INTERVIEW BY GERMAN MAGAZINE

Swamiji: Oh, I said I am responsible for the words I am uttering. See I was telling through the completion you can even achieve the powers more than human reach; so what we call mystical realm, the yogic realm. So when I make that statement I need to make people understand I am talking responsibly. The word is not superstition or the word is not like a fake based. It’s more a responsible word which is experience based. That’s what I said I am responsible for what I am uttering.

Interviewer: Ok. So you also ……….. that you might move people to do certain things or interact with their lives, that you have a big impact on their lives and therefore you also are responsible. Can you define this responsibility?

Swamiji: I have to speak which is directly experienced by people, which is going to be experienced by people. I should not waste their time; just because they sit in front of me I should not waste their time. That’s what I mean by the word ‘I am responsible’.

Interviewer: If you would broadcast your preachings on television do you have to pay television for this or

Swamiji: No no no I think morning we had some may be four or five televisions. There are some televisions the owners, people who run the television are inspired by my teaching. They wanted it to go in their television. But there is a web channel which we our-self run.

Interviewer: So you don’t get any money from the television?

Swamiji: No I don’t get any money from the television. Any they relay it free. There are some television where some of my disciples sponsor this program. My devotees sponsor, so those televisions take money from them and relay it; that’s all

Interviewer: So how do you then run your operation financially?

Swamiji: People give public contribution, people give contribution; it’s a public charitable trust. It’s a public charitable organization; means, people donate and we receive voluntary contributions so with that we operate. And we have publications so through that reach.

Interviewer: Some gurus on television they ask for donations

Swamiji: Usually I don’t, see I do not want to comment on anybody I usually never ask for donation in the television. I do my work and people support.

Interviewer: So they can transfer money by bank transfer or …

Swamiji: We have a charitable trust through that they can send directly the donation.

Interviewer: So your ashram …… when would this be finished ….

Swamiji: This whole thing, it will be completed, you see we are not a organization which is building with money. So the way funds come it will be constructed; that’s all.

Interviewer: So that could take several years

Swamiji: It may take. I do not know. I don’t have an idea. It depends on the way the people fund; that’s all. The construction is going on. Whatever we require we going on constructing.

Interviewer: Once more about the competition between different gurus do you feel that others might try to malign you?

Swamiji: No, I do not feel and I do not want to feel also. I feel Hinduism is a tradition where everyone has a freedom and everyone has their own experience and no one is a competition to another; because Hinduism is so vast, each one can pick up one field and promote that. See, somebody can promote yoga, somebody can promote kriya, somebody can promote puja, somebody can promote the social service. So there is no need for competition. See we are a religion with so much of vast freedom. So I don’t think there is a competition.

Interviewer: On your website I saw that you pointed out certain cases where people who criticize you …………. Are you being criticized? ………..

Swamiji: See, what I am saying, everyone who lives a public life has to face criticism. It is a part of the life.

Interviewer: So this recent case with the video for instance where your people said that it was doctored, this kind of stuff that comes with your fame

Swamiji: I have given a clear our side story in our website. If you have any specific Interviewers I will give our side story. See I do not feel anything can stop my work. Maybe their attack can bring little delay or bring little disturbances but I don’t think it can stop the work.

Interviewer: So the connection between your fame and these accusations - that the more famous you become the more accusation

Swamiji: It is not related to fame I can say. It is related to the being active. If you are socially active you will be attacked; that’s all. In Bharat that is the way the life is.

Interviewer: this is funny because you said you want to make people happy then why would people want to attack you?

Swamiji: I do not know what will be the reason. Why they should attack me you should ask them, not me.

Interviewer: So you are sanyasi. After reaching a certain stage you are not allowed to marry, right?

Swamiji: As per Hinduism we have three different tradition called karma brahmachari - means who is studying. He can study for anything he can study spiritual religious subjects or to make money - like a regular doctor, engineer, lawyer; anything he can study. He is called karma brahmachari. And then if he decides to take sannyas he can take naishtika brahmacharya or he can get married. It is called rishi order. So he can get married or he can decide to take sannyas. Once he decides to take sannyas he will be given a special training; maybe they go through a training of 5-6 years; minimum of 5 years maximum of 10 years. But after 5 years they receive sannyas. Once they receive sannyas they cannot marry. But before sannyas itself they can decide to marry they are called rishis.