President’s Message

Nameste,

I would like to wish you, your friends, and families a very happy, healthy, and religious New Year.

In 2007, we have had successful classes for Hindi and Religion. For the last several months we have been having the privilege of teachings and havan by Vedic Scholar Acharya Vishvajit ji. Last year we had successfully participated in the Interfaith Breakfast. Subsequently we had a very productive spring fund raiser/Holi event. The annual cultural program was reasonably successful as well.

In the coming year we will work towards making these programs more successful. Again, all of this depends upon your full participation with “tan, man, and dhan.”

I wish to thank all the members of executive committee, board, members and all others for their kind cooperation and help.

Please attend the havan satsangs regularly. These are now held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. There will be an exception in April because of a conflict with Unitarian Society’s schedule. In April it will be on the first and third Sundays.

Also I am very happy to inform you that with other the Arya Samajes in the area, we will be the main host for the upcoming Arya Maha Sammelan to be held at Royal Albert Palace on July 31 to Aug 3. There will be a full two-day youth conference in conjunction with the Sammelan.

In closing I hope to see you at the Samaj regularly and be a part of our growing institution.

Please send me your suggestions any time. My Email is rameshamita@gmail.com

With kind regards to all

Ramesh Gupta

President Arya Samaj Of New Jersey

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Introduction to Yoga

By: Dr. Balvir Acharya

Professor and Head of Dept of Fine Arts and Dayanand Chair

Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India

Yoga is a great gift given to us by the great traditions and beliefs of the Vedic culture.  When practiced, it allows for the complete development of the human body, mind, and soul.  It helps to develop the physical, mental and the spiritual aspects of life.  Yoga allows for the entire body to be healthy and happy giving the person a longer and healthier way of living.

The word yoga stems from its Sanskrit root  “Yuj”, meaning integration or the union of the body and mind with the soul and then with god.  That is the true meaning of yoga.  The origin of yoga and its principles were first described in the Vedas, then the Brahaman Granthas, Upnishads, Yogdarshan, Gita etc. There must have been great soul searching and dialogue before Sage Patanjali put it together as the Yoga Darshan.

Hatha Yoga has been described in Shiv Sangita, and Gheranda Sangita. and Puranas. The word Hatha does not mean by force. This refers to the two nostrils through which we breathe. Some times right dominates and at times the left dominates. Ha refers to the right nostril representing hot side or the Sun side. Tha refers to the left side or the moon side, which is the cool side. The practice of Dhoti, Jalneti, neti and Yogasanas have originated from the Hatha Yoga. Practice of Hatha Yoga is connected with Pranayama as well. Practitioner of Hatha Yoga should be able to change from right to left nostril breathing at will.

According to these books, yoga can be divided into its four kinds:

1. Gyaan Yoga or Saankhya Yoga or the yoga of knowledge.
2. Karma Yoga or yoga of action without attachment
3. Bhakti Yoga of yoga of devotion
4. Raj Yoga or yoga through mind control.  This can be further divided into three parts:

a) Laya yoga or mantra yoga or chanting of God’s name i.e. Om etc.

b) Hatha Yoga or Asana, praanaayaama or bodily and breath exercises.

c) Kundalini Yoga or arousal of the energy centers (mulaadhaar=root, svaadhishthaan=spleen, manippoor=solar plexus or naval, anaahat=heart, vishudha=throat, aajnaa=brow or third eye, sahasraara=crown).  

In the book Yog Darshan, Rishi Patanjali describes Yoga in eight steps.  The first five are the “Outer steps”, and the other three are the “Inner steps”. 

The outer steps are as follows:

                                I.      Yama=rules for social good

a)      Ahinsaa=non violence or love

b)      Satya=truth

c)      Asteya=honesty

d)      Brhamcharya=non indulgence in sex

e)      Aprigraha=selflessness or charity

           II.      Niyama=rules for individual good

a)      Shaucha=internal and external cleanliness

b)      Santosha=contentment or satisfaction

c)       Tapa=self sacrifice

d)       Svaadhyaaya=study about self or study of good literature

e)       Ishvarpranidhaana=surrender to God

         III.      Aasan=body postures these help to purify body and mind.  Aasans help to improve all internal glands, organs, and systems such as the digestive system, the circulatory system, etc. 

        IV.      Praanaayaama=breath exercises and breath control which help to control the mind.

           V.      Pratyaahaar=control of senses of reflection.  Once the mind is controlled, it helps to control our sensory organs and allows them to move beyond the exterior world to the interior soul. 

The three inner steps:

Dhaaranaa, VII Dhyaana, IX Samaadhi.  During the Dhaaranaa stage, the mind is removed from worldly pleasures and is concentrated at a certain place.  When this stage is held for a long period of time then it progresses to Dhyaana (concentration) stage.  The extreme position of concentration is called Samaadhi or meditation.  In such a state the soul becomes oblivious of the body and is fully absorbed in God.

Meditation is of two types: (1) Samprajnaata=first stage where the meditator is conscious of self and the act of meditation.  (2) Asamprajaanta=second stage where even this consciousness is lost and God alone remains.

The Yama, Niyama, Aasan, and Praanaayaama are essential part of Karma Yoga.  These keep the body and mind healthy.  Pratyaahaar and Dhaarna are parts of Jnaana Yoga.  With the help of Dhyaan and Samaadhi, the meditator gives his complete mind, body, and soul to be fully absorbed in God.  This “Saamarpan”, or giving of self to God, is then called Bhakti Yoga.

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SWAMI VIVEKANAND

(Jan. 12, 1863-July. 4, 1902)

(By Krishna Rajpurohit- Gr. VIII)

Swami Vivekanand was one of the brilliant stars that appeared in the spiritual horizon of India during the late half of the nineteenth century. 

He was born in 1863, in Calcutta. His original name was Narendra. As a child his mother read him the stories from the Sri Ramayan and Mahabharat. As he grew up, he read books on religion, history, science, and western and eastern philosophy. 

As a student in college, he often visited Sri Ramkrishna Paramhans. After completing his BA degree, he became a disciple of Paramhans. 

Inspired by his guru, he travelled all over the country and spread the message of Vedanta. He preached service to God through selfless service to man, the universality of religion, and the brotherhood of all mankind. He was regarded as the patriot saint of modern India. 

Vivekanand was a great organizer. After the death of the Paramhans in1886, Vivekanand founded the Ramkrishna Mission and Belur Math. Today the Mission has over 140 centers in India and over 33 in foreign countries, including the USA. The Mission is a center for religious studies and is highly regarded for its charitable work, relief operations, hospitals, schools, and colleges. 

Vivekanand was a great scholar. He has written many books on the Hindu religion. His books on Vedanta and Yoga have become instant classics. His religion was a “man making religion.” He was the first person who introduced the western world to the essence of Hinduism through his writings and speeches. 

Vivekanand was a brilliant orator. His address at the 1893 Conference of World Religion at Chicago created a  ferment in the public and the press. Two of the typical reactions are quoted: 

William James, Harvard philosopher and psychologist, said:

“The man (Vivekanand) is simply a wonder for oratorical   power, the Swami is an honor to humanity.”

 The Brooklyn Standard wrote:

“It was the voice of the ancient Rishis of Vedas, speaking sweet words of love and toleration.”

 After his speech, he became a sought after speaker in churches and universities in the USA. A large number of his followers gathered around him and he was persuaded to stay in USA for about three years to spread his message. 

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Announcement

 It is with great regret Executive committee has to announce the resignation of the following executive members due to personal reasons.  Their enthusiasm and selfless dedication to the Samaj as the members of the executive committee will be greatly missed. 

Sandeep Rawal

Treasurer/ Finance & Accounts 

Neeta Seth

Secretary 

Sangeeta Sobti

Cultural & Social Events

Spring 2008 Hindi/Sanskriti Schedule