OSHODHARA eBook (Long Version) Flipbook PDF

The Mission of Oshodhara is to reveal the spiritual & and scientific base of Sanatan Dharma and make everyone happy

106 downloads 113 Views 6MB Size

Story Transcript

“With Grace Of Godliness And My Masters I Inherit Some of the Most Precious Treasures of Upanishads, Krishna, Buddha, Patanjali, Sufis, Kabir, Nanak And Osho. I Invite Sincere Seekers To Join Oshodhara For Sharing These Pearls!” - Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia

The Mission of Oshodhara is to reveal the spiritual & and scientific base of Sanatan Dharma and make everyone happy and blissful through various programs. Oshodhara is an experiential mystery school under the guidance of Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia. Heal and become masters of your Body, Mind, and Soul. Join and Live Oshodhara! All Programs Are Conducted Online too.

Oshodhara Oshodhara Nanak Dham, Murthal N.H.1, 50th Milestone, GT Road, Murthal Sonepat, Haryana - 131027 (India) Mobile No.- +919671400196 / 3 Email: [email protected] www.ondm.org

What is Oshodhara? ● Oshodhara is the only 'live' spiritual stream of Osho, the greatest spiritual master of the 20th century, also known as the Master of Masters. The word 'live' here refers to the Master-Disciple (Guru Shishya) tradition wherein a disciple walks on the Spiritual path in the guidance of a Master who is alive, present in his physical body. This Master Disciple tradition is at the heart of Oshodhara. ● This Existential, 'Live' Mystery School named Oshodhara has been formed by Enlightened Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia who can be best described as a 'Spiritual Scientist.' ● Oshodhara is the synthesis of the Spiritual best in the world as it is a result of the combination of the very best practices chosen from the Spiritual diversity that the world and India in particular, has to offer. ● It’s a beautiful confluence of Gyan Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Karm Yoga. The combination of all three is known as 'Sahaj Yoga' and this Sahaj Yoga, the easiest and best spiritual path of all, is the foundation of spiritual practice at Oshodhara.

What makes Oshodhara so unique? ● Oshodhara is the only spiritual stream which has gifted the world - 'Spiritual Science'. It has converted Spirituality into Science - something which is entirely unprecedented! It provides a practical roadmap of spirituality - its programs are designed in such a way that one practically experiences specific spiritual milestones and levelwise moves ahead on the spiritual path under the right guidance of the Master. ● Spirituality at Oshodhara is based on practical Experience, not bookish knowledge. For example, words like

'Omkar', 'Amrit', 'Soul', 'Godliness' cease to be mere words or vague concepts but instead become practical experiences of the seeker's reality.

● While most spiritual streams end at the experience of 'Omkar', not going beyond, spirituality at Oshodhara begins with 'Omkar' at the very first step, going way beyond as the seeker's journey continues further. A seeker practically experiences this precious 'Omkar' in the first level meditation program itself. ● Oshodhara has been developed as a life affirmative stream wherein seekers are taught how to best fulfil their responsibilities in the world, staying true to their inner self, while remaining grounded and centered in themselves. Also, Oshodhara programs deeply integrate the concept of 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' in the lives of seekers, which brings a paradigm shift in their worldly lives. ● Oshodhara guides a seeker to become 'Zorba the Buddha'. This term was coined by Osho who encouraged people to embrace the Godliness of 'Buddha', without neglecting the Worldliness of 'Zorba' (A Greek Character). In simple words, Zorba the Buddha symbolises an individual who is content both materialistically in the outer world as well as spiritually within . ● Oshodhara has designed its programs in such a way that they help the modern day busy man scale the heights of spirituality quickly and efficiently. Till date, thousands of people have joined Oshodhara, walked on the spiritual path under the guidance of our Master and have not only attained enlightenment, but have embarked on a journey beyond enlightenment.

Page 2

2

● Oshodhara is committed to take the cycle of 'Dharma Chakra Pravartan' initiated by Osho beyond the barrier of time. Osho’s dream of creating 10,000 Buddhas on this Earth is being fulfilled by Oshodhara. Oshodhara is also committed to establish Scientific Spirituality based on 'Spiritual Science' given by Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia Having converted spirituality into a science, Oshodhara is based on 4 pillars namely 1. Meditation 2. Sakshi 3. Samadhi 4. Sumiran ● Today there's a huge misconception rampant in the world when it comes to meditation. Meditation is falsely understood as either mindfulness, chanting mantras or concentration on a particular object. One can waste many years doing meditation either without it leading anywhere and getting stuck or worse, being negatively affected by doing the wrong techniques without proper guidance. Osho says, ‘Unless mediation becomes Enlightenment, you have simply wasted your time.’ And Oshodhara firmly believes this. Hence it is committed to first teaching and spreading the right meaning of meditation through such scientific, precise and simple meditation techniques that once learnt, can be done by all easily at their homes. But most importantly, it doesn't just pave the path to Enlightenment but also takes the seekers on a journey Beyond Enlightenment. In the words of our Samarthguru:

जो फिजाां का रां ग बदल सके, हमें उस हवा की तलाश है ; जो लहू में बबजललयाां भर सके, हमें उस दवा की तलाश है । न शजर पे बच रही पत्तियाां, वहाां उल्लुओां की हैं बस्ततया जो जड़ों से इनको उखाड दे , हमें उस हवा की तलाश है | मेरी आांख स्जसको थी ढूांढती, कभी साहहल़ों पे लमला नहीां; जो भांवर में फिर से उतार दे , उस नाखुदा की तलाश है | अभी आसमाां का स्जकर न कर, अभी आसमाां की फिकर न कर; जो जमीां की जुल्फें सँवार दे , उस बासिा की तलाश है । हो जमीां से जो भी परे -परे , उसे आसमाां पे ही छोड दे , जो जमीां पे हो, जो जमीां का हो, हमें उस खुदा की तलाश है |

● “Utsav Amar Jaati Anand Amar Gotra” Celebration and bliss are the way of life in Oshodhara, based on Osho’s teachings, 'Celebration is my Religion, Love is my Message and Silence is my Truth.' And a celebrative, meditative humanity of 'Zorba the Buddhas' is exactly what Oshodhara desires.

As our Samarthguru beautifully says: चलो ध्यान की एक बगगया लगाएां; चलो प्यार की एक गांगा बहाएां। उखड जाएां सख ू े शजर हर चमन से; चलो एक आांधी हम ऐसी उठाएां। न मीरा को कोई राणा जहर दे ; न सुकरात को कोई त्तवष अब त्तपलाए। न जीसस को सल ू ी न ही कत्ले-सरमद; न मांसूर पर कोई पत्थर चलाए। दोबारा न हो हादसा करबला का; चलो कुछ चमत्कार ऐसा हदखाएां। बजे बाांसरु ी कृष्ण की हर गली में ; चलो आज राधा को सर से लगाएां। न लसद्धाथथ भागो यहाँ रह के जागो; जो कहते हैं ओशो उसे कर हदखाएां। ● Oshodhara aims to change the entire paradigm of a seeker's life by shifting it from living in a state of complaint to a state of Gratitude. From looking for fleeting happiness in the external world to finding the source of eternal joy and bliss within. It also aims to help the seekers get relief from anxiety, stress, insomnia, boredom, depression and all other addictions that enter our life when it isn't lived from a place of centred grounding in oneself. ● Moreover, 'Jeewem Shardah Shatam' is the motto of Oshodhara. Our Samarthguru inspires seekers to aim to lead a healthy, joyful and blissful life of at least 100 years. 'With grace of Godliness and my Masters I have inherited some of the most precious treasures of Vedas, Upanishads, Krishna, Buddha, Patanjali, Sufis, Kabir, Nanak and Osho. I invite sincere seekers to join Oshodhara programs for sharing these pearls. ~ Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia It’s a sheer joy to be part of this great commune of Oshodhara. Oshodhara welcomes you to be on a journey of self-exploration while singing, dancing, laughing and celebrating in the divine presence of our Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia.

Page 3 3

Page 1:

Welcome to Oshodhara – A live Mystery School

Page 2:

Introduction of Oshodhara

Page 3:

Mission of Oshodhara

Page 5 - 7:

Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia

Page 8:

Paramguru Osho

Page 9 - 10:

Sufi Baba Shah Qalandar

Page 11:

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Page 12 - 21

Samarthguru’s Enlightened Exposition on Osho’s Religious Vision in Talkatora Stadium, Delhi

Page 22 - 29:

Oshodhara Programs Description

Page 30 - 31:

Siddharth Yogapeeth (Unit of ONDM)

Page 32 - 33:

Yoga’s Journey from Swami Vivekananda to Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji

Page 34:

Yoga: It’s Origin History and Development

Page 35 - 36:

Growing Popularity of Yoga and Meditation in the U.S. and Western Europe

Page 37 - 46:

Observations of Famous Writers, Historians and Philosophers from Europe and US on Sanatan Dharma

Page 47 – 48:

Exhibits 1 & 2 Certification & Registration by Ministry of Ayush and Yoga Alliance of USA.

Page 4

4

Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia is the core foundation, the Soul of Oshodhara without whom the entire existence of Oshodhara loses its meaning. He is an Enlightened Master, a Sufi Mystic, a Saint of 'Sant Mat', a poet and an author who can also be called a 'Spiritual Scientist.'

efficiency of science. His remarkably of unique and original contribution in the field of spirituality is to bring spirituality and science at par with each other and to develop programs which are based on direct experience rather than on some belief system, dogma or bookish knowledge.

In the Tradition of Osho: In his time Osho revealed, exposed and heavily opposed all false practices, beliefs and rituals that had entered the spiritual field and destroyed all the ills prevalent in spirituality from its roots. Moreover, Osho revived all the past saints, sages and mystics from all the significant spiritual traditions of the world by speaking extensively on them and most importantly bringing to light their contributions to spirituality.

Earlier, the precious sutras of spirituality were hidden and contained in the poetic expression of saints. Our Samarthguru is the only Master till date, who has opened up all secrets of spiritualism for the common man unlike other saints of the past who did not disclose all secrets even to their closest disciples. He has given the entire road map of spirituality in the 28 level meditation programs that he has created, a never-done- before feat!

नहीां मायूस हो इतना मसीहा की त्तवदाई से| कहीां तो फिर चलेगा लसललसला फिर मैकदा होगी|| चन ु ा खद ु रब ने है ‘लसद्धाथथ’ को रहबर जमाने का| नहीां ओशो के मयखाने से रौनक अब त्तवदा होगी| After attaining Enlightenment on 5th March 1997, our Samarthguru shouldered the responsibility and accepted the challenge of fulfilling the dream of Osho, the evolution of a New Man - Zorba the Buddha. He established Oshodhara to accomplish Osho’s vision of ten thousand Buddhas and to keep the cycle of 'Dharm Chakra Pravartan' initiated by Osho, ongoing. In Osho's tradition, Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia is carrying forward this work of Osho and has also expanded it by including the best gems of all spiritual traditions of the world in Oshodhara. Our Samarthguru's Unique Gift to Humanity Spiritual Science When it comes to spirituality our Samarthguru can rightly be called a 'Spiritual Scientist.' Never has it happened before in the history of the world that a master has created such result oriented, systematic levels to scale the heights spirituality with the precision, practicality and

Also, unlike other spiritual streams which mystify spirituality, unnecessarily complicate it, use vagueness or resort to ridicule when answering questions of the seekers - our Samarthguru has left no space for ambiguity in spirituality. He defines terms of spirituality in the language of equations and this unique way of crystal clear, no nonsense expression is a testament of both his unparalleled intellect and profound experience of spirituality. Moreover, he is a Samarthguru who doesn't teach escapism from the world or its duties and responsibilities, but instead has designed several 'Wisdom Programs' with the aim to aid the seekers in becoming the best versions of themselves even in their worldly roles. 'Silence is within, turbulence is outside. Wisdom is within, logic is outside. Bliss is within, pleasure is outside. Treasure is within, wealth is outside. Love is within, relationship is outside. Empowerment is within, power is outside. Seek within, roam outside.’ ~ Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia

Page 5

5

Our Samarthguru - The 'Aulia' Samarthguru came in contact with the great saint of India - Sufi Baba Shah Qalandar of Giridih in 1980, and a deep bond of love formed between them. Such was the strength and intensity of their bond that Sufi Baba Shah Qalandar declared our Samarthguru as his successor and bestowed him with the title and responsibilities of 'Aulia', a highly esteemed position in the Sufi world, before he left his body. And thus, a divine and pivotal connection was established between our Samarthguru, Oshodhara and the Sufi world. Our Samarthguru is a master who practices what he preaches, whose words, actions and character are a testament of his profound experience of Spirituality and Wisdom (Pragya), who is the possessor of multiple talents. One of them is the unparalleled talent of expressing the highest spiritual experiences in an unthinkably clear and profound manner in not just prose but also poetry - a truly remarkable and commendable feat! तू ननराकार, सुख-दख मन के भरम; ु तू न कताथ, न भोक्ता, हृदय या न मन। तू न दशथक, न ही दृश्य हो आत्मन, तू सदा सवथदा त्तवश्व द्रष्टा तवयां। मैं अकताथ हूँ यह भाव मन में गहो, ज्ञान की, मुस्क्त की, महागीता सुनो।। (महागीता अष्टावक्र उवाच ) - Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia Some of his exemplary poetic works include, Sankhya Geeta - conversation between Ashtavakra and Janak, Avdhut Geeta on Sankhya Yog, Anand Geeta, Siddharth Geeta, Prem Upanishad, translation of Brahmasutra, translation of Geeta, etc. These are just a few examples of his unparalleled poetic prowess. His presence is a rare and precious opportunity to walk on the path of self realization and is an open invitation disguised as a challenge to melt our egos. He is always available to all the seekers for any guidance required by them in their spiritual journey and a live Upanishad happens in his presence when he interacts directly with them. Here's an anecdote which aptly describes our Samarthguru and Oshodhara's work. During one of the afternoon sessions at Murthal someone asked him, 'Do you have any wish?' Samarthguru replied smilingly, 'Yes, after leaving

my body when I go back to the World of Enlightened Ones, I wish to hear from Osho, my Master, “Well done”. As our Samarthguru says,

हर युग में नात्तवक आते हैं, कुछ नूतन घाट बनाते हैं | तैय्यार खडे जो चलने को, वे उन्हें पार ले जाते हैं। खल ु रही एक है नाव अभी, मत कहना लमला न दाव कभी। तीथंकर शरणां गच्छालम, भज ओशो शरणां गच्छालम।।

We welcome you to come and experience what's beyond words - the presence of our beloved Samarthguru!

BIOGRAPHY OF SAMARTHGURU 1. Childhood and Schooling Born on Sep 23, 1942, at Karma, District Rohtas, Bihar, India, our Samarthguru was given the name ‘Virendra'. He did his schooling at Netarhat Residential School Latehar, Jharkhand (1955-1961). His father Prithvinath Singh was in British Army and joined Bihar Police Service for a short time after retirement and thereafter worked as a School Teacher.

2. Higher Education Post schooling, he went on to pursue M.Sc., Ph.D., AISM, from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India. He also did a senior Executive Course in Management at Manchester Business School, UK in 1991. 3. Professional Life/Career He served as a Lecturer in Indian school of Mines until 1975 and after that joined Coal India, where he worked as General Manager till 2002. His 36 research papers and 4 books on Geology were published during this period. For his book 'Koyle Ki Gaveshna' he was awarded Indira Gandhi Award in 1984. In 1992 he introduced an improvised and Indianized version of ‘Quality circle’ aptly named ‘Kaushal Chakra’ (in Southeastern Coalfields Ltd.), thereby skyrocketing the company’s profit and reducing accidents and strikes to a large extent. A quality circle is a Japanese technique where management and employees participate in solving problems related to their jobs, thereby enhancing quality and productivity of the company in particular and society at large.

Page 6 6

4. Spiritual Journey and Meeting With Various Mystics and Masters Ever since he was a child, Virendra (legal first name of Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia) had a spiritual quest which was catalysed by a saint named ‘Janaki baba’ who loved Virendra like a father and who was gifted with ‘Yakshini siddhi’, which stirred young Virendra’s curiosity. That was little Virendra’s first tryst with spirituality. The seed that was sown in young Virendra during his childhood was working underneath, within him, which during the later years took him to several masters of different spiritual traditions. The main masters who guided him in the quest were: i) Osho - Master of Masters Just one book of Osho, 'Krishna Meri Drishti Mein’, handed over to Virendra Kumar Singh, by one of his close friends, during one of his official trips, changed his ‘Drishti’ towards Osho. This was followed by an inner urge to take ‘sanyaas’ from Osho in Poona, and the outcome was a new beginning. Osho initiated him to Neo-sanyaas on 13th May 1980. And gradually thus, he metamorphosed from Virendra to Siddharth. ii) Guru Nanak Dev Ji Guru Nanak Dev Ji blessed him with Omkar Diksha on 13th January, 1997. iii) Sufi Baba Shah Qalandar Pir Our Samarthguru got the precious guidance of Sufi Baba Shah Qalandar Pir of Giridih and later, before leaving his body, Sufi Baba conferred upon him the title and responsibilities of ‘Aulia.' Some of the other masters pivotal in his spiritual journey were: ● Baba Bhajan Brahmachari ● Pilot Baba ● Deoraha Baba ● Tat Baba ● Tapaswini Mira puri ● Aughar Bhagwan Ram 5. Enlightenment Samarthguru experienced Satori in December 1988 and attained enlightenment on 5th March 1997.

6. Birth of Oshodhara Siddharth started preparing himself to carry forward his Master Osho's work because he didn't want his master's precious legacy and tradition to be discontinued. And hence, soon after enlightenment, he formed a spiritual mystery school named “Oshodhara”- a 'live' stream of Osho. Under his guidance ,Oshodhara established three Dhams (Ashrams) at Murthal in Haryana, Madhopur in Punjab and Karma in Bihar where Oshodhara programs are organized regularly. Over the years he developed

astral connects with Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Lord Buddha, Guru Nanak Dev, Sai Baba of Shirdi, Guru Gorakhnath (Mahavatar Baba), Maharshi Narad, Adi Shankaracharya and a number of Sufi Masters. Samarthguru has developed 42 Wisdom Programs under Oshodhara and through these programs he is helping the seekers on the path of Enlightenment and beyond, the highest systematic spiritual attainment in a spiritual journey ever in the history of mankind. 7. Shradanjali Yatras Even after the establishment of Oshodhara, the inquisitive and experimental attitude of our Samarthguru led him to conduct many experiments in the spiritual world. This resulted in the beginning of a series of his exploratory travels with Oshodhara seekers to the places which held historical spiritual significance. There he paid tribute to the sages of the past, sought their blessings and conducted deep spiritual experiments in the Divine energy fields of these places. The seekers who had accompanied our Samarthguru on these journeys till today cherish the fond memories and profound experiences they had during that time. Rishikesh and Mansarovar Visits entailed the Darshan of the Shiva satta, feeling and connecting with his presence, with a shower of his Divine energy and blessings on the seekers. Ajmer Sharif visit by Samarthguru along with Sufi Baba and the seekers entailed connecting with the divine presence of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti ji, a great saint of the Sufi tradition. The seekers felt the Divine energy and presence of the Sufi sages of the past and thus the Sufi world gave it's blessings to Oshodhara. Samarthguru and sangat also visited various historically significant Gurdwaras of the Sikh tradition where Sikh Gurus had either lived or done their spiritual practice. Sitting in those energetically charged sacred places, in the presence of Samarthguru made it possible for the seekers to connect with the Gurusatta of Sikhism and get their blessings on the Spiritual path. Amarkantak Visit - Amarkantak is the divine place where Guru Nanak Dev Ji met Kabir Ji and it's of special importance to Oshodhara as it's the place where Oshodhara was born. This visit entailed deep spiritual experiments conducted by our Samarthguru wherein the seekers took a deep dive inside themselves in the loving guidance of our Samarthguru and felt themselves being showered in the Divine energy of the highly charged place.

Oshodhara welcomes you to be a part of this 'Live' Spiritual Mystery School!

Page 77

Never Born - Never Died - Only visited this planet Earth between December 11, 1931 and January 19, 1990. A great mystic, a great philosopher and a charismatic leader of spiritual movement , In his own way, Osho captured the essence of the teachings and wisdom of all ancient saints, compared and related it to contemporary needs, modified it with the modern times and became a powerful messenger of the same. Osho brought to life many of the Saints and mystics whom he thought had contributed significantly in spiritualism and whose teachings would help create a revolution and evolution of new enlightened Man Zorba the Buddha” Osho was the beginning of a new Revolution in Spiritualism . He presented Spiritualism in a Scientific manner thus enabling the logical and intellectual man to understand and absorb the secrets of life and guide him on his spiritual journey. Osho’s teachings and Philosophy came as a new ray of hope and light for the seekers who were lost , confused and were looking for the right kind of guidance in their spiritual journey. He imbibed new life into Spiritualism. He openly and boldly challenged the traditional beliefs, rituals and customs and encouraged freedom from bondages of any kind which were a hindrance to the growth of individuality as a whole and in the spiritual growth of a seeker. Osho’s sole intention was to help uplift the human consciousness and free humanity of its own bondage. Osho was an enlightened master who worked with all possibilities to help humanity overcome a difficult phase in developing consciousness. Osho emphasized the importance of meditation, awareness, love, celebration, courage, creativity and humour, qualities which he viewed as suppressed by society’s belief systems and religious tradition. He introduced a vision that stands for the welfare of the whole of humanity, transcending the narrow boundaries of religions. Though today's man is so caught up in his myriad problems, all of Osho's books and discourses suggest simple and easy ways for man’s liberation. According to him, a seeker could attain a consciousness where there was “no past, no future, no attachment, no mind, no ego, no self.” Then he would attain enlightenment. Osho spoke continuously for 40 years of his life. His spontaneous discourses and answers to various questions by his disciples were later compiled into Books. There are over 650 books on topics ranging from Yoga, tantra, sufism, Buddhism and on many mystics of various paths of meditation. Even though he introduced and brought to life, Many Mystics and Saints He always spoke from his own experiences and always insisted that one should just not accept and believe, but one should believe in his own experiences. Osho is the only Master who has spoken on all the Mystics and Saints including Krishna, Jesus, Gautam Buddha, Mahavir, Kabir, Zen Masters, Sufism, Upanishads, the Geeta, Mahageeta by Ashtavakra, Shiv Sutra, Vigyan Bhairav Tantra , Lao Tzu, Guru Nanak and many more.

Osho has spoken on every topic of concern to the Modern Man which includes Love, Friendship, Family, Marriage, Relationships, Parenting, Freedom, God, Sex, Spiritual Science, Politics, Tantra, Education, Communism, Mind, Happiness, Loneliness, Hypnotism ,Meditation, Enlightenment, etc. Osho challenges seekers to examine and break free of the conditioned belief systems and prejudices that limit their capacity to enjoy life in all its richness. Osho taught Celebration as a way of life. Celebrate life and Celebrate death too. He said “I do not want my Sanyasi to follow any Religion but I want my Sanyasis to be Religious. I teach Religiousness” The crux of his teachings can be summarised in three sentences: Celebration is my Religion. Love is my Message. Silence is my truth. The Upanishads talk about ultimate wisdom, Osho tells you how to live it. Osho has a unique identity of his own. Our worldly life can become more fruitful through meditation and people can evolve towards a better society with the help of Osho's wisdom. Osho says, be in the world but be not of it. It's difficult. You tend to be part of where you live the most and i.e. we live in this world but to just let go and live without expectations is difficult. For this we need to have a certain understanding and awareness. For making this possible, there are all the meditation techniques. Osho did not give any set of rules or commandments because he says, rules will always change with time. “Tomorrow the time changes, the situation changes and you will still act according to the old written rules and laws which may not fit into the new situation. So develop an awareness that can help you live in the present moment, that can help you resolve the present day’s problems by looking deeply into the root cause and resolve it. Awareness can be reached by a continuous effort of meditation.” The essence of his teachings lie in the meditation techniques that he gifted to this world. Osho has given more than 300 different techniques of meditation to suit the busy modern age. They are revolutionary methods of meditation for inner transformation. They are a combination of Active and Passive Meditations. The most prominent active meditations include Dynamic and Kundalini which are a complete package of total health leading to healthy body, mind and soul. Osho’s passive meditations include techniques devised from all the paths: from zazen to tantra, from yoga to vipassana, from Tao to Tibetan Buddhism. Osho meditation therapies are for deeper cleansing, for removing all blockages that prevent the flow of energy within. Osho has been described by the Sunday Times of London as one of the “1000 Makers of the 20th Century” and by Sunday Mid-Day (India) as one of the ten people―along with Gandhi, Nehru, and Buddha―who have changed the destiny of India. Since his death in 1990, the influence of his teachings continues to expand, reaching seekers of all ages in virtually every country of the world. 8

Page 8

न हम हहांद ू मस्ु तलम लसख हैं, न ईसाइयत की बात करते हैं; बेटे आदम के मनुवांशी हैं, आदलमयत की बात करते हैं; फफरका मजहब जात लमटाकर, आदलमयत का राज बतलाने को; हम सफ ू ी प्यार मह ु बत से, रूहाननयत की बात करते हैं!

It's very similar to what Osho had said to his sanyasis before he left his body, “Right now I am available to you embodied, imprisoned in a certain shape and form. When I am gone, where can I go? I will be here in the winds, in the ocean; "Right now I am available to you only embodied, and if you have loved me, if you have trusted me, you will feel me in a thousand and one ways. In your silent moments you will suddenly feel my presence."

Hajrat Sufi Baba Shah Qalandar Pir of Giridih was the uncrowned King of the Spiritual World. He was the Messiah of Love. A vast and unending ocean of Love, with a profoundly unique disposition. His way of being was such that his one glimpse was sufficient to imprint an unmissable memory on the canvas of one's soul. A possessor of such a loving magnetism around him that once one drowns in it, one would never even want to come out of it.

And it's an absolute experience of thousands of Oshodhara seekers that even today, Sufi Baba's mere remembrance and all his infinite love and help is readily available.

'Khuda ke bando se mujhe koi bair nahi, Yani meri duniya me koi gair nahi.' An incredible union of childlike innocence and sheerly heightened awareness was a part of his character. Sufi Baba's demeanour was so extraordinarily simple that it gave absolutely no indication of the greatness lying within. To the inexperienced ordinary eye, he looked like an utterly simple man, but in reality, he had surpassed such heights of spirituality, which are beyond the imagination of a common man. He was a 'Brahma Nishth' fakir. In the Sufi world, he was a Qalandar. Without exception, he always remained grounded in 'Saakshi', in a state beyond time. He was deeply rooted in 'Now', entirely free from both past and future. His entire life is a remarkable example of the height of 'Tathata' ( Total acceptance). तुम कहते हो तुम मानो मुझे एतराज नहीां लसवा खद ु ा के इबादत जैसा कुछ भी नहीां मैंने जाना है और कहते नबी भी हैं यही सच है तौहहद फक खद ु ा के लसवा कुछ भी नहीां

He always used to say 'Yaad hai to Abaad hai’ (a very famous adage of his). Just his remembrance is enough, even today, to seek his help during the most adverse times of one's life. करम जब आला फकीर का शरीक होता है हर काम बबगड़ पर कर ठीक होता है । When Baba was in his physical body he used to say, ''Right now I'm tied to the body. But once I leave my body I will be even more available than before. You will be able to feel me in your heart. I will be able to help people 1000 times more than I can right now.” हौसला कम न होगा, तेरा तूफानों के सामने, तक़रीर को इबादत में बदल कर दे ख, खद ु ब खद ु हल होंगी, ज ़िंदगी की मुजककलें, अपने पीर पर भरोसा करके तो दे ख।

Sufi Baba's views on Master-disciple Tradition : Baba used to say that there is great beauty and essence in Master disciple tradition and existence gives great importance to it. One who is dear to His Guru, becomes dear to Godliness too and Godliness itself remains in protection of such a disciple. Whatever one is to receive in spirituality, one would receive it only from the master. He is the medium of existence, for you. Sufi Baba, Osho and Sufism ● Sufi Baba's Connection with Osho Sufi Baba loved Osho a lot and was very impressed with his teachings. His love for Osho can be understood from the following incident: During the days when Osho was wrongly portrayed as a Sex Guru for his highly misunderstood book 'From Sex to Superconsciousness', Sufi Baba without an ounce of care for his social image or what supporting Osho would mean for him or his own followers, used to play the cassette of that book on loudspeaker in his ashram. Even though Sufi Baba had to bear the brunt of this in the form of numerous fatwas issued against him by the Muslim community, he openly and unapologetically showed his love and support for Osho. Also, he believed that Osho disciples should be proud of their master for having the courage to say the truth as it is. Sufi Baba often became very emotional while talking about Osho. He used to say Osho belonged to the tradition/lineage of Fakirs, because even though he had no Guru, Fakirs like Magga Baba and Paagal Baba had played a pivotal role in his spiritual journey. ● Sufism : Sufism today has been reduced to 'Sufi Whirling Dervish Dance' while in essence, it's a path of Love, the divine love between a master and disciple, where the disciple walks on the path of 'Ishq-e-Haqiqi' under the guidance of his master. ● Osho on Sufism : Osho says, ''Whenever a religion is alive it is because of Sufism. Sufism simply means a love affair with God, with the ultimate, a love affair with the whole. It means that one is ready to dissolve into the whole, that one is ready to invite the whole to come into one's heart. ... Krishna is a Sufi, so is Buddha.

Page 99

Sufi′s don′t renounce, they rejoice. And that′s what I am teaching you here: Rejoice! Hence Osho says : My sanyas is a way of rejoicing, not a way of renunciation. Rumi has said: If you are not one with the Beloved, Seek! And if you are in union, Rejoice!" Osho has given a series of talks on Sufism Sufis - “The people of the Path” where he has depicted the greatness of Sufi tradition in the form of Sufi stories. Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia Connect with Sufi Baba

आया था एक प्यारा कलांदर चला गया, है याद तो आबाद है ,कहकर चला गया उसका इशारा पाकर स्जक्र में स्जया, मैं स्जांदगी को जश्न बनाता चला गया।

masters reveal precious unknown aspects/dimensions of spirituality to their disciples during/through such visits. Samarthguru visited Giridih with Oshodhara seekers for Sufi Baba's guidance, blessings and love when Baba was in his physical body. Sufi Baba's love for Oshodhara seekers is truly unconditional. Many seekers got the precious privilege of being in his presence. And thus it was only due to Sufi Baba that a significantly deep connection was established between Oshodhara and the Sufi World. Before his Mahaparinirvan (leaving his physical body) on 29th May, Sufi Baba Shah Qalandar bestowed Osho Siddharth Ji, the revered title and responsibilities of 'Aulia' and declared him as his successor. His Mahaparinirvan Day , 29th May (the day he left his body) is celebrated as Qalandar Diwas in Oshodhara and 6th January, the day he bestowed on Baba the title of Aulia, is celebrated as Aulia Diwas.

~ Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia Sufi Baba remained as a guiding force and a source of inspiration to Samarthguru right from the time of his early spiritual days. In fact, it was Sufi Baba who gave Our Samarthguru the precious knowledge of Divine Light/Noor, on which the third level meditation program called Nirati Samadhi is based. Sufi Baba prepared Samarthguru for the role of Spiritual activist through the 'Youme Hussain Program’ which used to be organised by Sufi Baba himself. Sufi Baba took Samarthguru on a lot of pilgrimages during his Saadhna kaal/the initial, early years of his spiritual practice and introduced him to many saints and sages.

It has been an incredible privilege of Oshodhara that such a great saint has blessed its ashram with his visit, during which thousands of seekers have showered in his blessings and unconditional love. Even today, Oshodhara seekers regularly visit Giridih and especially attend the Urs celebration of Sufi Baba, where they undoubtedly feel his divine presence and love. Owing to this deeply close connection, and in the remembrance of our beloved Sufi Baba, a Qalandar Kutir has been built at Oshodhara's main ashram in Murthal. Seekers experience the divine energy of the Sufi mystics in the Kutir and seek guidance for spiritual progress and growth.

Sufi Baba introduced Samarthguru and Oshodhara seekers to Khwaja Moinuddin Chistiji by taking them to visit Ajmer Sharif and also connected them to Bu Ali Shah Qalandar ji by visiting his Dargahs at Panipat and Karnal. Visits to pilgrimages have remained a powerful medium to absorb the energy of those sacred places. Many times

Page 10 10

Guru Nanak Dev ji has special relevance in Oshodhara since he is one of the main Masters of Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia and one of the Param Gurus in Oshodhara. Guru Nanak Dev ji also referred to as Baba Nanak, was the founder of Sikhism, one of the youngest religions and the first of the ten sikh Gurus. His birth is celebrated worldwide as Gurupurab on Kartik Poornima. Guru Nanak Dev ji has been called as one of the greatest religious innovators of all time. He set up a unique spiritual and social platform based on equality, fraternity, love, goodness and virtue. Guru Nanak brought a new revolution in Spirituality. He made spirituality or religiousness, life-centric as against the traditional model of renouncing the world for doing sadhana or spiritual journey . Osho completely accepted and valued his thoughts. According to Guru Nank, Pragya/wisdom is a journey of the world, how to live with wisdom in the world. Samadhi is the journey of the soul, The Kaivalya gyan. Sumiran is a journey towards Godliness, of devotion.

Guru Nanak Dev ji reconciled the three: The Materialistic world, the soul and godliness. He included all the dimensions for the first time in spirituality. Osho refined this philosophy and gave the concept of” Zorba the Buddha”. Guru Nanak's teachings are recorded in the form of 974 poetic hymns in the holy book of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, with some of the major prayers being the Japji Sahib, the Asa di Var and the Sidh-Ghost. On the night of 13 January 1997, Guru Nanak Devji initiated Samarthguru with Omkar Deeksha. Since then, the festival of Lohri became the festival of 'Lo Hari' for Oshodhara. Hence, Omkar (Naad, Anahad Naad, Divine Sound) is the base of Spiritual Journey in Oshodhara. As Guru Nanak Devji graced Samarthguru with Omkar Deeksha, similarly, every participant is graced with Omkar Deesha on the 5th day of Dhyan Samadhi which is the 1st level Program of Oshodhara. The Spiritual Journey in Oshodhara begins with “Omkar Deeksha”

different dimensions) and Bhakti Yoga ( living in continuous gratitude and remembrance of God). In this way Oshodhara is the embodiment of Guru Nanak Dev and Osho's vision. We all are the fortunate ones to be involved in this campaign. All Samadhi Sessions in Oshodhara start with shabad from Gurubaani, (also known as Samadhi Geeta) which is a compilation of hymns composed by various Saints including from the Guru Granth Sahib. First stage is Keertan (singing & dancing in devotion, expressing gratitude to the lord) and then entering into Meditation/Samadhi in the presence of the Master. The main teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji are: 1. UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE TO THE WILL OF GOD Guru Nanak Dev ji gave the message of “Hukam Rajayee Chalna Nanak Likheya Naal“. Guru Nanak Dev ji says that whatever happens , happens by God’s Grace, and it happens for our Good. Hence, it is important that we accept the will of God unconditionally. 2. GOD IS ONE ” Guru Nanak Dev ji was an absolute practitioner of Secularism. He said, I am neither Hindu Nor Muslim, I am just a follower of god”, which actually spoke about his belief in one god. In Sikhism, the god is omnipresent, shapeless, timeless, and sightless. (Nirankar, akar, alakh). Sikhism stresses that, before creation there was God, and because of His will (Hukam), the Illusion ( maya of attachment and enticement) came into being. 3. IMPORTANCE OF GURU IN ONE’S LIFE Guru Nanak Dev ji was a staunch believer and Promoter of the Master Disciple relationship He put laid great importance of Guru in one’s life and that continuous seeking of knowledge must take place which is dependent on one’s guru. Guru according to him is the voice of the god, the true source of knowledge and salvation. Osho says, “The founder of Sikhism , Guru Nanak is one of those beautiful people for whom I have immense love.” This love is for all to hear and read in Osho’s most acclaimed discourses, Ek Omkar Satnam on the Japuji Sahib, which have been published in Hindi, translated into Gurumukhi and English and have topped the list of his bestseller titles both as audios and as books.

Inspired by Guru Nanak devji ‘s teachings, Samarthguru devised the path of spiritualism in Oshodhara . The path of Oshodhara is Sahaj Yoga, which has 3 dimensions Karma Yoga ( living with wisdom in the world and fulfilling all your responsibilities) Gyan Yoga, (experiencing divine ecstasy/samadhi through

Page 11 11

The proper name of Hindu Dharma is Sanatan Dharma, "the universal or eternal tradition." Sanatan Dharma is open to all practices that lead to absolute truth. It is a major world religion that has emerged from ancient times as a multifaceted universal tradition. It encompasses all the ways of understanding that lead all seekers to Self-realization and union with the Supreme, welcoming all we know of as religion and spirituality without seeking to reduce it to a singular name, form, or disposition.

On December 5, 2022, in Talkatora Stadium, Delhi, India, Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia of Oshodhara Nanak Dham, gave an enlightening exposition on Osho's Religious Vision. The following is Samarthguru’s address to the august gathering of more than 3,000 people in the stadium: Revered Pilot Baba ji, respected Ved Pratap Vaidik Ji, and my dear Atman. On behalf of Oshodhara, in today's Satsang, greetings, and we heartily welcome all of you. Today's subject of Satsang is fascinating Osho's Religious Vision. Before we shed light on Osho's vision of religion, we would first like to know what Religion is? What is the definition of religion, and what are the elements and principles of religion? The ultimate rule by which life runs is religion. You must have heard many, many definitions of religion. I will tell you those things which saints say, with knowledge. You may have heard many statements based on assumptions and read about them. What is the vision of Saints? What is Osho's vision?

I would like to tell you that on the basis of the ultimate rules - and who creates the ultimate law, the rules? Who else can make the Supreme Law, the Supreme Rules, other than the Supreme Power, the Almighty?

So, religion is the name of the supreme rules by which this life runs. This creation becomes, and this world evolves. That supreme rule is called dharma. Saints have given it many, many names, such as sages called it Reeth. Reeth means supreme law, as it is called Ritambari Wisdom. In other words, such a pearl of wisdom is consistent with Dharma, which is consistent with the supreme rule. Similarly, Lord Mahavira and Lord Buddha called it Dhamma. If you have read the Mahavir Vani of Osho, Lord Mahavira says , "Dhammo Mangal Mukkittham, Ahimsa Sanjamo Tavo. Deva Vitam namasanti, jassa dhamme sayya mano". (Non-violence, Self Discipline, and Penance, these are the strong virtues of Dharma. Further, it also means - whose soul is stable in the above virtues, God also bows to them). 12 Page 12

What is religion? Dhammo Mangal Mukkittham, that from which auspiciousness happens in life that is called Dharma, and how can auspiciousness happen? There are three dimensions of religion non-violence - is the religion in which ahimsa - if there is violence in the religion, like people practice the sacrifice of living beings, then it is not Dhamma. There should be Ahimsa. Ahimsa means to love Ahimsa Parmo Dharma: Such is what the sage says. Goswami Tulsidas says - Param Dharam Shruti Vidit Ahimsa - So the first main element of religion is non-violence or love, and the second is Ahimsa Sanjmo Tavo. Where there is sayyam. What does it mean to have sayyam? It means to have a perception? If there is no element of Meditation, then there can be no religion. So what comes after non-violence, ahimsa, sanjmo, sanjmo means perception, Meditation, Samadhi. Without Meditation and perception, there is no religion. And if there is no samadhi, there can be no religion, and Mahavir says- and there should be penance and meditation. Meditation is an essential part of religion. So Lord Mahavira and Lord Buddha called it Dhamma. The mystics of China, Lao Tse, etc., call it Tao, meaning Dhamma, Religion. Guru Nanak Dev ji calls it Hukam. The one which the sage calls Reeth and Lord Mahavira calls Dhamma is called Hukam by Nanak Dev Ji. So, the Hukmi runs the path, the Way, and "Nanak Vigse Veparwah." Who administers the rules, and who makes this ultimate rule? Who is Hukmi? It is God, the supreme being. It is the absolute power. So, the rules made by God are called Hukam, its name is Reeth, its name is Dharma, its name is Dhamma, and so on. Traveling on this path is Ritambara Pragya, as I have mentioned. So, after knowing religion, let us understand what Sanatana Dharma is (eternal Dharma, eternal order)? There are many religions, but Sanatan dharma has no comparison. Why is there no comparison? We will discuss what Sanatan Dharma is and why it is so unique?

Why is it unique? Why is it incomparable? Sanatan Dharma means Aadi (the beginning or first) Dharma. A religion based on eternal truth. There are a lot of elements of faith and belief in all other religions. However, Sanatan Dharma is based on eternal truth. It is the truth of every era. All other religions belong to a particular era. But Sanatan Dharma is not bound by time or era. Sanatan Dharma is not tied to any region. It is not linked to any country, it is based on eternal truth, and it is also called Vedic Religion because Vedas explore ultimate science. That is why it is also called the Vedic religion. And who is its originator? Most saints say that there is no promoter or originator of it. But those who know say that the originator of Sanatan Dharma is Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva himself has promoted and originated and promoted Sanatan Dharma, which is why Lord Shiva is called Aadi Guru. And Sanatan Dharma is called Aadi Dharma. So, Lord Shiva is its originator. However, there is one unique matter. Sanatan Dharma is not contained in any one book; that one can be guided by just this particular book. Only one book can guide you. One cannot be guided by a book, cannot be guided by any one religious book, because there are thousands of sacred religious texts in Sanatan Dharma. And the remarkable thing about this religion is that it is a self-developed, evolved religion from many practitioners' contributions. Islam was developed by one person, Hazrat Muhammad Saheb. Christianity was developed by one person, Isa (Jesus Christ). It is not so in Sanatan Dharma. Thousands and thousands of mystics, sages, munis, prophets, Tirthankaras, and pilgrims have contributed to Sanatan Dharma. So, it is a self-developed religion that has evolved through the knowledge, Meditation, and contemplation of thousands of munis and sages. It is a religion that has been developed continuously. So, it is a self-developed religion that has evolved through the knowledge, Meditation, and contemplation of thousands of munis and sages. It is a religion that has been developed continuously. It is not like the last statement on this religion has been given. Its development has been done in the

Page 1313

past, and even today, it is being developed, and it will be developed in the future too. It is an everflowing stream of The Ganges. It cannot be stopped. It is not contained anywhere. A dam cannot be built on it, so it is an unstoppable stream continuously flowing, which is why it is a scientific religion. Because science can never stop, it is not that science stopped after Newton, after Einstein. The stream of science can never be paused or stopped. The stream of science will always flow and evolve. Similarly, Sanatan Dharma is a scientific religion that can never be blocked or stopped. Its stream can never be bound. It flows, is continuous, and is the oldest religion in the world. It is an old religion and yet it is new. It is amazing. It is the oldest religion and most ancient. It is unique because new elements are constantly coming and going into it. That is why it can be said that Sanatan Dharma is “renewed at every step”. New saints come and go, and new voices come and go, and they will come and go in the future too. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism are the four main pillars of Sanatan Dharma. But apart from this, many opinions, countless opinions, and innumerable opinions and conceptions will continue to be added and will be present. The important feature is that it is built like a house, a building, a palace is built, there are four main walls, the number of bricks is very high, the house has a lot of decoration, there are many types of curtains, but there are four walls. Similarly, Sanatan Dharma has four main divisions and four pillars: Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, and Hindu. These are the four main pillars, so Buddhism or Sikhism cannot be seen separately from Sanatan Dharma. They are all an integral part of Sanatan Dharma. They can be said to be extensions of Sanatan Dharma. And there is an extraordinary factor here - the names I have mentioned here are Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. In all these dharmas, Omkar (the

Primordial Sound from which the Universe was created) is the fundamental element of Sanatan Dharma. One who believes in Omkar is a Sanatan Dharmi. Whether it is a Jain, a Buddhist, or a Sikh, everyone agrees with OM.

Because Omkar is the fundamental element of Sanatan Dharma. Which is the music of our soul and existence. Thousands of sages listened to Omkar, and even today, thousands of people are listening to Omkar. Even in Oshodhara, more than fifty thousand people meditate and constantly listen to Omkar. And why can we hear Omkar? Everyone can hear it. Because there is an echo in our souls. For which Saint Meera is saying "Goonj Suno Din Rati"; "Listen to the Resonance day and night." This privilege is not only received by Meera. It is available to everyone, and whosoever wishes and wants can listen to Omkar. One can live while listening to Omkar. And the one who lives simply believing in OMKAR is a Sanatan Dharmi. If possible, live by knowing or believing; whoever knows or believes in Omkar is a Sanatan Dharmi. As I said, Sanatan Dharma is a religion that does not have a particular book. Even though the primary texts of Sanatan Dharma can be discussed, and the primary texts are the four Vedas, one hundred and eight Upanishads - although some say that there are up to three hundred Upanishads there are one hundred and eight primary Upanishads. There are the Prastanthrayi, the three of the most important texts of Sanatan Dharma. Which are they? There is Brahma Sutra, there is Upanishad, and there is The Gita.

Page 1414

(The word "Prasthanthrayi" combines 'Prasthan' + 'Thrayi .' It means "three departures ." Thrayi means' three,' and Prasthan means 'to go,' 'depart,' or 'pass .' In Sanatan Dharm, if any principle has to be proven, then they have to pass the test through these three objectives: the "Shruti (that which is heard)" Prasthan, the "Memory (what is remembered), Prasthan, and the Justice (logical analysis of knowledge) Prasthan. So, to prove or find proof of a principle, one has to go through the three books to provide or obtain the evidence.)

So, those who speak on these three texts and those who interpret them, such as Aadi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, and Vallabhacharya, are called Jagat Gurus. A Jagat Guru In Sanatan Dharma, the one who interprets these three texts on the Prastanthrayi is known as Jagat Guru. And then in other texts, there is Ramayana and Mahabharata, we have already taken the name of Gita. And then there are hundreds of saints whose verses and voices are the voices of Sanatan Dharma. Not only this, but what Gautam Buddha said was also Sanatan Dharma. This is what Gautam Buddha used to say in his speeches, "O saint, oh bhikshus, and monks, what I am saying is Sanatan Dharma. I am not saying anything other than that. Osho himself is saying, "What I am saying is Sanatan Dharma. So, all those who know this have said this even if their followers – those who follow them – set up a different path; that is different. Its relevance is different, but one thing is certain, all the saints who have their opinions and voices and those who will be saints in the future their voices will also be part of Sanatan Dharma. Now here is a significant thing. Sanatan Dharma is an Aadi dharma, so where does its vitality come from? Ten thousand years ago, Lord Shiva, at least as said, ten thousand years ago Lord Shiva originated it, but it continues to remain vital even today. The stream is still flowing as it did. What is

the reason for this? The reason being even after Lord Shiva, some people came into existence and turned this dharma chakra when its wheel slowed, then some mystics accelerated the rotation of the dharma chakra. And thus, you can say who the first promoter of the Dharm Chakra of Sanatan Dharma is? It is Lord Shiva. But after two thousand five hundred years of rotation of the chakra, the wheel's speed slowed down, so after two thousand five hundred years after Lord Shiva, Lord Rama came with almost his divine capabilities, and Lord Rama revived the momentum of the dharma chakra. And the dharma chakra that was moved forward again by Lord Rama continued for two thousand five hundred years, then the wheel's speed slowed down, then Lord Krishna, who had possessed the same divine capabilities as Lord Rama, came. Then He provided the momentum the third time to the Dharma Chakra, and the Dharma Chakra, given speed and direction by Lord Krishna, decelerated after two thousand five hundred years. Then, Lord Buddha came with the same talents and again provided momentum to the Dharma Chakra. After two thousand five hundred years, when the speed of the Dharma Chakra given by Lord Buddha also slowed down, then Lord Osho came with the same divine talent and capabilities, and he provided the momentum for the fifth Dharma Chakra. And told his disciples that the Dharma Chakra to which I am providing momentum now becomes the responsibility of my disciples to take this Dharma Chakra forward for at least two and a half thousand years. This responsibility is on all of us. This responsibility is on all of you to provide momentum to this

Page 15

15

dharma chakra and keep it going. And the Supreme Guru Osho hopes to move this dharma chakra forward for at least two and a half thousand years. One thing is providing the dharma chakra the required momentum, but secondly, how and why is it that Sanatan Dharma continues to flourish and remains vital? Because many stars were born in this country to follow and support this dharma chakra. Once Osho gave a discourse on Guru Gorakhnath, in which there is a beautiful segue, he mentioned an anecdote in that context. He starts by saying that once Hindi poet Late Sumitra Nandan Pant Ji asked Osho if he wanted to name the twelve shining stars of the Indian sky, the spiritual sky, then who he would like to name? Listen to what Osho said. Who are those twelve shining stars? Osho said that Krishna, Patanjali, Buddha, Mahavir, Nagarjuna, Shankaracharya, Gorakh, Kabir, Nanak, Meera, Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Krishnamurti. These are the twelve brightest stars in the sky of Sanatan Dharma in Osho's eyes. Sumitra Nandan Pant said that if we ask you to name seven, and drop five names, then whose name would you like to take? Osho counts Krishna, Patanjali, Buddha, Mahavir, Shankaracharya, Gorakh, and Kabir. These are the seven shining stars. Pant doesn't stop here. He asks if you have to say only five names, then? Osho says, Krishna, Patanjali, Buddha, Mahavir, and Gorakh. Pant says that if you have to take only four names, then whose name will you take, then Osho calls out Krishna, Buddha, Patanjali, and Gorakh. Pant Ji asks if you had to take three names? Osho says - not anymore because a building is built from four walls, and if we remove one, the building will collapse. These are the four main pillars of Sanatan Dharma, and even if one post is removed, the structure of Sanatan Dharma will collapse. It cannot be done anymore. Now the question arises, why did Osho not approve of removing any

of these four? This is because Sanatan Dharma has four ghats (four piers). Sanatan Dharma is like a Manasarovar, a sacred lake. There are four ghats of Sanatan Dharma. And each of these names you see is the developer of each pier. And if you remove one, then one ghat will be removed from Sanatan Dharma, and a wall will be removed from the building of Sanatan Dharma. So, it is essential to know what the four ghats of Sanatan Dharma are? Which are building and maintaining the lake of Sanatan Dharma, the reservoir of Sanatan Dharma. So, the first ghat is Sakshi's ghat. Sanatan Dharma's main ghat is Sakshi's ghat (witness). And what does Witness mean - to live in self-observation. Knowing the soul and living in self-observation. Lord Krishna called this Kūṭastha (firmly situated in one's transcendental position). Just as on a mountain – watcher on the mountain – as someone stands on a hill and looks down into the valley, one is like a Kūṭastha, a witness, knowing the soul and living in self-observation. This is Sakshi's ghat, and the originator of this ghat is Lord Krishna. Osho was not willing to remove Krishna because Sakshi "witness," is one of the main pillars of Sanatan Dharma. How can you remove it? The second ghat is the ghat of Meditation. What does Meditation mean? Awakening to the soul. The Witness has to live in self-observation and introspection, but who is the Witness? There is nothing exogenous in Meditation. The Witness is exogenous and also has a soul. In Meditation, the only thing in Meditation is to wake up to the inner sky, the inner self, to wake up to the soul. So, this is the ghat of Meditation, and its leading originator is Lord Buddha. Therefore, if you remove Buddha, the ghat of Meditation will be removed, and then one of the main pillars of Sanatan Dharma will have to be removed.

Page 1616

The third ghat is the ghat of Samadhi. And who is its promoter? It is Maharishi Patanjali. You cannot remove the ghat of Samadhi. Why? Because Samadhi is the main part of our Sanatan Dharma and is the central pillar. Therefore, you can neither remove the ghat of Samadhi nor remove Patanjali. All yoga philosophy originates from this tradition which our Mahayogi Pilot Baba knows very well. The practice of this yoga cannot be separated from Sanatan Dharma. And the fourth ghat is sumiran ghat. (Sumiran means continuous remembrance of the Almighty, and the state is maintained continuously while carrying out worldly works). What is Sumiran ghat? Knowing Brahman. Knowing God and living in the love of God. Awakening towards God. All the science of devotion is based on this, beginning with Gorakh. Remove Guru Gorakhnath, then Sumiran's ghat will be destroyed. And from Sanatan Dharma, we cannot separate the ghat of Sumiran, the ghat of devotion. If you know this role, it will be much easier to understand Osho's religious vision. What is Osho's religious or spiritual vision? There is a harmony, a coordination of these four ghats. Osho, as you all know, has removed the dust and provided clarity on Krishna, Buddha, Patanjali, Gorakh, many other mystics, and many other stars of Sanatan Dharma. He brought vitality and vibrancy to everyone's voice and coordinated all the ghats/piers. Osho is not the successor to any one pier. Osho is a representative of all these four ghats. So, Osho's vision of religion means the vital coordination of these four ghats. Whenever something is completed, eight numbers are given for it in India. This is the tradition of India. For example, what is the meaning of Ashtadhatu (eight elements), Ashtadhatu, now more than this can no longer be added to it.

Page 17

Ashtakamal, meaning the Lotus with eight petals, here the Lotus is complete. Similarly, you all know that Patanjali's yoga has eight dimensions, which Patanjali calls Ashtangik Yoga. There is Yama, there is Niyama, there is Asana, there is Pranayama, there is Pratyahara, there is Dharana, there is Meditation, and there is Samadhi. There are eight limbs. Similarly, Lord Buddha also gave eight dimensions to the religion he propagated, which he, Gautam Buddha, called the Ashtangik Path, which has eight dimensions, eight petals. Sam Diti is the right vision, the right resolution, the right covenant, the right action, the right life, the right memory, the right samadhi, and the right exercise. Similarly, if someone asks me what I would like to say about Osho's vision of religion, then for the first time in this spiritual discourse, I want to announce that whatever idea Osho has, I would like to call it Osho's Ashtangik Path, Osho's eight-fold path. So, let us understand Osho's Ashtangika path. But there is an extraordinary thing that Osho gave the eightfold path. He combined and integrated two things together, like coupling. One for those with knowledge, and one for the devotees. Because it is a wonderful thing, before Osho, either one could walk on the path of knowledge, which our Sanatan Dharma called the path of enlightenment, or one could walk on the path of devotion, which our saints have called the path of fidelity. But Osho said that do not bind human beings in this bondage. The entire sky is ours, so he added two things together in one dimension. Although both were opposite, he did coupling. But Osho said that both are not opposites. Both are complementary. Just as night and day are opposites, Osho's vision is night and day are not opposites. Both are complementary. Day and night are intertwined. There is no justification for the night without day

17

and no justification for the day without night. Devotion without knowledge has no value, and knowledge without devotion has no value. The two are added, so there are two things, eight pairs in each dimension. The first dimension of Osho's eight-fold path is that we would like to call Zorba the Buddha. This is the first dimension. Osho said that money has been condemned wherever spiritual practice is being done. Wherever there is talk of devotion, money is condemned. But he says there is no conflict between money and Meditation, but together you can acquire glory, worldly glory, and spiritual splendor. For example, Osho mentioned the name of King Janak, and he mentioned Guru Nanak. Like King Janak, who ruled his kingdom, he was spiritual too. Nanak even says that my former birth was that of King Janak. Only a few people know that Nanak Dev is King Janak's incarnation; taking inspiration from him, Osho has imagined a new human in the form of Zorba the Buddha. And then this second dimension of Osho's eightfold path is the coordination of science and religion. What kind of religion should it be? What is meant by scientific religion? Scientific religion is based on experiments. Let us see what the difference between science and spiritualism is? Look, science runs on experimentation. And spirituality runs on experience. Both are sciences, but the only difference is that one runs on experiment, and one runs on experience, on subjective experience. So the second dimension of Osho's eight-fold path is that science and spirituality should be integrated. And a religion that cannot be tested at the criterion of science cannot prove it is scientific religion, cannot be scientific, and cannot be Sanatan Dharma. The third dimension Osho is saying is the Deceased Guru and Living Guru. In many cases, a tattered tradition goes on the names of deceased Gurus. A dead tradition is going on. Osho says that the deceased Guru is also needed. It is also important to remember the deceased Guru because the deceased Guru also provides the necessary support. In spiritual practice, as you all know, in

Oshodhara, we get the support of deceased Gurus from Nanak Dev Ji, Sufi Baba, we get the support of Osho, and many such deceased Gurus. So, if you do spiritual practice, you also cooperate with the deceased Guru, but Osho is saying that everyone cannot understand the language of the deceased Guru. Only saints can understand them. Therefore, a living guru is essential for new seekers. Your spiritual journey cannot begin unless you go to the living Guru. So, the third dimension is the integration of the deceased Guru and the Living Guru. The fourth dimension, Osho says, is meditation and love. As I said, Osho makes a coupling, a pair. Meditation needs attention and love. Osho says that if those who meditate do not have love, then a mistake in meditation is happening somewhere. And if meditation does not occur within those walking on the path of love, then a mistake is happening somewhere. So, both meditation and love have been coupled by Osho. And it's a very beautiful coupling. He says that to love oneself is meditation, and to pay attention to another is love. So, these are both forms of love. These are both forms of meditation. That is why meditation, as the old saints said, is the path to enlightenment and love is the path to devotion. However, Osho added the two, meditation and love, can be performed at the same time, together. Both are our wings through which we can fly in the sky of spiritual practice. And, what else, how did he explain? Meditation is waking up to the formless.

When you close your eyes inside, now Darshan Ji will take you into meditation, and in this one-halfhour experiment, you will go into the depths of meditation, and you will notice. So, there can be no meditation without the "formless." Waking up to this formless is meditation; waking up to "form" is love. What a beautiful definition. Form, why usually, when we have a human being in front of us, a living being, or if there is an animal or a creature, we do not pay attention. Not paying attention means we are being negligent. We are unconscious of that form.

Page 18

18

Wake up and pay attention. If you wake up to form, you have love. If you wake up to the formless, you have meditation. This is how meditation and love have been brought together in sync, in harmony. And then, the fifth path of Osho's ashtangika path is Samadhi (a state of intense concentration derived through meditation) and sambodhi enlightenment. Osho says that Samadhi is the end stage of meditation. That is, if the meditation goes deep, then Samadhi happens. And when Samadhi touches the peak, enlightenment happens. When meditation touches the pinnacle, you say, and you know that "I am the soul, I am not the body, I am not the senses, I am not the heart, I am not the mind, I am not the identity, I am the soul." And without meditation, no one can know that I am a soul, which is what knowledge is. There is no knowledge other than selfknowledge and self-realization, and there is no way to know it without meditation. Now in awareness, there are four stages.

The first stage is the waking state. What is there when you are awake? What is there consciousness, plus thought, plus knowledge of time. It means that this is the Awake state. What is the second stage? It is the dream state. Meaning that you are not conscious. You are unconscious, but there is also thought, and there is also a time different from the current time. Then unconscious plus thought, plus knowledge of time is this dream state. What is the third state? Sleep, sleep state, unconsciousness plus thoughtlessness, timelessness, there is no time, no time in sleep, no thought, but there is -an unconsciousness. Talking about a fourth state, as our saints have experienced. Osho is saying the Turiya state,

there is no thought. There is consciousness, but in the Turiya state, there is consciousness, but there is no time. Now how can we reach this turiya state? Through meditation, Sumiran (devotion), and Samadhi (concentration), and when Samadhi is formed, there are three stages in the Turia state, but the peak of the Turia state is Samadhi. What happens in Samadhi, there is only realization. There is only perception, nothing but perception. At least in meditation, one is aware of the formless, but in the state of Samadhi, there is nothing but consciousness. When you continue to know and meditate towards enlightenment and live like that - one day, you will realize that I am a soul, and then on that day, your whole Gestalt changes. You can also say that Brahm is real, and the world is Maya. It's false. On that day you make this declaration, listen to what Shankaracharya says" "In half of a shloka, I state what has been stated by millions of texts; that is - Brahman alone is real, and this Jagat is Mithyä, (the world is false), and the Jiva is non-different from Brahman." Brahma is the truth. And the living being is Brahman because the Soul is Brahman. And there is nothing but Brahman. So, Osho says, "Unless meditation becomes enlightenment, you have simply wasted your time." Someone is meditating, and if that meditation is not converted into Samadhi and Sambodhi, your attention, time, and energy will be completely wasted. The sixth element that belongs to Osho's eightfold path is the witness and Tathata (the absolute of emptiness), both taken together, coupled, witnessing, and accepting. What do you say is the witness? When you live by knowing yourself or believing in yourself as a soul, you live in the world, and you do your deeds, then it is called Sakshi - witness.

Page 19

19

And living with acceptance is Tathatha. Just as Gautama Buddha always lived in Tathatha. His name is Tathagat. Tathagat means living in acceptance. Osho has described the three stages of this system. What are they? The first is complete acceptance. Accepting adversity or unfavorable is unconditional acceptance if something is favorable in life or something adverse happens. Everyone accepts that which is favorable. The second is seeking complete refuge. It is said that today's adversity is favorable for tomorrow. What you consider unfavorable today, one day, your experience will show that it was also favorable. Has it ever occurred to you that the Almighty never does anything unfavorable or adverse? He always does the favorable. This means that you have come to God's refuge. This refuge is followed by surrender. What does surrender mean? Not only the acceptance of the incident. Accepting the world as it is like accepting both Ram and Raavan. Accepting both Buddha and Baghdadi together. Seeing that both the hero and the villain must live in the realm of this creation. Otherwise, the game will not work, and this Leela will not happen. So your surrender to God happened. So the same witness and Tathatha can be called the sixth dimension of Osho's eight-fold path. And the seventh dimension is knowledge and devotion. This was Osho's specialty. He saw knowledge and devotion as a pair, coupling them together like day and night. And knowledge means self-knowledge and self-realization. Knowledge means realization and enlightenment. And devotion means love for God. How to fall in love with the Almighty and thus come together on the path of knowledge and devotion? This is Osho's imagination.

Page 20

Osho's conceptualization. How can we do the path of devotion, renunciation, and worldly existence together? But Osho has given a formula, an aphorism. What formula did he give? Osho says that Omkar is the fundamental element of both knowledge and devotion. Without knowing Omkar or the infinite sound, there can be no knowledge or devotion. So know Omkar. And then what does Osho say? Omkar is our core, and Omkar is our destination. Moving away from Omkar is hell. Inching and moving closer and closer to Omkar is heaven. To unite with Omkar is Samadhi, salvation, and enlightenment. So, he added knowledge and devotion to Omkar and then said that God is known by knowledge, but God is found through love. You cannot attain God through knowledge. You can understand what Brahm is. If you want to achieve God, then love is the only way. In this context, Guru Gobind Singh ji says, "I am telling the truth. Listen, everyone, those who Love God are those who can attain God". Love is the only way to attain God. There is no other way. And Osho says about Sumiran (devotion), up to now, saints had done sumiran vocally, saying "Hey Ram." "Bol de Vadbhagi Ram Abhati Ram Bol Abhati," Guru Ram Das ji says Sumiran was done from the mind, "Sumiran was done from the mind, Kabir did it with the mind, Kabir says, "I am in love with the echo of that constant word, the impure lust is renounced. The constant word does not leave whether I am standing or sitting and never leaves me, and I attain the good and simple Samadhi in You." If you fall in love with God in such a way that even a moment goes by without remembering God, it seems like death. Meera says, "Prabhu ji, where did you go? After making me realize my love for you, where did you go, you left, you betrayed, she is showing her disappointment, not complaining, that you have gone away from us after showing us love. 20

This is the element of separation. Until now, Bhakti Yoga has only three dimensions. Osho said Sumiran also has a fourth way. It is Witness-Sumiran synergic Sumiran. The incoming breath is for love for God, and the outgoing breath is for the remembrance of your Soul and rejoicing in it. This is Osho's fundamental contribution. In which he synergized spiritual knowledge and devotion.

And then living in the Sumiran which means continuous remembrance of the Almighty and the state is maintained continuously (while carrying out the worldly works) Sumiran of Brahm is a celebration. Osho says Brahm is our origin, and living in harmony with Utsa (the origin, the source) is a celebration. As soon as you become connected with Brahm, your life becomes festive.

And the eighth dimension of Osho's Ashtanga path is joy and celebration. This is the pinnacle of Osho's religious vision. What is Bliss? Bliss is living connected with the Soul. Amazingly, Osho is saying that Bliss is not very difficult to experience, but one cannot be satisfied if one wants to be happy and does not live connected with the Soul. So, all the happiness becomes momentary. It's transient, lost in a moment.

And a wonderful thing, Rhonda Byrne wrote another book called "The Power" and it has come in Hindi as "Shakti." Similarly, the book The Greatest Secret has also come in Hindi, "Sabse Bada Rahasya" – in this, Rhonda Byrne is also saying that you have the incomparable power of love, the unfathomable power of love. And through that power, you can achieve anything and celebrate life. She says that none of your goals has a status bigger than a tiny dot, and you have the incredible power of love. She points to the power of the Almighty, which is like supreme consciousness, and your goal is like a small dot. She says that the power of love is within you, and you can achieve everything and celebrate your life.

But surprisingly, even today's psychologists are coming to this conclusion. You must have heard the name Rhonda Byrne. She has written an excellent book, a wonderful book, "The Greatest Secret," and Rhonda Byrne is today's best-selling author, and that's what she is saying in The Greatest Secret. What's the secret? What is the Greatest Secret? There is a soul within us. Rhonda Byrne is saying, "This is the greatest secret." No one knows this. This is the greatest secret. And know it, and if you live with the Soul, you will live in joy. Rhonda Byrne is not spiritual. The conclusion of Rhonda Byrne is intellectual. But now, even Western minds have concluded that no one can live happily without being connected to the Soul.

Chandi Das has said a line in Bengali, "Utsav Amar Jaat, Anand Amar Gotra." Celebration is my caste, and Bliss is my clan". Speaking on it, Osho says, "The message of Chandi Das is my message too." "Celebration is my caste. Bliss is my clan". Make life festive with the power of love. And make it blissful with the power of the Soul. This is Osho's eightfold path, Osho's religious vision. Thank you so much for listening to me.

Page 21

21

Following programs are conducted by Osho Nanak Dhyan Mandir (ONDM). You may contact 9855500652, 9671400193/96 for booking and other details. Most of these programs are conducted in 2 sessions every day, one in the morning and another in the evening, each session running into 1.15 hours. Repeaters will get 30% discount in contribution.

Samadhi Programs Based on spiritual science unravelled by Osho and Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia, 28 levels of Yoga Programs have been designed and are being conducted online regularly. Each program is of 6 days (9-days online with 2 sessions per day). It is essential to do lower-level programs and essential Wisdom (Pragya) Programs before entry into higher level programs. Attending Wisdom programs is not mandatory for senior citizens (above 65 years).

Page 22 22

1. DHYAN SAMADHI (DHYAN YOGA) It consists of two parts -Anand Pragya or Blissful Living and Yoga Pragya or Divine Living. Each program is of three days’ duration (5 days and 4 days online respectively).

7. DIVYA SAMADHI (DIVINE WELLNESS YOGA) It is based on Divine Taste, Fragrance, Ecstasy and Wellness. This teaches how to live in Divine Taste, Divine Fragrance, Divine Intoxication and Divine Wellness.

1A. Anand Pragya or Blissful Living is based on Eightfold path of Lord Buddha and solves most of the problems related to stress, relationship and boredom.

8. CHAITANYA SAMADHI (DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS YOGA) It is based on Divine Awareness. This teaches how to break identity with form and identify ourselves with Divine Inner Consciousness.

1B. Yoga Pragya or Divine Living can be done only after attending Anand Pragya. Yoga Pragya or Divine Living teaches various paths of Yoga. The participants listens Divine Sound and learn techniques of Samadhi and Divine Remembrance. On request participants will be initiated into NeoSanyas.

2.SURATI SAMADHI (DIVINE SOUND YOGA) It is based on Divine Sound Awareness. It is open only to Dhyan Samadhi graduates, who have been initiated into Neo-Sanyas, the First Initiation. This program teaches how-to live-in harmony with Divine Sound. 3. NIRATI SAMADHI (DIVINE LIGHT YOGA) It is based on Divine Light. Through this program a seeker learns to live in harmony with the Divine Light. 4. AMRIT SAMADHI (DIVINE ELIXIR YOGA) It is based on Divine Elixir. This teaches how to die in Awareness and live at the center of our Amrit Consciousness. After doing Amrit Samadhi and enrolling as Members of Oshodhara Maitri Sangh one can do online Acharya Pragya program. This is a 9-days Online intensive group which prepares Acharyas of Oshodhara /IIYM, who can conduct Ananda Pragya. 5. SHABDA SAMADHI (DIVINE WORD YOGA) This is for getting grounded in Divine Word and 5 sacred duties practiced by all sages.

6. URJA SAMADHI (DIVINE ENERGY YOGA) It is based on Divine Energy, Divine Power, Divine Thrill and Divine Healing.

9. GYAN SAMADHI (SELF REALZATION YOGA) It is a Self-Realization program leading to First Enlightenment. It is mandatory to do Kayakalpam program before Gyan Samadhi for all participants below 65 years. 10. ANAND SAMADHI (DIVINE BLISS YOGA) It is based on Divine Touch and Divine Bliss. This teaches how to live in Blissful Awareness. It is mandatory to do Nature Healing program before Anand Samadhi for all participants below 65 years. 11. PREM SAMADHI (DIVINE LOVE YOGA) It is based on Divine Love. This group teaches how to live in Divine love. Second initiation is given to the participants any time after Dhyan Samadhi and before Advait Samadhi by enrolling them as Members of Oshodhara Maitri Sangh. After this initiation they are supposed to be a part and parcel of the Master and His commune. It is essential to do Dampatya Pragya and Vatsalya Pragya for all participants below 65 years before Prem Samadhi. 12. Advait SAMADHI (UNIVERSAL ONENESS YOGA) It is based on Experience of the Self being part of the Universal Consciousness leading to Second Enlightenment. Entry in this group is granted only to Oshodhara Maitri Sangha Members. It is essential to do Gayan Pragya and Umang Pragya for all participants below 65 years before Advait Samadhi.

23 Page 23

Advait Samadhi graduates can take part in Online Acharya Shree, a 9-days (Online as well as Offline) intensive Group, after completing Reiki Pragya and Acharya Pragya. Acharya Shree is authorized to conduct Dhyan Samadhi and associate in conducting higher programs under the leadership of Samarthguru and/or leading Acharya Shrees authorized by Samarthguru. 13. KAIVALYA SAMADHI (UNIVERSAL WHOLENESS YOGA) It is based on Experience of Whole being extension of the Self. This group takes the seekers into Experience of Universal Consciousness or Third Enlightenment. It is essential to do Women Empowerment for all participants below 65 years before Kaivalya Samadhi. 14.NIRVAAN SAMADHI (UNIVERSAL BLISS YOGA) It is based on Experiencing Universal Blissfulness or Nirvaan leading to Fourth Enlightenment. It is essential to do Mudra Chikitsa and Swasthya Pragya before Nirvaan Yoga for all participants below 65 years. Sumiran Programs After completing 14 levels of Samadhi Programs relate to Gyan Yoga, 14 levels of Sumiran prgrams, related to Bhakti Yoga have been designed and are being conducted online regularly. Each program is of 6 days duration (9-days Online with 2 sessions each day). It is essential to do lower level programs and essential Wisdom (Pragya) Programs before entry into higher level programs. Attending Wisdom programs is not mandatory for senior citizens (above 65 years. 15. SAHAJ SUMIRAN (COSMIC YOGA) It is based on experiencing Cosmic Matrix in the outer space. It is essential to do Hans and Maitri Pragya before Sahaj Sumiran for all participants below 65 years. 16. SHABDA SUMIRAN (COSMIC WORD YOGA) It aims at getting grounded and living in constant remembrance of the Cosmic Word. It is essential to do Mystic Rose and Osho Pragya before Shabda Sumiran for all participants below 65 years.

17. CHAITANYA SUMIRAN (COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS YOGA) This Group teaches seekers to experience Cosmic Consciousness. It is essential to do Homeo Pragya before Chaitanya Sumiran for all participants below 65 years. 18. ANAND SUMIRAN (COSMIC BLISS YOGA) This Group teaches seekers to learn to be grounded in Cosmic Bliss. It is essential to do Reiki Pragya before Anand Sumiran for all participants below 65 years. 19. PREM SUMIRAN (COSMIC LOVE YOGA) This Group teaches seekers to learn to be grounded in Cosmic Love. It is essential to do Jiwan and Moksha Pragya before Prem Sumiran for all participants below 65 years. 20. CHAITANYA PAD (EXISTENTIAL CONSCIOUSNESS YOGA) This Group teaches seekers to learn to be grounded in Existential Consciousness. It is essential to do Ayurved Pragya for all participants below 65 years before Chaitanya Pad. 21. ANANDA PAD (EXISTENTIAL BLISS YOGA) This Group teaches seekers to learn to be grounded in Existential Bliss. It is essential to do Yoga Course-1 or any other Yoga Course (Yoga Course 2,3,4) for all participants below 65 years before Anand Pad. 22. PREM PAD (EXISTENTIAL LOVE YOGA) This Group teaches seekers to learn to be grounded in Existential Love. It is essential to do Sammohan and Mahajiwan Pragya for all participants below 65 years before Prem Pad. 23. PRABHU PAD (ULTIMATE CONSCIOUSNESS YOGA) This Group teaches seekers to be grounded in in Sat (Truth), Chit (Consciousness) and Ananda (Bliss) form of Godliness. It is essential to do Right Mindfulness for all participants below 65 years before Prabhu Pad.

Page 24 24

24. GOVIND PAD (ULTIMATE WELLNESS YOGA) This Group teaches seekers to learn to be grounded in Satyam (Ultimate Truth), Shivam (Ultimate Wellness) and Sundaram (Ultimate Beauty) form of Godliness. It is essential to do Prem Pragya for all participants below 65 years before Govind Pad. 25. BRAHMA PAD (ULTIMATE LOVE YOGA) This Group teaches seekers to learn to be in loving embrace with Godliness and a sense of fulfilment within. It is essential to do all the Pragya programs for all participants below 65 years before Brahmapad. 26. PARAM PAD (ULTIMATE BLISS YOGA) This Group is conducted in total silence in which seekers learn to live in Ultimate bliss leading to Fifth Enlightenment. It is essential to do all the Pragya

programs for all participants below 65 years before Parampad. 27. ABHAY PAD (ETERNAL LOVE YOGA) This Group teaches seekers to live in Eternal Love with Godliness all the time. It is essential to do all the Pragya programs for all participants below 65 years before Prabhu Pad. 28. CHARAIVETI (ETERNAL BLISS YOGA) This Group teaches seek to learn Enlightened Living in Eternal bliss. It is essential to do all the Pragya programs for all participants below 65 years before Charaiverti. All the Charaiveti graduates are given third initiation by enrolling them as members of Oshodhara Sant Sangha (OSS). It is advisable to do Charaiveti once every year to receive new tips from Siddharth for journey beyond.

Pragya Programs Anand Pragya is an integral part of Dhyan Samadhi Program. In addition 42 Pragya programs have been designed and are being conducted on regular basis, out of which first 21 programs are essential for all participants below 65 years at some level of Samadhi/Sumiran Programs.

Level 1-8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25-28

Enlightened Living Program Vipassana Samadhi – Chaitanya Samadhi Gyan Samadhi Anand Samadhi Prem Samadhi Kaivalya Samadhi Nirvaan Samadhi Sahaj Sumiran Shabda Sumiran Chaitanya Sumiran Anand Sumiran Prem Sumiran Chaitanya Pad Anand Pad Prem Pad Prabhu Pad Govind Pad Brahma Pad- Charaiveti

Essential Pragya Ananda Pragya Kayakalpam Nature Healing Dampatya/Vatsalya Women Empowerment Mudra /Swasthya Hans/Maitri Mystic Rose/Osho Pragya Homeo Reiki Pragya Jivan/Moksha Ayurved Yoga Course-1 Sammohan/Mahajiwan Right Mindfulness Prem Pragya All of the above

Page 2525

1. KAYAKALPAM (TOTAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT) This is a 3-days (5-days online) program meant for experiencing Total Health Management, Total Yoga Therapy, Belly fat loss and weight loss. The program is conducted by a team of experts under strict dietdiscipline in a lush green forest environment. Overweight participants are expected to lose 2-3 kgs weight per month by practicing the methods taught here. It is essential to do Kayakalpam program before Gyan Samadhi for all participants below 65 years.

program is open to all. It is essential to do this program before attending Advait Samadhi for all participants below 65 years.

2. NATURE HEALING Love energy released by lush green trees, flowing streams and chirping birds heals body, mind and soul. Experience this 6-days ( 6-days online) Nature Healing program. It is essential to do this program before Anand Samadhi for all participants below 65 years.

8. MUDRA CHIKITSA (MUDRA HEALING) This is a 3-days (4-days online) program to understand secrets of five elements depicted in our five fingers and thereby healing our most of the ailments. It is essential to do this program for all participants below 65 years before Nirvaan Samadhi.

3. DAMPATYA PRAGYA (MARITAL LIVING) This is a 3-days (4-days online) program of Happy Marital Living, which covers all dimensions of married life to make it a joyful experience. Entry in this program is granted to everyone. It is essential to do this program before Prem Samadhi for all participants below 65 years. before for all participants below 65 years before Sahaj Sumiran.

9. SWASTHYA PRAGYA (HEALTHY LIVING) This is a 3-days (4-days online) program to understand right diet, right exercise and right medication for total health management. It is essential to do this program Nirvaan for all participants below 65 years before Nirvaan Samadhi.

4. VATSALYA PRAGYA (PARENTAL LIVING) This is a 3-days (4-days online) program on parenting wisdom which covers various aspects of parenting including child psychology, parenting styles, parents behaviours and parenting problems to help in proper growth of children. It is essential to do this program before Prem Samadhi for all participants below 65 years. 5. GAYAN PRAGYA (LEARNING SINGING) This is a 3-days (5-days online) program for learning how to sing for self-joy and tread on path of devotion. It is essential to do this program before joining Samadhi for all participants below 65 years. 6. UMANG PRAGYA (THRILFUL LIVING) This is a 3-days (4-days online) program in which one learns how to live a life free from anxiety and full of thrill and love in relaxed awareness. This

7. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT It is 4-days online program to enable women participants to feel empowered in all walks of life. However, in order to appreciate role of women in the family as well as society it is essential to do this program for all participants below 65 years before Kaivalya Samadhi.

10. HANS PRAGYA (EFFECTIVE LIVING) This is a 3-days (4-days online) program based on 8 habits propagated by Stephen R. Covey and some other special qualities to make a person effective and great. It also teaches Mid-Brain Activation techniques, which helps in activating third eye and improves quality of sleep, memory and intelligence. It is essential to do this program. 11. MAITRI PRAGYA (FREINDLY LIVING) This is a 3-days (4-days online) program which teaches us how to win friends. After attending this program you can enjoy living with your friends and family members. It also includes positive conditioning of the child in the womb. It is essential to do this program before for all participants below 65 years before Sahaj Sumiran.

26 Page 26

12. MYSTIC ROSE This is a 6-days (5-days online) meditative therapy in which participants go through crying, laughing, meditative sessions related to Watcher on the Hills and Mystic Rose. In addition the participants are taught Divine Healing to restore Ultimate Health through Witnessing and Mudra Therapy. It is essential to do this program for all participants below 65 years before Shabda Sumiran.

18. YOGA FOUNDATION COURSE (YOGA COURSE-1)

13. HOMEO PRAGYA (LEARNING HOMEOPATHY) This is a 6-days (9-days online) program which teaches art and science of Homeopathy. After attending this program you can heal yourself, your friends and family members. It is essential to do this program for all male Indian participants below 65 years before Chaitanya Sumiran.

19. SAMMOHAN PRAGYA (HYPNOSIS) This is a 3-days (5 days online) special program on Hypnosis to live a healthy and wealthy life. By doing this program you become free from chronic diseases, conditionings and undesirable habits. It is essential to do this program before Prem Pad for all participants below 65 years.

14. REIKI PRAGYA (REIKI-1 & REIKI-2) This is a 6-days (9-days online) program which inculcates the divine art of Reiki Touch Healing (Reiki level I) and Reiki Distance Healing (Reiki level II). It is essential to do Reiki group before attending Reiki Acharya (Reiki Master Healer), Acharya Shree and Anand Sumiran for all participants below 65 years.

20. MAHAJEEVAN PRAGYA (PAST LIFE REGRESSION) This is a 3-days (4-days online) special online program on Past Life Regression and Life between Lives. It is advisable to attend Mystic Rose and Sammohan Pragya before attending Mahajiwan Pragya for better results. It is essential to do this program before Prem Pad for all participants below 65 years.

15. JEEVAN PRAGYA (ART OF LIVING) This is a 3-days (4-days online) program which teaches us how to live a healthy and long life for 100 years. It is essential to do this program before Prem Sumiran for all participants below 65 years. 16. MOKSHA PRAGYA (BONDAGE FREE LIVING) This is a 3-days (4-days online) program in which one learns what are the bondages on the path of salvation, how to get rid of them and attain Moksha or Nirvaan. It is essential to do this program before Prem Sumiran for all participants below 65 years. 17. AYURVED PRAGYA (AYURVEDA LEARNING) This 6-days (9-days online) program generates general awareness about Ayurved and its various dimensions. After attending this program you will know the art and science of Ayurved and its application. It is essential to do this program before Chaitanya Pad for all participants below 65 years.

This is a 30-days online program to make you aware of basics of Yoga. The course is equivalent to Yoga Volunteer Certificate and is first part of the comprehensive Yoga Wellness Course leading to Yoga Instructor Course of AYUSH department of Government of India and Yoga Alliance of North America. It is essential to do this program before Anand Pad for all participants below 65 years.

21. RIGHT MINDFULNESS It is a 4-days Online (3-days Offline) Happiness program. All Dhyan Samadhi Graduates can join this. It decodes Sammasati of Gautam the Buddha. It is essential to do this program before Prabhu Pad for all participants below 65 years.

22. PREM PRAGYA (LIVING IN LOVE) This is a 3-days (4-days online) program wherein one learns living in love outside as well as inside. It is essential to do this program before Govind Pad for all participants below 65 years. 23. OSHO PRAGYA (WISDOM OF OSHO) This is a 3-days (5-days online) program covering whole treasure of spirituality from A to Z through Eightfold path of Osho. It is essential to do this program before Shabda Sumiran for all participants below 65 years.

Page 27

27

24. MAGICAL LIVING This is a 5-days online program to learn the art of living in gratitude in daily life. One feels magical transformation in attitude which leads to healthy, wealthy and happy living. The program is based on methods suggested by Rhonda Byrne in her book ‘The Magic.’ 25. SATORI (KUNDALINI AWAKEINING) It is a 10-days Online Kundalini Awakening organized during Chaitra (April) and Ashwin (October) Navratri. It leads to Enlightenment with respect to Divine Energy. 26. KP Astrology Krishnamurthy Paddhati is an 9-days online program. It uses basic principles of Vedic astrology and analyses are made in a different way based on Nakshatras and Sub Lords. It is best technique to predict any event in one’s Horoscope accurately. It is easy to understand and easy to apply. Main aim of Astrology is to minimize the problems & sorrows to maximize the positive aspects of life or bliss by understanding the destiny patterns. 27. ASTROVASTU Astrovastu is a 9-days online program. It is the synchronization of astrology and Vaastu Shastra. It can establish a relationship between space around a person with the inner world of human consciousness. It is a technique to enhance health, happiness, wealth along with contentment by balancing the energies of each direction. This can be applied to home, office or energies. 28. ACHARYA PRAGYA After doing Amrit Samadhi and enrolling as Members of Oshodhara Maitri Sangh one can do Online Acharya Pragya program. This is a 9-days online program which prepares Acharyas of Oshodhara who can conduct Ananda Pragya and Bal Pragya Groups. 29. ACHARYASHREE Advait Samadhi graduates can take part in Acharya Shree, a 9-days online program, after completing Acharya Pragya. Acharya Shree is authorized to conduct Dhyan Samadhi and associate in conducting higher

programs under the leadership of Siddharth and/or leading Acharya shrees authorized by Siddharth.

30. REIKI MASTER (REKI-3) Reiki Pragya (Reiki-1 & 2) can take part in Reiki Master program. This is a 9-days group (online as well as offline) through which you can master yourself through Reiki healing energy & the Master Symbol. The course content includes: - Identify different energies; Entities/Spirits in the various energy bodies/aura & release them - Perform Past Life healing & Soul Retrieval - Discussions on Black Magic, Curses etc & how Reiki can heal, resolve/ breakdown these damaging frequencies - Deeper understanding between the Physical, Mental, Emotional & Spiritual bodies & the issues present in people - Setting the path for a deeper inner healing & awareness as we continue our journey inwards & onwards. 31. ANGEL HEALING This is a 6-days online and 3-days offline group. It is one of the most powerful and miraculous healing modalities, not just for physical, financial and emotional healing, but also spiritual healing. The simple reason being, by invoking Angels we call upon the higher beings, who are messengers and instruments of God, who have special powers to reach out and heal people at all levels. 32. CRYSTAL HEALING This is a 3-days online group in which crystals and other stones are used to cure ailments and protect against disease. Proponents of this technique believe that crystals act as conduits for healing — allowing positive, healing energy to flow into the Mind, body & Soul and force negative, diseasecausing energy to flows out. 33. SAMRIDHI PRAGYA This is a 6-days (9-days online) group in which we learn to remove negative energy blocks of money and prosperity that are stopping you from growing in your career and wealth.

Page 28

28

34. YOGACHARYA This is a 6-days online group available to Mudra Healing graduates. It teaches how to conduct Mudra Healing program. 35. BALOTSAV PRAGYA It is a 9-days online group (6-days offline) which teaches children (8-15 years) Eightfold path of Lord Buddha, Nature love, Meditations, Craft, Painting, aerobics and dance. Offline program includes MidBrain activation also. 36. KISHORE PRAGYA This is an 8 days Online group (6-days offline), which combines Hans Pragya (Effective Living) and Maitri Pragya (Friendly Living). It is best suited to students, teens and youths. It prepares them for a successful innings in their life 37. MIDBRAIN ACTIVATION Midbrain activation is a 5 days online group for children between 5 to 15 years. Based on ancient yoga and modern research, this program improves concentration, confidence and memory retention skills. Various exercises are taught which helps to balance Right and Left Brain, improves creativity, better self-control and better personally. 38. MIND EMPOWERMENT-1 (NLP-1) It is a 3-days (5-days Online program) to understand our Mind's processing to eliminate Negativity like Fear, Phobia, Anxiety, Past painful memory, Limiting Belief, Negative thought and explore inner strategy to achieve Health, Wealth, Loving Relation and Success with advance science.

39. MIND EMPOWERMENT-2 (NLP-2) It is a 9-days Online program to discover Mind Mastery Methods by learning Advance NLP tools Techniques as well as easy way to Attract Abundance in every dimension and become Benedictory to Society by exploring Counsellor and NLP Trainer inside you.

40. YOGA CERTIFICATE COURSE (YOGA COURSE-2) This is a 60-days online program to make you aware of advance Yoga practices. The course is equivalent to Yoga Protocol Instructor and is second part of the comprehensive Yoga Course leading to Yoga Wellness Instructor Course of AYUSH department of Government of India. This course is approved by AYUSH Dept of Government of India and Yoga Alliance of North America. 41. Yoga Teacher Course(YOGA COURSE-3) This is a 90-days online program to enable you to become a Yoga teacher. The course is equivalent to Yoga Wellness Instructor Course of AYUSH department of Government of India. This course is approved by AYUSH Dept of Government of India and Yoga Alliance of North America. 42. YOGA TEACHER AND EVALUATOR COURSE (YOGA COURSE-4) This is a 120-days online program to enable you to become a Yoga teacher and Evaluator. This course is approved by AYUSH Dept of Government of India and Yoga Alliance of North America. PLEASE SEE PAGE 30 AND 31 FOR DETAILS ON Siddharth Yogapeeth (Unit of ONDM), which has been registered and certified by Yoga Certification Board of Ministry of Ayush, www.yogacertificationboard.nic.in and Yoga Alliance of U.S.A., www.yogaalliance.org Siddharth Yogapeeth conducts various yoga courses.

CONTACT FOR BOOKING: Oshodhara Nanak Dham, Murthal N.H.1, 50th Milestone, GT Road, Murthal, Sonepat, Haryana - 131027 (India) Mobile No.- +919671400196 / 3 Email: [email protected] www.ondm.org

Page 29 29

Siddharth Yogapeeth (Unit of ONDM)

As per Yogic scriptures the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, Man & Nature. Under the guidance of Enlightened Master "Samarthguru Siddharth Aulia", Siddharth Yogapeeth (Unit of ONDM) conducts various yoga courses to spread Yoga around the world through rightly trained Yoga Acharyas. Siddharth Yogapeeth is registered with Govt. of India Ministry of AYUSH. Courses conducted here are recognized worldwide.

Foundation Course in Yoga

The foundation yoga course is designed to impart the basic knowledge of Yoga and skills for yoga selfpractice. Training focus on the basic Asana practice, philosophy of yoga, pranayama, and meditation techniques. Get introduced to various aspects of Yoga and its applications for your overall well-being. Eligibility – 16 years of age; Duration – 50 hours. Page 30

Siddharth Yogapeeth (Unit of ONDM) Level 1: Beginner to intermediate Teacher's Training Course (TTC-200), Certification - Yoga Alliance, USA, Style: Hatha Yoga

This course is for becoming a certified Yoga teacher. You will understand pranayama, meditation, and Yoga philosophy extensively and its practical applications in daily life. The course will help you enhance your teaching skills and personal practice. Certified Yoga Professionals are qualified as Yoga Protocol Instructors. They can teach the basics of Yoga and conduct Yoga practice commercially. Eligibility – 10th Std & 18 Years of Age; Duration – 28 Days Mode – Residential with meals; Language: Hindi/English

Level-2 Teacher's Training Course. Yoga Wellness Instructor - YWI (ATTC-500)

The course will provide in-depth knowledge of Yoga. This will strengthen your practice and learning of Yoga and further build your skills in the yogic field. It develops the skills needed for teaching Advanced Yoga. Certified Yoga Professionals (Yoga Wellness Instructors) can teach Yoga to prevent illness and promote wellness in schools, studios, workplaces, Yoga wellness centers/ Primary Health care centers, etc. Eligibility – Successful graduates of Teacher's Training Course TTC-200.

Page 31

.In the late -19th century, Yoga came to the attention of Westerners primarily through the efforts of Swami Vivekananda, who toured Europe and the U.S. in the 1890s to spread knowledge about Hinduism among intellectuals. Vivekananda did much to bring attention to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. [Source: Lecia Bushak, Medical Daily, October 21, 2015] Swami Vivekananda's emphasis on self-control, meditation, and psychology appealed to many who challenged institutionalized religion. He encouraged his disciples to turn inward, toward the self, rather than outward, toward external authorities. But he wasn't a fan of yoga poses — and those are what most enthusiasts in the Eastern and Western parts of the world envision when we think of yoga. David Gordon White, in "Yoga, Brief History of an Idea," wrote: "Vivekananda's rehabilitation of what he termed "Rāja Yoga" is exemplary, for its motives, its influences, and its content. Vivekananda seized upon the symbolic power of yoga as a genuinely Indian, yet non-sectarian, type of applied philosophy that could be wielded as a "unifying sign of the Indian nation . . . not only for national consumption but for consumption by the entire world". For Vivekananda, Rāja Yoga, or "classical yoga," was the science of yoga taught in the Yoga Sūtras by Patanjali. So it was that Vivekananda defined rāja yoga as the supreme contemplative path to self-realization, in which the self so realized was the supreme self, the absolute brahman or god-self within. While Vivekananda's influence on present-day understandings of yoga theory is incalculable, his indifference for the means and ends of hatha yoga

practice was such that that form of yoga—the principal traditional source of modern postural yoga—was slow to be embraced by the world of his times. WHEN THE WORLD REALISED THE IMPORTANCE OF YOGA

Due to the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi Ji’s relentless efforts, June 21 was declared International Yoga Day by UN General Assembly (UNGA). On December 11, 2014, the 193membered UNGA approved the proposal by consensus, with a record 177 co-sponsoring countries passing the resolution to establish June 21 as the "International Day of Yoga." In its resolution, the UNGA endorsed that "Yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being apart from striking a balance between all aspects of life. The wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practicing Yoga would benefit the world population's health." This infused an era of holistic health revolution in the country in which more attention was given to prevention than cure. The main event marking the first International Yoga Day was held at Rajpath in the national capital on June 21, 2015, and set two Guinness World Records. One of the largest Yoga sessions ever in the world, which saw the participation of 35,985 Yoga enthusiasts. The second was for attending the same Yoga session by participants from 84 countries. The eighth International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21 this year. Yoga has gained immense importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we face the new variants of Corona in 2023 the upcoming Yoga day assumes special significance as it gives a message to embrace Yoga for preventing the disease by increasing immune function. The Narendra Modi Government created a separate AYUSH Ministry in 2014, intending to get global recognition for Ayurveda and Yoga.

Page 32

32

YOGA IS INDIA'S ANCIENT CULTURAL HERITAGE: Yoga is a science based on spiritual study. It establishes coordination between the mind and body. Yoga is the confluence of art and science which guides us to live a healthy life. As per the root word Yuji in Sanskrit, Yoga means to join or unite. It is said that Yoga practice connects our individual consciousness to universal consciousness. The origin of Yoga is considered to date back to the Indus-Saraswathi Valley Civilization period, which is nearly 2700 BC ago. Even in the pre-Vedic period, Yoga was practiced. Maharishi Patanjali was the first to organize and codify the then-ancient practices through his systematic treatise Yoga Sutra. He is also called the father of traditional yoga because of his immense contribution to the field. Scholars after him have also made a tremendous contribution towards the conservation and development of Yoga by documenting the Yoga practices and promoting it worldwide. In the present times, millions are benefiting from Yoga. The various medical studies undertaken recently highlight the benefits of Yoga exercises on the body and mind. EFFORTS TO BOOST YOGA Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the UNGA in 2014 highlighting the importance of Yoga received wide acceptance from the international community, which helped in its global proliferation. In February 2016, the National Board for Promotion and Development of Yoga & Naturopathy (NBPDYN) was established to improve the quality of yoga training available to the citizens. For this purpose, professionals from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Indian Institute of Technology were involved. India plays a significant role in organizing various events at the global level for International Yoga Day. As the nodal ministry, the AYUSH has also released a standard Yoga protocol in which youths and senior citizens can comfortably participate in a 45-minute program. Under a pilot project, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers are getting Yoga training in Pune for its promotion in rural areas. After Yogasana was made a competitive sport in the country, AYUSH and Sports ministries are now taking steps to establish Yogasana as a competitive sport globally. Yoga has also been part of the 'Fit India Movement.' In 2021, Yoga was given recognition as a sport in Thirty states/Union Territories, and now preparations are in full swing to hold the first edition of the Yoga competition. Yoga teaching has become indispensable in the present time. To promote Yoga among the student community in the country, NCERT has added Yoga to the curriculum of grades 1 to 10. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, much attention is being paid to yoga training through 12,500 Ayush Health and Welfare centers. Through regular Yoga exercises, immunity is enhanced manifold. Various scientific studies have proved beyond doubt that Yoga makes every body cell healthy and robust. "Yoga can play an essential role in achieving our ancient philosophy of वसुधैव कुटु़िंबकम (Universal Brotherhood). Yoga is one of the most direct, effective, zero-cost, and safe ways to positively change physically inactive lifestyles. Moreover, the scientifically proven health benefits of Yoga practice are extant, varying from the enhancement of muscular strength and body flexibility, improved respiratory and cardiovascular function, recovery from addiction, reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and

chronic pain, improved sleep patterns, to the enhancement of overall well-being. Given the proven potential of Yoga in the combat of complex health-related issues of worldwide concern, the popularity of Yoga has spread far beyond India, the country of its origin. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Yoga was documented as the most popular form of complementary therapy practiced by more than 13 million adults. The inception of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) has also been considered one of the significant recognitions of India's soft power. Though there was evident popularity of Yoga even before the inception of IDY, the massive participation of thousands of people in the annual celebrations of IDY further steered the rising popularity of Yoga. These annual celebrations are mostly coupled with the organization of many scientific seminars and conferences which endorse significant contributions of Yoga. On the 2nd annual celebration of IDY, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed all the yoga institutions to take up several programs to promote yoga for diabetes. This led the local administration into a series of activities, which included the Yoga for good life conclave. An essential outcome of the event was the planning and successful execution of a mega nationwide project called Niyantrita Madhumeha Bharata Abhiyan. The project aimed to provide scientific evidence that the increasing prevalence of diabetes in India could be halted through a Yoga based lifestyle program. In the same year, when surveyed across the nation, 92.6 percent of the Indian population perceived Yoga as helpful practice for lifestyle modifications.

This increased positivity in the perception of Yoga and its awareness in the Indian population could be linked to the International Day of Yoga. There have been extensive surveys that assessed the motivational factors underlying Yoga practice. The most commonly cited factors were general wellness, health and fitness, a specific

health condition, and improved immune function and energy. As evident from the scientific literature, there has been a concomitant increase in the popularity of yoga across western countries following 2015, particularly in the United States, Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

In the last few years, a new development, perhaps the most significant development in the modern history of Yoga, has been taking shape—in India. There, a charismatic homespun yoga guru named Yoga Rishi Swami Ramdev (Baba Ramdev) has been transforming a north Indian yoga center featuring large-scale "yoga camps "into a populist movement." Called the Patanjali Yoga Shrine and Heavenly Yoga Temple." Millions of his followers also follow his sermons and yoga demonstrations on television in India and abroad.

Page 33 33

. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi (Director, Morarji Desai Dr. National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. The following paragraphs are edited excerpts from Dr. Basavaraddi's Article on Yoga: Its Origin, History and Development – Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. Yoga is an art and science of healthy living. As per Yogic scriptures, the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, Man & Nature. According to modern scientists, everything in the universe is just a manifestation of the same quantum firmament. One who experiences this oneness of existence is said to be in Yoga and is termed a yogi, having attained a state of freedom referred to as Mukti, Nirvana, or Moksha. Thus, the aim of Yoga is Self-realization, to overcome all kinds of sufferings leading to 'the state of liberation' (Moksha) or 'freedom' (Kaivalya). Yoga is believed to have started at the very dawn of civilization. The science of Yoga originated thousands of years ago, long before the first religions or belief systems were born. In the yogic lore, Shiva is seen as the first yogi or Adiyogi and the first Guru or Adi Guru. Seals and fossil remains of the Indus Saraswati valley civilization with Yogic motives and figures performing Yoga Sadhana suggest the presence of Yoga in ancient India. Yoga is available in folk traditions, Indus valley civilization, Vedic and Upanishadic heritage, and Buddhist and Jain traditions Though Yoga was practiced in the pre-Vedic period, the great Sage Maharshi Patanjali systematized and codified the thenexisting Yoga practices, their meaning, and related knowledge through his Yoga Sutras. After Patanjali, many Sages and Yoga Masters contributed significantly to the field's preservation and development through their well-documented practices and literature. Historical evidence of the existence of Yoga was seen in the pre-Vedic period (2700 B.C.) and after that till Patanjali's period. The primary sources from which we get the information about Yoga practices and the related literature during this period. Tentatively, the period between 500 BC - 800 A.D. is considered the Classical period, the most fertile and prominent period in the history and development of Yoga.

This period witnessed Vyasa's commentaries on Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad-Gita (elaborated the concept of Gyan yoga, Bhakti yoga, and Karma Yoga, the highest example of human wisdom), other texts, and two great religious teachers of India –Mahavir and Buddha. The period between 1700 - 1900 A.D. is considered a Modern period in which the great Yogacharyas- Ramana Maharshi, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, and Vivekananda contributed to the development of Raja Yoga. This was when Vedanta, Bhakti yoga, Nathayoga, or Hatha-yoga, Hathayogapradipika, flourished primarily in the West, in the USA, and Europe. However, just three Sutras are dedicated to asanas among the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Hatha yoga is a preparatory process for the body to sustain higher energy levels. The process begins with the body, then the breath, the mind, and the inner self. Yoga is also commonly understood as a therapy or exercise system for health and fitness. While physical and mental health is natural consequences of Yoga, the goal of Yoga is more far-reaching. "Yoga is about harmonizing oneself with the universe. It is the technology of aligning individual geometry with the cosmic to achieve the highest level of perception and harmony.“ Yoga does not adhere to any particular religion, belief system, or community; it has always been approached as a technology for inner well-being. Anyone who practices Yoga with involvement can reap its benefits, irrespective of one's faith, ethnicity, or culture. Yoga works on one's body, mind, emotions, and energy levels. This has given rise to four broad classifications of Yoga: karma yoga, where we utilize the body; bhakti yoga, where we use the emotions; gyana yoga, where we utilize the mind and intellect; and kriya yoga, where we use the energy systems. All the ancient commentaries on Yoga have stressed that it is essential to work under the direction of a Guru. The reason is that only a Guru can mix the appropriate combination of the four absolute paths necessary for each seeker. Yoga Education aims to take care of the individual, the 'Being.' It is presumed that a good, balanced, integrated, truthful, clean, transparent person will benefit oneself, their family, society, nation, nature, and humanity.

Page 34

34

. Growing Popularity of Yoga and Meditation

in the U.S.A. and Worldwide Yoga first gained prominence in the West by the late 19th century. The practice became widely popular in Western societies by the 1980s and remains popular worldwide. Yoga is increasingly popular among adults in the United States. The number of people doing yoga in the United States has experienced a steady increase since at least 2010. That year, around 21 million U.S. Americans reported having done yoga at least once. By 2021, that number had reached roughly 34.4 million, denoting a 63.8 percent increase in yoga participants in the North American country. (Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 8, 2022). Contemporary practices of yoga in modern Western societies focus on fitness and physical exercise, while its traditional Indian counterpart was mainly a spiritual exercise with a focus on meditation. Many styles and philosophies currently exist associated with yoga that range from the energetic to the calm and meditative. The different yoga schools each have specific attributes that may suit an individual's needs. Some of the most popular types of yoga practiced in the United States include Acro Yoga, a physical practice that combines yoga and acrobatics; Power Yoga, a discipline that combines stretching, strength training, and meditative breathing; as well as Anasura, a relatively new form of yoga which incorporates principles of alignment with a playful spirit. The wellness industry in the U.S. The wellness industry refers to activities that promote a healthy lifestyle by maintaining people's physical and mental well-being. Not only are yoga and pilates studios prevalent within the industry, but they also generate billions in revenue. In 2021, the market size of pilates and yoga studios in the U.S. amounted to nearly 9.9 billion U.S. dollars. Overall, there were about 39 thousand yoga and pilates businesses in the U.S. that year. There are currently 7,000 yoga studios in the US, and 100,000 yoga teachers registered with the Yoga

Alliance, founded in 1997, (4201 Wilson Blvd #600 Arlington, VA 22203, USA), is the largest nonprofit association representing the yoga community.

• • • • • •

• •

• • •

Statista reports 55 million Americans now practice yoga. Women aged between 30 and 49 years old are the group who practice yoga the most. 28% of yoga practitioners are male. Yoga grew in popularity by 63.8% between 2010 and 2021. Global yoga industry statistics estimate the market size to be over $88 billion. Yoga was also declared the most commonly used complementary health practice among US adults in 2017. Hatha is the most practiced style of yoga. People in the US spend $16 billion on yoga classes and equipment annually, and it looks to keep rising. An estimate suggests there are 300 million yoga practitioners worldwide. The yoga industry is worth over $88 billion globally. Statistics show that meditation has grown in popularity and has become another go-to complementary health approach for Americans.

Use of MEDITATION APPS Worldwide The segment Meditation Apps includes Meditation apps that help users keep calm, control their emotions during stressful periods, and concentrate on the present moment. The most popular apps in this segment are Headspace, Calm, and Ten Percent Happier. The user base covers paying and non-paying customers. The revenue figures include revenues from paid apps offering premium options and in-app purchases; revenues from app downloads and advertising are not included.

• The data only reflects B2C revenues; B2B and C2C revenues are not included: Revenue in the Meditation Apps segment will reach US$4 billion in 2022. • Revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (2022-2027) of 14%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$7 billion by 2027. • User penetration will be 2.5% in 2022 and is expected to hit 3.5% by 2027. The average revenue per user is expected to amount to US$20. • In global comparison, most revenue will be generated in the United States (US$816 million in 2022).

Page 3535

. The two related but distinct practices of yoga and meditation are becoming a lot less alternative and a lot more mainstream. According to two new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) studies, both practices have risen in "prevalence" from 2012 to 2017. Interestingly, kids were the group whose practices rose the most strongly, particularly for meditation. The CDC used National Health Interview Survey interviews from 2012 and 2017, in which people around the country were queried about their use of yoga, meditation, and chiropractic in the past 12 months. The researchers analyzed changes in the use of the practices, breaking them down by age, gender, and race. Yoga was a "combination of breathing exercises, meditation, and physical postures, of Hindu origin, used to achieve a state of relaxation and balance of mind, body, and spirit."

For adults, it's also probably a combination of the ubiquity of yoga studios and meditation apps and the media coverage of the plethora of studies showing what the practices can do for the body and mind over a lifetime. Meditation, in particular, affects everything from depression symptoms to attention to creativity to brain health as we age. And most of us by now have a friend who swears by their practice, which can do a lot to shift a person's attitude and openness to trying it out. As science continues to illustrate the many benefits of the practices, it wouldn't be surprising if their popularity continues to rise even more steeply in the coming years. Sources: Statista | USA Today | Harvard Health Publishing | Yoga Alliance | National Institutes of Health | Yogi Times | Yoga Alliance | IBIS World | Book Retreats | Serenity Yoga https://www.thegoodbody.com/yoga-statistics/ Wellness Creative Co. | Yoga Alliance

Meditation included everything from mantra and Transcendental Meditation® to mindfulness meditation (vipassana, Zen Buddhist meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy) to "spiritual meditation," which included prayer and contemplative meditation. The rise in popularity of yoga and meditation represents a general shift in attitude due to many things. More and more schools are using meditation and yoga for kids and sharing their positive results with others. Additionally, more and more studies are showing how powerful the practices can be for brain and behavioral development in kids.

Page 36

36

. Alexander the Great's brief conquest of Punjab brought early contact between Greco-Roman philosophical traditions, such as Stoicism, and Indian darshanas, such as yoga and Theravada Buddhism, as early as the fourth century BC. However, no positive evidence of extensive contact and interchange between the South Asian and Western intellectual worlds can be traced back further than the aggressive Jesuit missionary ventures into India in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, an increasing number of missionary reports sparked enough interest to prompt Voltaire (1694–1778) to unabashedly proclaim that India, and not Mesopotamia, was the birthplace of both the world's civilizations and its core—and more or less universal—religious doctrines. It was at this moment in the eighteenth century that the new European "science" of Indology was inaugurated, taking root in the direct and indirect translation of Sanskrit literary, religious, and philosophical classics, such as Kalidasa's Shakuntala, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyan, and the Upanishads, by such figures as William Jones (1746–1794), Charles Wilkins (1749– 1836), H. Thomas Colebrooke (1765–1837) and A. H. Anquetil Duperron (1731–1805). Common to these pioneers of Indian studies in Great Britain and on the Continent were the convictions that the Sanskrit language was the earliest manifestation of a "common source" of all European languages and an insistence that the study of classical Indian philosophy could enhance and renew the European philosophical tradition.

Despite these reservations, both philosophers J. G. Herder (1744–1803) and Friedrich Schlegel (1772–1829) thought that the oldest forms of Vedic religious symbols and ethical "compassion" could serve as a remedy for what they perceived as the artificial and arid technicalism of Enlightenment post-Kantian Idealism and the mechanization of European society at large, set in motion by the industrial revolution. Many of the world's greatest thinkers admired the Vedas as great repositories of advanced knowledge and high thinking. Some of the famous intellectuals in the Western world had the following things to say about Sanatan Dharma Francois Voltaire: (1694 – 1778): Voltaire was a versatile writer, rationalist, and philosopher. Victor Hugo says, "To name Voltaire is to characterize the entire eighteenth century." As such, he is considered one of the most significant literary figures of the eighteenth century, and he was also influenced by the Vedas: "The Vedas was the most precious gift for which the West had ever been indebted to the East." ["A Critical Study of the Contribution of the Arya Samaj to Indian Education," p. 68.] "I am convinced that everything has come down to us from the banks of the Ganges - astronomy, astrology, metempsychosis, etc. ... It is imperative to note that some 2,500 years ago, at the least Pythagoras went from Samos to the Ganges to learn geometry ... But he would certainly not have undertaken such a strange journey had the reputation of the Brahmins' science not been long established in Europe" [Voltaire, Lettres sur l'origine des sciences et sur celle des peuples de l'Asie (first published Paris, 1777), letter of 15 December 1775.] He believed reincarnation is a plausible idea. He thought that Christianity derived from Hinduism. He wrote to and assured Fredrick the Great of Prussia that "our holy Christian religion is solely based upon the ancient religion of Brahma." [On Hinduism Reviews and Reflections - By Ram Swarup p. 101-102].

Page 37 37

.

Lord Hastings

Lord Warren Hastings (1754-1826): Hastings was the first governor general of British India. Hastings was very much impressed with Hindu philosophy: "The writers of the Indian philosophies will survive, when the British dominion in India shall long have ceased to exist, and when the sources which it yielded of wealth and power are lost to remembrances."

Humboldt

William von Humboldt: (1767-1835): Humboldt was a Prussian philosopher and is recognized for his Humboldtian education ideal, which was the educational model during 19th century Prussia. However, his philosophical work can be found in "The Limits of State Action 11," written in 1791-1792 (though only published in 1850), where he defends the liberties of 'the Enlightenment.' Humboldt began to learn Sanskrit in 1821 and was incredibly moved by Schlegel's edition of the Bhagavad Gita, on which he published an extensive study and which he pronounced as: "The most beautiful, perhaps the only true philosophical song existing in any known tongue ....perhaps the deepest and loftiest thing the world has to show." [George Anastaplo (2002). [But Not Philosophy: Seven Introductions to NonWestern Thought. Lexington. P. 85.] "He thanked God for permitting him to live long enough to become acquainted with the Gita."

Schopenhauer Arthur Schopenhauer (1788 –1860): German philosopher, perhaps the most famous philosopher on this list. He is best known for his 1818 work The World as Will and Representation (expanded in 1844), which characterizes the phenomenal world as the product of a blind noumenal will. Schopenhauer is said to have taken the transcendental idealism of Immanuel Kant to an atheistic metaphysical, ethical system. He was one of the first thinkers in Western philosophy to incorporate Eastern philosophy. He was so impressed by the philosophy of Upanishads that he called them "the production of the highest human wisdom."

Page 38 38

.

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788 –1860): Contd. "Upanishads are the most satisfying and elevating reading (except for the original text) possible in the world; it has been the solace of my life and will be the solace of my death." [Clarke, John James (1997). Oriental enlightenment. Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-415-13376-0] Throughout his work "The World as Will and Representation" and "Tat Tvam Asi" (I am that), a Mahavakya from Chandogya Upanishad appears frequently. There is no religion or philosophy so sublime and elevating as Vedanta."[Kumbha Mela – by Jack Hebner and David Osborn p. preface – By Thomas Beaudry]. "According to me, the influence of Sanskrit literature on our time will not be lesser than what was in 16th century Greece's influence on Renaissance. One day India's wisdom will flow again on Europe and will totally transform our knowledge and thought." [The Soul of India – By Amaury de Riencourt p. 274-275] "From every sentence (of the Upanishads) deep, original and sublime thoughts arise, and the whole is pervaded by a high and holy and earnest spirit…." "In the whole world, there is no study so beneficial and so elevating as that of the Upanishads. They are destined sooner or later to become the faith of the people." "If the reader has also received the benefit of the Vedas, the access to which by means of the Upanishads is in my eyes the greatest privilege which this still young century (1818) may claim before all previous centuries if then the reader, I say, has received his initiation in primeval Indian wisdom, and received it with an open heart, he will be prepared in the very best way for hearing what I have to tell him. It will not sound to him strange, as too many others, much less disagreeable; for I might, if it did not sound conceited, contend that every one of the detached statements which constitute the Upanishads may be deduced as a necessary result from the fundamental thoughts which I have to enunciate, though those deductions themselves are by no means to be found there." [The World as Will and Representation Preface to the first edition, p. xiii]. " ... how early this basic truth was recognized by the sages of India since it appears as the fundamental tenet of the Vedanta philosophy ascribed to Vyasa" is proved by Sir William Jones in the last of his essays: 'On the Philosophy of the Asiatics' (Asiatic Researches, vol. IV, p. 164): ''The fundamental tenet of the Vedanta school consisted not in denying the existence of matter, that is solidity, impenetrability, and extended figure (to deny which would be lunacy), but in correcting the popular notion of it, and in contending that it has no essence independent of mental perception; that existence and perceptibility are convertible terms." [William Jones]

Page 39

39

Michelet

Emerson

Jules Michelet (1789-1874): French writer, the greatest historian of the romantic school said: "At its starting point in India, the birthplace of races and religions, the womb of the world." This is what Michelet said of the Ramayana: "Whoever has done or willed too much let him drink from this deep cup a long draught of life and youth........Everything is narrow in the West - Greece is small, and I stifle; Judea is dry, and I pant. Let me look toward lofty Asia and the profound East for a little while. There lies my great poem, as vast as the Indian Ocean, blessed, gilded with the sun, the book of divine harmony wherein is no dissonance. A serene peace reigns there, and in the midst of conflict an infinite sweetness, a boundless fraternity, which spreads over all living things, an ocean (without bottom or bound) of love, of pity, of clemency."

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882): Author, essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and the Unitarian minister said this about the Gita: "I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagavad-Gita. It was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us." Repelled by the increasing materialism of the West, Emerson turned to India for solace: "The Indian teaching, through its clouds of legends, has yet a simple and grand religion, like a queenly countenance seen through a rich veil. It teaches us to speak the truth, love others, and dispose of trifles." His famous poem " Brahma" is an example of his Vedantic ecstasy.

Thoreau Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862): American Philosopher, Unitarian, social critic, transcendentalist, and writer, said: "In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seems puny." "What extracts from the Vedas I have read fall on me like the light of a higher and purer luminary, which describes a loftier course through a purer stratum. It rises on me like the full moon after the stars have come out, wading through some far stratum in the sky." "In the great teaching of the Vedas, there is no touch of sectarianism. It is of all ages, climes, and nationalities and is the royal road for the attainment of the Great Knowledge."

Page 40

40

Müller Friedrich Max Müller (1823-1900): German philologist and Orientalist. He did more than any other scholar to popularize philology and mythology, such as his lectures in the Science of Language. Muller is best known for his series Sacred Books of the East. He wrote: "If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered over the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions of some of them which well deserve the attention even of those who have studied Plato and Kant, I should point to India." “And if I were to ask myself from what literature we who have been nurtured almost exclusively on the thoughts of Greeks and Romans, and of the Semitic race, the Jewish, may draw the corrective which is most wanted to make our inner life more perfect, more comprehensive, more universal, in fact, more truly human a life...again I should point to India." " I maintain that a study of Vedic literature is indispensable for everybody who cares for himself, for his ancestors, for his history, for his intellectual development.“

"The Upanishads are the...sources of... the Vedanta philosophy, a system in which human speculation seems to me to have reached its very acme." "I spend my happiest hours reading Vedantic books. They are to me like the light of the morning, like the pure air of the mountains - so simple, so true, if once understood."

Mark Twain Mark Twain (1835-1910): American writer and humorist said, "…land of religions, the cradle of human race, the birthplace of human speech, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of tradition. The land that all men desire to see and having seen once even by a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of the rest of the globe combined." "India has two million gods and worships them all. In religion, all other countries are paupers; India is the only millionaire." "So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked."

Page 41

41

Besant with J. Krishnamurthy

Annie Wood Besant (1847-1933): George Bernard Shaw regarded her as the " greatest woman public speaker of her time." Was a prominent leader of India's freedom movement, a member of the Indian National Congress, and of the Theosophical Society, said on India and Hinduism: "After a study of some forty years and more of the world's great religions, I find none so perfect, none so scientific, none so philosophical, and no so spiritual that the great religion known by the name of Hinduism. Make no mistake, without Hinduism, India has no future. Hinduism is the soil into which India's roots are stuck and torn out that she will inevitably wither as a tree torn out from its place. And if Hindus do not maintain Hinduism, who shall save it? If India's own children do not cling to her faith, who shall guard it. India alone can save India, and India and Hinduism are one.“ Annie Besant thought, "among the priceless teachings that may be found in the great Indian epic Mahabharata, there is none so rare and priceless as the Gita." "When we read the poetical and philosophical monuments of the East--above all, those of India, which are beginning to spread in Europe--we discover there many a truth, and truths so profound, and which make such a contrast with the meanness of the results at which European genius has sometimes stopped, that we are constrained to bend the knee before the philosophy of the East, and to see in this cradle of the human race the native land of the highest philosophy."

Rudolph Steiner (1861 – 1925): An Austrian occultist, social reformer, architect, esotericist, and claimed clairvoyant. The philosopher is known for his 'The Philosophy of Freedom' and is associated with the school of Monism, Holism in science, Goethean science, and Anthroposophy. He attempted to find the synergy between science and spirituality, which he termed "spiritual science" that applied clarity of Western thinking to answer spiritual questions in the world of mysticism. He, too, has drawn some influence from Hinduism. In doing so, he says: "In order to approach a creation as sublime as the Bhagavad-Gita with full understanding, it is necessary to attune our soul to it." He proposed that understanding reincarnation and karma was necessary to understand psychology. In an extensive series of lectures in 1924, Steiner presented further research on the successive reincarnation of various individualities and described the techniques he used for karma research [Rudolf Steiner, Reincarnation, and Karma: Concepts Compelled by the Modern Scientific Point of View, in Lucifer Gnosis 1903].

Page 42

Steiner

42

Rolland with Tagore

Whitehead

Romain Rolland (1866-1944): French Nobel laureate, professor of music history at the Sorbonne, and thinker. He authored a book on the " Life of Ramakrishna." He said this about India: "If there is one place on the face of the earth where all the dreams of living men had found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India." "Let us return to our eagle's nest in the Himalayas. It is waiting for us, for it is ours, eaglets of Europe. We need not renounce any part of our real nature...whence we formerly took our flight." Romain Rolland thought: "The true Vedantic spirit does not start with a system of preconceived ideas. It possesses absolute liberty and unrivaled courage among religions with regard to the facts to be observed and the diverse hypotheses it has laid down for their coordination. Never having been hampered by a priestly order, each man has been entirely free to search wherever he pleased for the spiritual explanation of the spectacle of the universe."

Alfred North Whitehead (1861 - 1947): Known for the school of process philosophy (which has today found application in many disciplines such as ecology, theology, education, physics, biology, economics, and psychology). His book 'Principia Mathematica” important contribution to the world of mathematical logic. It was only later that he turned to metaphysics and developed a comprehensive metaphysical system that seems to have taken its roots in Hinduism: "The vastest knowledge of today cannot transcend the buddhi of the Rishis in ancient India, and science in its most advanced stage now is closer to Vedanta than ever before." "Vedanta is the most impressive metaphysics the human mind has conceived." Count Hermann Keyserling (1880-1946): was a Baltic German philosopher – "Hinduism at its best has spoken the only relevant truth about the way to self-realization in the full sense of the word. Hinduism has produced the most profound metaphysics that we know of. The absolute superiority of India over the West in philosophy; poetry from the Mahabharata, containing the Bhagavad-Gita, perhaps the most beautiful work of the literature of the world."

Keyserling with Tagore

Bohr with Planck Niels Henrik David Bohr (1885-1962): (Nobel Prize in Physics 1922) was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory said – "I go into the Upanishads to ask questions."

Page 4343

Durant

Toynbee

Will Durant (1885-1981): American historian would like the West to learn from India, tolerance and gentleness and love for all living things: "Perhaps in return for conquest, arrogance, and spoliation, India will teach us the tolerance and gentleness of the mature mind, the quiet content of the unacquisitive soul, the calm of the understanding spirit, and a unifying, a pacifying love for all living things." "India was the motherland of our race, and Sanskrit the mother of Europe's languages: she was the mother of our philosophy; mother, through the Arabs, of much of our mathematics; mother, through the Buddha, of the ideals embodied in Christianity; mother, through the village community, of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all." Nothing should more deeply shame the modern student than the recency and inadequacy of his acquaintance with India...This is the India that patient scholarship is now opening up like a new intellectual continent to that Western mind which only yesterday thought civilization an exclusive Western thing." "The System of Sankara" that individuality is a delusion? " Arnold J. Toynbee (1889 – 1975): Toynbee was a renowned British historian, philosopher of history, and research professor. He is famous for his 12volume 'A study of history." He has taken inspiration from Hinduism. Here are some of his quotes: "It is already becoming clear that a chapter with a Western beginning will have to have an Indian ending if it is not to end in the self-destruction of the human race. At this supremely dangerous moment in human history, the only way of salvation is the ancient Hindu way. Here we have the attitude and spirit that can make it possible for the human race to grow together into a single family." "So now we turn to India. This spiritual gift, that makes a man human, is still alive in Indian souls. Go on giving the world Indian examples of it. Nothing else can do so much to help mankind to save itself from destruction." “We do know that there are more approaches to the truth than one and more means of salvation than one." The spirit of mutual good-will, esteem, and veritable love … is the traditional spirit of the religions of the Indian family. This is one of India's gifts to the world."

Holmes Professor Arthur Holmes (1895-1965): in his excellent book, The Age of Earth (1913) says "Long before it became a scientific aspiration to estimate the age of the earth, many elaborate systems of the world chronology had been devised by the sages of antiquity. The most remarkable of these occult time scales is that of the ancient Hindus, whose astonishing concept of the Earth's duration has been traced back to Manusmriti, a sacred book."

Page 44 44

Huxley

Aldous Huxley (1894 1963): English writer, novelist, and philosopher. He took Vedanta and Upanishads to the Huxley family, as well as implemented the principle of ahimsa' in the family. He was also a Vedantist known for his philosophical book 'The Perennial Philosophy': which talks about the mystics of Hinduism. Here are some of the instances: The Bhagavad-Gita is the most systematic statement of spiritual evolution of endowing value to mankind. It is one of the clearest and comprehensive summaries of perennial philosophy ever revealed; hence its enduring value is subject not only to India but to all of humanity." ["Sacred Jewels of Yoga: Wisdom from India's Beloved Scriptures, Teachers, Masters, and Monk"] "The Bhagavad-Gita is perhaps the most systematic scriptural statement of Perennial Philosophy which is expressed most succinctly in the Sanskrit formula, tat tvam asi (That thou art); the Atman, or immanent eternal Self, is one with Brahman, the Absolute Principle of all existence; and the last end of every human being, is to discover the fact for himself, to find out who he really is. [The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism - By Linda Johnsen p. 363] "Hinduism and Buddhism have never been persecuting faiths, have preached almost no holy wars, and have refrained from that proselytizing religious imperialism which has gone hand in hand with political and economic oppression, of colored people." [The Perennial philosophy - By Aldous Huxley p. 194 - 204]."The Bhagavad-Gita is perhaps the most systematic scriptural statement of Perennial Philosophy. To the world at war, a world that, because it lacks the intellectual and spiritual prerequisites to peace, can only hope to patch up some kind of precarious armed truce, it stands to point, clearly and unmistakably, to the only road of escape from the selfimposed necessity of self-destruction." [Aldous Huxley, "Bhagavad-Gita: The Song of God": Translated by Christopher Isherwood, with an Introduction by Aldous Huxley, Signet Classics, 2002, Introduction] Joseph Campbell (1904-1987): was one of the foremost interpreters of the myth of our time. "It is ironic that our great western civilization, which has opened to the minds of all mankind the infinite wonders of a universe of untold billions of galaxies, should be saddled with the tightest little cosmological image known to mankind? The Hindus with their grandiose Kalpas and their ideas of the divine power which is beyond all human categories (male or female). Not so alien to the imagery of modern science that it could not have been put to acceptable use." "There is an important difference between the Hindu and Western ideas. In the Biblical tradition, God creates man, but man cannot say that he is divine in the same sense that the Creator is, whereas, in Hinduism, all things are incarnations of that power. We are the sparks of a single fire. And we are all fire. Hinduism believes in the omnipresence of the Supreme God in every individual. There is no "fall." Man is not cut off from the divine. He requires only to bring the spontaneous activity of his mind stuff to a state of stillness, and he will experience that divine principle with him."

Campbell

Page 45 45

Isherwood Christopher W. B. Isherwood (1904-1986): Anglo-American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, autobiographer, and diarist. "I believe the Gita to be one of the major religious documents of the world. If its teachings did not seem to me to agree with those of the other gospels and scriptures, then my own system of values would be thrown into confusion, and I should feel completely bewildered. The Gita is not simply a sermon, but a philosophical treatise."

Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan (1934-1996): American astronomer, planetary scientist, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, author, and science communicator. "The Hindu religion is the only one of the world's great faiths dedicated to the idea that the Cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed an infinite, number of deaths and rebirths. It is the only religion in which the time scales correspond to those of modern scientific cosmology. A millennium before Europeans were willing to divest themselves of the Biblical idea that the world was a few thousand years old, the Mayans were thinking of millions and the Hindus billions."

Tat Tvam Asi ("That Art Thou"); the Atman, or the immanent eternal Self, is one with Brahman, the Absolute Principle of all existence; and the last end of every human being is to discover the fact for themselves, to find out who they really are.

Param Guru Osho (1931 to 1990): "…and unless you can dance your way to god, you can never reach. So, this is what I would like to say to you: dance your way to god. And dance comes by balance. One cannot dance on one leg; both legs will be needed. And one cannot dance by choosing the inward or the outward, by becoming the introvert or the extrovert. The dance will need continuous coming and going. It is a movement. You have to reach others. And it is helpful; it is not contrary to meditation."

Page 46 46

EXHIBIT 1

EXHIBIT 2

Get in touch

Social

© Copyright 2013 - 2024 MYDOKUMENT.COM - All rights reserved.