MLK and the Power of Patanjali

Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who will never be forgotten and on this day, we are indebted to remember such a great man who changed the world and contributed to the progress of humanity. Certainly each of us can grow ourselves by knowing just a bit more about his life, his principles and his message. 

I thought that today I would remember MLK by remembering the great Sage Patanjali in whom MLK's philosophy is ultimately rooted. MLK's inspiration came from the Father of India Mahatma Gandhi who contributed greatly in the independence of India. The Civil Rights Movement once again proved to the world the power of two simple qualities: Non-violence and Truth.

But where did these qualities come from? While there is no doubt that such values are eternal and have existed forever, they were probably first emphasized by the great Sage Patanjali who wrote the Yog-Sutras. The Yog-Sutras are a series of aphorisms that contain immense philosophy about life and knowledge of the mind, consciousness,and body. The tradition of Yoga arises from the Yog-Sutras and there is a ton that could be said about the Yog-Sutras and all that is in them. But in rememberance of MLK, I would like to bring attention to Sutra 2.30: "Ahimsa satya asteya brahmacharya aparigraha yama"

The five Yamas describe the ways in which we should relate to the external world. Of these five, the first two are AHIMSA (non-violence) and SATYA (truth). These qualities are the only way to develop a relationship with the world such that your mind and soul can remain undisturbed. A life without non-violence and truth would not allow for meditation and self-realization. These are the prerequisites to a developed life and they ought to persist not only on the level of action but also on the level of thought and speech!

With that we remember a man who lived by these principles and came closer to God through his practices, while changing the course of history along the way… At a time of increased violence, the world needs more of MLK and his thoughts… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/17/martin-luther-king-jr-day_2011_n_809820.html

Here is another awesome article that captures MLK's foresight. He called for a lot of change and most of it never took place but in hindsight, perhaps we should have listened. But it is NEVER too late…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/todays-visionary-not-yest_b_809621.html#s224791&title=In_the_midst

(This is a good introduction to countless social issues relevant to today's society.)

And if you want to know more about MLK, here are three books to consider reading (I'd love to hear about them if you read any):

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/01/17/martin-luther-king-jr-day-three-books-to-consider/

And for sports fans, incredible article on one of the greatest baseball players ever and his relationship to MLK. Henry Aaron was a sports icon but he represents more. He broke racial barriers and was a symbol of African-American awakening. Sports were certainly a part of the civil rights movement and Henry Aaron played a significant role…

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=6015125