TV Channel

If someone is guilty, it is me. Because it is my karma, not theirs. Our parents are actually serving us by bringing us onto the right path according to our karmas. I would say this is a scientific way to understand it. Not that they are guilty or I am guilty, but actually, through the parents, we are pushed on the way according to our karmas. So they, in reality, really help us and serve us. But we must not underestimate the practical work of bringing up a child, especially in the first years. Personally, I can say we have one meditation in Yoga and Daily Life when we go back in time. That is a very good and useful self-inquiry meditation, described in Level 3 of our book. You go slowly, year by year, or by five or ten years, coming back to the time of your education, school time, your childhood. You simply allow the subconsciousness to bring up certain memories, and it is very interesting. If you do it not just once, but for, let's say, a month every day, you will realize more and more puzzle pieces come together about your own life. I can say the puzzle pieces about my early childhood, as far as I can remember, show I was really loved. It was really beautiful. We tend to forget that. We tend to forget the pain which the parents gave first in the birth and in raising us, and this is truly a point of deep, heartfelt thankfulness towards them. We speak about Lakhā Caurāsī, the 8.4 million life forms. Only one single form out of millions is a human birth, and only in this one single form do we have the chance for liberation. And now we have got it through our parents. That alone is already enough for lifelong thankfulness. Definitely, everyone will find many more points to think about: what the parents did for us, what they were teaching us. I can say, very personally, small things. When my father passed away 13 years ago, I thought, "What did I really learn from him?" I came to the result: I learned how to make photographs and take cold showers. A cold shower, always at the end, one minute full cold shower—that is really good. I advise everyone, and I do it lifelong, also today, because the secret is, after that, you are warm. From my mother, I learned how to keep order. Outer order helps a lot to keep inner order here. In this way, I think everyone will find points, very practically, what you learn from your parents, what to be thankful for. Also, when we go our own path, for the parents it is not easy. They have to accept, they have to deal with this, that we are not anymore just a small child, and their love continues. So our love should continue, and now when the parents have passed away, our love and our thankfulness should not end. First of all, I was thinking, when I had to deal with the property of my mother, what she would want. So, first of all, I tried to bring all her friends together so that they could receive something from her property. When I invited them for a meal, I made a photo exhibition with all the photos from 1940 to the present and also the old documents, her birth documents from the school, from her marriage, so that really everyone was thinking of her. From my heart, it was a way of honoring the life of my mother. Honoring her. There is a lot we have to learn. What do we learn from our parents? They are our first gurus, as Swāmījī uses to say. Our father and our mother play a little bit different roles according to their sex, according to the roles in society. Parents break our partnership? I think we should be aware that we create a certain karma for our children who now grow up either with a father or with a mother only. It is a problem. Our next gurus are our friends and our school teachers. Of course, here too the law of karma explains certain things which are maybe sometimes strange for us or hard to accept. Why did I have such a teacher? Then our priest, or however we came in contact with spirituality. But I would, if I can be a little bit judgmental, say all these are a little bit less important. What is really important is then our final teacher and our final guru, the Satguru, the spiritual master. This is expressed when we always say, often also after prayer, "Mātā Pitā Gurudeva Kī Jaya." This says, "Glory to my mother, my father, and my Gurudev." The parents give us the initial kick, and the guru gives us the final refinement. The point is, however our parents love us, however much we can learn from our parents, still, what they can give us is limited. Unless you would happen to be the child of a saint—which, in my case, I think, was not the case. If we think on Swāmījī’s teaching of the chakras, he divides them into categories. The human chakras go to the Viśuddhi chakra. The devic chakras are in the head. So, I guess what we learn from our parents is in these first five chakras, in this range. From the father, I guess we can learn a lot: money, power, energy, self-confidence. From an average mother, we can learn a lot: Anāhata love, serving, support. All these positive qualities are typically a mother’s qualities. The other chakras we also learn, by the way, a little bit. And Viśuddhi, I think this is the point where average parents can develop—without spiritual teaching. Let’s say you are in trouble, in real trouble, and you need someone who might understand you, might be able to help you. To whom would you go? How would you decide to whom to go? That’s not an intellectual question. It’s something really from the heart. I think you would usually go to a mother or to a grandparent, maybe, because they have gone through so many life experiences. Someone who is, first of all, able to listen—that’s something rare already nowadays—to understand, and maybe to help. But now, a typical mother, a typical parent, they will have these qualities; they will try to understand you, they will try to help you, but still there is a limitation. Because they themselves actually don’t know. Therefore, however the parents can teach us and help us, it is limited to a certain level. And therefore it is said that the Gurudev is the Mahādānī, the greatest giver. He can understand us in a completely different way, not just on a human, psychological level, because he can see our aura. The guru is a trikāla darśī; he sees the present, he sees the origin of the troubles in which we are now. So he is able to understand us on a completely different level and to advise us in a completely different way. Therefore, it is said that actually the Gurū Dev is the true mother and father for us. We really understand the guru. We see in him the father, the mother, the friend, everything. The positive qualities of our parents here, they find them in full fruit, in full refinement, in the divine, pure form. Because one problem is there, mostly in the relation to our parents, or better, in the relation of the parents to the child: that this is also not pure. Means the parents have also attachment to the children, have also conditions, expectations, and if we are not fulfilling that, then often it causes troubles. I’m a Swami; as such I’m not married, have no children, and definitely that was a disappointment for my mother. She always was hoping to have twin children. Already, when I moved out from their apartment, I knew it was hard for them. So the householder life is actually a beautiful, excellent training field for everyone: to develop qualities of love, service, surrender, and humbleness towards the child, and in this way, developing these qualities. I once realized this in full form. I also had some partnerships earlier. One of my girlfriends was the thirteenth of fifteen children. I can tell you, her mother at times I loved more than my own mother. She was a simple woman, somehow uneducated, didn’t even speak proper German, but she was such a cloud of love. Simply by bringing up so many children, serving them, and surrendering. This was such an experience, really. But still it didn’t make her a saint. Because, as I said, the householder life is a beautiful way of development, but there’s a "but." And this "but" is the attachment, expectation, condition towards the children: "These are my children." This is a great step which we have to make as a parent: to let our children go. Or, in the words of Khalil Gibran in The Prophet, his famous book, when he was asked about children, he said, "Your children are not your children." This is really a sentence to memorize for everyone who is a parent. Your children are not your children. What does it mean? So whose children are they? They are God’s children. And we are just given the duty, the blessing, to serve them. And through serving them, we develop ourselves. As Paramahaṃsa Yogānanda said—he was a great worshipper and devotee of the Divine Mother—a normal mother says, "I have one or two or three children." But when she can widen her view and say, "There are millions of children in this world, my children," in this consciousness, she is already one with the Divine Mother. So we have to make a conscious step to transform our worldly emotions, to purify them into Divine emotions. And Swāmījī tries to help us to make this step. In this way, our partnership can be transformed into a divine partnership, and our family relations into pure relationships. But to make this step, we need the Gurudev. Someone who is himself entangled in these kinds of worldly relationships cannot teach us that. Therefore, the most important lesson in our life we can only learn from someone who is out of this worldly entanglement, and that is a guru. And we have to think, to whom now really we have to be thankful. It is many, many. Also, those friends who, in certain life situations, support us through material support, through mental support, through friendship. But all this is limited in time, limited in support. It will help us out of a certain life situation, but it will not basically solve our life problem. The one who can help us is basically only one, and this is our Guru Dev. Therefore, when we direct our thankfulness to the Guru, it indirectly goes anyway to everyone. I was often in situations when people asked me for help, support, especially when someone has passed away. The last time was just maybe two or three weeks before my mother passed away. It was in Vancouver. Till then, it was more theory, what I told them. But now, through my own experience, I can say, it’s not just theory, it’s practice, it works. In the end, whatever problem is there, only one thing helps: wisdom. Wisdom is what, in the end, can clear our doubts and clear our problems. Well, good morning to everybody once more. Nice to see you, and welcome. It’s very nice and cool, so think warm. That’s right. You had a nice morning, great programs, prayers, and nice words. Swami Gajānandī spoke to feel the thankfulness. And that is something very good. So what would you like to know now? We are stuck somewhere. Prosím. We spoke about thankfulness, and when there is a child who is born and given to other people to bring him up, or to a house for children, should that child seek for his biological parents and express thankfulness to them? Yes. And the parents should, as much as possible, go and visit. The authorities do not say to which family the child is given, so the biological parents do not know where their child is. I mean, some questions I didn’t understand properly. When the child is in the baby box, it means that the mother does not want or is not able to take care of the child, and she leaves it to someone else somewhere. Okay, orphaned. It’s an orphaned child. Yes, but the parents are living, but they do not care about it. Yeah, this is an orphaned child only. Well, this is a complicated karmic situation. It would be good sometimes to find out. Because the relation is there. There is a situation in life where you don’t know what to do. Nowadays, we are more open-minded. Nowadays, we see the social relation situation from a different point of view, and in some countries, still not. In Europe, let’s say here, in these countries, you couldn’t live with someone until you are married. Here was also, no? And even if you live with someone and you get a child, it was not accepted. What in German they call uneheliche Kinder. So, through this, many things happened and people were emotionally suffering. And now we became more free. There’s one word in German—what is this in English? Vernünftig. Dnes už jsme rozumnější, and so we should accept. So you don’t know in which situation the girl or mother is; it’s not easy for you or for me to understand. It’s a very personal point. In some countries, even now, if you become pregnant, it’s a subject of death. So this is narrow thinking, very orthodox thinking. And we are now not so much like that. On the other hand, for the sake of the child’s future development, there are rules that such a parent should just leave the child somewhere and go away. The government or authorities take the child and give it to someone to take care of and raise as an adopted child. What we call SOS, children with AIDS. We have also in India many, and the children get really very good care in school and everything, eating and everything, and internationally it is supported. Children get citizenship, they get a house, education. They are part of our social life. It should be like that, and it is like that, but it is said, "Blood is thicker than water." So still, mother, father, and the child somewhere in subconsciousness have a tendency to know and seek how it is. And then, you know, the stories happen, like in Greece. Octopus? In that time, to get a child was a shame, and you don’t know through which pressure, which situation, the mother left the child in the forest. And the shepherd found him. And he was grown with the shepherds. And some persons who can see the future or something. There was one also, a Sophia, it’s called Sophie, Prophet Sophie. Where she lived is a very good tourist place. People are going there. And she told the young man, "I don’t want to tell you many things, but only one thing: you will marry your mother." Now, that young boy, that young man, tried to avoid, and he is veering, and then goes in a different direction. He prays to God, "Please don’t lead me to my mother, my biological mother." And then again, after a few kilometers, he stands, and he’s turning and turning, and then opens his eyes and then goes on in that direction. Anyhow, you know the whole story. And it ends. He has to; it happened like that. So the destiny is something. It is said we should be careful, we should be afraid about one thing: our karma. Because destiny is the product of our karmas. And karma is done through three things, four things. Through the body, through the words, through the mind, and through social position or wealth. So again we come, like yesterday. It is like that: first you have to create negative energy in you to speak negative. If I said this water is dirty, I have to think first inside it’s dirty. And then I declare water is dirty. Or, let’s say, often we are talking about alcohol, and we say it’s not good. And one doctor said it’s very good. Because the doctor doesn’t think badly about alcohol, and we think badly. So we are creating negative vibration about alcohol, and that doctor, he is creating positive vibration, and we both are right. So who are we to judge someone? Bura jo dekhan ko chala, bura ne mila koi, "I went to see the bad things, but I didn’t find anyone bad." But then I searched my own self. There was no one worse than me. And then it will happen as destiny, it is. Now, it was easy for Sophie to tell that you will marry your mother. But she had no advice for him, what to do or where not to go. When he asked, "Where is my mother?" Sophie had a black curtain or a wall in front of her. She couldn’t see anything. So sometimes people tell you, but in reality, it’s complete ignorance. You can’t see transparency, so the destiny comes back. Therefore, don’t be afraid of anything, but only of one thing: karma. And this karma you can do physically, verbally, mentally, or socially. There was a great king. His name was Bharatharī. King Bharathari. And the story is long. That story is very long, but it is in this book. You know this book? No. From the Darkness into the Light. The story is told by one man. He has long hair, but he said it’s not his story. He told the stories which he listened from his masters and some different people. Therefore, these are stories told by Mahāprabhujī and Gurujī and some other authors which we don’t know. So I only preserved and told them in satsaṅg. There are 250 stories, and there is one nice, very nice story. Should I tell it? But when I tell this story, all ladies will be against me. So I need a lady bodyguard. You know, destiny is something indescribable. We don’t know when or what can happen. And it was many times in life, not only now. Now you have a chance to officially get divorced. And in certain times, in ages, it was not possible. It was said that death will decide. It was good and was not good, and through this, many couples were suffering. But now also many couples are suffering. It’s really terrible. If we move this side, it’s a thorn. If we move this side, it’s a thorn. If we move back side, it’s a thorn. If we go forward, it’s a thorn. So remain motionless, that’s it. So the king was very nice, spiritual, and the queen was also nice. His name was King Bhartari, and her name was Queen—what was the name? I forgot. Piṅgalā. Like Iḍā Piṅgalā. One day, one yogī came, and the king was very happy, "Oh, what great luck! While Swamī is coming to my palace, it is a blessing. It is said that that house is blessed, that family is blessed, that village is blessed where a great saint can come." And it is said in the end of this world, it is written in Holy Scriptures. That house will be safe or saved in which a cow is standing. And that village will be safe in which village one swāmī is there. So strictly, we are safe. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven Swāmīs are here. You know, you have feelings. The king welcomed that Swami and asked, "What can I do for you?" He said, "King, I got one fruit. This is called a fruit of immortality. Anyone who will eat this fruit will be immortal, and, you know, he said, 'If I will declare loudly, my life will be in trouble because all the rākṣasas and all the devas will run to get this fruit.' Because they would like to be immortal. This is the fighting. So Yogi said, 'Well, I got my self-realization. I’m not longing for a position or anything anymore. I just retired. I realized immortality, but king, you are so great, and your people need you. So I would like you to eat this fruit. Take it.'" King was touched and said, "Thank you." The yogī went away. The king was thinking, "My queen is so great and beautiful, and I love her so much. She should live forever, as young as she is. She has a good heart, and she will do good to the kingdom." So, in the evening, he told the queen the whole story and said, "My dear one, this is a fruit of immortality. I give it to you. Please eat it. Eat it for me, and see all our people as your own children. Promise me that you will eat." "Of course, my lord. When you give, I will not eat. Who would be such a stupid one? This is a great blessing for me. But why don’t we eat half-half?" He said, "Well, then it’s not immortality. The Swamiji who gave me, he didn’t say, 'Eat half-half.' So eat, you will remain young, and forever." She took it. "Thank you." Good husband? Ladies, you should have such a husband. That he offers for you means he was ready to die. But his wife lives forever. Unfortunately, the queen had a different way of thinking. She was loving one horse boy who was working at a horse stable. She was thinking he should remain young forever. So she called him the next day and explained it to him. "This is the fruit of immortality. And I wish you will be healthy, young, strong, and everything. Please eat." He didn’t say thank you. Anyhow, he didn’t like her, but what to do when the queen is a queen? So he took the fruit, and he didn’t say thank you. It’s different than what Gajanan told you. So there was no expression of thankfulness. A little bit, he could be human. But arrogant, double ego, because of the queen. The story goes further. That horse boy was in love with a prostitute. And he was thinking, "My love, my girlfriend, she should remain strong, healthy, young, and beautiful." You know how men always think? Ladies, you should be happy. And evening, he went to her, and he wrapped the fruit in a nice cloth and said, "You know, very soon you will have a birthday, and I give you this fruit, but please eat it yourself." "What is that?" "Fruit of immortality." "Where did you get this?" "It’s not your problem. Okay, just take it. Okay. You will eat. Okay, take it. Otherwise, you will be in trouble." "I will do." And he went away. That girl was thinking, "What a miserable life I have. How many karmas I did. What will I do to be mortal? As it is, I’m fed up from my life. No respect, no social life." But she’s thinking, "The king, such a great... I wish that he live forever." Because if he will eat this fruit, the whole kingdom will be happy. One eats, and all will be happy. And if I eat, even I am not happy. So, see, she asked for an appointment, a consultation. And of course, the king didn’t refuse her. He gave her time: 11 o’clock in the morning. And she came. She had great respect towards the king. And the king said, "Yes, my daughter, what can I do for you?" She said, "Your Highness, nothing. I have one request, one prayer. I got something, and I wish that you have this. I can’t tell you that you promised me. But since you called me your daughter, it is a wish, a humble wish of your daughter. I got one fruit." "King?" "Yes, my daughter." "Yes, my daughter. This is a fruit of immortality. And what will I do with this? I think you are a great king, very humble, very kind. You are like a father to everyone. And I offer you, please." He said, "Okay." He took it. "From where did you get it? Maybe that Swamījī came." He was thinking, maybe there is one tree which gets immortal fruits. But there is a tree which gives the fruits of immortality. A very healthy tree, and it gives not only one fruit. Many, many fruits, fruits of immortality. But you don’t know where it is. You know where it is? If I tell you, you will not practice yoga; you will run there. That tree of immortality is satsaṅg. And for Guru Vakya, the words of the Gurudeva are the fruits of immortality. So even Gurudev is angry or happy, in every aspect his words are for us words of immortality. A remedy for us. Never have a doubt in it. How God is gracious to us. You got one fruit more. You should eat this, so we will be mortal. The king said, "Of course, I will eat or give someone, but thank you that you saw how much you love me." And he told how he got back the king, so this is the destiny, how it comes back. It was meant for the king. That is a positive point. Second, as you like to think, what you will think, so the satsaṅg is the tree of immortality. Satsaṅg is a stream of immortality. Maybe some of you are thinking something. Yes, you are free to think. It is not my thing, what you think. It’s your thing, how you think. But in your thinking, some is truth. You think that Swāmījī is making advertising for his book, so it is not my book. It’s a book of great saints’ words. So I’m advertising the Guruvākyā. And you know, due to the minus temperatures this time, your yoga shop, and for our yoga and daily life and fellowship members, the members of our organization, the shop is in the opposite street, in the house. All videos and yoga uniforms and other things, and this book is there too. I think I must go to visit also. Flower will die. Flower will die. But the fragrance will remain. Time will go, but memory will remain. Yes? Memory will remain. Flowers will die, and the smell will remain. No? That’s it. Yeah. So, one day will come that some of you will say, "Swamiji, an Indian boy, sometimes he was a good boy, but walked with such a snow landscape, he was mistaken." He thought it was a Rajasthan desert, the sand, but it was snow. So it is a beautiful memory of the Sliac Spa in Slovakia, in the middle of Slovakia. Many, many beautiful pictures. And I was there twice and even had yoga for the rehabilitation sisters. Thanks to our Slovakian bhaktas who made this little memorial book. Cultural activities. Thank you. So, this is the Slovakians. They would like to have Bratislava people a little bit. They also have a problem fundraising for the ashram, how to pay the, what do you call it, margin, mortgage. So, it’s also, I hope, I don’t know, but it’s available also. Thank you. And sometimes you have to play. There’s one photo, and this photo is made according to Mahāprabhujī’s bhajan, and the photograph is for Mahāprabhujī Bhajjianu. I wish you a very good appetite and a nice day. So you can enjoy the nice, beautiful, cold, but sunny day. And all dear Bhaktas, friends around the world, I wish you all the best. And the next webcast will begin about evening 7:30, 7, 7 o’clock, between 7 and 7:30. 7 begins already bhajans. Thank you. Thank you. In a key change.