Practise yoga for health and unity: CM urges people on Yoga Day eve

Bhopal: On the eve of World Yoga Day, chief minister Mohan Yadav made a fervent appeal to the people of the state to practice Yoga for a healthy body and mind. In a blog, he stated that Yoga is a divine state where individual consciousness unites with the supreme consciousness. Irrespective of religion, caste, or creed, every person has the opportunity to attain this divine state through Yoga. It is a precious gift of India to humanity, he said.

Yadav further mentioned that it was the tireless efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that led the United Nations General Assembly to declare 21 June as International Yoga Day. With this, he ushered in a new era of comprehensive health awareness across the globe, focusing more on prevention rather than cure.

We are now celebrating the 11th International Yoga Day, which is dedicated to the theme: "Yoga for One Earth, One Health." The aim is to highlight the interrelationship between human well-being and the health of our planet. It is simple to understand that when the body and mind are healthy, we are also able to take care of our fellow communities and the environment.

He expressed pride in the fact that the scientific practice of Yoga has been well-preserved in India. The entire world is now benefiting from the rich heritage of Yogic philosophy. Yoga transcends boundaries of religion, caste, and colour, he said, adding that people often ask about the benefits of Yoga. The simplest answer is peace. The body and mind need peace the most. A disturbed mind and uncontrolled body can negatively affect society. Yoga is a divine gateway towards peace.

After Swami Vivekananda's historic address on Vedanta at the 'Parliament of Religions', he was invited across the US to speak on Vedanta philosophy. When he met American students, they asked how to focus on studies. Swamiji said: The only way is concentration, which arises from peace of mind that is achieved through meditation.

The Katha Upanishad describes Yoga as the art of controlling the senses. The Bhagavad Gita defines it as detachment from sorrow. Sage Patanjali, in his Yoga Sutras, explains Yoga as the method to control the fluctuations of the mind. Sri Aurobindo went further to say that human life itself is Yoga.

The ultimate goal of Yoga is to experience supreme consciousness. It is a state where the mind is aligned only with justice and righteousness, where values like compassion, kindness, friendship, and peace shine brightly. This state is essential for every human being, regardless of their religion, caste, community, or nationality. Imagine a world where everyone practices Yoga together — all differences disappear. The sense of geographical boundaries vanishes from the mind. Regardless of the country, the whole world becomes one. When the mind becomes unified through Yogic practices, inner joy remains constant, he said.