UN declares International yoga day

21 Jun, 2015 - 01:06 0 Views
UN declares International yoga day

The Sunday News

Yoga

Peter Matika, Senior Leisure Reporter
THE United Nations has declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga.

A total of 127 countries across the world are expected to celebrate the day, while also collectively bringing awareness to the masses about the benefits of Yoga.

In Zimbabwe the Brahma Kumaris Raj Yoga Centre’s, situated in Harare and Bulawayo will host those interested in participating in the event.

“Throughout history different forms of Yoga have arisen and evolved, with each focusing on specific methods and practices to achieve anything from personal liberation from illusion, suffering and to the perfection of consciousness and character.

“They also restore an accurate relationship between the mind and body to knowing the bliss that arises with self realisation and an intimate relationship with God in which all senses of separation have dissolved,” this is according to the teachings of the Brahma Kumaris.

With the modern emphasis on physical health and fitness many people think of Yoga only as a physical exercise and postures.

However, according to the teachings the word Yoga means “UNION”.

It generally refers to the union of the individual consciousness or soul with the universal consciousness, often referred to as God.

Raja Yoga Meditation focuses on this aspect.

The teachings further state that Raja Yoga Meditation mainly focuses on the mind.

“Make your mind your best friend. We are living in a fast changing world with difficulties and complex problems such as worries, fear, anxiety and negative thinking – all of which weaken the mind, which then loses hope and self-belief.

As there is a subtle link between the mind and body, negative thinking and attitude gives rise to physical problems such as ulcers, diabetes, high blood pressure, and general decline in health.

“The practice of Raja Yoga Meditation helps to eliminate the negative traits mentioned above, thereby helping to restore health. One is more than able to experience constant inner peace, love and harmony in relationships,” reads part of the teachings.

Those who have been practising daily meditation have succeeded in removing all their weaknesses, defects and bad habits such as addiction to smoking and drinking to mention but a few.

Yoga has also helped in promoting good manners, values and virtues resulting in happy harmonious life for the self, family and community. The motto of the Brahma Kumaris is “WHEN I CHANGE, THE WORLD CHANGES”.

The PRAJAPITA BRHAMA ISHWARIYS VISHWA VIDYALAYA was incepted in 1963 as a family spiritual satsang – which means a spiritual gathering. This micro spiritual family later became the nucleus of the macro global Socio-Spirituo-Education organisation.

The headquarters are at Mount Abu, Rajasthan State, India. It has more than 10 000 branch study centres in over 130 countries across the world. It is affiliated to the United Nations as an NGO, has consultative status with the Unicef and Ecosoc.

It has tied up with many universities, the UGC, the NCERT and many government institutions, public and private sector organisations for imparting moral, spiritual and values education. As a global institution co-coordinating worldwide community welfare projects, the organisation has created opportunities for people in more than 150 countries to participate in multifarious initiatives aimed at empowering people to live in peace and harmony.

It enables people to develop attitude and behaviours, which stem from universal core values so as to strengthen individual awareness of the dignity and freedom and internet and inherent worth of every human being.

For over 78 years the main course and foundation of the organisation’s teachings has been this particular course in Raja Yoga Meditation.

The spiritual insights and understanding by the founder of the university – Brahma Baba – were between 1936 and 1969.

He dedicated the final third of his life to the spiritual service to the others. During these times, while refusing to see himself as a guru, he was seen as an instrument to crystallise in words and actions the basic universal truths, which both transcend and unite all other religious and moral philosophies.

Perhaps the greatest legacy was to show these truths could be applied and integrated into a contemporary way of life and make a positive difference to human relationships.

The organisation exists to serve the global community and makes no charge for any of the courses or events that it conducts. It is funded by voluntary contributions.

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