Yoga: A Journey to Perpetual Bliss and Self-Discovery
U. Mahesh Prabhu
Founder, Chair & Professor - Vedic Management Center | Author | Advisor to Multiple Startups in US & Europe | A pioneer in #VedicManagement Practices including #YogicCounseling, #Rajaneeti & #Kootaneeti
Yoga,?a practice that has been around for centuries, has become a popular trend in modern society. However, the true meaning and purpose of yoga have been lost in translation. Today, yoga is often reduced to just physical exercise?(Asanas)?or breathing techniques?(Pranayama),?which is a narrow and incomplete understanding of this ancient practice.
In fact, yoga is much more than that. It is a path to self-discovery, a journey of the mind and spirit towards a higher state of consciousness. The roots of?yoga?go deep into ancient Indian traditions and scriptures such as the?Valmiki’s Ramayana?and?Vyasa’s Mahabharata.
According to?Valmiki’s Ramayana,?in the first chapter named?Bala Kanda?– the first known text on?yoga, Rama,?the protagonist, was in a state of deep emotional distress. It was his mentor, the?Raja Guru?(Royal Mentor),?Vashistha,?who taught him the art of keeping a calm mind and brought him out of his depression. This chapter is also known as?Yoga Vashistha,?which is considered the oldest known text on yoga.