We had a wonderful celebration of International Day of Yoga in our Brisbane Ashram with the topic Inner Peace for World Peace - nurture your human qualities for your benefit and for all. All the teachers of the Ashram united to offer a free half-day workshop.
The first part of the workshop started with an inspirational talk on what makes us human, what is the ultimate aim of human life. To be born as a human is a privilege, we are blessed with intellect, so we can develop viveka to make decisions that are not only good for us but for all. As humans we are not here to dominate over and exploit nature, but to be protectors, to develop love for all living beings, to awaken in our heart the desire to serve all with the ultimate aim to achieve self-realisation.
Yoga gives us a way to put the theory into practice, to develop harmony and balance within, so we can realise the highest principle of Ahimsa Paramo Dharma - Non-violence is the highest duty. When we are in harmony within and develop love for all, we will stop fighting others (regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender) and we won’t want to do any harm to any creatures, including animals, the whole nature and Mother Earth. This is the main reason why yogis are vegetarian.
The talk was followed by a yoga class with special focus on Khatu Pranam, an exercise series of Yoga in Daily Life - developed by our Guru, Vishwaguruji Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda - that balances and harmonises body, mind and soul in a perfect way and opens the heart centre.
It was practised also with chanting the peace mantra, which takes the practice to a completely different level, the sequence becomes like an active meditation. See a video here.
The last round was practised really slowly with concentration by watching and following Vishwaguruji's video on "Khatu Pranam is a step towards peace”, where He guided the sequence while saying a heartfelt prayer.
After a beautiful relaxation we enjoyed a short break and the warmth of the Sun with vegan chai in our garden.
The second part of the workshop started with a pranayama from our Hidden Power in Humans Chakras and Kundalini book that makes us feel connected and part of the whole universe. This pranayama helps us to relax completely, through expansion and feeling of unity.
Afterwards, we had some chanting of sanskrit and English mantra and bhajan to further awaken our heart centre. The sanskrit mantra is also a beautiful prayer for the benefit of all:
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Nirāmayāh
Sarve Bhadrāni Paśyantu
Mā Kaścid Duhkabhāg Bhavet
Translation:
May All Be Happy
May All Be Free From Illness
May All See That Which Is Auspicious
May No-One Suffer Pain Or Sorrow
The last part of the workshop was a meditation on the twelve petals and qualities of the Anahata chakra. The most beautiful qualities of joy, peace, kindness, patience, love, harmony, clarity, compassion, purity, understanding, forgiveness, bliss. As we visualised a sky blue twelve petalled lotus with the petals of qualities opening one by one, our heart was opening to experience the divine bliss, Ananda and love to all.
The program was concluded with a vegan lunch in our garden that also gave us opportunity for questions and answers and some social time to share experiences in love and joy.
