What does life mean to you?
Life is the manifestation of nature towards the higher spirit.
What is the significance of nature and all its elements to a yogi?
A yogi appreciates nature because everything that is natural is in tune with the inner spirit. Everything created by man has been done so out of passions and desires and to conquer other nations and races. He has created them and is now suffering because of them. After creating big cities, people like to go away and come to a place like this. It is not only in Colombia, but everywhere in the world, they just get out of those things which they have created. Where do people go? They go to those places created by nature, because in those natural surroundings they are able to commune with their spirit.
What has been your greatest satisfaction in your life as a yogi?
I don’t know, because I have always had a very balanced way of thinking, a very balanced way of life. From time to time there may have been ripples in my mind, never waves, never ups and downs. I had one facility, which was my ability to foresee the events of my life. If one is sure about life and the future events to come, why should one be worried and anxious. Still I participate in life. If I do not work, if I do not participate in life, then my followers will become lazy. It is not at all necessary for me to work because I do not want to achieve anything. I know that if I don’t, all the followers behind me will become lazy as whatever elders do, the juniors follow them. The greatest satisfaction in my life is that everyone has given me maximum help. Whichever country I go to, everybody helps me. Even the religious heads have faith and trust in me. Muslims, Christians everybody has faith in me.
Do yogis have taboos?
No, they discover and then they believe.
What is your opinion about people going to the moon and the attempts to go to outer space?
It is good, they will have more knowledge about outer space. They will know more about the atmosphere, stratosphere and other higher spheres and it will improve the philosophy of materialism. Scientists will be amazed to see how fine and subtle nature is. However, it would have been better if these programs had been delayed for a few more years. The sum of money which is being spent could have been used to scrap misery and poverty from poor nations. There is a lot of work which remains to be done; Europe, America, Australia are developed but Latin America, Africa, India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East are still under poverty. A concentrated effort could have been made to scrap diseases, illiteracy and poverty in this major part of the world, instead of flying into space.
Do you like Colombians very much?
I think Colombians like me.
Who brought you to Colombia for the first time?
I came in 1971. Before that, I met Dr Fernando Sanz in Paris, when he was serving in the diplomatic corps of Colombia. He invited me to Colombia. In 1971 I came here and met all my friends and all of you here.
4 December 1982, Medellín, Colombia