NATIONAL SEMINAR ON RECENT TRENDS IN YOGA & VEDANTA FOR A HEALTHY, HAPPY, & ENRICHED LIVING

13th Feb 2016, Academy of Yoga Consciousness,Yoga Consciousness Trust, Bheemili, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh

SEMINAR REPORT

The experience of happiness totally devoid of sorrow and which is permanent in nature,

is called eternal bliss (ananda) in Vedanta. The subject of Vedanta discusses how to experience

this bliss. Yoga also explores the same. This eternal bliss can be experienced only when the

mind loses its identity and merges with the Real Self. So this Seminar focused on the applicable

aspects of both Yoga and Vedanta - the two most active schools of the shad darshanas.

Probably the secret behind the fact that these age-old concepts of Yoga and Vedanta are still

vibrant is because of the characteristic features of Indian philosophy which include constant

analysis and upgradation, meeting the changing needs of the society and tailoring as per the

evolving personalities of the human being. The concepts and techniques of Yoga and Vedanta

can help people to cope with their life problems and steer them in the right direction, towards

achieving perfection. These Indian Philosophical schools or darshanas need to be understood by

the people and used by them for attaining health, happiness and Enriched life. This seminar

strived to achieve this purpose.

Focus of the Seminar

The focus of this seminar was to highlight the applications of both Yoga and Vedanta.

Yoga is a science of controlling the mind and body besides, transcending the mind. Vedanta

unlike the other sciences, it is a subjective science. A body-mind phenomenon is wrongly

identified as Self. The Self is only the seer of it. It is never seen. The observer is distanced from

the observed. So, the Self being the seer must be different from the body-mind complex. All the

objects are always changing. So, they are not completely real. But the Self is continuing to be the

same. So, it is absolute, unchanging, ever-knowing bliss. To understand and realize this fact

requires the help of yoga which make an individual be free from the three states of

consciousness namely, wakeful, dream and deep sleep states. The state which is beyond these

three is called "Turiya" or super consciousness. It is then that the knowledge of the Self is

directly understood. There the mind merges with the Self.

Vedanta teaches the nature of the Self and the apparent world around, whereas yoga

makes one realize the Self. So, without yoga, the knowledge of the Self cannot remain firm.

Without Vedanta, Yoga has no existence. Thus, it can be said that Yoga and Vedanta are two

faces of the same coin. It is said in the Bhagavad Gita that he who realizes this fact is a real

knower. Those who consider Yoga and Vedanta as two different entities are not considered wise.

The goal of Yoga and Vedanta is one. The same goal is reached by Yoga and Vedanta. By the

above statement it seems that Self-realization is possible either by Yoga or Vedanta. Superficially

it is true but in fact, Vedanta presupposes Yoga and Yoga is crowned by Vedanta.

The themes of this seminar explored the multifaceted aspects of both Yoga and Vedanta.

It was deliberated upon that Yoga, an ancient system originated in India, is in fact a way of

living! It is a comprehensive methodology evolved by the ancient seers, which embodies

physical, psychological, moral and spiritual dimensions of human life. Yoga is an advanced

science with the strength of rigorous theoretical framework supported by scientifically proved

practical techniques. Its miraculous benefits for health, concentration, will power, stress

management, personality development, human values, interpersonal relations and spiritual

evolution are being highly appreciated now by all sections of the society all over the world. Thus

Yoga, no doubt has become popular today as a fitness program and as a system of alternate

therapy. However, there is more to yoga. It is a way of life for attaining health, happiness and

improved functioning at all levels of the being. Vedanta truths act as a catalyst for bringing

about this enhancement in the right direction and efficiently.

Scientific research in Yoga for Healthy, Happy, & Enhanced Living

Scientific studies in Yoga and Meditation related to improvements in general health

(including mental health), or helped reduce or cure ailments like diabetes, blood pressure,

spondylitis, asthma, pains, cancer etc. have been covered. Apart from this, scientific studies

(both qualitative and quantitative) on yoga for increased happiness and enhancement in

functioning or performance were presented.

Vedanta Studies for Healthy, Happy, & Enhanced Living

Scientific studies on Vedantic concepts that led to improvements in general physical

health and mental health have been discussed. Emphasis was on scientific studies (both

qualitative and quantitative) on vedanta for everlasting happiness and transformation of the

individual personality.

Review of recent trends in Yoga & Vedanta for Healthy, Happy, & Enhanced Living

Review of recent trends in Yoga and Vedanta done in a scientific manner adopting

systematic procedures have been explored. A comprehensive analysis of yoga and vedanta

research, both at the national and international levels, which helped in improving health,

happiness and resulted in enhanced functioning was presented.

Future directions for research in Yoga and Vedanta for Healthy, Happy, & Enhanced Living

Experts in the field of yoga and vedanta and who themselves are practitioners,

presented several inputs for future directions of research in the areas of yoga and vedanata,

with clearly indicated adoptable methodologies and workable solutions.

SEMINAR PROGRAM

On the eve of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Yoga Consciousness Trust, the National

Seminar on Recent Trends in Yoga and Vedanta for Healthy, Happy and Enriched Living has

been successfully conducted at the Academy of Yoga Consciousness, YCT, Bheemili,

Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh on 13th February 2016.

The Inaugural Session started off in the morning with Prof D. Venkata Rao, Retd

Principal of Engineering College, Andhra University who is the Convener of the Organizing

Committee welcomed the guests and delegates of the seminar. Padmasri Dr HR Nagendra,

Chancellor, S-VYASA University, Bangalore was the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker. Prof

SS Rama Rao Pappu, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Maimi University, Ohio, USA; Prof M

Venkata Reddy, Former Secretary, Yoga Adyayana Prarishad, Hyderabad Government of A.P;

Prof H. Lajapati Rai, Vice Chancellor, Dr BK Ambedkar University, Srikakulam; Prof P.

Nirmala Devi, Head of the Dept of Yoga & Consciousness, Andhra University, Sri R

Venkateswara Rao, Managing Director, RVR Group, Visakhapatnam; Dr C Sadasiva Rao,

Physician are the guests of Honour who delivered lectures on Yoga and Vedanta. Sri TL

Narasimha Rao, President, Yoga Consciousness Trust has presided over the function and

felicitated all the guests. The program began with lamp lighting and prayer.

Sri TL Narasimha Rao spoke about the importance of guru and his grace in the

development of the practitioners. He also highlighted the three states of consciousness and

dwelled upon the three stages of Raja Yoga viz., taraka, samkya and amanaska. He pointed out

the role of taraka yoga in attaining Samadhi. He also discussed that, ‘Samadhi is not the end but

entrance to eternity’. Finally he enumerated that real sadhana is a state wherein love and

sacrifice should be reflected in one’s daily life the true goal of yoga and Vedanta.

Dr HR Nagendra who delivered the Keynote address praised the organizers that the

theme of this National Seminar is ‘Recent Tends in Yoga and Vedanta for Happy, Healthy and

Enriched Living’. He said, “It is a beautiful topic that you have selected. I am happy to release

these abstracts containing various presentations that will be made in this Seminar, on various

dimensions of yoga in practice, theory and its association with Vedanta”. He agreed with Sri TL

Narasimharao that Yoga and Vedanta should not remain only in the books, it should be brought

into day to day practice. That is the most important dimension and it should be helpful to deal

with the modern challenges that we face today.

According to him today the biggest challenge we have is stress. Stress can be overcome

through the programme called SMET which is Self-management of excessive tension. Because

we are the people who are responsible for developing stress ourselves, we have to know how to

deal with stress and how to manage stress. He said that when we reduce stress what is going to

happen is, flowering up of the personality. It will develop wonderful health, brilliance,

excellence and lead to stress-free maturity. Then we learn the art and science of working without

getting stressed up. That is the main dimension that we have to do, he emphasized. He further

dwelt on various dimensions related to stress and how yoga can be made useful to deal with

stress as a permanent remedy.

Dr HR Nagendra elaborated that all the modern life problems has one single cause. The root

cause is "Adhi". Therefore yoga says that unless you handle this adhi, you have no solution. All

that we do in the modern medical world is essentially to deal with the physical body, the

symptoms and the best remedy we have is the pharmacological interventions, and surgical

procedure. But the root cause is not removed. This is where yoga comes into picture. Yoga

concretizes this wisdom base - the Vedanta, into day to day practice. The knowledge,

understanding and practice go hand in hand. They are two wings, you have to fly high, he

concluded.

Prof Rama Rao Pappu reviewed the development of yoga and Vedanta and pointed out that

Vedanta was first brought to the West via Ramakrishna Mission which was called Philosophical

Vedanta. He discussed the role of Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, Swami Yogananda, Swami Rama

and other yogis in further spreading the message of Yoga and Vedanta in the west. He cautioned

that the true Yoga and Vedanta needs to be safeguarded against the numerous new fads that are

being propagated today.

Prof M Venkata Reddy pointed out that the originator of Yoga is in fact Sankaracharya

whose Yoga Taravali has immense influence. He highlighted that yoga needs to be practiced

with Vedanta. He explained how the Vedanta can lead to stress free living by giving examples

of the poetry of Yogi Vemana. He implored that the Government should take steps to bring this

true yoga in front of the doorsteps of all the citizens. On the other hand, Prof H. Lajapati Rai

emphasized the multiple benefits of yoga and said that yoga needs to be propagated in all the

villages for leading healthy and happy living.

The relationship between Yoga and Psychology was highlighted by Prof Nirmala Devi and

said that in a sound body is sound mind which leads to enriched living. She also explained that

skill in action is yoga and dwelt on the process of transformation of the individual through yoga

and Vedanta saying that ‘realization of self-potential leads to self-orientation which further leads

to other orientation which finally helps the individual to overcome the egoistic feelings and bring

him/her close to true nature.

The Scientific Sessions commenced after the Inaugural Session. A total of 48 papers were

presented and 106 delegates registered. The Academy of Yoga Consciousness students and

alumni have participated without the need for registration in all the scientific sessions of the

Seminar. The total number of participants are nearly 250 and those attended the inaugural

session are 450. After the inaugural session, Dr HR Nagendra has inaugurated the Yoga

Vedanta Charts and Photos Exhibition which was given free access and several members of

the public visited and benefited. Nearly 120 and 500 people have partook in the breakfast and

lunch preparations respectively.

INAUGURAL SESSION(10:00 AM to 12:00 PM)

SESSION – I[12:00 PM TO 1:30 PM]

SEMINAR HALL – I

THEME: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN YOGA FOR HEALTHY, HAPPY, & ENRICHED LIVING

Chairperson: Sri M. Venkatareddy, Former Secretary, Yoga Adhyayana Parishad, Govt. of A.P., Hyderabad. Co-Chairperson: Dr Ramesh Babu, Asst. Prof, Andhra University

Hatha-Yoga for Healthy, Happy and Enriched Living

Dr. K. Ramesh Babu & Dr. Krishnaveni

Life Line for Healthy, Happy and Enriched Living is only Pranayama

G. Krishna & Dr. M.V.G.S. Sarma

Yoga for Tinnitus & Hearing Problems – Case study

Mr Bhaskar Rao

Yoga for happy living in modern times

Chivukula Srilakshmi

A New Perspective of Spirituality for Happy and Enriched Living Across the Globe

D. K. M. Lakshmi & Y.V. Ramana

Powerful tool for Enriched Living is Antaryana Technique Developed At Y.C.T.

Mr. N. Siva Shankara Rao & Dr. M.V.G.S. Sarma

Practice of Anustana Yoga Vedanta for a healthy, happy and enriched living

Ms V. Hanisha

SEMINAR HALL – II

THEME: REVIEW OF RECENT TRENDS IN YOGA & VEDANTA FOR HEALTHY, HAPPY, & ENRICHED LIVING

Chairperson: Prof MV Krishnaiah, Retd Professor, Andhra University

Co-Chairperson: Dr R Vivek, Doctor, Hyderabad

Anustana Yoga Vedanta – The Process of Evolution of individual Consciousness into Absolute

Consciousness

Prof. P Ravindra Nadh

Modern Health Concepts in Ancient Indian Texts

Ms Lakshminarasamma

In the Valedictory session, Dr J Kirtana welcomed all the guest and Prof D Venkata Rao

presided over. The Chief Guest was Sri A Ramamohan Rao, Commissioner, GVMC, Bheemili.

The guest of honour is Smt K. Shyamala Devi, Junior Civil Judge. Prof MVGS Sarma, Principal

Academy of Yoga Consciousness and Sri Ch Venkata Ramana, Associate Professor of Academy

of Yoga Consciousness.

Unique contribution of the Seminar

The National Health Policy is based on the goal of attainment of highest level of health,

and not merely the absence of disease or disability. The primary aim of the National Health

Policy, 2015, is prevention of diseases and promotion of good health and to improve population

health status through offering preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative

services. Yoga is the best and comprehensive method for achieving these objectives. Moreover,

WHO defines health as “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not

merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

This seminar aimed at such a state of health, where there is not merely absence of disease

but where Yoga and Vedanta, when embraced together, help in achieving mental, social and

spiritual wellbeing. Due to recent advances in Science and Technology, the lifestyles of the

modern people have drastically changed to such an alarming extent that, this very lifestyle is

leading to innumerable health problems, mental stresses and strains, family problems and social

tensions and pressures. This seminar attempted to provide answers to these various problems

and has helped disseminate scientifically proven techniques to overcome them. It proved that the

timed tested Indian Philosophical Truths of Yoga and Vedanta can help the modern person

achieve holistic health, lasting happiness and lead to enriched living!