  Promoting a new philosophic attitude  Creating a world with peace and harmony  Improving social relations  Yoga as a tool for self-development Context

  With Sanskrit root 'yug', Yoga means to bind, join, unite  It is the union of individual soul with the cosmic consciousness  Yoga is referred to in ancient sacred books as the Vedas, Upanishads and in the Gita of the Mahabharata Roots of Yoga

  Patanjali was world's first psychiatrist to recognize the need for education of the conscious and subconscious mind  He compiled the Yoga-Sutras - aphorisms on mind showing how to control and have complete mastery  Scholars believe he has lived between 200 BC. and 200 AD.  Some believe he may have lived before 5000 BC. Roots of Yoga

 The Yoga system of Patanjali has eight steps:  Yama – abstention from harming others, from falsehood, from theft, from incontinence, and from greed;  Niyama- observance of purity, contentment, mortification, self study, devotion to God;  Asanas- postures;  Pranayama- control of the breath;  Pratyahara- withdrawal of the mind from the senses and external objects;  Dharana- concentration, or fixing the mind;  Dyana – meditation on the goal  Samadhi – perfect balance as in the spiritual condition of absolute or bliss Yoga system of Patanjali

 Various Types of Yoga  Physical – Hata Yoga  Spiritual  Kriya Yoga  Karma Yoga  Gnana Yoga  Raja Yoga

  Asana and Pranayama  Discipline  Better health  Better mind  Needs proper training and practice Hata Yoga

 A Yogi  Only a purified mind, a mind free from desires, can engage itself in constant meditation on the Atman  All the lower impulses of the body, mind and senses must be controlled by the power of the higher Self  He sees inwardly that there is no difference between gold and stone, between friends and enemies, between the righteous and the unrighteous  He is perfectly harmonised 8 Chapter 6 Yoga of Mediation – The Gita

 Karma Yogi  Arjuna wants to know conclusively which is superior, the path of action or the path of renunciation of action  The Lord says that both the paths lead to the highest goal of God-realisation. In both cases the final realisation of the Atman is the aim, but the path of Karma Yoga is superior  The Karma Yogi who is aware of the Atman and who is constantly engaged in action knows that although the intellect, mind and senses are active, he does not do anything  He dedicates all his actions to the Lord and thus abandons attachment, ever remaining pure and unaffected. Chapter 5 Yoga of Renunciation of Action – The Gita 9

 Bhakti Yoga  The path of devotion is easier than the path of Knowledge  In the path of devotion the aspirant develops loving relationship with the Lord, adores Him, remembers Him and chants His glories and Name  He thus effects union with the Lord and attains not only His formless aspect but also the Lord  He should offer all his actions to the Lord, abandoning the desire for their fruits.  The devotee who surrenders himself to the Lord attains perfect peace. 10 Chapter 12 Yoga of Devotion

 The Raja Yoga  King of Yogas  Uses the mind to focus on an ideal to become that ideal  The essential thing is to fix the mind on the Lord and dedicate everything unto Him—one’s body, mind, actions, emotion and will  Experiential knowledge and growing self discipine Chapter 9 Yoga of Kingly Science & The Kingly Secret 11

  A Yogi is praying to Krishna. “Krishna,” he prays, “I would like to ask you a question.”  Krishna responds, “No problem. Go ahead.”  “Krishna, is it true that a million years to you is but a second?”  “Yes, that is true.”  “Well, then, what is a million dollars to you?”  “A million dollars to me is but a penny”  “Ah, then, Krishna,” says Yogi, “may I have a penny?  “Sure,” says Krishna. “Just a second.” Effect of Prayer!!!

 Synthesis – Newer Systems  Thought and Philosophy evolve continuously  Regulation of the mind leads to Experiential knowledge and Proper Attitude to Self Realization  Newer Systems keep coming  Select the ones that will suit today’s times  Ever Changing Human mind and unchanging Ultimate reality

 Natural Path Raja Yoga Karma Yoga Bhakti Yoga SELF GOALGOAL GOALGOAL Reason + Discipline (Experiential Knowledge) + Faith

 Ultimate meaning of yoga Values Attitudes Behaviour SELF GOALGOAL GOALGOAL Aligning Values, Goals with the nature of real Self

 Conclusive Remarks  There are problems everywhere – southern countries grapple with unemployment, poverty etc.  The northern countries have issues with drug addiction, alcoholism, social unrest etc.  To have the world at peace, under these circumstances, it is not enough to preach peace However, changing people from within through practice of Yoga, will possibly create a better world where peace and harmony will prevail - Katharina Schneider Faillace and Costantino Faillace, Ph.D

 Conclusive Remarks  There are problems everywhere – southern countries grapple with unemployment, poverty etc.  The northern countries have issues with drug addiction, alcoholism, social unrest etc.  To have the world at peace, under these circumstances, it is not enough to preach peace However, changing people from within through practice of Yoga, will possibly create a better world where peace and harmony will prevail - Katharina Schneider Faillace and Costantino Faillace, Ph.D

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