Yoga is everybody's business. Every movement of human body is Yogic posture. The Yoga in Sanskrit means fusion or joining. It has deeper meaning. It is the fusion of humans and divinity. It is meeting of Soul with the Super Soul. Mortal beings with the Immortal.
The Yoga is a divine state when Consciousness mingles with the Super Consciousness. The origin of Yoga finds copious mention in all Hindu scriptures. The Yoga is a unifying force and therefore can contribute hugely to enshrining the world peace. Today, an enthusiastic atmosphere prevails across the world. The world community is drawing benefits from India’s heritage of Yoga. The United Nations’ declaration of International Day of Yoga on June 21 itself is a declaration that Yoga is beyond religion, caste, creed or colour.What Yoga does? The simple answer is that Yoga leads to Spiritual Silence or Peace. This is an utmost requirement for the body and mind. A mind with no peace and body with no control negatively affect the entire society.
The Yoga is a gateway to the Peace, which leads to concentration. Swami Vivekananda, who was invited by various groups of scholars for discourses on Vendata after he gave historic Chicago speech explained it elaborately. When among American students, he was asked about the way to concentrate on studies. Swamiji said – There is only one way – Concentration, which emerges in peaceful mind. A mind full of peace is free from impure thoughts. Peace generates positive energies and this is always benevolent. A man with peace of mind cannot take wrong decisions. When Body, Mind and Soul are in unison, there is no question of impurities and negativity.
The Katha Upnishad describes Yoga as absolute control over senses. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita says that Yoga is a disconnection from the suffering. Maharshi Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra describes Yoga as a method to exercise control over unruly mind. Mahjarshi Aurobindo has gone to the extent of saying that human life itself is Yoga as it has many fusions and connections.The utmost objective of Yoga is to enter an orbit of Supreme Consciousness. But what is Supreme Consciousness? It is a state where mind supports only justice and righteousness.
The values like mercy, compassion, friendship and peace dominate. This state is compulsory in everyone’s life regardless of religion, caste, community or place of living.Just imagine, when the world is doing Yoga, no question of any prejudice occurs. The awareness about geographical limits fades away. Be it USA, Australia, South Africa or Europe. The world will become united. When minds become one with each other, geographical limits are collapsed automatically.India has done a great job by getting it recognized globally. It is a major step to awaken the world community towards the Universal Peace, the Yoga can bring about.
The proposal to announce for International Day of Yoga was first introduced in the 69th session of the General Assembly, in which he described Yoga as "an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.” The proposal was supported enthusiastically by the member nations. The President of the 69th session of the General Assembly, Sam Kutesa observed that Yoga brings thought and action together in harmony.”
(The writer is Deputy Director, Publicty Deptt, MP)
