Excerpts from Narendra Modi's Speech on Yoga

When a prime minister of an important country like India speaks about yoga, the world listens.

Perhaps as many as 2 billion people around the world took part in the first "International Day of Yoga" on June 21st. It seems to signal that yoga is becoming mainstream, and if this is true, surely more peace will spread in the world as a result.

The sooner the better, right? Yet all is perfect.

Here are some important quotes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech:

• "A yogi is a person who is in harmony – with herself, her body, with her surroundings, with nature. Yoga is the means to achieve that harmony."
• "From the Upanishads, comes the idea of Yoga to transform human consciousness through control of body and senses through constant practice. The body is the vehicle for the realization of the Supreme Being."
• "Yoga is, therefore, a vision for a harmonious future for humanity. It is a state of mind … People often think that yoga is just a set of exercises. Yoga is a philosophy of discipline and meditation that transforms the spirit and makes the individual a better person in thought, action, knowledge and devotion."

• "The benefits of yoga are manifold. When practised correctly and with discipline, Yoga leads to: 

1. Perfection of our body’s potential in strength, skill, and general well-being, peaceful and stress-free living.
2. Control and mastery of our life-energies (Prana) leading to health, long and disease-free life, capacity for full enjoyment of life.
3. Opening and refining of the heart’s emotions leading to greater compassion, mutual understanding, and sensitivity to the needs of others.
4. Full development of our mental powers, leading to heightened concentration, intelligence, creativity, intuition. 
5. Liberation of our spirit from ignorance, suffering, incapacity, leading to freedom, equality, constant joyfulness and inner strength to overcome all challenges of life. It awakens the deeper sense of unity and oneness with the whole Universe and all living beings. 
6. Together, these lead to the realization of our highest divine Perfection.