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Vajrāsana has many cultural backgrounds and carries profound spiritual meanings. The name Vajra refers to a specific nāḍī. The body contains 72,000 nāḍīs. Among these, the primary ones are Iḍā, Piṅgalā, and Suṣumṇā. There are other major nāḍīs as well, and one of them is called Vajranāḍī. The Vajranāḍī is connected between the big toe and the second toe. If you have seen photos or wooden sandals worn by yogīs and sādhus, they often have a hook that rests on the webbing between those toes. This point greatly influences the vṛttis, or mental modifications. It calms the mind and helps control desires, making one the master of their desires—not to kill them, but to become more alert, aware, and conscious. This is the first point. Vajra means strong, like iron. This Vajra is also the name of the bow wielded by the king of heaven, Indra. Vajrapāṇi means one whose hands are as strong as iron. When someone is strong, we can give them the yoga name Vajrapāṇi. Or, if someone wishes to have this name, they can take it. Vajrapāṇi signifies that it strengthens your willpower, nervous system, and concentration, while balancing your emotional life. This is the first aspect of Vajrāsana. Secondly, in Islam, when people pray, they sit in Vajrāsana because it collects and concentrates energy towards one's aim, drawing thoughts away from worldly life. In fact, if you read the story of Jesus as a master and guru with his twelve disciples, and see old paintings including the Holy Mother Mary, you will find them praying in Vajrāsana. Originally, it was Vajrāsana. Islam and Christianity are very near, and Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish, and Islamic cultures melt together. Christian culture, I think, has its roots in Islam—in Judaism. Then Islam also has more influence—I would not say roots—in Judaism and Christianity, and also in Hinduism. Buddhism and Islam are not very old. Does it matter? All are good. When they perform their namāz, their prayer, they sit in Vajrāsana. It collects your thoughts and concentration. Now, I will tell you later. Relax. If you want to change your position, you can do it. Vajrāsana has its cultural background. I also touched upon Buddhism. If you go to Japan as a guest, you must sit in Vajrāsana in front of the host. Then the host tells you, "Please make yourself comfortable." Has anybody been to Japan? Do you know this? Yes. So let at least one girl see it again. You were in love with a Japanese? That’s it, you know. They are very connected to their own culture and do not like to marry into other countries. In some cases, if their son or daughter marries a European, it is a shame for them. One of my disciple’s brothers was married in Tokyo and had three children, but he could not visit his parents-in-law during the daytime, only after 10 o’clock in the evening, because it was a shame that the daughter married a European. Now it’s everywhere in the world, getting mild. The big storm has come—the big storm of modern culture. The seeds of this field went to that field, and the seeds of that field went to this field. So everything is a mishmash. God Kṛṣṇa spoke very clearly in the Bhagavad Gītā about Varaṇa Saṅkara. Varaṇa Saṅkara means mixed blood. He said that in Kali Yuga, when Varaṇa Śaṅkara comes, people will lose their dharma—their human qualities, feelings, ethics, morals, and many things. Now all grains are manipulated, but not all fruits. What we call papaya mixed with pears, or apple with pear, and donkey with horse. Everything—wheat, rice, corn, all kinds of cereals, seeds—they are all manipulated. Humans, of course, too. And when there is mixing inside, it mixes feelings. Some people like it more spicy, mixed. But the consequence is there, whether you believe it or not. Therefore, in modern times we also talk about culture: to respect culture and not discriminate against it. Discrimination of culture means the real culture is mixed with other cultures. So, keep the qualities. Of course, it is not connected to being European, Japanese, American, Chinese, Indian, or African. Not like that. Humans have the right to believe and live as they wish, but they should keep their originality. The Japanese are very particular about their culture. They have a very high and great culture. It is a sign of respect to the host when a guest comes and sits in Vajrāsana. The physiology and psychology behind this is that as soon as the guest sits in Vajrāsana, their vṛttis change. If they came angry or seeking revenge, it becomes calm and clear. He or she no longer wants to take bad revenge, use weapons, or fight. This is a position of surrendering. They are always more polite than in India—if you have been to India, you will see. My God, what humbleness in Japan! They always say, "Yes, yes, yes." Sometimes they say, "Quickly, so," and bow their heads together. But they are not supposed to say "Ooh"; they should not say it. Still, they will say yes. Bowing your head means you bow down your ego and pride. Humbleness doesn’t always look like this. In that culture, they are taught to look down at their feet, not into the eyes and head. That’s humbleness. In Western culture, it is to shake hands and look into the eyes. Good, Scott. Sometimes people shake hands so strongly you have to fight to free your hand. I had new teeth, and someone was shaking so hard I said, "Thank you, thank you," and they came out. I was still not... the problem was I had chewing gum in my mouth, and the protégé with the chewing gum was stuck on it. When I said, "Thank you," with the thank you, it came out. These are life experiences. Well, then I flew by aeroplane to Toronto. From Toronto, I wanted to fly to Washington. Exactly at the immigration passport control, again I had chewing gum. He asked me some questions, and when I tried to answer, it came out again. The officer said, "Oh, sorry, sir, sorry, I took it." I said, "Don’t worry," and I said, "No more chewing gum." Sometimes people give hands just like this—it’s so cold. This is the culture where they like a hard handshake or folded hands. Go to Thailand, you know, it’s beautiful everywhere. Go on these aeroplanes, and you will see what politeness is. I mean, our airplanes are very good too. The best friendly airlines are known as Austrian Airlines, but when you step from Austrian Airlines into Singapore Airlines, then you know what aeroplane service means. Anyhow, we are talking about Vajrāsana. Now sit again. This is the āsana that shows respect to the dignity of culture. You have to protect the dignity of every culture. Vajrāsana makes the heart and mind clear. When Muslims pray, Christians pray, it’s a prayer in Vajrāsana. When Hindus perform āsanas, they also use Vajrāsana. So Vajrāsana has great meaning. Now, the nāḍī that runs from the center between the big toe and the second toe is also an acupuncture point. This nāḍī touches three main points in the body. The Ājñā Chakra influences our consciousness, vṛtti, and clarity. From the Ājñā Chakra, two streams flow from both petals; through the Sūrya Nāḍī, it enters the heart chakra, Anāhata. Thus, the heart muscles relax, and heart function normalizes. Through the Sūrya Nāḍī, the right nostril connects to the heart. The Chandra Nāḍī, the left one, connects to our navel, the Maṇipūra Chakra, which is a fire center. The heart is a water center, or moon, or emotion. This emotion is neutralized with the sun. The fire chakra is Maṇipūra. Maṇipūra is a chakra of fire, and it can be neutralized through the moon. In Sanskrit it is said: in the moon there is a purak of the sun, and in the sun there is a purak of the moon. Purak means to put something, to mix, to unite. Through Vajrāsana, automatically our Maṇipūra Chakra, our Jāṭharāgni, our solar plexus, is balanced. That’s why before beginning the Kathā Praṇām, we have to sit in Vajrāsana. There is a big difference between Sūrya Namaskār and Kaṭha Praṇām. People think they are similar to Sūrya Namaskār. Of course, a donkey and a horse look more or less similar, but if you look carefully, there is a difference. Yes, between a cat and a lion there is a difference, but they are the same family, perhaps. So, Vajrāsana. When we sit in Vajrāsana, our Vajranāḍī becomes uttijit—it becomes active. When Vajranāḍī is active, many systems in the body are balanced. Now, let’s come to the spinal column. Without effort, automatically the spinal column becomes straight. When the spinal column is straight, many problems are solved. When the spinal column is straight, our entire diaphragm relaxes because the ribs are in the proper place and the chest is expanded. When the chest is expanded, the breath volume in the body, or the volume in the diaphragm, is such that you can take in more oxygen. Oxygen is very important for our body and brain function. We take in oxygen through our breath and also with our nourishment. But meat and eggs have no oxygen; this is dead food. When you eat the dead, you produce death in the body. Raw food, salad, fruits, and different vegetables contain not only vitamins but also oxygen, which supports our body. Our body is able to take in more oxygen because the spinal column is straight. When the spinal column is straight, not only the respiratory system but the entire digestive system is relaxed. When the digestive system is relaxed and straight, the prāṇas residing in the intestines work quickly. If you put your ear on someone’s stomach, you will hear how many workers are inside, how many water channels are running, and click, click, click. Sometimes they are so loud that even though the body is soundproof, you can hear the sounds of the stomach. That’s why it is advised that after every meal, if you can sit for a few minutes or 10-15 minutes in Vajrāsana, you do a great service to your body for digestion. Then it will be better for you to eat. If you have problems with food or any digestive issues, sit in Vajrāsana for one month. Do research work. Then you will become a devotee of Vajrāsana, like a devotee of Sonāmukhī. Now you can relax. It is said that when you practice Vajrāsana regularly, you can solve many heart problems, blood pressure issues, and also diabetes. Why? Because your Maṇipūra Chakra and digestion function properly. People who have constipation and take medicine, after practicing Vajrāsana for one month, will forget the medicine. Vajrāsana will help you all the time. Those who have problems with veins and cramps find it a blessing because Vajrāsana applies suppression and massage, improving blood circulation. While coming here, Radha told me that those who have cramps should not do it. I said, no, they must do it. She said, "Then medical books must be rewritten." So, you think what is written in medical books is all correct? And you think what is written in yoga books is all correct? You don’t know if it is written by an experienced expert. They are right, and they are not right. They are right as a book, but maybe not right as a theory or practice. It is always individual. So for your cramps and vein problems, Vajrāsana will help you. Vajrāsana is a blessing. Those who have pain in the neck and shoulders—if you sit in Vajrāsana, the pain will disappear. Why? Because your whole trunk is in the right position. Your spine is straight, and your back muscles are relaxed. Your shoulders are completely relaxed. When the shoulders are relaxed, all problems are gone, and your neck is okay. When your back muscles, shoulders, and neck are relaxed, circulation is good, and oxygen is good. Those who have headaches from time to time, migraines, can also be helped through Vajrāsana because of the Vajranāḍī, which is closely connected to the head. So your headache could be solved by Vajrāsana. Those who practice Vajrāsana have a big appetite, enjoy good food, and though they eat more, they do not gain kilos. That’s a plus point. After eating, you must sit in Vajrāsana for 15 minutes. Now, the technique of Vajrāsana: both big toes should touch each other, or slightly cross, only the big toes. Some cross the entire foot; that’s wrong. You have to sit only on the heels. There is also a very good Utkaṭāsana, and you all know what Utkaṭāsana is. Supplementary to Vajrāsana could be Vīrāsana also. Vīra-āsana, where vīra means hero, gives you strong faith. Vīra-āsana takes away anxiety, indescribable fear that you can’t explain, and nervousness. Some people have problems with their ears. We who don’t have ear problems can thank God. If you don’t have a problem, the sound in your head is one way; if you have a problem, it sounds another way. Some people constantly hear sounds—velice nepříjemné. Vajrāsana also helps with eye problems, improving eyesight. So, one in all, and all in one. What? Vajrāsana, Khaṭupranām. Because then Khaṭupranām stimulates the energy in the body. Vajrāsana is one of the best postures that supports our immune system. That’s why we write in our Kathopaniṣad that it improves the immune system. So Vajrāsana is something exclusive. Today you have an exclusive: sit in Vajrāsana, bridge. When you sit in Vajrāsana, the spinal column is straight, and our central nervous system is nicely balanced. Your Suṣumṇā is flowing. Do you know the nāḍī system? The moon flows, then the sun flows, and then Suṣumṇā, and then moon, and sun, and Suṣumṇā. We want that... The best is when Suṣumṇā flows during meditation exercises. Now, how to know if Suṣumṇā is flowing? After bim-bam, now on your hand here, take a deep inhale and exhale through the nostrils onto your hand. Good. Do you smell something? Through which nostril more air comes out, that nāḍī is active. If it comes out equally, then Suṣumṇā is active—unless you have a cold or blocked nostrils, or didn’t blow properly today. Therefore, those who practice Nāḍī Śodhana, Svaryoga, should practice Jalnetī or Sūtranetī and Prāṇāyāma every day so that your nostrils become very clean. Now find out which nāḍī is flowing. Yes, nothing is flowing? No, something is flowing. If you can’t make a difference, then put two pieces of grass about four centimeters apart. Take a very small piece, or a piece of serviette, and gently exhale on it to see which piece moves first; that is your active nostril. If even this you can’t find out, then pray to Allah. Yes. That’s all. So this was about Vajrāsana: good for digestion, blood circulation, the heart, ears and eyes, cleaning the vṛttis, and against vein problems and cramps in the legs. It helps with constipation and can also help with what we call hemorrhoids. This one āsana can do many things. But those who have problems with ankle joints or knees should not do this pose. Then there is a small bank, a wooden bench, and you can sit on that bench. That’s supplementary. Or you can sit in Utkaṭāsana or Vīrāsana. That is an exceptional individual case. What I spoke about is general Vajrāsana. Therefore, before beginning Kathā Praṇām, you should sit in Vajrāsana for at least three minutes. You will feel a great difference in your body. That’s all. There are many things still to be taught, but I have told you the major points. Therefore, the camel also sits in Vajrāsana, and the elephant also sits in Vajrāsana. You must know, see these animals. The camel is a vegetarian. The elephant is a vegetarian. Vegetarians have a larger intestine. We have an eight-and-a-half-meter-long spaghetti here. Whatever we eat goes through eight and a half meters. I think it’s eight meters from here to the tree, or longer. Therefore, Vajrāsana will help you in many ways. If you are tired and sleepy in the morning and can’t meditate, sit in Vajrāsana for a few minutes, and you will become very fresh. I wish you all the best and good luck. Adiós.