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many great sages and saints who have actually lived and practised it.
The importance of yoga has further increased in today's world, as life, having become materialistic, has begun to create literally every type of problem. The human being is at a loss to find its real meaning. Life in the fast moving world has created many pitfalls and is denying contentment, the very purpose of a rich and full life. In the competitive world, humans lose their balance, mental peace and harmony. Therefore, in order to give their stressed souls a way out, this yogic science is greatly needed. Yoga gives man sound health and produces a state of physical and mental harmony. The practices of meditation produce a state of mental balance, whereby the practitioner begins to understand himself, his physical and spiritual needs, and the importance of establishing balance between his material and spiritual life.
As a result of yogic practices, including meditation, he gradually develops concentration, one-pointedness and devotion. He can then think more clearly, in order to objectively analyze his problems and needs. He can clearly understand the meaning of life, why we are born, what the aim of our existence is and what we have come to achieve. In this way he achieves objectivity in life which gives him such peace, relaxation and tranquility, that he is able to address the issues in life more rationally.
The chaos in today's changing world, the problems of the space age, the nuclear age, are escalating so rapidly, that people of today's world do not get a chance to relax and experience peace and contentment. Man's soul is. uncared for and unhappy. The importance of yoga is greater now than ever before in solving the problems of the modern world. We hope that people, not only in India but in the entire world, can be prevented from deteriorating due to the materialistic way of life and its allied pressures. If we want to adopt higher objectives and principles in life, better rules and regulations in the society, then we need to recognize that yoga is the way that leads humanity to happiness and progress, whereby people can live together with the feeling of universal brotherhood and mutual understanding.
This has been a great achievement of Paramahamsa Satyananda, and today, when we all gather to celebrate his Tyag Golden Jubilee, we pay our sincere tribute to him. He has
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