Be inspired, June 2018 / 01 Jun 2018

Samyama – part 1

What if someone told you there was a simple set of practices that could help you manage every aspect of your daily life, and at the same time take you to a level of human potential beyond your wildest imagination? Would you be interested? Most people would at least be curious. That is in fact an accurate explanation of the practices of Yoga, but most people don’t realize it. Yoga includes a holistic set of practices for overall self-development and the well-being of the body, mind and soul. A few thousand years back, the great sage Patanjali compiled the current yogic practices of that time into a simple framework consisting of eight parts or limbs, and that framework is still used today. It is known as Ashtanga Yoga. But the practices of Yoga have evolved since Patanjali was alive, in response to the needs of the time and especially during the last 150 years. So in this series DAAJI explores each limb of Yoga in the light of the modern day yogic practices of Heartfulness. He shows us how to integrate inner spiritual practices with living in the world and refining our personality, so as to create that true state of Yoga – skill in action and integration of the spiritual and worldly aspects of life. SAMYAMA Dharana • Dhyana • Samadhi Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi are the final three limbs of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga. There is no clear separation or definition among them, as they weave together to define the inner spiritual practices of meditation, known as Raja Yoga. These three limbs focus on the real purpose of Yoga and they are the practices of the inner journey known as the spiritual yatra. In the remaining articles of the series on Ashtanga Yoga, DAAJI helps us to understand the…

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June 2018, Taste of life / 01 Jun 2018

Leaf patterns

ANNE-GRETHE KOUSGAARD shares her love of both Nature and art in this series of leaf paintings. As an artist sh works i many media, from photography to collage to sculpture to painting to mural work. Anne-Grethe has also been inspiring many children with creativity over the years in the Heartfulness Center in the Danish countryside at Vrads Sande, and continues to do so. When I create new paintings or sculptures, ‘playing seriously’ is key for me. I forget everything about art and simply create those conditions where I feel totally free and in tune with Nature. Without ambition, I just have fun! In these paintings, dried leaves and different handmade stencils have been used in many layers. My background as a textile printer comes out in this series. www.agkousgaard.dk An art essay by ANNE-GRETHE KOUSGAARD    

June 2018, Thought in action / 01 Jun 2018

10 tips for working with others

Despite all the gadgets, technologies and virtual working styles in most modern offices, it is still relationships that matter most. Here are a few tips from ELIZABETH DENLEY on creating effective working relationships and teams: Meet face-to- face when possible. Effective teamwork needs the human touch. Look for everyone’s genius. Be open and welcome different points of view and styles of working. Listen. You will learn a lot! When you speak, let your voice radiate calmness, cooperation and trust, without defensiveness, roughness or aggression. Be willing to see past your own agenda. Harmony matters more than being right. All situations are opportunities to expand your consciousness. Be patient. Pause. Be poised. Center yourself when necessary. Consciously let go of any negative reactions and conflict that arise. When there are differences of opinion, take up the challenge o f integrating them into a higher synergy. A strong collective vision transcends individual perspectives. The whole is always greater than the parts. Before sleeping at night, scan the events of your day. How can you do better next time? Resolve not to repeat mistakes and then you will sleep with a light, happy disposition. Article by ELIZABETH DENLEY

Focus, June 2018 / 31 May 2018

Yoga

DR H.R. NAGENDRA, Chancellor of S-VYASA University and President of the Indian Yoga Association, speaks about International Day of Yoga and the impact Yoga is having globally. Q: Good morning sir. We would like to start with a very personal question. You were a scientist with NASA, and chose to come back to India to dedicate your career to spreading Yoga. What really prompted you to do this? HRN: The search for Reality. When I started doctoral research I asked, “What is the real purpose of the research that we are doing?” We talk about a Doctorate in Philosophy, a PhD, but are we doing philosophy? What is the whole idea? And it all came down to the idea that the search for Reality is the objective of the research being done. Are we really moving towards Reality with all the research that we do? The immediate answer was, “No.” So what was the way out? These were the questions that were being raised among the faculty and students. Then I got in touch with a professor of chemistry who was very well-versed in Sanskrit, the Upanishads etc. Through these interactions, I started getting a new direction from the Upanishads. They tell us that you have to go beyond the physical. What we were doing in science is essentially all about the physical world. And now a time has come where science is moving beyond the physical, to understand the deeper dimensions of this creation. What is prana? What is the mind? Can the mind exist without the brain and the body? What is the intellect? What is the relationship among the mind, the emotions, the intellect and consciousness? Do gods and goddesses exist? Into this field of subtlety and causality, science has started moving, and it was all here in…

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