Why an International Yoga Congress?
Vision meets tradition
About the subject in 2016: Yoga – Divine Solutions for Modern Life
Why a non-profit Congress?
Why have a Yoga Congress in Romania?
Knowledge and practice – who speaks, who participates?
Why you should join
A special atmosphere
Why an International Yoga Congress?
Yoga is certainly the most popular Oriental practice which has been adopted and is cherished by Western society. Due to its versatility and universality, Yoga has spread throughout the modern world, taking an amazing variety of forms, trends and styles; classic and innovative, static or acrobatic, some forms have a practical approach, some abstract, some unfathomable, some even ludicrous, and yet all of them labeled and recognized as Yoga. This proves the perpetual spirit of Yoga: uniting tradition and novelty in one, and the eternal aspiration of the human spirit to know itself. However, there is a challenge posed by such variety. As a matter of fact, it is a challenge that is characteristic of our world today, as diversity is now present in abundance. However, instead of enjoying it truly, the majority develop just a superficial consumerist attitude, not reaching satisfaction, or creating sustainability. It is the same with the dissemination of Yoga: in pursuit of diversity and originality, many are missing out on the original purpose of Yoga philosophy and, instead of an expansion of consciousness and fusion with the Cosmic source, a scattering of mind and a beautified confusion results.
To address this matter, the International Yoga Federation ATMAN has launched a biennial Congress on Yoga, Science and Spirituality, also including modules of authentic spiritual practice. The purpose of the Congress is that together, the participants, attendants, audience and online visitors share, explore, and join creative forces in order to reinforce the core principles of Yoga today, and to encourage a genuine practice of Yoga.
Vision meets tradition
The ATMAN International Federation of Yoga and Meditation aims to express a holistic spirituality that embraces a down-to-earth way of life in all its aspects, encouraging the spiritual practitioner to integrate in society with full self-confidence, while simultaneously using the ancient traditional knowledge of yoga as a guideline for a spiritual life that aims towards blissfulness and pure consciousness. We believe that Yoga is the key to an abundant and fulfilled life that allows the revelation of a person’s full potential on different levels by centering back into consciousness and by living with curiosity and presence.
Hatha Yoga trains and harmonizes the body. Meditation quietens the mind. Karma Yoga opens the heart in every action. The variety of yoga approaches can “train” the whole person, so that the perseverant practitioner can become complete. Thus, yoga is not just a set of techniques but a way of living that uses ancient methods in a visionary way, allowing the modern man to realiye the truth and freedom for which he strives within his own being.
The International Yoga Congress aims to display this vivid vision of yoga in an event that unifies scientific research, mystic knowledge, authentic practice and the delights of refined arts, all in a spirit of abundance and giving – as the Congress is completely based on voluntary work and for many completely free to attend – creating a field of both study and togetherness.
About the subject in 2016: Yoga – Divine Solutions for Modern Life
The subject of this year’s Congress, “Yoga – Divine Solutions for Modern Life” touches the very core of yoga: this system is a complete spiritual discipline, addressing all stages of spiritual development, from the beginner one, to the one achieving the highest spiritual accomplishment, and thus offering divinely integrated solutions for the obstacles along the spiritual path. Nevertheless, the amazing profoundness of the yoga system gets to be proved once again nowadays, through the multitude of practical solutions offered for the modern life problems, seen from this perspective as natural challenge occurring when being engaged in personal development.
We look forward to the International Yoga Congress becoming a genuine platform for exchange between science and spirituality allowing insight into the latest results of research, and adding new names to the list of visionary geniuses from recent times. We wish to raise new and interesting view points and possibly discussions on the questions: How can one harmoniously combine the many times toilsome path of spiritual discipline and development, with all its obstacles and challenges, with the need of enjoying a happy, relaxed and comfortable life, obviously favored by our society with all its modern facilities?
Why a non-profit Congress?
In the true spirit and tradition of sharing essential wisdom, the ATMAN Federation decided to keep the entrance fee extremely low, give further reductions to students and not to charge any fee for the many online participants (in 2014 we had up to 7000 online viewers!) in the Congress. This is only possible as organization and preparations are done in an enthusiastic atmosphere of voluntary work with donations and sponsorship. At previous Congresses, organizers succeeded in providing free accommodation and meals to participants and to many visitors from abroad, while local participants opened not only their hearts but also their houses to welcome old and new friends.
Why have a Congress in Romania?
From the first Congress it was decided to support the yoga movement in Romania by the ATMAN Federation. During the totalitarian regime of the 1980s, yoga was forbidden by law in Romania, practitioners were severely persecuted, and unfortunately, echoes of such terrible repression are felt still even now, despite Romania now being an EU member state. Much nicer reasons also led to the decision to hold each Congress in Romania, including the hospitality, openness, kindness and dedication of the Romanian people, the beauty of the country and the wonderful traditions of Romanian culture. As one of the largest yoga schools in Europe the host of the Congress, MISA, is more than qualified to provide a highly primed and erudite audience, so that each Congress can reach many people with true interest. A large group of voluntary helpers is ready and available and food and accommodation costs are low, so that the Congresses and their message can be hold at a minimum of charge. This year the main part of the Congress with all its talks and seminars will be held in the historic city of Brasov in a beautiful valley of the Carpathian mountains, adding to the magnificent spirit of this spiritual celebration.
Knowledge and practice – who speaks, who participates?
The Congress welcomes researchers from the academic world for talks and sessions with scientists from all over Europe, specialized in neuroscience, physics, psychology, medicine and social studies to name a few, and of course there are contributions from specialists and teachers from a variety of yoga traditions. Yet the unique element offered in this year’s Congress is the practical knowledge of yogis who have insights to share on how the variety of yoga practice can give solutions to the many problems of our modern life. Last but not least, much of the audience of the Congress has a vast spiritual knowledge of both theory and practice in yoga. Many of the participants practice complex Hatha Yoga techniques and deep meditation on a daily basis. The majority have experienced extraordinary states of consciousness and a large number frequently relive these states. Therefore the International Yoga Congress is truly a gathering of experts in the field of yoga – both on stage and in the audience.
Why you should join
The Congress hopes to offer practical solutions to daily life challenges coming from all angles of our modern life. We aim to show that no matter if challenges are physical, energetically or psycho-mentally, if they come through the fact that long lasting relationships, like marriage, seem more and more difficult or simply through a stressful everyday work, through the fact that our food does not give the necessary nutrition any longer but on the other side we consume to much of it or through the fact fact that we live in a society that is up-tempo in every domain, yoga can give answers. We are in a situation where many of us are rather unhappy and less responsible than we should be with our achievements in technology, but yoga can offer solutions for all these challenges.
Any advanced practitioner knows and experiences the fact that once knowledge is crystallized within through systematic practice, there is a natural and irresistible impetus to share this with others who may also benefit from such knowledge. The Congress is a platform for exactly that purpose.
The Congress also offers the possibility to objectify one’s own practice and understandings in a friendly environment with likeminded people with similar aspirations. It is a great opportunity to meet friends and partners, to build support networks, to be inspired, to launch common projects for promoting genuine spirituality in the world, especially as the current state of affairs in the world is desperately in need of awakening and transformation, and supported and joint action is indispensable to this end. In this respect, the Congress welcomes not only advanced practitioners but also avid and aspiring ones, so that in togetherness practice brings multiplied results.
A special atmosphere
As well as the organizers, many participants in the Congress have been yogis and spiritual seekers for the most part of their lives. Together they build a tangible spiritual atmosphere allowing easier access to higher spiritual states, heartfulness and centering into being through the power of group resonance. Along with challenging one’s own understanding with new research results and innovative ways of thinking and understanding human experience and spirituality, being at the congress feels like being home. The spirit of voluntary work and service (or the state of Karma Yoga) and learning and practicing together creates a warm and heartful atmosphere and makes the spirit of Bhakti Yoga (Devotional Yoga) awaken in everyone’s heart. Over the course of the Congress the common level rises gradually reaching a true celebration of the Divine.
