Yoga for Modern Age

Dedicated to

His Divine GraceA.C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami

PrabhupadaFounder-Acharya

of ISKCON

Life in fast lane

Jet Age

What is Yoga?

Process of linking ourselves with the

Supreme

Añöäìga-yogathe eight divisional yoga system

1.Yamacontrolling the senses

2.Niyamafollowing the rules and regulation

3.Äsanapracticing the sitting posture

4.Präëäyämabreath control

Añöäìga-yogathe eight divisional yoga system5.Pratyähäracontrolling the senses from sense enjoyment

6.Dhäraëäconcentration

7.Dhyänameditation

8.Samädhitrance

Añöäìga-yoga as mentioned in

Bhagavad-Gita

• Go to a secluded sacred place.

• Lead a life of complete celibacy.

Añöäìga-yoga as mentioned in

Bhagavad-Gita

• Lay kuça grass on the ground and then cover it with a deerskin, neither too high nor too low.

• Sit alone in a rigid posture, which cannot be changed.

How many of us are willing to give this yoga system a try

?

5,000 years ago when conditions were much

more favorable, Arjuna expressed his inability to practice such yoga, saying

“For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kåñëa,

and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than

controlling the wind.”

Bhagavad-gétä 6.34

Different Yoga practices for Different Yugas

Çrémad-Bhägavatam (12.3.52)

kåte yad dhyäyato viñëuàtretäyäà yajato makhaiù

dväpare paricaryäyäàkalau tad dhari-kértanät

Tretä-yuga Performing Expensive Sacrifices

Dväpara-yuga Elaborate Temple Worship

Satya-yugaMeditation on Lord Visnu

Kali-yuga (the present age)

Chanting Holy Names of the Lord

What do the major religions say about chanting the holy names of Lord?

Christianity

Christ glorified the

Lord’s holy name by

saying “Our Father

who art in Heaven,

hallowed be Thy

Name”

Sikhism

Guru Nanakprayed “In the

ambrosial hours ofthe morning I

meditate on thegrace of the true

name”

Islam

Muslims

repeatedly chant

the sacred name of

God - “Allah”

Buddhism

Buddhists also

practice repetition

of the name of

Lord Buddha

(namu amida butsu)

Sanätana dharma

It also

recommends

repetition of the

holy names of the

Lord, in form of

mantra

MAN + TRA

MIND

DELIVER

What is a mantra?

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Japa

SankirtanHare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Scriptural References for chanting the Holy

Names of Lord

dväparéyair janair viñëuù

païcarätrais tu kevalaiùkalau tu näma-mätreëapüjyate bhagavän hariù

Näräyaëa-saàhitä

Scriptural References

“In the age of Kali, people

should simply chant the holy names of the

Supreme Personality of

Godhead.”

Näräyaëa-saàhitä

Scriptural References

Kali-santaraëa Upaniñad

Scriptural Referenceshare kåñëa hare kåñëakåñëa kåñëa hare harehare räma hare rämaräma räma hare hare

iti ñoòaçakaà nämnäàkali-kalmaña-näçanaànätaù parataropäyaùsarva-vedeñu dåçyate

“After searching

through all the Vedic literature one cannot find

a method of religion more

sublime for this age than the chanting of

Hare Krishna.”Kali-santaraëa Upaniñad

Scriptural References

Çré Caitanya-caritämåta Adi-lélä 17.21

Scriptural References

harer näma harer nämaharer nämaiva kevalamkalau nästy eva nästy

evanästy eva gatir anyathä

Çré Caitanya-caritämåta Adi-lélä 17.21

“In this age of quarrel and

hypocrisy the only means of

deliverance is the chanting of the

holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other

way.”

Scriptural References

Çrémad-Bhägavatam (12.3.51)

Scriptural References

kaler doña-nidhe räjannasti hy eko mahän

guëaùkértanäd eva kåñëasya

mukta-saìgaù paraà vrajet

Çrémad-Bhägavatam (12.3.51)

“My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults,

there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be

promoted to the transcendental kingdom.”

Scriptural References

Bhagavad-gétä 10.25

Scriptural References

yajïänäà japa-yajïo ’smi

Bhagavad-gétä 10.25

“Of sacrifices I am the

chanting of the holy names

{japa}.”

Scriptural References

Çré Caitanya-caritämåta Antya-lélä 20.16

Scriptural Referencesnämnäm akäri bahudhä nija-

sarva-çaktis taträrpitä niyamitaù smaraëe na

kälaùetädåçé tava kåpä bhagavan

mamäpi durdaivam édåçam ihäjani

nänurägaù

Çré Caitanya-caritämåta Antya-lélä 20.16

“My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your

holy name there is all good fortune for the living entity,

and therefore You have many names, such as “Kåñëa” and

“Govinda,” You have invested all Your potencies in those

names, and there are no hard and fast rules for remembering

them.”

Scriptural References

Do’s of Chanting

Chant the païca-tattva mantra before starting

to chant the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra

Do’s for chanting the mahä-mantra

çré-kåñëa-caitanyaprabhu-nityänanda

çré-advaita gadädharaçréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-

vånda

païca-tattva

mantra

Chant audibly(loud enough to hear the mantra)

Do’s for chanting the mahä-mantra

Pronounce each name distinctly

Do’s for chanting the mahä-mantra

Chant with respect,

devotion & concentrati

on

Do’s for chanting the mahä-mantra

You can chant in any place,

sitting or walking, facing any direction

Do’s for chanting the mahä-mantra

However it is recommended to chant

during the early morning hours (brähma-muhürta)

You can chant at any

time

Do’s for chanting the mahä-mantra

You can chant either before

or after taking bath

Do’s for chanting the mahä-mantra

It is recommended to chant by keeping

count(preferably on a Tulasé mälä having

108 beads)

Do’s for chanting the mahä-mantra

Don’ts of Chanting

One should not chant only a portion of the

mahä-mantra

Don’ts for chanting the mahä-mantra

One should not chant on the Krishna bead of the japa mälä

Don’ts for chanting the mahä-mantra

One should not chant

while reading a book, or

newspaper, or watching TV

etc.

Don’ts for chanting the mahä-mantra

Benefits of Chanting

Freedom from the reactions of sin

Relief from unwanted drives &

habits

In our present condition, we are slaves to any whimsical thoughts

and desires.

Freedom from anxiety & stress

Peace of mind

Real Happiness

Enlightenment

What people say about chanting Hare Krishna?

“Its really a process of

having realization of

God.”

George Harrison

“Everything started happening

for me when I began chanting Hare Krishna.”

Jean Claude Halliche

Youngest Directorof 3M Inc. - France

(29 year old)

“Chanting Hare Krishna has

made a tremendous

impact in my life.”

Albert Brush Ford

Owner - Ford Motors

“I've been chanting Hare

Krishna for many years, and I've never found

anything more pleasurable.

N.D. Desai

Leading Indian Industrialist

(Apar Limited, GE Apar Lighting, CEMA Tubes,

Apar Infotech)

“Chanting Hare Krishna has helped me face all the ups and downs in my life with a great confidence and peace of mind.”

Hrishikesh Mafatlal

CEO - Mafatlal Fabrics

“Chanting helped me give up bad

habits. It changed my vision of

things.”

Anne SchaufussDutch Model

“By starting to chant Hare Krishna,

I feel tremendous happiness.”

Vicki Overtonleading European Model

Marco Ferrini

Italy’s top furniture designer

“Chanting makes me feel close to God.”

“Mahä-mantra

significantly reduces stress,

depression, & the mode of ignorance

and considerably

increases mode of

goodness.”

David Wolf

Master of Social Service Program at Florida State

University

Researcher for studying the

effects of chanting Hare Krishna Mahä-mantra.

“When I am stressed out, I chant. It’s one thing which charges my batteries. It

clears my mind and brings me back in focus.”

Paul Bleier

Printing Executive

“When I’m nervous I find chanting very

claming. I don’t get shaken up at

little things.”

Mrs. Sally Raleigh

Merchandiser

“Chanting makes me more

perceptive, more in harmony with everything and

everyone around me.”

Jane Lahner

Jewelry Designer

“Chanting Hare Krishna and

reading authorized books

on Krishna Consciousness has brought me great peace.”

Ramesh Lal

Toronto Health Spa proprietor

You can also chant

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

and be happy