YOGA, MEDITATION AND PHILANTHROPIC SERVICE (seva) ARE SECULAR PRACTICES THEY FORM THE ROOT OF SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL UPLIFTMENT OF THE SOCIETY AND …………… SHOULD BE INCORPORATED IN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ALSO A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF MARKS IN MATRICULATION, GRADUATION AND ENTRANCE EXAMS SHOULD BE ALLOCATED FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES IN MOST EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya! Om Namo Narayana! Om Namah Shivaya! Dear Friends, Today we see a lot of corruption and crimes happening……………Reflecting upon the societal degradation, one realizes that most of it is due to lack of spirituality and self-realization. The ultimate aim of obtaining a human body is for God realization and Self Realization YOGA MEDITATION AND PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES CAN LEAD TO A SPIRITUAL UPLIFTMENT IN THE SOCIETY YOGA Some of the reported benefits of Yoga are: All round fitness, Weight Loss, Flexibility, Stress relief, Inner Peace, Improved Immunity, Increased awareness, Increased energy better intuition. Whereas Yoga is often tagged with Hinduism, it is infact a highly secular practice. It has passed the secularism test in US…. “Yoga passes secularism test in US, Chidanand Rajghatta, Jul 4, 2013, reported in The Times of India”. WHEN IT CAN BE JUSTIFIED FOR INCORPORATION IN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM IN “US” THEN WHY NOT IN “INDIA”? THE LAND OF ORIGIN OF YOGA? MEDITATION Meditation is also a secular practice Whereas Meditation might be deemed a Hindu or Buddhist practice, all religions in the world accept benefits of meditation. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity, Judiasm, Sikhism etc. Meditation can be performed as a prayer, by mantra recitation (which can be a universal mantra like soham or the name of God or sound), reflecting on an abstract form (example space, light Brahman), or contemplating on a personal God with a form (Christ, Buddha, Narayan, Shiva, Vishwaroop form [all Gods included]), pranayama and chakra meditation etc. Meditation is also an art, which needs to be developed by repeated practice. As it is important to develop the habit early, it will be better if it is incorporated in school Curriculum. The benefits of meditations are plenty: On a physical level, meditation: Lowers high blood pressure, Lowers the levels of blood lactate, reducing anxiety attacks, Decreases tension-related pain, such as, tension headaches, ulcers, insomnia, muscle and joint problems, Improves mood and behavior, Increases the energy level. Meditation brings the brainwave pattern into an Alpha state that promotes healing. The mind becomes fresh, delicate and beautiful. With regular practice of meditation: Anxiety decreases, Emotional stability improves, Creativity increases, Happiness increases, Improves memory, Improves concentration, Intuition develops, Gain clarity and peace of mind, miniaturizes problems, sharpens the mind by gaining focus and expands through relaxation -The balance of a sharp mind and an expanded consciousness brings perfection The other benefits of meditation are: Emotional steadiness, Brings harmony in creation, Leads to evolution of consciousness, Personal Transformation, Dawn of cosmic consciousness PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES: Again Philanthropic services are encouraged by all religious groups. Infact in US and Canada the students get some points in interviews/ competitive exams if they engage in philanthropic services in schools and colleges. IN INDIA ALSO A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF MARKS IN MATRICULATION, GRADUATION AND ENTRANCE EXAMS SHOULD BE ALLOCATED FOR PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES. Incorporating the subject of philanthropy from childhood will make a child progress from a only “me” oriented self-centric thinking to aspiration for goodness in the society. Depending on the subject of specialization that the child wants to pursue, the child should engage himself in such philanthropic activities. Philanthropic services can range from involvement in health camps, health awareness camps, cleaning of the city, river cleaning projects, agriculture development, irrigation projects, waste disposal, drinking water generation, village education, sanitation projects, tree plantation projects,energy conservation projects, trauma resuscitation/ first aid, blood donation & organ donation awareness etc WHY INCORPORATE THESE IN SCHOOL CURRICULA? Today a large proportion of the youth in India are trying to adopt western culture which is harmful for health and society. It is ironical that when yoga meditation and philanthropic services are gaining recognition in west, we Indians are straying from the path. Our likes and dislikes are often related to exposure…………for example a south Indian likes a dosa, where as a north indian will like paneer tikka etc. This is because of habituation from early life. Same is the theory of advertisements, by repeatedly impacting the senses i.e. seeing or hearing about a particular product, one develops a liking for it. The television, internet and other media is constantly exposing the children to western life style and culture which they are imbibing unconsciously. THUS BY INCULCATING THE PRACTICE OF YOGA, MEDITATION AND PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES EARLY IN SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LIFE ONE CAN MAKE CHILDREN DEVELOP A LIKING FOR THESE PROCESSES WHICH CAN LEAD TO PROGRESSIVE HABITUATION. WHAT WILL BE THE BENEFIT TO OUR COUNTRY? These processes leads to a calm, happy, peaceful, creative, productive, intuitive and intelligent mind which is not self centric thus will harmonize the society. There will be less crimes, less addiction, more spiritual upliftment through selfless service(washing of karmas). IN ESSENCE LESS DEMAND MORE SERVICE. (some excerpts taken from art of living websites) Jai Gurudev! Hare Krishna!
Posted on: Sun, 01 Jun 2014 09:40:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015