Yoga for Modern Age

Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founder-Acharya of ISKCON

Life in fast lane Jet Age

What is Yoga? Process of linking ourselves with the Supreme

Añöäìga-yoga the eight divisional yoga system 1.Yama controlling the senses 2.Niyama following the rules and regulation 3.Äsana practicing the sitting posture 4.Präëäyäma breath control

Añöäìga-yoga the eight divisional yoga system 5.Pratyähära controlling the senses from sense enjoyment 6.Dhäraëä concentration 7.Dhyäna meditation 8.Samädhi trance

Añöäìga-yoga as mentioned in Bhagavad- Gita Go to a secluded sacred place. Lead a life of complete celibacy.

Añöäìga-yoga as mentioned in Bhagavad- Gita Lay kuça grass on the ground and then cover it with a deerskin, neither too high nor too low. Sit alone in a rigid posture, which cannot be changed.

How many of us are willing to give this yoga system a try ?

5,000 years ago when conditions were much more favorable, Arjuna expressed his inability to practice such yoga, saying

“For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kåñëa, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.” Bhagavad-gétä 6.34

Different Yoga practices for Different Yugas Çrémad-Bhägavatam ( ) kåte yad dhyäyato viñëuà tretäyäà yajato makhaiù dväpare paricaryäyäà kalau tad dhari-kértanät

Tretä-yuga Performing Expensive Sacrifices Dväpara-yuga Elaborate Temple Worship Satya-yuga Meditation on Lord Visnu

Kali-yuga (the present age) Chanting Holy Names of the Lord

What do the major religions say about chanting the holy names of Lord?

Christianity Christ glorified the Lord’s holy name by saying “Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name”

Sikhism Guru Nanak prayed “In the ambrosial hours of the morning I meditate on the grace of the true name”

Islam Muslims repeatedly chant the sacred name of God - “Allah”

Buddhism Buddhists also practice repetition of the name of Lord Buddha (namu amida butsu)

Sanätana dharma It also recommends repetition of the holy names of the Lord, in form of mantra

MAN + TRA MIND DELIVER What is a mantra?

Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare HareHare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Japa

Sankirtan Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare HareHare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Scriptural References for chanting the Holy Names of Lord

dväparéyair janair viñëuù païcarätrais tu kevalaiù kalau tu näma-mätreëa püjyate bhagavän hariù Näräyaëa-saàhitä Scriptural References

“In the age of Kali, people should simply chant the holy names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Näräyaëa-saàhitä Scriptural References

Kali-santaraëa Upaniñad Scriptural References hare kåñëa hare kåñëa kåñëa kåñëa hare hare hare räma hare räma räma räma hare hare iti ñoòaçakaà nämnäà kali-kalmaña-näçanaà nätaù parataropäyaù sarva-vedeñu dåçyate

“After searching through all the Vedic literature one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krishna.” Kali-santaraëa Upaniñad Scriptural References

Çré Caitanya-caritämåta Adi-lélä Scriptural References harer näma harer näma harer nämaiva kevalam kalau nästy eva nästy eva nästy eva gatir anyathä

Çré Caitanya-caritämåta Adi-lélä “In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.” Scriptural References

Çrémad-Bhägavatam ( ) Scriptural References kaler doña-nidhe räjann asti hy eko mahän guëaù kértanäd eva kåñëasya mukta-saìgaù paraà vrajet

Çrémad-Bhägavatam ( ) “My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.” Scriptural References

Bhagavad-gétä Scriptural References yajïänäà japa-yajïo ’smi

Bhagavad-gétä “Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names {japa}.” Scriptural References

Çré Caitanya-caritämåta Antya-lélä Scriptural References nämnäm akäri bahudhä nija-sarva- çaktis taträrpitä niyamitaù smaraëe na kälaù etädåçé tava kåpä bhagavan mamäpi durdaivam édåçam ihäjani nänurägaù

Çré Caitanya-caritämåta Antya-lélä “My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your holy name there is all good fortune for the living entity, and therefore You have many names, such as “Kåñëa” and “Govinda,” You have invested all Your potencies in those names, and there are no hard and fast rules for remembering them.” Scriptural References

Do’s of Chanting

Chant the païca-tattva mantra before starting to chant the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra Do’s for chanting the mahä- mantra

çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu-nityänanda çré-advaita gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta- vånda païca-tattva mantra

Chant audibly (loud enough to hear the mantra) Do’s for chanting the mahä- mantra

Pronounce each name distinctly Do’s for chanting the mahä- mantra

Chant with respect, devotion & concentratio n Do’s for chanting the mahä- mantra

You can chant in any place, sitting or walking, facing any direction Do’s for chanting the mahä- mantra

However it is recommended to chant during the early morning hours (brähma- muhürta) You can chant at any time Do’s for chanting the mahä- mantra

You can chant either before or after taking bath Do’s for chanting the mahä- mantra

It is recommended to chant by keeping count (preferably on a Tulasé mälä having 108 beads) Do’s for chanting the mahä- mantra

Don’ts of Chanting 

One should not chant only a portion of the mahä- mantra Don’ts for chanting the mahä- mantra 

One should not chant on the Krishna bead of the japa mälä Don’ts for chanting the mahä- mantra 

One should not chant while reading a book, or newspaper, or watching TV etc. Don’ts for chanting the mahä- mantra 

Benefits of Chanting

Freedom from the reactions of sin

Relief from unwanted drives & habits In our present condition, we are slaves to any whimsical thoughts and desires.

Freedom from anxiety & stress

Peace of mind

Real Happiness

Enlightenment

What people say about chanting Hare Krishna?

“Its really a process of having realization of God.” George Harrison

“Everything started happening for me when I began chanting Hare Krishna.” Jean Claude Halliche Youngest Director of 3M Inc. - France (29 year old)

“Chanting Hare Krishna has made a tremendous impact in my life.” Albert Brush Ford Owner - Ford Motors

“ I've been chanting Hare Krishna for many years, and I've never found anything more pleasurable. N.D. Desai Leading Indian Industrialist (Apar Limited, GE Apar Lighting, CEMA Tubes, Apar Infotech)

“C hanting Hare Krishna has helped me face all the ups and downs in my life with a great confidence and peace of mind. ” Hrishikesh Mafatlal CEO - Mafatlal Fabrics

“Chanting helped me give up bad habits. It changed my vision of things.” Anne Schaufuss Dutch Model

“By starting to chant Hare Krishna, I feel tremendous happiness.” Vicki Overton leading European Model

Marco Ferrini Italy’s top furniture designer “Chanting makes me feel close to God.”

“Mahä-mantra significantly reduces stress, depression, & the mode of ignorance and considerably increases mode of goodness.” David Wolf Master of Social Service Program at Florida State University Researcher for studying the effects of chanting Hare Krishna Mahä- mantra.

“When I am stressed out, I chant. It’s one thing which charges my batteries. It clears my mind and brings me back in focus.” Paul Bleier Printing Executive

“When I’m nervous I find chanting very claming. I don’t get shaken up at little things.” Mrs. Sally Raleigh Merchandiser

“Chanting makes me more perceptive, more in harmony with everything and everyone around me.” Jane Lahner Jewelry Designer

“Chanting Hare Krishna and reading authorized books on Krishna Consciousness has brought me great peace.” Ramesh Lal Toronto Health Spa proprietor

You can also chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare and be happy