What Is Yoga?
There are many definitions of yoga. I am partial to Patanjali’s definition, “chitta vritti nirodhah.” Then yoga is like an equation: yoga = nirodhah, the stilling or mastery of the vrittis, which are the fluctuations and movements or activities in the chitta, which is the field of mind, thought, consciousness.
And key to Patanjali’s definition is the idea that yoga is an umbrella term for different things we can do to achieve nirodhah. It’s not just one thing. We can use asanas, pranayama, mantra, service, bhakti, and other different modalities.
From a scientific view, yoga is a systematic multi-modality intervention of practices that influence our anatomical body and physiological systems, balance and calm our emotional and mental states, increase discernment (buddhi), and increase devotion, gratitude and awe. These last three have been scientifically shown to have a multitude of benefits on cardiovascular health, and the way we relate to the world, and also provide conceptualizations of transcendental principles. For example, there are meditations on tanmantras, panmantras, and pancha mahabhutas that expand or dissolve our sense of separateness from the rest of the world, and allow us to integrate ourselves in different ways.
Scientific research
About 12 years ago, a researcher approached me and asked if I could design a yoga protocol to help with pre-hypertensive conditions in African Americans. I’d never done anything like that and I didn’t have a college degree. After high school, I went straight to India and started learning yoga. I learned everything from Mother India.
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2023 من Heartfulness eMagazine.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
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TIME IS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE
SARA BUBBER tells a story about a king who set a challenge in order to find an assistant. The outcome teaches us the value of time. She also gives us a thoughtful heart activity, and tells us some fun facts about time.
WHEN A BIRD SINGS, DO YOU ANALYZE IT?
SIDDHARTH KAK is an Indian documentary maker, television producer, and presenter, best known as the producer and presenter of Surabhi. Here, he is interviewed by PURNIMA RAMAKRISHNAN at the Global Spirituality Mahotsav about being stoic, and he shares two unique stories on how culture and language can transcend borders, time, and unexpected circumstances.
Become Your Own Influence
AARYAN ARORA is a young actor, musician, and composer. He was interviewed by PRAGYA MISHRA during the Global Spirituality Mahotsav on the impact of meditation on his creativity and sense of inner balance, and the advice he would give young people struggling to find their way.
Cultivating Peace: Water, Wetlands, and Biophilia for a Loving World
SRAVAN BANDA reminds us of the importance of water in a peaceful world. He especially focuses on wetlands, often referred to as the Earth's kidneys, and asks us to continue the work of World Water Day throughout the rest of the year.
It's Time for Love to Go Viral
DR. ROLLIN MCCRATY shares the science of the synchronicity between the heart and mind and, when they are in sync, how the love that is created can positively connect us to each other and everything in the world.
HUMAN FELLOWSHIP
NILAKSHI RAJKHOWA is the Director, Office of Public Affairs, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i Faith in India. During the Mahotsav, she challenged everyone to join together to overcome our current crises, by starting with the heart.
There Will Always Be PROBLEMS
GOUR GOPAL DAS is an Indian monk, lifestyle coach, motivational speaker, and former electrical engineer. He talks about the inevitability of problems and how developing a state of inner peace can help us to navigate those problems, and not allow them to hold us back from living a fulfilling and whole life.
An Honor Bestowed
On the final morning of the Mahotsav, the Right Honorable PATRICIA SCOTLAND, KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, spoke about the role DAAJI has played in bringing spirituality to the world, unifying people of all faiths and cultures, and nurturing nature. In honor of his work, she bestowed upon him the title of Global Ambassador for Peacebuilding and Faith in the Commonwealth. Below is the speech she made while conferring the honor.
Love for the Sake of Love
On the second day of the Mahotsav, DAAJI spoke about the purpose of the gathering, why there are different religious practices in different faiths, how to nurture the soul, and how all people can come together for a better world.
RECONNECTING WITH YOUR INNER CHILD
DR. JOSEPH HOWELL is the founder of The Institute for Conscious Being in the US. During his keynote address at the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, he guided the audience through an exercise to help them find spiritual connection by connecting to their inner child.