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Problems of Humanity Lecture Series No. 8
Lecture / Workshop:
Light Net and the Ageless Wisdom Library are hosting a FREE Lecture- Workshop on"Ananda Marga Yoga Holistic Health Principles" to be conducted by a Senior Yoga teacher and the Chief Administrator of Ananda Marga Yoga in South East Asia, Dada Unmantrananda, on November 26, 2006, Sunday, 2-6pm in Manila, Philippines (see sketch of Venue).
Dada Unmantrananda was born in Denmark and has been a yoga teacher in the Ananda Marga tradition for 25 years with focus on personal development and social change. He held various assignments such as regional secretary of AM Denmark and special envoy to USA; and head teacher and administrator of AM in the middle east and the balkans.
According to the AM Dada, "the best medicine is that which cures the patient. The object of the art of healing is to cure a patient, both physically and mentally. So the main question is not to uphold any particular school of medical science; the key task is the welfare of the patient. The purpose of this talk is to make the listeners aware of the yogic methods of staying healthy and treating various illnesses.. Secondly, the speaker intends to explore the yoga philosophy of teaching by example --to offer the interested present a balanced guide to the various, and at times confusing, disciplines of yoga and to encourage them to try it out for themselves."
While PETA focused on the various health, environmental, ethical, and political-economic issues as rationale behind the vegetarian lifestyle, the Ananda Marga Yogis or Ananda Margiis will be discussing the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of vegetarianism. In addition, other holistic health practices such as yoga asanas or physical exercises, fasting, dietary observances, rebirthing and other techniques will be presented to maintain the physical well-being of an individual in preparation to spiritual pursuits, in accordance with the Ananda Marga philosophy and spirituality.
According to Wikipedia, "Ananda Marga, officially known as Ananda Marga Pracharaka Samgha (AMPS) meaning “the organization for the propagation of the path of bliss” was founded in Jamalpur, State of Bihar, India in 1955 by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar (1921-1990), known by his spiritual name of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. Ananda Marga bases its ideology on the theory that total human development can only be achieved through both personal development, and social service to the community.
The meaning of Ananda Marga is “path of bliss”, ananda meaning bliss, and marga path. Through a system of meditation techniques, yoga postures (asanas), spiritual gatherings, and social service the ananda margiis (followers of AM) strive to develop themselves as human beings, and the betterment of others.
Furthermore, "Ananda Marga (AM) is the practice of AMPS. Ananda Marga meaning the path of bliss. AM is based on tantra yoga, as interpreted by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti in the books "Discourses on Tantra volume 1 and 2". [12], [13]. "Tantra" meaning the liberation from darkness, the root "tan" meaning darkness, and "tra" liberation. Tantra in the popular western sense meaning sexual practices is not a part of the Ananda Marga tantra tradition. Sarkar in his book on Shiva, "Namah Shiváya Shántáya", and "Discourses on Tantra volume 1", he explains the difference between the lefthand crude tantric path, and the righthand subtle path by giving an explanation of panchamakara, also known as the 5 Ms. The practitioner of Ananda Marga tantra yoga sees the mind as a "trapped monkey" striving to escape from its cage. The tantra path is the path of the brave, because it requires the practitioner to follow strict rules as to their spiritual practice. Meditation is the main practice of this tantric tradition, and through the meditation the practitioner struggles to overcome his weaknesses and imperfections. Through daily meditations the practitioner faces his minds deepest secrets, and to proceed in the practice he must manage to overcome whatever he faces in the deepness. Because the path is considered so difficult many people stray from the path and reject the teachings afterwards.
The base Ananda Marga practice is covered in a set of rules called the sixteen points. The sixteen points guides the practitioner of the tantric path on both spiritual and social aspects.
Other practices of Ananda Marga include "The physical practice of Ananda Marga comprises both yoga asanas, and two specific dances, kaoshiki and tandava. Ananda Marga also runs yoga and meditation centers, schools, orphanages, food distribution centers, disaster relief programs, medical centers, community development projects, and other service projects. Emphasis is placed on solving the problems of the local people, whatever they may be, and assisting them in managing all their personal and social resources for the prosperity of all."
The Program will include a Reflective New Moon Group Meditation, "Strengthening the Hands of the New Group of World Servers" after the lecture at around 6:00pm.
About The Problems of Humanity Lecture Series
The Problems of Humanity Lecture Series, being hosted by Light Net and the Ageless Wisdom Library in the Philippines, is intended to help men and women of goodwill gain a deeper understanding of world problems so as to position themselves, based on their soul purpose, as to what role to take to enable them to contribute more actively and effectively in the world-wide efforts in solving these problems in the realm of causes- both subjectively and objectively.
The lecture series is based upon the concepts in the book, "Problems of Humanity", by Alice A. Bailey, and is partly adapted from the "The Problems of Humanity Study Course" provided by the World Goodwill in New York, USA.
Each lecture session is composed of three main elements: 1. A lecture or presentation (by an invited resource person) on a problem or an urgent societal issue affecting humanity, globally or locally, 2. Some questions for consideration and group discussion, 3. Reflective Group meditation.
The lectures and dicussions will be held once a month and will include topics related to and ranging from Psychological renewal of nations, Children, Youth and Education, Capital, Labor and Employment, Racial Minorities, World Religions, and other issues and problems prevalent in the local setting.
As with its study course counterpart by the World Goodwill group, "the emphasis is placed upon underlying causes and emerging trends rather than on a factual survey of events. Through study, discussion and meditation, we can generate a "thoughtform of solution" thereby changing the climate of world thought to permit the solution of world problems. This include the undertaking of local forms of service activity. The hope of the future lies in the hands of all people of goodwill. Only they, in their millions, can create the enlightened public opinion that will turn the tide of world events."
"The trained use of power on the side of goodwill and on behalf of right human relations will be demostrated as possible, and the present unhappy state of world affairs can be changed. This will be done... through the weight of a trained public opinion - an opinion which will be based on goodwill, on an intelligent understanding of the needs of humanity, on a determination to bring about right human relations and on the recognition that the the problems with which humanity is today confronted can be solved through goodwill." (Alice A. Bailey, "Problems of Humanity")
"Goodwill or Will-to-Good is Love in Action"
Schedule of the FREE Lectures
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April 30, 2006, Sunday, 1-4pm - "Perceived Impact of The DaVinci Code on Christianity"- Discussion Group with invited reactors
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May 28, Sunday, 1-5 pm - "Food Not Bombs: An Approach to the Problem of World Hunger"- lecture/workshop to be conducted by the FNB Manila group
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June 25, Sunday, 1-4pm - Complementary Solutions to the HealthCare Problem-1: REIKI ENERGY HEALING by an invited Reiki Teacher & Tarot Reader, Mr. August Tambunting
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July 23, Sunday, 1-5 pm - "Understanding the Pagan Revival"- A lecture to be conducted by the Soul Guide Fraternity"
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Aug. 20, Sunday, 1-3pm - "Theosophy & the Theosophical Order of Service"- A lecture on the nature of Theosophy and TOS by Ms. Rekha Nahar from the Theosophical Society in the Philippines. "Basic Numerology" will be conducted by Mr. Randy Villanueva, from 3-7pm.
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Sept. 17, Sunday, 1-6pm - "Global Commercialization, Corporations, and the New Age Movement"- film showing and popcorns session. (Organized in cooperation with FNB Manila). Sketch of Venue.
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Oct. 22, Sunday, 4-6pm - New Moon Group meditation only.
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November 19, 2006, Sunday, 1-6 pm - "Go Veg without tears: Save your health, save the earth"- video presentation /lecture by local members of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
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November 26, 2006, Sunday, 2-6 pm - "Complementary Solutions to the HealthCare Problem-2: Ananda Marga Yoga Holistic Health Principles"- A lecture / workshop by Dada Unmantrananda, a Senior Yoga teacher from Ananda Marga Philippines
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December 23, 2006, Saturday - "Feeding the Homeless Workshop"- A lecture / workshop / community activity organized in cooperation with FNB Manila
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To be announced soon, Sunday, 1-5 pm - "Glamour of Astralism"- A parallel book discussion of Dion Fortune's "Psychic Self-Defense: A Study in Occult Pathology and Criminality" and Alice A. Bailey's "Glamour: A World Problem"
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Note: Due to the limitation in seating capacity, only those with prior reservations will be allowed to participate. For further inquiries, you may contact Tel. 829-1580 or txt/sms 0919-4294386
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