Pushkarmuni Abhinandan Granth

Author(s): Devendramuni, A D Batra, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Rajasthankesari Adhyatmayogi Upadhyay Shree Pushkar Muni Abhinandan Granth Prakashan Samiti

Page 1141

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श्री पुष्करमुनि अभिनन्दन अन्य : नवम खण्ड
workers and so on. So far so that it has been proposed that army and police personnel be trained in yogic practices.
Such proposals are not whimsical nor senseless. They are really worth taking into consideration seriously and if worked upon in right manner they will make the life of people more fruitfully creative and happy and will provide answers to many problems which humanity is facing today.
But upto very recent times the notion about the value and utility of yogic techinques for objectives even of our day to day worldly life was not there. So in the old literature and tradition very little indication is there of how to derive such benefits from Yoga. The research with controlled investigations about the applicability of yogic techniques for specific condition will provide answers to such questions.
Thus prior to the current century Yoga methods were rarely used for treatment of diseases. But the researches related to the application of yoga practices for therapeutical purposes have given very valuable information. During the last decade or two a number of medical practitioners, trained in Western or standard official medical systems, have recognised the value of yoga techniques for alleviations of certain very refractory disease conditions and disorders and are taking help of the yogic practices-mainly asanas-for treating these.
A great demand for introducing Yoga in schools and colleges is there. To some extent this has been even brought into actuality. Thus the State of Maharashtra a few years back initiated a plan of training teachers of middle schools and high schools in yogic practices, with a view to introduce Yoga in schools in Maharashtra, although the scheme was interrupted midway. The Union Minister of Education has several times announced that directives are being given to introduce Yoga as a subject in schools all over the country and courses and syllabi for both students and school-yoga teachers have been published by the government of India. Gharote and Ganguli from Kaivalyadhāma Research Laboratories have observed specific deficiencies of muscular strength and flexibilities in school children of various age groups, which they, on the basis of their other data, advise to be made good through training in yoga practice (Indian Journal of Medical Research, 63, 1242, 1976).
Proposals have been put forth to introduce yogic training (treatment ?) in reformatory schools for rehabilitation of delinquent childern and into prisons to reform the offensive tendencies of inmates. Shri K. B. Sahasrabuddhe and his colleagues have even started some such work in Thana prison and have claimed good results out of it.
Few years ago there was a proposal from the then Director General of Health Services of the Armed Forces of India to make yogic exercises a part of general training in all the three wings of the services. Some research projects were also started in the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. But the proposal went no further.
Similar proposal for introduction of yogic exercises in the training programme of the police force have been put forward and some exploratory work has been started in the state of Maharashtra. Gharote and Ganguli have reported (Indian Police Journal, July-September 1976 p. 34) marked improvement in flexibility and physical fitness in a group of police trainees practising Yoga (Asanas, Pranayama etc.) along with their routine training as compared to the group having the usual training.
Some time back there was a news in the daily papers that Yoga in form of Transcendental Meditation was already made a compulsory part of Air Force personnel training in U.S. A.
Some two decades ago one Director of Armed Forces Research Organisation of U.S. A. had approached Kaivalyadhāma authorities for getting some research in Yogic states being carried out, which was expected to resolve some very hard to overcome difficulties encountered by them in connection with the training and preparation of space flight pilots.
All such proposals and movements are welcome, both from the points of view of Yoga