
"Man marā na mamatā marī—your desires, what you want to have."
Filming location: Alexandria, USA
Nadis and Chakras - energy channels and centers in the body
The subject is Kuṇḍalinī and the three primary nāḍīs, symbolically represented as sacred rivers. The 72,000 nāḍīs channel energy, with Iḍā, Piṅgalā, and Suṣumnā being paramount. These correspond to the Gaṅgā, Yamunā, and Sarasvatī rivers. Their confluence symbolizes union and higher consciousness. Harmonizing these energies through practices like nāḍī śodhana prāṇāyāma is essential. This convergence occurs at the ājñā cakra, the point between the eyebrows, also called the third eye. When balanced, it can lead to trikāladarśī, perception of past, present, and future. The ultimate aim is for energy to ascend to the sahasrāra cakra, yielding supreme bliss and knowledge of Brahman. Four principles support this path: alpāhāra (moderate eating), vihāra (moving in harmonious environments), ācāra (good conduct), and vicāra (positive thinking). Kuṇḍalinī science allows one to become an inner engineer. True awakening is a gradual process of knowledge and purification, not dramatic physical phenomena. The diversity of spiritual paths reflects the beautiful variety of creation.
"The less food you eat, the more energy there is."
"When all comes together, then we get higher consciousness, samādhi."
Filming location: Vancouver, Canada
