The Spiritual Power of Yoga

By Natalia Granados Segura (undergraduate FIGRI student) 

Have you ever reflected about your inner side and soul? Have you ever had the impression that you do not truly know yourself? All these questions and many others are commonly thought about, but people often leave them as questions and do not search for the answers. Yoga, as a spiritual transition and introspection, offers not only a peace-filled heart and soul, but also a healthy mind. The main objective of this practice is enlightenment, to gain discipline and, as Buddhism and Hinduism describe it, to receive “spiritual orientation.” These goals can be achieved through meditation, because when body is relaxed and you are able to control your thoughts, you connect to yourself and truly gain power and positive energy.

Nowadays, in the globalised and modern world we are living in, it is common to see people who are obsessed with work, alcohol or technology. These trends diminish our time and the attention we dedicate to ourselves. We tend to fill our minds with many topics, events, ant thoughts. Every day, a new illness appears, and common illnesses such as gastritis are linked to high levels of stress. Over-productive machines – that is what people have become in modern life. The good news is that there are ways to control these effects and make a difference.

Just as Brahma Baba (founder of Brahma Kummaris) had realised by the age of 60, anyone can find in yoga the peace that they lack. This man decided to impart his knowledge all over the world, and this idea became a very important project. Brahma Kummaris is a well-known worldwide institution that has led a lifestyle revolution which currently links more than a hundred million people around the world from different cultures, religions, social classes and races.

This well-known institution in Colombia now has ten locations all around the country, and five in Bogotá. You are free to attend any of the locations, because the engaging part of Brahma Kummaris is that, due to the fact it was created as a free university in India, all the activities it offers are completely free. At each of the locations they offer several activities, and the most outstanding ones are: radja-yoga courses for beginners and professionals, mediation workshops, and conferences with important teachers from the field.

This institution works as a non-profit association that survives through donations and all of its members are volunteers who have completed their formation process at the institution and nowadays teach the benefits and applications of yoga. Furthermore, when I had the luck to get to know their work three months ago, I was excited. I attended the rdja-yoga meditation course which lasted two days at their centre in Cedritos. This weekend completely opened my mind, and I learnt many things about meditation and it helped me to be more aware of myself, of my thoughts and to gain spiritual power. It’s true you have to experience this type of activity to understand how meaningful they are. I invite everyone to be engaged and discover their soul through the great world of yoga. As a free activity, it is the best way to stop by the side of the road, and start building the basis for a spiritual life and a healthy mind. Do not let time or any other barrier of modern life block your spirit and free soul; my invitation is to work on yourself by either trying yoga or any other practice. Be aware that all the problems and worries that people handle right now are consequences of forgetting about the need for introspection.

For more information, visit: www.brahmakumaris.org/colombia

   

Why Stay Single?

By María Paula López Moreno (undergraduate FIGRI student, level 4 English) 

Most men and women, at some stage in their lives, have asked themselves, “do I have a reason to continue with my relationship?”, or they simply avoid being in one.

First of all, everybody knows that we have some reasons to stay single. You are wrong if you think that boys and girls can understand each other mutually. They try to do this, but it is really difficult.

Also, both boys and girls are really jealous. “Why is he / she looking at you?”; “Why are you dressed like that?”; “What did you do last Friday?” Hey! If I wanted to be interrogated, I would go to a police department! “I was with a couple of friends.” “Oh! Really? That’s nice.” “Yes, and they are only my friends!” Try to believe this when someone tells you.

If you are laughing or if you remember someone when you read this, that is the reason why you have to continue with your relationship, because if you can understand that even though a relationship might be so complicated, it is unique.

Remember, if we try to understand each other mutually, it is difficult to be able to do this. Perhaps it is even impossible, but this also has value to it, and gives value to everything. Believe that things are possible, and be happy.

What can we expect when we grow up?

By Lorena García (undergraduate FIGRI student) 

Are you in the seventh semester of Finance? Or maybe in the ninth semester of Economics? How many of you are ready for a big change in your way of life? How many of you are scared of growing up and becoming an adult?

Life comes without instructions and, in some stages of life, emotions are stronger than we would like. It is absolutely normal to be afraid of change and it is normal to have doubts, but it is part of us and our personal growth to face this fear!

Have you ever heard your teachers telling you that “what comes after college is terrible and hard to get used to”? Nothing in life is easy, and when we want big returns, our effort must be greater, and so must our sacrifices.

Alejandro Fernandez is one of my many cousins. He graduated from college five years ago, and when I asked him about the big step between university and work, he told me “when you finish college, the most important and helpful stage in your life begins.” And then he admitted, “when we start working, we only know the basic things from college, so working becomes a learning stage!”

Once he told me about one of his experiences. One day, his boss called him to his office and asked him, “do you think you are at a BBQ at the office?” Alejo was extremely surprised, and he didn’t know what to say! His boss reproached him because even though that day was Friday, he had to attend the company dressed appropriately. And what was he wearing? Khakis, a T-shirt and a pullover – not a suit.

This anecdote demonstrates that there is a lot to learn during our first years at work, and my cousin suggests some tips about our behaviour when we are getting used to our new jobs. Here are some of the most important:

1)      You are the newbie, so you have to recognise the style inside the company and become part of the group in terms of how you dress and speak, for example. You cannot impose your own preferences.

2)      You must be best friends with the security guard (as a strategy, in case you need some kind of help some day), and of course have a good relationship with the people in management positions.

3)      Never – listen to me – NEVER talk about anyone else, no matter what. You have to keep your personal opinions about people at your work to yourself.

4)      Do not pay attention to appearances. Take the opportunity to meet people and don’t judge them.

5)      Lastly, and most importantly, be yourself and be happy! The only way that we can achieve this is to do what we like to do, and find the right place for us where we can do what we love to do!

You cannot imagine how reassuring those words were for me. Of course, those words do not mean that it is going to be easy, but at least I know I don’t have to be wise and know everything about everything.

All we have to expect as students is that when the stage comes, we must give all of our potential, all of ourselves, and not pretend to be what we are not yet! I hope you all have enjoyed this little article, and that this could be a great help to you too.

Trujillo, a Community in Search of Repair

By Daniel Ospina (undergraduate Economics student, level 3 English)
 

After a hectic and fast-paced semester, I decided to take a pause, and for some strange reason I came across a book about a hard reality. I must admit that it didn’t seem very thrilling at first, but as it turns out it was not just another academic text. It was the story of experts, victims and perpetrators of what I think was the most significant systematic slaughter during the second half of the twentieth century in Colombia. It was the Trujillo slaughter.

Although this event is already buried away at the bottom of many indolent Colombians’ memories, and unknown to many others, it is an issue that should generate social unrest, anger and condemnation. It was a cold-blooded carnage, where hundreds of families were relegated to an uncertain future, a community that grew up under the law of the jungle in constant fear of coming face to face with death at any moment. Generations play on the ground in which the dismembered bodies of their ancestors lie, as if nothing had happened there, without the slightest sign of respect for the blood that flowed into the Cauca River. It is very curious how many of the inhabitants and victims of the slaughter of Trujillo even justify the murder, torture and execution of their relatives by calling them "guerrillas", "snitches", "paramilitary" and "subversives" without any evidence of it.

Now this simple and unsophisticated introduction to this text aims to expose the reality, unconsciousness, cruelty, one might even say a "cultural Alzheimer’s" that has happened in Trujillo. Of course, this is an invitation to read and open your eyes through this fragment of Colombian history that assesses the political, economic, social and psychological factors that are discussed in this book.

Trujillo, una masacre que no cesa. (2008)

This publication is dedicated to Father Tiberio Fernandez Mafla (RIP) for his tireless fight against social injustice, and a victim of Trujillo.

"If my blood contributes to the cessation of violence in Trujillo, I will gladly shed it"

Soccer: A Matter of Passion

By Edgar Andrés Gaona Monroy (undergraduate FIGRI student)

Every country has one sport that represents it, and which plays an important role in the lives of people throughout the country. It also captures the attention of the people, and investment from the government. This is usually paid back through the joy, trophies and championships that reward this interest.

The passion for baseball or football in the USA is huge, and they can proudly say that they are the best at those sports. What logic dictates is that the main sport of a country must be a sport that the people there know they are good at, for example India and cricket or New Zealand and rugby.

Every rule has its exceptions, and there are some countries that choose a national sport that they aren’t really good at. Colombia fits this description.

It is well-known that soccer is the most beloved sport in this country. This leads us to think back on the number of titles that have been won in Colombian soccer history: one. Yes, one. Therefore, why is soccer our main sport if we are not good at it?

There can be no doubt that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. However, in Colombia we have a lot of other options regarding our main sport that have many merits. Colombia has had a large number of world champions in different disciplines such as boxing, roller-skating, cycling, BMX and weightlifting.

Apparently the excitement generated by an Olympic medal or a world championship in those disciplines isn’t even close to that which is generated by a match of the Colombian soccer team. This even truer if it is against Argentina.

Soccer seems to awaken some sort of passion that flows through the body that causes us to isolate ourselves from the world and the only thing that seems important to us when the game is on, is watching our team.

Soccer is so popular in the world, and also in Colombia because it is very compelling, it is a recurring topic of discussion, and we can even see this as the reason for the confrontations between fans of rival teams.

Nowadays, the Colombian soccer team has awoken our hope because apparently we are ceasing to be a mediocre team, and we have demonstrated that our team can have a decent performance in the next World Cup. For me, the reason for that mediocrity was more a matter of the conviction of the players than a real problem of skills.

We can’t be resigned to the fact of being a mediocre team. We can’t accept that our main sport is a sport that we could never be good at. This generation of soccer players, together with a new coach, has completely changed the idea of the team and can represent that turning point that we have been waiting for. This could be the opportunity to step forwards and become a nation where the main sport is one that we are actually good at.