International Day of Yoga

UN International Yoga Day

Official name International Day of Yoga - IDY

Also called Yoga Day

Observed by Worldwide

Type United Nations

Celebrations Yoga, Meditation, meetings,

discussions, cultural performances

Date 21 June

Next time 21 June 2015

Frequency Annual

Related to World Health Day

Recognizing that yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being…..

- UNO

"Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.”

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014 stated:

“It is not about exercise but

to discover the sense of Oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.

By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us to deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting Yoga as a way of life beginning with the International Yoga Day.”

Traditional definitions of Yoga

Yogah Chitta -Vritti Nirodhah

Maharshi Patanjali …

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Manah Prashamanopayah yoga ityabhidhiyate

MaharshiVashishth

To relax and expand the mind is Yoga

Develops stamina & capacity

Samatvam Yoga Uchyate… Equanimity of mind is YOGA

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The Bhagwad Geeta…….

Unperturbed state of mind in all ‘pairs of

opposites’ is YOGA

.

This is helpful for mastering WORKPLACE situations

Yoga-YujyateAnen itiYogah….Union, Balancing, Developing , Expanding

Yoga means to join.

Union of Individual with Society,

Nature… is Yoga.

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Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam

Yoga in action…….

Yoga in every action Leads toHappiness

Each action can take us to the bigger ‘WE’ from smaller ‘I’

• Everything is part of that single entity

• Despite diversity, basic existence is of energy

• Concept of living and non-living is comparative

To discover the sense of Oneness in Minerals, Plants and Animal

Kingdom

• Transitions of MineralsDiamonds in mines

• Basic existence of atom

• Energy from disintegration process

• quarks – energy

• Turning point for scientists

Mineral Kingdom

… basic existence is the energy

• We can understand development in Plants

• Comparison of minerals & plants

• Plants - distinguishing features -reproduction

• Intelligence/ reactions / emotions in plants

Plant Kingdom

… basic existence is the energy

Sun -Power House

… basic existence is the energy

Plants, Animals, human beings – Sun is basic source of energy

• Animals – developed existence

• Reproduction, movements

• Memory, emotions

• Action, reactions - programmed

… basic existence is the energy

Animal Kingdom

• Human beings – developed

species

• Aahaar, Nidraa, bhaya,

Maithun – common in

animals & humans

• Power of Discrimination in

human beings

• Story of a Sage - Scorpion

… basic existence is the energy

• Developed stage – curiosity regarding existence

• Thought provoking – consciousness

• cosmic consciousness

… basic existence is the energy

…. ?

…. ?

…. ?

Energy can be transformed

Solar EnergyGravitationAtomic EnergyElectric EnergyMagnetic EnergyWind Energy

Various forms of energy are transformable ….

… basic existence is the energy

• Plants, animals humans made of cells

• cells – nucleus - chromosomes – jenes

• Chemical Chain ….

… basic existence is the energy

What are ‘we’ then ?

Macrocosm – MicrocosmAs in the universe – So in the human body

Same cycle --- chemical chain – atoms – nucleus –protons - quarks - energy

… basic existence is the energy

�Consciousness

Everything has got life,

the Mineral Kingdom has got life,

the Plant Kingdom has got life, and

the Animal Kingdom has got life.

… basic existence is the energy

All is one…

To understand ourselves ….

Let us

Understand the laws of Existence

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Laws of Existence - I

The whole existence isInter-CONNECTEDInter - RELATED

Inter - DEPENDENT

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Human body system

Laws of Existence - II

Each Part of the whole existence is UNIQUEEach Part of the whole existence is UNIQUEEach Part of the whole existence is UNIQUEEach Part of the whole existence is UNIQUE

It has a It has a It has a It has a

PURPOSEPURPOSEPURPOSEPURPOSE to fulfillto fulfillto fulfillto fulfill

FUNCTIONFUNCTIONFUNCTIONFUNCTION to performto performto performto perform

ROLEROLEROLEROLE to playto playto playto play

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Laws of Existence - III

The part can survive The part can survive The part can survive The part can survive

only if only if only if only if it is related it is related it is related it is related to the WHOLEto the WHOLEto the WHOLEto the WHOLE

This organic ONENESS is EXISTENCE

Our Body

All Organs related, connected,

dependent

Yet Unique in function and

performance

But NO Part can survive, if cut apart or

moves apart. 25

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Awake

Expansion is life, Contraction is death

0 Individual

1 Family

2 Organization

3 Society

4 Nation

5 Parameshti

Connecting the Self with Expanding collectives and

Infinite Ishwara is Yoga.

Four components of Yoga Way

of life( inter-connected - inter-related - inter-dependent )

Bhakti Yoga – Science of emotions

Jnana Yoga - Path of Knowledge

Karma Yoga – Secret of actions

Raja Yoga – Restraint of thought currents

Yam-Niyam-Asana-Pranayam-Pratyahar-

Dharana-Dhyan-Samadhi.

Yama defines our interactions with others (Including nature)

Non-violence, truth, non-stealing, brahmacharya and non-aggrandizement constitute Yama.

Yama

NiyamaNiyama is for self-preparation, for self-development, and are related to oneself, one’s attitudes, approach to one’s own self.

Shaucha, Santosha, Tapa, Swadhyaya, Ishvarapranidhan constitute Niyama.

Yoga is way of life -

Our living should be in accordance with the entire

Existence which is interconnected, interrelated and

interdependent.

Practice of Yama and Niyama is essential in

the Yoga way of life.

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Why are we not able to experience the Underlying Oneness ?

� Ashanti - Continuous flow of thoughts

� Ashuddhi - Identification with Body, Mind,

Intellect

Solution …

Yoga Way of Life

Training Mind –Through Yoga

� For Shanti - Inward State (Samahit Avastha )

- Asana – Pranayama – Dhyana

To discover the sense of Oneness with yourself

To discover the sense of Oneness with the world and the nature

• For Chittashuddhi - Outward State (VyutthanAvastha )

� Yoga in every Action� Aims and intentions are one with the purpose of life � All actions tuned for harmony within the existence.

Cycle of Sustenance -

Vyakti

Samaj

Smaller EntityLarger Entity

Yogakshem

Karma

Yajna

Karmafala

What are indicators of Oneness?

• Samatvam (सम�वं) - Equanimity

• Santosh (संतोष) - Contentment

• Sarvasamaveshakata (सवसमावेशकता) –

Acceptance, Inclusive approach

• Seva (सेवा) - Service

• Samyam (संयम) – Self- Control

For Chittashuddhi

• Connect with the larger existence

• Contribute for the harmony in the collectives

like family, society, nation, humanity and the

whole creation

• Establish in Atman

For that Practice Pancha Maha Yagna

Pitruyajna – Remembering the role of Parents and Elders

� To treat elders in the family with respect

� To follow the family traditions with understanding of the principle behind those traditions and with necessary modifications if required to suit the needs of the time. It is important to note that the principle should be kept intact.

� To perform Shraadha for the departed elders of the family

This Yagna connects one with the family.

Practice of this Yagna nurtures our expanded existence called family.

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To be practiced by All

Nar-Yajna : Service to Humanity is worship of Divinity

� To give some time for the good of the society

� To give some part of our food everyday to the hungry. It may not be possible in today’s life-style to search or reach out to the needy every day. Therefore, every day while cooking one can keep aside a handful of uncooked rice or wheat and at the end of the month hand it over to a needy person/s.

� Taking care of animals, of dependents and the Atithi – guest.

This Yagna connects one with the society. Practice of this Yagnanurtures our expanded existence called ‘society’.

To be practiced by All

Rishi Yajna : Continue the thoughts and Tapas of the Rishis for welfare of all

� Study about our culture and its life-giving principles.

� To understand and interpret these in today’s context and language and practice it in life.

� To pass on this knowledge to future generation by practicing it, imbibing it, being examples and also with proper planning. Only then will India be able to fulfil its ordained mission of guiding the world in spirituality.

This Yagna connects one with the nation [Rashtra]. Practice of this Yagna nurtures our expanded existence called ‘nation' and humanity.

To be practiced by All

DevYajnas: Respect to the Nature, everything in creation

� ‘Devas’ means various forces in nature. Thus devayagna is to protect nature. To save energy, to keep the surroundings clean

� To consciously enrich nature by planting trees, regenerating water bodies, etc.

� Our body is also from the panchamahabhuta – nature. So, one must exercise regularly to keep the body fit.

This Yagna connects one with nature. Practice of this Yagnanurtures our expanded existence called ‘nature’.

To be practiced by All

BrahmaYajna : Connect with your real eternal immortal being

� 1. To meditate every day on the fact that we are not the body-mind complex but the Atma - Chaitanya that which is forever, which is Ananda, happiness. Happiness is not outside in matters or persons.

� 2. To read and contemplate on scriptures such as the Gita, the Upanishads which explain this ultimate truth

� 3. To do Japa if we have taken a mantra or Gayatri japa for some time

This Yagna connects one with Brahman. Practice of this Yagnanurtures our ultimate existence called Brahman.

To be practiced by All

Yoga is a way of life based on the vision of

Oneness.

Our activity should link an individual to the family,

family to the society, society to the nation and all to

the inherent Oneness of existence.

World has accepted this Yoga way of life thus

paving the way for Universal Brotherhood….