Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being
In a world that often feels like a relentless pursuit of external validation, where the latest trend or the next social media approval dictates our emotional compass, a fundamental truth often gets lost: our inherent capacity for profound inner peace and unwavering joy. While the discourse around well-being frequently centres on physical health, it's time we recognise a critical missing piece – our mental and emotional equilibrium. We see individuals with all the material comforts, yet plagued by an undeniable sense of hollowness. They crave connection, acceptance, and love, often spiralling into distress when left to their own company.
This isn't merely a societal observation; it's a profound human dilemma. Can one truly be a good companion to others, or find genuine fulfilment in relationships, if they cannot even enjoy their own solitude? This critical question echoes through the ages, and its answer, as articulated in ancient wisdom traditions like the Upanishads, points to a fundamental forgetting – a disconnection from our authentic, beautiful selves.
Yogaschittavritti nirodhaha implies that yoga is for the cessation of the vagaries of mind. Sri Krishna in Bhagawad Gita says, Samatvam Yoga Uchyate - equanimity is Yoga. Putting the two together it simply means that choosing the quality of one's thoughts and emotions and remaining equanimous is the path and goal of yoga.
For too long, the popular perception of yoga has been confined to impressive physical postures – the 'asanas'. While these offer undeniable physical benefits, they represent only a fraction of yoga's transformative potential. Today, I want to introduce you to 'Mental Yoga' – a powerful, yet often overlooked, dimension of this ancient practice that directly addresses our deepest yearning for mental and emotional well-being.
Mental Yoga, at its core, is the cultivation of a steady and equanimous mind. It's about training our awareness, not just of our breath or our body, but of our internal landscape – our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Through practices like meditation, we begin to uncover the true nature of our being: eternal, pure, enlightened, liberated, and blemish-free. When we truly comprehend this profound truth, the incessant search for external validation simply ceases. Why would you seek approval from the transient when you are the embodiment of the eternal?
The wisdom traditions speak of 'Vedanta Kesaris' – lions among men who have not only understood but experienced this truth. Their characteristics offer a compelling blueprint for mental fortitude: they are fearless, unperturbed by any external stimuli, free from worry, devoid of craving, untouched by hatred, and unswayed by fleeting elation. They embody sthitaprajña – a state of unwavering steadiness.
Imagine a life where circumstances, however challenging, do not dictate your inner state. Where efficiency and clarity in action stem not from anxious striving, but from a profound inner calm. This is the promise of Mental Yoga. It's not about suppressing emotions, but understanding their impermanence and not allowing them to derail your inner peace.
The ultimate joy that arises from this practice is not a fleeting burst of happiness, but a deep, abiding bliss – anando brahmeti vyajanat. It is an oceanic joy, a supreme contentment that, once attained, becomes an inseparable part of your being. This is your birth right.
In a world grappling with a mental health crisis, where anxiety and depression are becoming increasingly prevalent, Mental Yoga offers a potent and accessible solution. It empowers individuals to reclaim their inner sovereignty, to find joy not in external acquisitions, but in the profound realisation of their own inherent nature.
It is time to embrace the profound power of meditation and the complete science of yoga – not just as a physical discipline, but as a holistic path to mental and emotional liberation. This isn't just about feeling better; it's about fundamentally transforming your relationship with yourself and the world, and in doing so, reclaiming the wealth of bliss that is truly yours.
(The writer is a Founder of Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission)
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Hans India
7 days ago
- Hans India
Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being
In a world that often feels like a relentless pursuit of external validation, where the latest trend or the next social media approval dictates our emotional compass, a fundamental truth often gets lost: our inherent capacity for profound inner peace and unwavering joy. While the discourse around well-being frequently centres on physical health, it's time we recognise a critical missing piece – our mental and emotional equilibrium. We see individuals with all the material comforts, yet plagued by an undeniable sense of hollowness. They crave connection, acceptance, and love, often spiralling into distress when left to their own company. This isn't merely a societal observation; it's a profound human dilemma. Can one truly be a good companion to others, or find genuine fulfilment in relationships, if they cannot even enjoy their own solitude? This critical question echoes through the ages, and its answer, as articulated in ancient wisdom traditions like the Upanishads, points to a fundamental forgetting – a disconnection from our authentic, beautiful selves. Yogaschittavritti nirodhaha implies that yoga is for the cessation of the vagaries of mind. Sri Krishna in Bhagawad Gita says, Samatvam Yoga Uchyate - equanimity is Yoga. Putting the two together it simply means that choosing the quality of one's thoughts and emotions and remaining equanimous is the path and goal of yoga. For too long, the popular perception of yoga has been confined to impressive physical postures – the 'asanas'. While these offer undeniable physical benefits, they represent only a fraction of yoga's transformative potential. Today, I want to introduce you to 'Mental Yoga' – a powerful, yet often overlooked, dimension of this ancient practice that directly addresses our deepest yearning for mental and emotional well-being. Mental Yoga, at its core, is the cultivation of a steady and equanimous mind. It's about training our awareness, not just of our breath or our body, but of our internal landscape – our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Through practices like meditation, we begin to uncover the true nature of our being: eternal, pure, enlightened, liberated, and blemish-free. When we truly comprehend this profound truth, the incessant search for external validation simply ceases. Why would you seek approval from the transient when you are the embodiment of the eternal? The wisdom traditions speak of 'Vedanta Kesaris' – lions among men who have not only understood but experienced this truth. Their characteristics offer a compelling blueprint for mental fortitude: they are fearless, unperturbed by any external stimuli, free from worry, devoid of craving, untouched by hatred, and unswayed by fleeting elation. They embody sthitaprajña – a state of unwavering steadiness. Imagine a life where circumstances, however challenging, do not dictate your inner state. Where efficiency and clarity in action stem not from anxious striving, but from a profound inner calm. This is the promise of Mental Yoga. It's not about suppressing emotions, but understanding their impermanence and not allowing them to derail your inner peace. The ultimate joy that arises from this practice is not a fleeting burst of happiness, but a deep, abiding bliss – anando brahmeti vyajanat. It is an oceanic joy, a supreme contentment that, once attained, becomes an inseparable part of your being. This is your birth right. In a world grappling with a mental health crisis, where anxiety and depression are becoming increasingly prevalent, Mental Yoga offers a potent and accessible solution. It empowers individuals to reclaim their inner sovereignty, to find joy not in external acquisitions, but in the profound realisation of their own inherent nature. It is time to embrace the profound power of meditation and the complete science of yoga – not just as a physical discipline, but as a holistic path to mental and emotional liberation. This isn't just about feeling better; it's about fundamentally transforming your relationship with yourself and the world, and in doing so, reclaiming the wealth of bliss that is truly yours. (The writer is a Founder of Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission)
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being
In a world that often feels like a relentless pursuit of external validation, where the latest trend or the next social media approval dictates our emotional compass, a fundamental truth often gets lost: our inherent capacity for profound inner peace and unwavering joy. While the discourse around well-being frequently centres on physical health, it's time we recognise a critical missing piece – our mental and emotional equilibrium. We see individuals with all the material comforts, yet plagued by an undeniable sense of hollowness. They crave connection, acceptance, and love, often spiralling into distress when left to their own company. Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai This isn't merely a societal observation; it's a profound human dilemma. Can one truly be a good companion to others, or find genuine fulfilment in relationships, if they cannot even enjoy their own solitude? This critical question echoes through the ages, and its answer, as articulated in ancient wisdom traditions like the Upanishads, points to a fundamental forgetting – a disconnection from our authentic, beautiful selves. Yogaschittavritti nirodhaha implies that yoga is for the cessation of the vagaries of themind. Sri Krishna in Bhagawad Gita says, Samatvam Yoga Uchyate - equanimity is Yoga. Putting the two together it simply means that choosing the quality of one's thoughts and emotions and remaining equanimous is the path and goal of yoga. For too long, the popular perception of yoga has been confined to impressive physical postures – the 'asanas'. While these offer undeniable physical benefits, they represent only a fraction of yoga's transformative potential. Today, I want to introduce you to "Mental Yoga" – a powerful, yet often overlooked, dimension of this ancient practice that directly addresses our deepest yearning for mental and emotional well-being. Mental Yoga, at its core, is the cultivation of a steady and equanimous mind. It's about training our awareness, not just of our breath or our body, but of our internal landscape – our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Through practices like meditation, we begin to uncover the true nature of our being: eternal, pure, enlightened, liberated, and blemish-free. When we truly comprehend this profound truth, the incessant search for external validation simply ceases. Why would you seek approval from the transient when you are the embodiment of the eternal? The wisdom traditions speak of "Vedanta Kesaris" – lions among men who have not only understood but experienced this truth. Their characteristics offer a compelling blueprint for mental fortitude: they are fearless, unperturbed by any external stimuli, free from worry, devoid of craving, untouched by hatred, and unswayed by fleeting elation. They embody sthitaprajña – a state of unwavering steadiness. Imagine a life where circumstances, however challenging, do not dictate your inner state. Where efficiency and clarity in action stem not from anxious striving, but from a profound inner calm. This is the promise of Mental Yoga. It's not about suppressing emotions, but understanding their impermanence and not allowing them to derail your inner peace. The ultimate joy that arises from this practice is not a fleeting burst of happiness, but a deep, abiding bliss – anando brahmeti vyajanat. It is an oceanic joy, a supreme contentment that, once attained, becomes an inseparable part of your being. This is your birth right. In a world grappling with a mental health crisis, where anxiety and depression are becoming increasingly prevalent, Mental Yoga offers a potent and accessible solution. It empowers individuals to reclaim their inner sovereignty, to find joy not in external acquisitions, but in the profound realisation of their own inherent nature. It is time to embrace the profound power of meditation and the complete science of yoga – not just as a physical discipline, but as a holistic path to mental and emotional liberation. This isn't just about feeling better; it's about fundamentally transforming your relationship with yourself and the world, and in doing so, reclaiming the wealth of bliss that is truly yours. (Author: Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai About the Author : Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai- Founder of Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission)
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Time of India
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar calls for focus on alternative medicines
New Delhi: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar called for focus on alternative medicine and for evidence-based validation of our ancient texts to make them accessible and applicable to contemporary challenges on Thursday, as per a release. Speaking at an event in Raj Bhavan, Goa, the Vice President said, "We are a nation with a difference.... We are rediscovering our roots, and we will get rooted in our roots. I strongly focus on alternative medicine because India is the home of alternative medicine. It is being practised now very extensively.... Let us not confine our ancient texts to libraries. They are not meant for the shelf of a library. They are meant to be widely disseminated. Let us bring timeless ideas to life through research, innovation, and reinterpretation using modern scientific tools. Let us pursue evidence-based validation, digitisation, translations, and cross-disciplinary studies to make these treasures accessible and applicable to contemporary challenges..... am extremely happy that the World Health Organisation has recognised it by establishing a global centre for traditional medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat. What a powerful recognition of the universal relevance of our systems like Ayurveda ." "Time for us to look back in our Vedas, in our Upanishads, in our Puranas, in our history and time to tell our children from birth about our civilizational depth of knowledge", he added. Addressing the gathering after commissioning the statutes, Dhankhar stated, "We are celebrating today, those who epitomize knowledge -- Charak. Charak was a royal physician in Kushan Kingdom. Charak is known as father of medicine and Charak author Charak Samhita, it is a foundational text for Ayurveda. The other one, Sushrut, father of Surgery, then. I had to see what you had put in your paintings. Surgical instruments during those days, so forward looking and we must always remember. Sushrut was a disciple of Dhanvantari, another celebrated name. Let the lives and works of Charaka and Sushruta be a source of inspiration and motivation for all, particularly our impressionable minds." Reflecting on the need to take pride in our ancient knowledge, Dhankhar underscored, "I wish to also focus on, also highlight a particular cultural trait. It is our cultural trait. Within sections of our society, there is a belief. Anything Indic or ancient is regressive. This trait has no place in modern India. This trait has no place in our times. The world has realised our importance. Time for us also to realise it. We cannot afford a situation to believe West is modern and progressive. Look at the current scenario, and you will find it is far from it. India is the centre. The International Monetary Fund was not wrong and must have said with great difficulty, we are a centre of excellence. We are a hot spot of golden opportunities, an investment opportunity. That being the situation, let us believe in Indic situations. West is far behind us. In their mind, they are learning from us." Underlining the ancient civilizational knowledge, the Vice-President said, " The entire West will be stunned if we learn more about our treasure of knowledge.... Charaka, Sushruta, Dhanvantri, Jivaka, a renowned Ayurvedic physician, and he was Buddha's it comes to mathematics and astronomy, Aryabhatta, we have named our satellites after him, a great name, and during those times we had Bodhayan, a great mathematician, and we have Varahamihira.... He was there when Chandragupta Vikramaditya's court was was one of those. He was having an observatory at Ujjain during those times." "We are a unique before we came to be abreast of the modern surgical situations, 300 surgical procedures, plastic surgery, fracture management, and even caesarean delivery. Just imagine. We need to take great pride in it. Then, what we call super-speciality hospitals. The things they transact in medical science, we already have them. And it is not only that. They put it in writing for academicians. Sushruta's writings reflect not just merely anatomical knowledge, but a profound scientific spirit emphasising accuracy, training, hygiene and patient care", he added.
