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Oṁ Śrī Alakapurī Jī Mahādev Kī. Devādhi Dev Deveśvar Mahādev Kī. Ārādhi Bhagavān Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇ Mahāprabhujī Kī. Satguru Swāmī Madhavān Jī Bhagavān Kī. Satya Sanātana Dharma Kī. Jai. Welcome, all dear ones, including those who are always with us in spirit, to our webcast. I bless you in the name of the Ālagpurījī Siddhapīṭha Paramparā. We are completing the year 2018. Looking back, it has been a very happy, healthy, and spiritual time for all yoga practitioners and those living a conscious daily life. All who are on the path of yoga, regardless of their school, have been progressing beautifully toward the highest goal. Yoga is a very ancient science of the human being—of the body, mind, consciousness, and intellect. Those on this path have been enjoying peace on earth. We know, unfortunately, that there are many difficulties and conflicts, and peace is scarce. The yogic path, which spreads throughout the world, advocates for what is called a vegan diet. Many United Nations conferences also express a desire to restore and care for nature. For this, we need all creatures—animals, birds, bees, butterflies, and other insects—as they are vital for our vegetation. In these discussions, the consensus among those truly concerned about the planet and peace is: "Turn to a vegetarian diet." In recent years, humans have turned to slaughtering and eating animals. The result we see is cancer, now affecting every third person. This was not so before. Why? Because of how animals are kept, killed, and consumed. This is not proper nutrition for humans. It is said that meat-eating creatures have a short, intense lifespan. Humans, as doctors say, have intestines 8.5 meters long. For meat to digest and pass through such a long tract is very difficult. Furthermore, we now see alcohol consumption increasing worldwide. Meat and alcohol together are among the biggest mistakes humans can make. How many diseases are in the world? How many hospitals do we have now? There are many large hospitals, yet there is no space for all the patients. Diseases in humans are increasing daily. You can observe that people who follow a vegetarian, sattvic diet—avoiding drugs, alcohol (which is also a drug), meat, and eggs—are very healthy. In many countries, health insurance companies are supporting people to practice yoga and adopt a vegan diet. So, definitely this past year, as we come to its end, the number of people eating a vegetarian diet and giving up alcohol and drugs has doubled. In Āyurveda, the first and best mantra or slogan is: Pahala sukha nirogi kaya. The first happiness is good health. Not money, property, or fine clothes. The best wealth is good health; the first wealth is a healthy body. Thus, on our path of Yoga in Daily Life—the system we call "Harmony of Body, Mind, and Soul"—this is the system. Many other systems change; schools close or constantly alter their techniques. But we must remain with one technique, with our system of Yoga in Daily Life. That is why it has spread worldwide. Thanks to technology like webcasts and platforms such as Facebook, people are learning these techniques themselves. For us, to achieve the highest goal in human life, we must start with the first principle: health is good wealth. We must practice the yogic techniques of Yoga in Daily Life systematically. Some people do not practice daily. They love yoga, are happy about it, and call themselves yogīs, but they do not practice enough. Without practice, you cannot attain the goal. In India, one yoga practitioner, Rāmdev, has spread yoga to millions. Many of you know him. He also produces Āyurvedic medicines, which means natural nourishment. He advocates using organic food and herbs from the forest, not those treated with pesticides. If you cannot get organic food, it is better to fast for a day or two. Fasting helps and can reduce weight. As I have said, and as we have done for the last two years, we bring produce from Rajasthan, which is famous for its Āyurvedic vegetables and herbs. Rāmdev and other Āyurvedic doctors support and teach people to eat natural foods from trees and bushes. You can do this yourself. We can collect so many Āyurvedic herbs, roots, vegetables, and other items from trees in summer, spring, and autumn. Then, at home, we can prepare various vegetables that can be stored and used year-round. Rāmdev has issued a challenge: if you eat such food, even cancer in your body will go away. Regarding cancer, based on his experience, he says: "Practice anuloma viloma prāṇāyāma as much as you can throughout the day." For any bodily problems—kidneys, liver, stones, asthma, coughing, or cancer—there is one remedy: prāṇāyāma. Do not practice too strongly; just do anuloma viloma prāṇāyāma. And every three to five hours, do a little bhastrikā. You will see how healthy you become. He speaks on this, and thousands attend his lectures—a minimum of five to ten thousand people. Many inquire about health. Yoga is the science of the body. It is yoga that keeps us healthy in body, mind, and thoughts. You can make vegetables at home and dry them. I have been listening to his lectures recently; we are close friends. He always says, "Do not eat anything you put in the fridge. It has no health value for you." You may fill your stomach, but you fill it with disease. There are many ways to produce and dry our own vegetables. Keep them in a pot, not in plastic or glass. I have brought such preparations from our ashrams in Jadan and other places. Taking just a little once a day can change your life. He also says, "If you eat food from the fridge, whether vegetables or cooked, you should not consume it after about three hours." Many people now cannot have children, or if they become pregnant, they lose the child after three months. This issue is on both sides, female and male. If you want healthy, good children, you should follow this yogic path. We have an example: a young couple recently had a daughter. The mother followed a specific nourishment two months before conception and for five months after, with a particular diet ten days before birth. Then, for about 25 days postpartum, another diet began and continued for a month. You can see this child—her eyes were completely open just hours after birth, looking around and smiling. In contrast, children of parents who eat meat and alcohol take a long time to open their eyes, perhaps a fortnight or a month. So, take this advice and try the vegetables I speak of. Tomorrow I will talk about one specific kind of vegetable and how to prepare it. Everyone should try it. It is very tasty. Of course, chili is excellent, but you should learn gradually. Never eat very small chilies. A chili about two centimeters long is most dangerous; even four centimeters can be very harmful. Chilies with very thin skin and many seeds are very sharp; they can create holes in the intestines and cause a kind of cancer. Many Mexicans eat such chilies and suffer. So, do not eat very small, sharp chilies. I recently had some so-called chili chocolate; it was so sharp, about one centimeter, I could not swallow it, and I am a chili eater. We should only use chilies like pepperoni or Hungarian paprika. Chilies should be at least two inches long and thick, with a thick fruit inside (we do not say flesh or meat, but fruit). That kind is very good. Always eat chilies that are hot, with a slightly sour and sweet taste. Such chilies kill cancer. The small ones bring cancer inside. When people prepare chili dishes and bring a little for Swamiji because he likes chilies, we do not use those small ones. Similarly, it is not only about chilies. There are many other vegetables. Some people avoid garlic and onions, saying they cause gas. No—you already have gas inside, and onion helps to bring it out. So, eat onion and garlic. Those who do not eat them tend to be more aggressive and angry. Those who do are peaceful because the gases are expelled, leading to peace and happiness. Of course, you must not eat chili or garlic and onions if you do not like them. We should produce our own vegetables from different kinds of grains—wheat, corn—and various seeds and vegetables. Prepare yourself, and you can eat different vegetables each week. Rāmdevjī says, "Do not eat the same grains or seeds every day." Always vary your food and vegetables, and you will be very healthy. He places strong emphasis on practicing bhastrikā, which we in Yoga in Daily Life also advocate. You must not do very heavy exercises, just simple ones. If you are very tired, weak, and always sleepy due to lack of exercise, do Yoga in Daily Life exercises for one and a half hours daily for one week. Start with the first exercise, Sarvahitāsana. You will become healthy again. Take a natural brush, rub your body all over upon waking, then wash yourself. Then do āsanas and prāṇāyāma. Your body will become so healthy and happy. So, what have you done this year? Now the year is ending. Here in Europe, it is winter; in other parts like Australia and New Zealand, it is summer. We should have our diet according to the season. Do not eat autumn foods in spring. But now, with quick transport, food comes from faraway countries. Nature gives us cherries here in May, but now you get cherries from elsewhere. Nature thinks humans are crazy. So, let us do something good regarding food. Eat good food, be very healthy, and save a lot of money. Go to a restaurant once every four months if you must; otherwise, eat at home. Cook. If you have no time for cooking, you have no time for living; you are rushing toward death. We must first care for our body and life, not just run after professions. This is primary. You should reflect on what you have done these past eleven and a half months and how you will now make a saṅkalpa (resolve). This is very important. We also have the time of Christmas, a holy month where the glories of Jesus are celebrated worldwide. We should be at peace, not fighting. Who is fighting? Who is aggressive? Why is one aggressive? Because of eating animals and alcohol; it makes one aggressive. So, peace, peace, peace. Here, you can practice meditation. Sleeping is necessary, but do not sleep too much. Okay. Oṁ soham, Oṁ soham, or any mantras. Good. You can even mentally say "chocolate ice cream," but not actually eat it. Let us practice. I am very happy to see all of you. Tomorrow we will have more Christmas thoughts and a beautiful video about Ālagpurījī’s Siddhapīṭha, which is about 4,200 meters in height—or 4,000, or even 6,000; it does not matter. We will have a nice video, and as usual, our Muktanand from Novi Sad prepares a yearly surprise. We also have a beautiful calendar this year—not of red flowers, but of red-clad yogīs sitting there. It is very nice, showing our journey to Ālagpurījī. Thank you. I wish you all the best regarding these vegetables and this food. We will teach you how to prepare them, which we will do in summer. We make many different vegetables here ourselves, and you can use them. Certain vegetables from trees and bushes can be taken from here. In Jadan, we have many trees that possess great strength because they grow in very hot climates with little water; they impart strong energy. Thank you.