YOGA

The theme for the International Yoga Day of 2023 was "Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," which translates to "One Earth, One Family, One Future."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other dignitaries, arrives to participate in (th International Day of Yoga celebrations at the Un headquarters in New York on June 21, 2023

Dr. T. Rama Prasad     www.rama-scribbles.in 

MODERN  YOGA 

               June 21, 2015 marked the first ever International Day of Yoga, an event born out of an energetic and passionate initiative by the Indian prime minister,  Narendra Modi. Across the globe, 192 countries celebrated the day.  The participation of around 45,000 people at Rajpath in New Delhi on that day may well be a world record of a single largest session of yoga.  June 21 is the longest day of the year in Northern Hemisphere.

          While most of the world has accepted yoga, India, the home for yoga, witnessed some voices against it on religious grounds. Billed as an activity to promote "Harmony & Peace",  it seems to have hit a bit of controversial note.  "Yoga" means "union" in Sanskrit, but it has alienated some ! Some objected to chanting of "Om" and praying to Sun God.

          Let us forget about the religious, political and official colour that yoga got with the frenetic activity in celebrating the event.  Without getting into the nitty gritty of yoga, let us take a holistic view and take whatever is good in it and modify it to suit to the circumstances.  Any exercise is generally good for the body and mind. There is nothing like the "best exercise" for everybody on the planet.  There are several options.  One may choose whatever suits him/her.  Or, one may take a little of the good from many.

          But yoga is different in the sense that, IF IT IS DONE PROPERLY, it may have a beneficial effect not only on the body but also on mind and soul, which may modify pathological changes in the body.  Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual activity which is supposed to integrate the body and mind. But how many are doing it PROPERLY ? ... just as how many are praying to god properly ? Many keep on thinking of mundane things while doing ‘yoga & meditation’ and even while praying to God. That is why they may not get the desired results. The failures are mainly due to lack of understanding of the mind space and its connection with spiritualism.  
        For an ordinary person, writings on mind orientation and spiritualism in yoga seem to contain words that are hidden in oblique language that needs unravelling, like the words of Nostradamus.  The subject can’t be explained in ‘plain’ verse and the object can’t be seen by the ‘plain’ eye.  It is an abstract phenomenon.  Mind discipline is an abstract feeling.  Different people have different perceptions on this subject. How many of us understand the expressions like “universal consciousness”, “omnipotent subatomic energy”, “matter-matter and matter-energy interactions”, “spiritual deliverance”, "Nirvana", etc.?  Each godman has his own vocabulary.

          Keeping the mind silent and focussed is not easy, but it is good for health. "Silence is golden." (Read my 'Scribbling' titled 'Religion, God and Universe' on this website, for a different perspective).  

         

It is revealed that meditation increases the length of telomere which is an enzyme associated with aging. Dr Elizabeth Blackburn won the Nobel Prize by discovering this enzyme.  It is in this context of  ‘mind ruling over the body’  that ‘yoga & meditation’  may have a significant role to play in the health of the body and mind.  But to reap the benefits of meditation, one should do it with full devotion, involvement and understanding. Otherwise it would be like praying to God with body inside the temple and mind wandering outside the temple !!  Performing rituals perfunctorily begets no blessings.  Many people do ‘asanaas’ and chant 'mantras' with closed eyes, but keep their minds wide open to the outside world.  Without keeping the mind tranquil (Chittha Vritti Nirodhaha Yogaha), yoga would be an exercise in futility.  

'KALIYUGA  TRANSFORMATION'

In the wake of COVID-19,  a lot of debate and discourse is going on about Yoga and Corona. 

          In the wake of COVID-19,  a lot of debate and discourse is witnessed.  There is a live webcast by The New Indian Express (TNIE) with the founder of 'Art of Living'  Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.   On the connection between yoga and commercialism,  Sri Sri said: " ... I would not say spirituality has become a business ... A part of it is service activity without which spirituality cannot be complete.  Income is a part of any spiritual activity.  ...  It cannot be called entirely as merchandising, but definitely a portion of finances is attached to yoga.  Yoga is a 32 billion dollar industry in America.  I find nothing wrong on us encashing on it, or we will leave it to others to encash. ..."  To read the full text published in TNIE of 26.06.2020, click on:

https://www.magzter.com/article/Newspaper/The-New-Indian-Express-Chennai/yoga-Boosts-Immunity-Can-Help-Fight-Covid 

MORE  "SPIRIT"UALISM  !!!

          Like many other ancient traditional activities of India,  yoga also has undergone evolution and modification, and even dilution and commercialization.  The present day practice of yoga is varied and may be a lot different from the ancient methodology. 'Sadhguru' Jaggi Vasudevan is said to have made esoteric ancient ‘yogic’ methods relevant to our modern times of contemporary science, through ISHA Yoga.    It may be interesting to know that Sadhguru went a step ahead  in 'godmanship' and danced with cine actor Ranveer Singh at 'IIM  Bangalore Leadership Summit 2018'. 

          It may be considered as a tad out of the frame of a godman ... but it is said that if you go beyond the frame of logic, you don't have time and space limitations when you transcend into mysticism.  When we become slaves to logic, we would only be struggling endlessly inside our personal box.  It is said that YOGA liberates us from that isolation.  Difficult to understand the fabric of yoga, mysticism and spirituality, huh ? Perhaps, Germans added beer to it to make it more understandable and relevant to the modern times !!  

WEIRD,  WHACKY and  WOW  !
          What seems to be an extreme deviation is the introduction of 'BEER  YOGA'.  Chilled beer and yoga combination sounds to be a freak and mutually contradictory components.  But it has come into fashion.  It started at a yoga centre in Berlin, Germany, and reached Delhi mulling a corporate tie-up. Yes, many establishments are run on business models with corporate tie-up,  including some hospitals.  

         Certified yoga teachers like Emily and Jhula think that a mix of beer and yoga is the perfect concoction !  People are confused and excited too.  Beer lovers are exhilarated.  The 'spirit' in the popular boozy athletic events like Craft BrewRaces and Bikes and Beers is well-relished.  While yoga purists condemn this, the 'Beer Yoga' enthusiasts claim that two pints of beer act as an adjuvant in achieving the goal of yoga -- going into a state of spiritual tranquility, harmony, peace and relaxation.   For the same reason,  devotees  may justify taking "bottles" into temples !  That is the height and width of faith.   Next event of 'Beer Yoga' at Saket, Delhi will be in August - September 2018 at a cost of Rs. 600 per a session of one-and-a-half hours which includes two pints of beer (TNSE, June 17, 2018).  

Archaeologists at an excavation in a cave near Raqefet

Here is another supportive news for beer lovers -- a study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science (2018) indicates that humans brewed beer over 13,000 years ago and that beer brewing practices existed in the Eastern Mediterranean over five millennia before the earliest known evidence, discovered in Northern China.

CHAIR  YOGA
          Most of us sit on a chair while working or relaxing.  Our joints forgot how to squat down without discomfort.  Hence another 'modern yoga hybrid' has made entry into the field.  So, we have 'CHAIR YOGA'  to comfortably carry out yoga sitting in a chair !!!   Perhaps, 'COT YOGA' is in the making !

         Yes, we made a lot of progress !!! ... our godmen took spiritualism abroad and mixed it with sex to make an exciting concoction and prosperity (Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, for example, who had 96 Rolls Royce cars).  Back at home we have many who made that concoction (Asaram Bapu, Swami Nithyananda,  Gulzar Ahmed Bhat, Swami Premananda,   Swami Bhimanand,  Gurmeet Ram Rahim, et al).  Notwithstanding, people adore these 'pseudo-sacred' godmen who have huge political clout !  It is hard for logic to prevail over emotion ... and now yoga is blended with beer to make 'asanas' heady and exotic !!!

AMERICANISATION 

          There is even an Americanized version practised by over 25 million people in the US.  There is a multi-billion dollar market selling 'yoga leggings' ($420) and 'yoga mats' ($140).  ‘Pure Yoga’ in New York city has its own ‘Figure 4’ exercise routine.  Some 'hybrid styles' of 'modern yoga' are simply gross distortions and seem to morph further away and away from the traditional yoga of ancient sages.  

          The California University researchers who found that coffee contributes to longevity may come up with evidence that spirits (liquors) bond us to spirituality speedier !!!

AFTERTHOUGHT

          While 'Beer and Yoga' seem to be leagues apart,  lexically they are close to each other -- SPIRITS  &  SPIRITUALITY.   Taking a lead from the 'Beer Yoga',  tipplers may trickle into temples with 'bottles' in hands !

Swami Vivekananda said: “WHEN PERFECTION IS THE WAY OF LIFE, THEN THE WHOLE LIFE WILL BE PERFECT."

Dr. T. Rama Prasad,  www.rama-scribbles.in
'PAY WHAT YOU CAN' Clinic, Perundurai, Erode Dt., TN, India.
Former Medical Superintendent (Special), RTS & IRT Perundurai Medical College and Research Centre.