LIGHT OF EDUCATION IS LIGHT OF GOD

(A Tribute to Kamakhyaguri High School on the auspicious Platinum Jubilee Celebration)

“Practise Yoga hard; whether you live or die does not matter. You have to plunge in and work, without thinking of the result……. Eat or not, do Yoga.” - Swami Vivekananda (I.178)

For her countless marvels, miracles, and multifarious contributions to the world, India has been the centre of attraction to all nations and races from time immemorial. Among her diverse contributions, Yoga Shastra, the science of Yoga, has been one of the greatest boons to mankind. In today’s world, Yoga has become a popular household name at every nook and corner of the globe. Its multifaceted benefit has been experienced and acknowledged even by modern medical science. Dr. B.M Hedge, in his celebrated book ‘What Doctors Don’t Get to Study in Medical School’ wrote: “Scientific studies in India, in the US and England have reiterated the above fact that Yoga and lifestyle changes, based on the science of yoga, could even reverse many damages to the body, including blood vessel blockages.”

The need of Yoga for people of all ages has become more dire today than ever before to counter the numerous adverse effects of modern civilization and promote ourselves as ideal citizens. And even more needed it is for the students and growing children as they are the pillars and torch bearers of the future. By its mysterious and multifarious power, Yoga can build each student a mighty man or woman. Without any academic qualification and material support, by the sheer practice of Yoga, B.K.S Iyengar grew into a legend, who is adored by the world community.

In his book ‘How to be a Yogi’, Swami Abhedananda wrote: This Royal method was extolled by Pythagoras, Plato, Plotinus, Proclus; by Gnostics and the Christian mystics. It was practised by the Roman Catholic monks – Spinoza, Kant, Schopenhauer, and Emerson practised it. The concentrated mind of the Yogi is like an electric search light, path to acquire perfect knowledge. The science of Raja Yoga leads to the attainment of the highest ideal. This highest ideal, according to the Bhagavad Gita, is the union of the individual soul with the Universal Spirit. The powers attained by Raja Yoga will remain even after death……If the object be the acquirement of perfect health or longevity, then the effort of both mind and body to accomplish this through certain practices is called “Yoga”. So is it again if the object is the development of PSYCHIC POWERS……All psychic and spiritual powers serve the Yogi as their real Master. Whatever the Yogi says is sure to come to pass. He never utters a word in vain. If he says to a distressed or suffering person, “ Be thou whole, instantly that person will become whole.”

Yoga sharpens one’s intellect, develops concentration, builds character, enhances mind power, keeps the body fit, and ignites the thirst for knowledge and learning. Almost all kinds of problems, obstacles and ailments are connected to our nervous system and can be overcome by sincere practice of Yoga. Doctor Paul Joire, President of the Society of Universal Psychological Studies wrote, “The muscles are made to move by the nerves; the nerves regulate the circulation of the blood by their direct action on the heart and by their action on the blood vessels which they dilate or contract. Therefore, the nerves act on all the organs and, by their intermediary action, may influence diseased organs.” And Yoga tones up the entire nervous system.

The following quotation of B.K.S Iyengar consolidates the truth of the might of Yoga: “If you practice Yoga everyday with perseverance, you will be able to face the turmoil of life with steadfastness and maturity.” Under the transformative effects of Yoga, sincere practitioners become an embodiment of divine virtues. Perhaps, for the very truth, Lord Jesus, Lord Krishna, Lord Buddha, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Paramahansa Yogananda, Swami Sivananda Saraswati, Yogiraj B.K.S. Iyengar had dived into Yoga.

In his Raja Yoga, Swami Vivekananda wrote, “The fire of Yoga burns the cage of sin that is around the man…From Yoga comes knowledge; knowledge again helps the Yogi…..Those that practice Mahayoga, either once a day, or twice a day, or thrice, or always, know them to be gods….The other Yogas that we read and hear of, do not deserve to be ranked with the excellent Mahayoga in which the Yogi finds himself and the whole universe as God. This is the highest of all Yogas.” The steps of Raja Yoga are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

Yoga is the best of all exercises, best of all hobbies, best method of character building, best of all sadhanas, best of all therapies, best of all arts and the best road for building universal brotherhood, which can be embraced and practised at any age by anyone under the guidance of a trained teacher or instructor. Lady Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother of Belgium started practising Sirsasana (headstand) at the age of 86 under the guidance of B.K.S. Iyengar. The world- renowned philosopher and educationist J. Krishnamurty (a highly evolved soul) chose the path of Iyengar Yoga as the best panacea to combat his cancer. With the cancer and the fire of Yoga, he could live for another 26 years of active life and died at the age of 90.

Professor Krishnamacharya, the Yoga guru of B.K.S. Iyengar, in his book Yoga Makaranda (The nectar of Yoga), wrote, “Yoga practices ensure that the exercises are distributed evenly for all the limbs of the body. It is Yoga which gives us health and prosperity. It is again yoga which ensures us a long life. It is Yoga which sharpens our intellect. It is Yoga which makes us wealthy. It is Yoga which elevates us as human beings. It is Yoga which makes our country a pure, scintillating jewel. It is Yoga which enables our intellect to do or not to do. It is again Yoga which imparts knowledge as to why we were born. To the important question “Where is God?” It is only Yoga that supplies the answer and nothing else. We can affirm these with great confidence.” According to Vedanta, Yoga leads the practitioner from ignorance to knowledge, from darkness to light and from death to immortality.

In the words of Swami Sivananda Saraswati, through the practice of Yoga, you can make the whole humanity and all living beings members of your family. Through the practice of Yoga you can overcome all difficulties and can eradicate all weaknesses. Through the practice of Yoga pain can be transmitted into bliss, death into immortality, sorrow into joy, failure into success and sickness into perfect health. Therefore, practise Yoga diligently.

According to Swami Vivekananda, Yoga is a raindrop and the yogi is an oyster, to turn himself or herself into a PEARL.

Santosh Chowdhury,
Ex-student, Kamakhyaguri High School