Yoga Unplugged: From Scattered Mind to Focused Power
During our Yoga Unplugged sessions leading up to International Day of Yoga 2025, His Holiness Acharya Lokesh Muni Ji, internationally acclaimed Jain spiritual leader and Founder President of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, shared profound wisdom that cuts through the noise of modern life. In two transformative sessions – “How can we relate Ahimsa and Modern Yoga?” on June 16th.
His message was both simple and revolutionary:
“A mind that is scattered doesn’t have much power but when that mind is focused it is the most powerful tool in the whole universe.”
Why We're Getting It Backwards
His Holiness identified the core challenge facing today’s youth with remarkable clarity:
“हमारी क्या कठिनाई हम सीधा मन को काबू करना चाहते हैं पर मन को काबू करने से पहले तन को नियंत्रित करना सीखें और उसके लिए आसन प्राणायाम है”
(Our difficulty is that we directly want to control the mind, but before controlling the mind, learn to control the body, and for that, there are asanas and pranayama).
We try meditation apps, mindfulness techniques, and mental exercises, wondering why our minds still race. His Holiness explained this is like a king trying to attack the center of a kingdom without securing the surrounding areas first. The mind needs electricity – like a fan needs power to move – and that electricity comes from a prepared body and controlled speech.The Three-Step Path That Actually Works
His Holiness outlined the three yogas that must be mastered in sequence:
Kaya Yoga (Body Control) comes first. Through asanas and pranayama, we create the foundation. Every asana is what he called a “somato-psychic practice” – using the body to influence the mind and higher consciousness. This isn’t just physical exercise; it’s consciousness enhancement through movement.
Vachan Yoga (Speech Control) follows, using three powerful techniques:
- Khechari Mudra: Positioning the tongue in the mouth to reduce mental chatter
- Akash Darshan: Gazing at the sky to expand awareness
- Kanth Ka Kayotsarga: Relaxation techniques with auto-suggestion
Only then comes Mano Yoga (Mind Control) – and by this point, the scattered mind has already begun its transformation into what His Holiness described as a laser beam of focused power.
From Ahimsa to Inner Peace
His Holiness connected these practices to the deeper principle of Ahimsa (non-violence), noting a profound contradiction in our world: we seek peace while investing heavily in weapons, both external and internal. True training in non-violence – the kind that transforms both individual consciousness and society – requires this systematic approach to yoga.
The sessions demonstrated that Ahimsa isn’t just about avoiding harm to others; it’s about ending the violence we do to ourselves through scattered attention, uncontrolled reactions, and the constant internal warfare of an undisciplined mind.
Practical Wisdom
What made these Yoga Unplugged sessions particularly powerful was their practical application. His Holiness didn’t just share philosophy; he demonstrated specific asanas:
Shashankasana (Hare Pose) – perfect as a counter-pose for our forward-leaning digital lives, helping reverse the physical patterns that contribute to mental scattered-ness.
Uttana Mandukasana (Stretched Frog Pose) – specifically beneficial for improving lung capacity and addressing breathing issues that many young people develop from stress and poor posture.
Vakrasana (Twisted Pose) – a simpler form of spinal twist that addresses the digestive and nervous system issues that often accompany
mental turbulence.Each pose wasn’t just physical therapy but part of the larger journey from scattered to focused consciousness.
The Birthright We've Forgotten
Drawing from the wisdom of Yog Maharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri, His Holiness reminded us that health and happiness are our birthrights – not luxuries to be earned or goals to be achieved, but our natural state when the body, speech, and mind are properly aligned.
True health isn’t just personal; it’s planetary. When individuals learn to focus their scattered mental energy into laser-like awareness, they contribute to collective consciousness and global healing.Why This Matters for The Youth
For those facing mental challenges, instead of treating symptoms – anxiety, depression, lack of focus, anger – these sessions address the root: the fundamental misunderstanding of how consciousness actually works.
The mind isn’t the problem that needs to be solved; it’s the tool that needs to be properly powered and directed. Like any sophisticated instrument, it requires the right preparation, the right environment, and the right approach.Moving Forward: From Knowledge to Practice
As we approach International Day of Yoga 2025, His Holiness’s sessions remind us that ancient wisdom isn’t outdated – it’s exactly what modern consciousness needs. The practices that helped sages focus their minds thousands of years ago are the same practices that can help today’s youth transform scattered mental energy into focused power.
The invitation is clear: stop trying to control your mind directly. Start with your body through asanas and pranayama. Learn to control your speech through mudras and awareness practices. Then watch as your mind naturally becomes the most powerful tool in the universe – not through force, but through proper preparation and understanding.
Join us for International Day of Yoga 2025 as we continue exploring how timeless practices offer practical solutions for modern challenges. Visit kaivalyadhama.org for more information about our Yoga Unplugged sessions and research programs.
To see the full video click here.
~ Written by Ritika S