Fwd: A report on National Seminar on The Indian Approach to Calming the Mind

[Guest guest]

Ramachandra Bhat wrote:

Mon, 1 Oct 2007 21:39:17 +0530

 

A brief report on the 2 nd National Seminar

 

Introduction

The human mind is like a tide less lake in its original form where no ripples

appear. It is this calm and pure mind that helps the human being to understand

the inherent reality of the creation and beyond. It is the same pure and steady

mind that becomes capable of unfolding the hidden mysteries of the cosmos.

 

But we are bound by day to day activities where the mind receives various

modifications such as love, passion, hatred, anxiety etc. It is but natural

that the mind becomes impure, full of fluctuations and upheavals. So there is a

need to get control over the mind and bring it back to its original form. Today

because of the hazardous life style, we are incapable of controlling our own

mind and the concept of the ultimate calmness of the mind might appear very

strange. Psychology as a science of human psyche, though developed into wider

dimensions is striving hard to find out the ways to calm the mind. Modern young

mind is in great need of the ways to control, calm, and made it steady. Here

Yoga psychology becomes relevant in dealing with the human mind and its

applications. There are ample techniques prescribed in the Vedic texts to deal

with the restless, fickle mind.

 

In this context, Veda Vijnana Gurukulam, a research centre on the Vedic

sciences had organized a two days seminar on " The Indian approach to calming the

mind " at national level on 25 th and 26th of August. The intention was to shed

light on the hidden techniques of the Vedas, the smritis and the tantra texts on

calming the mind. The two days seminar was presided over by His Holiness Sri Sri

Sri Raghaveshwara Bharathi of Ramachandrapura mutt. He blessed this effort as

a milestone towards the explorations of the vedic sciences. It was a great

pleasure for the delegates to get a brief outlook of the Eastern and western

approach towards psychology from Dr. Nagaraj, Director and Vice chancellor,

NIMHANS,Bangalore. Sri Shradhalu Ranadey a renowned educationist from Aurobindo

Ashram, Pondicherry in his key note address paved a pathway for all the seekers

to march ahead in this venture. He also suggested certain yogic techniques

useful in dealing with the human mind. Following

the inaugural session there were five sessions in which many invited

dignitaries presented their papers including Dr. Dharaneedharan, Reader,

Sanskrit Dept, Pondicherry, Dr. Kiran Kumar,HoD of Sanskrit , Manasagangotri,

Mysore, Sri Krishnan Venkatraman, a research scholar in the Vedic sciences,

Prof. K Ramasubramanyam, renowned educationist, Madurai, Prof.N V C Swami,

Former Director, IIT,Chennai.

 

Experimentation and Presentation

On the 2nd day there was a special session devoted to the papers presented by

the Acharyas of the three Gurukulas namely Prabodhini Gurukulam which is meant

for the boys in the age group of 10 to 16, Maitreyee Gurukulam which is meant

for the girls of the same age group and Veda Vijnana Gurukulam for the boys in

the age group of 16 to 22 years. This session was presided over by Prof.

Ramachandra G bhat, principal, Veda Vijnana Gurukulam. These papers were based

on the practical applications imparted in all the three Gurukulas. In the

Gurukulas, Mind Reading Technique (MRT) and Mind Calming Method (MCM) are being

used which have been extracted from the Vedic and yogic texts. Based on the

practical working models used in the Gurukulas, papers were presented and were

received with great applause.

 

Lively Discussions

Before the valedictory function, a unique session- " Panel discussion " was

organized. A panel was constituted which comprised renowned psychologists who

have been using the vedic explorations to study the human mind. It was headed by

Sri Metthijs Cornelisseu, Founder, Indian Psychological Institute, Pondicherry.

Prof. Shantamani, Director, SBMJC, Banglore, Dr. Shirley Telles, HoD, Dept of

Yoga and Bio-sciences, SVYASA, Dr. Akhilesh, HoD, Dept of Management studies ,

IISC and Dr. Vladamir Iatsenko, Research Scholar, IPI, Pondicherry were the

other dignitaries who suggested a practice oriented approach. They made it clear

the hazards that might crop up in dealing with the human psyche.

 

Exhibition on the results of experimentations

There was an exhibition organized on the basis of the experimentations done in

all the three Gurukulas which were formulated by the Vedic texts and its

supporting branches. It was inaugurated by Sri Shane Mulhall, Principal, School

of Philosophy, Ireland. He in his speech emphasised Advaita, the non dualistic

thinking as the universal phenomenon which encompasses all the different sects

and segments. He also said " We are proud to have an association with the

Gurukulam and its activities. We are fully convinced that all the activities of

the gurukulam are practical reflections of the non dualistic thinking depicted

in the Upanishads " .

 

Cultural programme

On the evening of 25th August, a spirituality based cultural programme was

organised by the children of the Prabodhini and Maitreyi gurukulams. The entire

cultural programme was focussed on Yoga psychology and was well-received by one

and all.

 

Adieu, No the beginning!!!

The concluding function was presided over by Sri Sri Harshananda Puri Swamiji,

Ramakrishna Mutt, Banglore who is the source of inspiration for all the

activities of the Gurukulams. He referred to the wisdom hidden in the Vedic

texts and emphasised the need to explore and bring them to lime light. The

seminar became a glorious fabric of all the seekers from all over the world

including different sects and segments under the umbrella of the Vedic wisdom.

It became very clear that the Vedic sciences have offered the time-tested

solutions for the stressful, turbulent problems of the modern age. It is the

responsibility of the seekers of the Eternal truth to make Vedic wisdom a

universal phenomenon and useful for the betterment of the universe.

Yours

Prof. Ramachandra Bhat

Principal, Veda Vijnana Gurukulam

Dean, SVYASA, Jigani

Bangalore

 

 

 

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