YOGA IN MANHATTAN'S TIMES SQUARE

SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATED WITH YOGA
TAKEOVER OF NEW YORK'S TIMES SQUARE

www.theprovince.com - People around the world were up at the crack of dawn on Friday to celebrate the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Thousands of people from the steel canyons of New York to the stone figures of England took part in solstice celebrations marking the beginning of summer, while south of the Equator, celebrants marked the official start of winter. In England, more than 20,000 people gathered to see in the dawn at Stonehenge, police estimated. Although cloud cover prevented bright sunshine, a joyous spirit prevailed with music and dancing.
In New York City's Times Square, more than 15,000 yoga enthusiasts signed up to roll out mats from 7:30 a.m., with classes going all day. 

The "Mind over Madness" event on Friday included free classes, activities and giveaways from 7.30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Fifteen thousand people registered to roll out their yoga mats and join in. All skill levels and ages were welcome. President of Times Square Alliance and co-founder of the event Tim Tompkins says that part of the event's appeal was finding stillness and calm in the middle of the city rush.
The summer solstice tradition has grown from just three people to more than 15,000 and is now in its 11th year. "It's a counterpoint to the other big solstice celebration, New Year's Eve," said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance and co-founder of the event.

One of the busiest crossroads in the world was coming to a standstill as yoga enthusiasts took over Manhattan's Times Square to celebrate the longest day of the year. Thousands of people rolled out their yoga mats throughout the day. Across the ocean, in England, police say more than 20,000 people gathered at the famed Stonehenge monument to celebrate the solstice Friday morning. Cloud cover prevented bright sunshine at dawn but a joyous spirit prevailed. Increasingly, practitioners of yoga routines performed publicly as a sign of unity and peace among men and to teach that the crazy mind needs a moment of calm and serenity.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Yoga prescribes physical, mental and spiritual disciplines which will free one from mental and physical diseases. ... Asana -”bodily postures” This process of various exercises and bodily postures brings physical and mental steadiness as well as health and vigor.  Pranayama - “control of breath”.  Prana means life air and yama means to control.  It involves controlling the inhalation, exhalation and the retention of the air we breathe. ... By regularly practicing Yoga, Pranayana (breathing exercises) and by maintaining a natural life style in one’s eating, resting, work, etc., a person can be fully relaxed and free from tension and anxiety.  When a person maintains these practices properly, he or she will be free from heart diseases and mental anxiety. 

T.D. Singh, Ph.D. - Śrīla Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Mahārāja :
“Science and Religion - Present and Future” - “Yoga”
Bhaktivedanta Institute - http://www.scienceandscientist.org/
http://www.krishnascience.com  -  http://www.bhaktisvarupadamodara.com/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar

WHITE HOUSE SUPPORTS YOGA'S PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

BARACK OBAMA WHITE HOUSE EMBRACES
YOGA AMID CONSERVATIVE CONTORTIONS

http://m.economictimes.com - The White House has wholeheartedly embraced Yoga as a worthy physical activity at a time some schools in America are railing against the ancient Indian practice, saying it promotes Hinduism. The White House announced last week that President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will include a yoga garden for children and their parents who attend the traditional Easter Egg Roll festivities on Monday. "Come enjoy a session of yoga from professional instructors," the White House exhorted thousands of workaday Americans parents and their kids from across the country who will troop into the Presidential lawns, reminding participants that the event's theme is "Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You!"
It is not the first time that Obama's residence has hosted a yoga garden for Easter, but this year's event was significant because of an ongoing lawsuit in California challenging the teaching of yoga in schools.

At the heart of the case is the argument by some parents that yoga is inherently religious, a contention most Americans, including the judge, seem to disagree with. Judge Meyer is reported to be a practitioner of Bikram Yoga, likening it to simple stretching exercises. The White House meanwhile is stretching every muscle and sinew to get Americans, including children, to get more concerned about the decline in the nation's overall well-being and its soaring healthcare bill. The drive is led by Michelle Obama, a health and fitness advocate, and herself a yoga enthusiast. 
"Yoga has become a universal language of spiritual exercise in the United States, crossing many lines of religion and cultures," the White House said without any reference to the ongoing controversies and lawsuit.

The White House (USA) has supported Yoga as a worthy physical activity and included a 'yoga garden' event - conducted by Leah Cullis, a certified yoga teacher - for children and their parents who attended the traditional Easter Egg Roll festivities. Yoga provides "simple tools - that require no props and no money and which they can go home and do it themselves - for an active lifestyle," Cullis explained. "Every day, millions of people practice yoga to improve their health and overall well-being. That's why we're encouraging everyone to take part in PALA (Presidential Active Lifestyle Award), so show your support for yoga and answer the challenge." the White House said.  Yoga practices are also meant for the holistic upliftment of mind, body and spirit.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Yoga prescribes physical, mental and spiritual disciplines which will free one from mental and physical diseases. ... Asana -”bodily postures”: This process of various exercises and bodily postures brings physical and mental steadiness as well as health and vigor.  Pranayama - “control of breath”.  Prana means life air and yama means to control.  It involves controlling the inhalation, exhalation and the retention of the air we breathe. ... By regularly practicing Yoga, Pranayana (breathing exercises) and by maintaining a natural life style in one’s eating, resting, work, etc., a person can be fully relaxed and free from tension and anxiety.  When a person maintains these practices properly, he or she will be free from heart diseases and mental anxiety. 

T.D. Singh, Ph.D. - Śrīla Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Mahārāja :
“Science and Religion - Present and Future” - “Yoga”
Bhaktivedanta Institute - http://www.scienceandscientist.org/
http://www.bhaktisvarupadamodara.com/lang1/pg002.html
http://www.krishnascience.com  -  http://www.bhaktisvarupadamodara.com/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

TIPS TO KNOW ABOUT YOGA

FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD 

KNOW ABOUT PRACTICING YOGA

http://indiawest.com - US Researchers from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) have put out a list of five things people should know about yoga. I have reprinted it here as a public service notice. Yoga typically combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation or relaxation. If you’re thinking about practicing yoga, here are 5 things you should know: Studies suggest that yoga may be beneficial for a number of conditions, including pain. Recent studies in people with chronic low-back pain suggest that a carefully adapted set of yoga poses can help reduce pain and improve function. 
Other studies also suggest that practicing yoga (as well as other forms of regular exercise) might have other health benefits such as reducing heart rate and blood pressure, and may also help relieve anxiety and depression.

Studies show that certain other health conditions may not benefit from yoga. Research suggests that yoga is not helpful for asthma, and studies looking at yoga and arthritis have had mixed results. Yoga is generally considered to be safe in healthy people when practiced appropriately. However, people with high blood pressure, glaucoma, or sciatica, and women who are pregnant should modify or avoid some yoga poses. 
Practice safely and mindfully. Everyone’s body is different and yoga postures should be modified based on individual abilities. Inform your instructor about any medical issues you have, and ask about the physical demands of yoga. Talk to your health care providers about any complementary health practices you use, including yoga. If you’re thinking about practicing yoga, also be sure to talk to your health care providers. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Each year, up to one-quarter of U.S. adults experience low-back pain. It is a challenging condition to diagnose, treat, and study. Researchers from the NCCAM - which belongs to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - are studying how yoga may be used to help improve health and to learn more about its safe use and give suggestions to the public about yoga practice, says the author of the article, Meena Modi, a yoga and meditation specialist. One of the most relevant tips to take into account is: "Carefully selecting an instructor who is experienced and is attentive to your needs is an important step toward helping you practice yoga safely." The 2007 National Health Interview Survey found that yoga is one of the top 10 complementary health practices used among U.S. adults.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Yoga prescribes physical, mental and spiritual disciplines which will free one from mental and physical diseases. ... Asana -”bodily postures”: This process of various exercises and bodily postures brings physical and mental steadiness as well as health and vigor.  Pranayama - “control of breath”.  Prana means life air and yama means to control.  It involves controlling the inhalation, exhalation and the retention of the air we breathe. ... Yoga practices are also meant for the holistic upliftment of mind, body and spirit.  By regularly practicing Yoga, Pranayana (breathing exercises) and by maintaining a natural life style in one’s eating, resting, work, etc., a person can be fully relaxed and free from tension and anxiety.  When a person maintains these practices properly, he or she will be free from heart diseases and mental anxiety.

T.D. Singh, Ph.D. - Śrīla Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Mahārāja :
“Science and Religion - Present and Future” - “Yoga”
Bhaktivedanta Institute - http://www.scienceandscientist.org/
http://www.krishnascience.com  -  http://www.bhaktisvarupadamodara.com/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

CANTICLE OF ST. FRANCIS

"BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON"

A GREAT CANTICLE OF HEALING

www.bettendorf.com - Be praised, my Lord, for our sister, mother earth, who nourishes us and watches over us and brings forth various fruits with colored flowers and herbs. - from the Canticle of St. Francis of Assisi. 
As we attempt to make our way through human-made "fiscal cliff" issues, another much more serious disaster looms on the horizon. It is the likely warming of our planet by as much as six degrees in the near future because of our reliance on carbon-based fuels. Earth along with all her creatures, will suffer as a result. It is in the context of these immediate fiscal problems, and our long-term environmental crisis, that I turn to the wisdom of St. Francis of Assisi for a light to lead us out of the darkness that is of our own making. The Canticle of St. Francis begins with offering praise to God. This praise, though, is presented to the “Lord” not in isolation, but within the context of the whole environment in which life exists.

Praise arises out of the heart and soul of all creation. Francis goes on to name the many living creatures that, with the Saint, praise God. They are brother sun and sister moon, along with the stars of the heavens. They give light to both the day and the night. They are brother air and wind and sister water, along with all the moods of weather. They express God’s love for all of creation.
Brother fire provides light and warmth to the night and is beautiful, joyful, robust and strong. Our sister, Mother Earth, sustains us with both nourishment and beauty. Not to be forgotten or denied praise also flows from sister death. No living thing can escape from her, yet even she is a blessing and a vital part of the rhythm of life. If we recognized our familial relationship with the earth and all of her creatures, we would live in harmony and balance with her. Instead, because we find ourselves alienated from the natural order of the world, we exploit her (our sister Earth).

All of the devastating cliffs we face, whether they are economic or ecological, they are the result of living life in denial of our brotherhood and sisterhood with one another and with the earth. If we recognized one another in both our nation and our world as truly family, we would arrange the economic order in a balanced and sustainable way, says Thomas Raphael-Nakos, the author of the article. "The Canticle of St. Francis shows us a way toward repentance. It is a way out of the darkness that we have created for ourselves. ... Only a spiritual enlightenment can bring peace and healing to our souls,to society and to the world," he explains. Many dangerous cliffs are created out of our own spiritual blindness.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Free will is not fully manifest in other beings but in human beings it is fully developed. We have the choice of acting rightly or wrongly, morally or immorally. As the dominant species, the human race has an obligation to protect and guide not only mankind but also all lower forms of life. We can either destroy ourselves and other life forms or we can act in a way to uplift and benefit the world, thus making a meaningful use of our human form of life. The future of humanity depends on how we choose to act, either individually / selfishly or collectively / holistically. Such a choice should be guided by divine wisdom. ... Hence the understanding of causality in connection with the manifestations of living beings, the cosmic children, is of fundamental importance and free will is closely linked with the divine nature of life. ... This is the foundation of bhakti in the Vaisnava Hindu tradition. Saint Francis of Assisi was also a symbol of bhakti in the Christian tradition.

T.D. Singh, Ph.D. - Śrīla Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Mahārāja :
"Science and Religion, Present and Future"
http://www.binstitute.org/
http://www.bhaktisvarupadamodara.com/
http://www.bhaktisvarupadamodara.com/lang1/pg002.html

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

RAMANUJAN - A GENIUS MATHEMATICIAN

DELHI UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES MATHS
GENIUS RAMANUJAN’S 125TH BIRTHDAY

www.hindustantimes.com - The celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan was kicked off at Delhi University in India on Monday. The university is holding a six-day international conference - The Legacy of Srinivasa Ramanujan - which will see a number of renowned mathematicians give lectures on Ramanujan and his work. Ramanujan was a prodigious Indian mathematician who, despite having no formal training in advanced mathematical concepts, mastered trigonometry at the age of 12 and went on to make great contributions to mathematical concepts such as number theory, infinite series and continued fractions. 
The conference was inaugurated by the Minister of Human Resource Development, MM Pallam Raju. During the conference's first day there were lectures on the life and notebook of Ramanujan. 

There were also lectures on topics such as Quantum Modular Forms and Holomorphic Projection. The university is also holding a competition on encryption for its undergraduate students. The winning teams will get to visit those places where Ramanujan worked in Chennai and Trinity College, Cambridge. The last day of the conference will also see the conferment of the SASTRA Ramanujan Prize, an annual prize that is given to a mathematician under the age of 32 who has contributed in a field influences by Ramanujan.  The Ramanujan Journal, an international publication, was launched to publish work in all areas of mathematics influenced by his work.
On the 125th anniversary of his birth, India declared the birthday of Ramanujan, December 22, as “National Mathematics Day.” The declaration was made last year by Dr. Manmohan Singh in Chennai, who stated this year, 2012, as the National Mathematics Year.

Srinivasa Ramanujan was one of India’s greatest mathematical geniuses who taught himself math. The life of Srinivasa Ramanujan is a story of pure inspiration. He was born in poor brahmin family. Ramanujan has been described as a dignified man with pleasant manners. He lived a rather Spartan life while at Cambridge. Ramanujan credited his acumen to his family Goddess, Namagiri of Namakkal. He looked to her for inspiration in his work, and claimed to dream of blood drops that symbolised her male consort, Narasimha, after which he would receive visions of scrolls of complex mathematical content unfolding before his eyes. His Indian biographers described him as rigorously orthodox and remarked on his strict observance of vegetarianism.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The purpose of all sciences should be to inquire about the nature of God. A physicist can inquire: what is the real source of the laws of nature? A chemist can inquire: who is the Supreme Chemist behind all the wonderful molecules, DNA, chlorophyll, proteins, etc.? Vedanta explains that if we do research far enough, we will find that the ultimate source is God. As the famous mathematics genius Ramanujan said, “An equation for me has no meaning, unless it represents a thought of God.” When one realizes the Absolute Truth through such an inquiry, he will understand the actual basis of reality. And then, his duty is to glorify the Supreme Lord through the scientific understanding.  This is the secret and the real platform of happiness. Presently, scientific inquiry without spiritual knowledge is one-sided. Thus, scientific knowledge, when expanded to include spiritual knowledge, will bring completeness into scientific knowledge. Scientific knowledge in search of Absolute Truth, God becomes spiritual.

T.D. Singh, Ph.D. - Śrīla Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Mahārāja :
“Scientific and Spiritual Quest for Ultimate Reality”
http://www.binstitute.org/
http://www.binstitute.org/aissq/topics/
http://www.bhaktisvarupadamodara.com/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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RELAX, THE WORLD WON'T END NEXT MONTH: EXPERT

THE “END OF THE WORLD” MAYA STONE
RECOUNTS LIFE AND BATTLES OF A RULER

www.brisbanetimes.com.au - Relax doomsayers, the Maya people did not really mark their calendar for the end of the world on December 21, 2012. As tourists book hotels rooms in Mexico's Maya Riviera and Guatemalan resorts ahead of next month's fateful date, experts are busy debunking the doomsday myth. The apocalyptic prophecy that has inspired authors and filmmakers never appears in the tall T-shaped stone calendar that was carved by the Maya around the year 669 in southeastern Mexico. In reality, the stone recounts the life and battles of a ruler from that era, experts say. Plus, the last date on the calendar is actually December 23, 2012, not the 21st, and it merely marks the end of a cycle. 
So no need to build giant arks, because the terrible floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions depicted in the Hollywood blockbuster 2012 were not prophesied by the Mayas. “The Mayas had a cyclical idea of time. They were not preoccupied with the end of the world,” Mexican archaeologist Jose Romero said. The stone, known as Monument 6, was located in El Tortuguero, an archaeological site that was discovered in 1915. 

Broken in six pieces, the different fragments are exhibited in US and Mexican museums, including Tabasco's Carlos Pellicer Camara Anthropology Museum and New York's Metropolitan Museum. “The last inscription refers to December 23, 2012, but the central theme of Monument 6 is not the date, it's not the prophecies or the end of the world. It's the story of (then ruler) Bahlam Ajaw,” Romero said. The final date represents the end of a cycle in the Mayan long count calendar that began in the year 3114 before Christ. It is the completion of 13 baak t'uunes, a unit of time equivalent to 144,000 days. 
“It is not the end of the Mayan long count calendar, which is endless. It's the beginning of a new cycle, that's all,” said Mexican historian Erick Velasquez. Though the Maya made prophecies, they looked at events in the near future and were related to day-to-day concerns like rain, droughts, or harvests. The belief that the calendar foresees the end of the world comes from Judeo-Christian interpretations, the experts said.

The first study on the stone was published by a German researcher in 1978. Since then, various archaeologists have examined its significance and agree that it refers to the December 23 date and not December 21 as stated commercially. Mexican historian Velasquez warned against giving too much weight to Monument 6, noting that it is just one of more than 5000 stones from the Mayan culture that have been studied. The earth still has a few years left, even in eyes of the ancient Maya: Some stones refer to the year 7000. Therefore, from the point of view of Science, Astronomy, Mayan Prophecy or even the ancient Hindu Astrology and Vedantic Cosmology there appears to be little reason  to be concerned that the world will end in one month.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Vedantic cosmology describes that the universe is maintained for a specific period before it is wound up. At the beginning of each cycle of creation of the universe, Lord Brahma, the first created cosmic living being is born. A day of Brahma is called a kalpa and one kalpa consists of a thousand cycles of four yugas, or ages, called Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. The same number comprises one night of Brahma and he lives one hundred such years and then dies. Satyayuga lasts 1,728,000 years; Tretayuga lasts 1,296,000 years; Dvaparayuga lasts 864,000 years; and Kaliyuga lasts 432,000 years. Thus one hundred years of Lord Brahma equal 311 trillion and 40 billion earth years. According to Vedantic cosmology, our universe starts with the birth of Lord Brahma and he is at present a little more than 50 Brahma-years old. Thus our present universe started about 155.522 trillion (155.522 x 10^12) years ago and will end in 155.518 trillion (155.518 x 10^12) years and just after that a new cycle of creation will begin again.

T.D. Singh, Ph.D. - Śrīla Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Mahārāja :
“Hinduism and Science”
“Universe - A Brief Overview of its Origin, Maintenance, and Dissolution”
Science and Scientist - Bhaktivedanta Institute Newsletter
January - March 2008 - scienceandscientist.org
http://www.krishnascience.com  -  http://www.bhaktisvarupadamodara.com/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/