MEANING, PURPOSE and BENEFITS

Introduction:

Dictionary meanings of seminar are: Specialists conference: Small class for short discussions; Short intensive course for study.

Based on above meanings, seminars are short duration sessions of, say, two to three hours, at minimum to discuss certain fundamental and/or applied concepts of any chosen subject. In the context of Yoga, such seminars are important to understand the basic concepts of various experiences to be received while practicing the Yoga. In eight-fold path of Raj-Yoga, as given by Patanjali (they are: Yam, Niyam, Asans, Pranayam, Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyan and Samadhi), we need to grasp the concept of each fold intellectually first, then we can proceed to the practical side of them through practices. These practices ultimately lead to the practical individual experiences.

So, rightful definition of seminar: It can be a short duration session/sessions, involving intellectual activities to grasp the basic concepts of a chosen subject. Such sessions are intellectually addressed by a teacher or a master or a Guru. Seminar sessions are almost totally devoid of any practices (physical or psychic, like asans or meditation etc.).

Purpose:

In the modern era of material world, belief and faith are the greatest casualty. Rationality, logic and scientific inquiries are ruling human mind. Unless acceptance is not coming intellectually, nothing is received. "Success of Intellect" has become basic mantra. But, there is one positive side of whole of this approach of modern generation. If this generation gets satisfied logically i.e. intellectually then there is no stopping for them unless they reach the goal. Seminar's main purpose is to transfer the basic concept of any chosen subject intellectually. Say, for example, if Yoga Guru asks some young persons to do yoga for their "Self-Evolution" or "Self-Realization". Immediately questions will be shot back: - What is this Yoga? - What is "Self-Evolution" or "Self-Realization"? - Why should we evolve? – What should we realize? – What is wrong with material realization? – What is this spiritualism? – Mind exists we agree, but how my mind can affect my physical body? – Etc. etc. etc. An unending series of such inquiries will flow. And this is quite obvious, when whole world is being ruled by human intellect.

Factually speaking, answers of all above questions lie in the experiences following the Yoga practices. But Yoga practices without strong faith and belief reduces into mere physical exercises of no use.

Seminar uses time to transfer intellectual aspects of the whole concept. A scientific, rational, intellectual knowledge (not understanding – which is the result of experiences) is transferred. All questions are attended with intellectual answers and all inquiries are logically concluded. Finally discussion stops at a point where practical side of the subject takes over. Once participants feel intellectually satisfied, he/she develops a curiosity towards the subject. Now he/she can defy his/her own intellectual belief and is drawn into practices.

Benefits:

Intellectual acceptance starts the process of belief and faith in the subject of seminar. This is the immediate benefit of attending the seminars. Participants feel a desire to further explore the subject. If his/her intellect accepts and approves the basic concept/concepts of the subject, he/she experiences a surge of inner desire to move and explore the next stage. Say, for example, participants attend a seminar on "Yoga and Yoga Practices" and on completion, their intellect feel a satisfaction towards the basic concepts. Then they will certainly desire to move on the next stage of the practical aspects of the "Yoga Practices", to feel and experience the evolution of their "Being", as promised by "The Yoga". This is the immediate benefit of attending such seminar.

Moving on further during practices, practitioners pass through series of such benefits as results of his/her evolution through Yoga practice. To name few:

1. If he/she evolves above his/her physical body, he/she is benefited by getting good health.

2. If he/she evolves to next stage above than mental plane, he/she receives some psychic powers. These psychic powers help him/her to control his/her surrounding.

3. If he/she evolves further higher and enters into emotional region of his/her being, he/she starts experiencing control on his/her mind. He/she achieves a typical "Mental Peace", which he/she never experienced in the past life. Nothing of the world can bother him/her now.

4. Next stage of evolution brings a state of perpetual peaceful mind, known as "Bliss". No words can describe the experience of such higher evolution.

So, successive stages of evolution brings their own benefits. Now, just think, where from these practical experiences did originate? By attending the seminar on "Yoga and Yoga Practices". In a nutshell, benefits start flowing from the intellectual grasp in seminar. Remember: Knowledge can come to you by intellectual exercises, but understanding is the result of wisdom that blossoms due to experiences emanating from rigorous practices.

 

Few Interesting "Subjects" for Seminars:

 

	This is where you will receive the fundamental knowledge of your spiritual being and you'll understand how to live in this material world with a renewed conscience. This is a very important seminar for everyone, whether you've received teachings in this topic before or not. You only need to have a strong desire to change your life.		What are the forces that act on me? What are my hidden capabilities? How can I use to the maximum my potential to happiness and creativity? We will discover the fantastic world of energy, learn and practice what should we do with our own energy and the energy around us, how to clean the energy fields and how to control and be a channel of the pure Universal Energy.
	Reiki involves the transfer of energy from practitioner to patient to enhance the body's natural ability to heal itself through the balancing of energy, and utilizes specific techniques for restoring and balancing the natural life force energy within the body. It is a holistic, natural, hands-on energy healing system that touches on all levels: body, mind, and spirit.		When the perceptions from senses don't match with the reality, it's called "Illusion". What eyes apparently see in the "Nature", is not the reality, this is called "Illusion". This is the simplest concept of the "Illusion". "Maya" is the other name, used in the spiritual and religious texts. Almost all religious texts of every religion refer this illusory state of the "Nature" in one way or other.
	It's necessary we rethink our approach to living. We need to drastically reform "Art of Living" and bring in the concept of "Art of Unliving". After all who will teach teenagers, how to navigate the life in this complex time. We have to bring in such living concepts that can build the most urgently required quality of human beings: Emotional health. "Art of Unliving" is primarily concerned with "Development of Emotional Aspects" of mankind. We need to turn natural robots into living human beings.		During 7-14 yrs of Age: This is watershed part of children’s life. Once he/she has achieved a sound physical body, he/she has established roots of his life tree. Such children should be guided with such practices, which mainly care for his/her emotional body. Yoga has a very holistic approach for this. Children are tender plants; they need care, help and guidance to grow as a balanced person. World can only experience peace if we give proper attention to the "Development of Children".