The Sakal Marathon: A Family Accomplishment

The Sakal Marathon: A Family Accomplishment

The birth of a baby is a fortunate event i.e. it requires the favour of fortune. It is not necessarily controllable or planned. One is fortunate to get married in the first place, and the joy of coming together then leads to greater blessings in the form of a child. When two energies come together to create something new, it is called ‘yog’ in Marathi, or providence. The Supreme is the unknowable or ‘other side’ of material existence. When the Supreme and Material come together to form new life, it is considered, similarly, a fortunate incident. 

The Stone Age man, who lived in caves with his female partner, needed to run after food just to survive. He had to hunt animals to feed himself. No animal ever stood still and said, ‘kill me for food, I will stay here for you’. Animals have evolved to sense fear and predators, and running is their immediate response. So the hunting man had to learn how to race them down when he needed. Since then, for some reason or the other, running in a race has been a part of man’s existence. What we need is to ensure that while running in the race of life, we are able to protect body, mind and soul from adverse effects, gather strength and experience peace, even though we are in a race. The science of achieving this seemingly impossible feat is called ‘Yog’ in the Indian civilisation. 

In these times, it seems people are constantly on the run  — running after buses and trains, running their cars left and right to overtake the vehicle in front, running after money or trying to run away after committing a crime. So, human beings are cultured and habituated to running. But very few are fortunate enough to actually learn or understand how to run, or indeed, why they should run at all. What is the goal? To spark such enlightenment, we humans have designed a competitive running event called the marathon. The marathon we are about to be part of is even more special, since it is a family marathon. 

Even though our basic survival needs of food and water have been managed, the competition for more, like better and bigger places to stay, protection and provision for family and friends, is always on. But running helter-skelter, in all directions, helps no one. If the enemy has greater strength and is more knowledgeable about running, he will win, right? So, the human being realised there is greater success in living in groups or communities. Enemies can be dealt with when one is part of a group and societies. 

We are also communicative and interactive beings, and society is critical for us to be completely human. Thus, groups evolved into communities, villages, cities, countries and nations. The core unit of all these groups — the building block — is the family. Both nature and society require an increase in numbers, and people cannot live alone for this. They need to live as couples. Thus, we have a system of procreation, and the family comes into being. The very human capacities to understand emotion, help each other, find mutual love, offer protection, lend a hand during trouble and to work together for survival, all begin in the family. That’s how family systems develop and such systems are very much in sync with Nature.

As family systems break apart or deteriorate, we see that individuals become dissatisfied with everything, no matter how much success or money they acquire. We should realise that there are entities in society who see their benefit in breaking down families into individuals and these entities are constantly at work to destroy the family culture.

The Indian family, and the society that resulted, across various geographies and groups, often distanced from each other in varying circumstances, but is still alive, united and inspired by a national spirit. The Indian subcontinent and society, highly blessed by Nature, refined by the culturing of the ancient, enlightened sciences and Yoga, has withstood and absorbed many invasions and foreign rulers. It has still kept its identity intact. This spirit of the united family only needs a little stimulation in our times. If the family remains together, then society will remain together, and in turn the nation will stay united in its goals. Only then can we prosper. This is easy for us to understand. Thus, the efforts to keep families functional and united are essential. This is the exact aim of the ‘Family Marathon’.

Now, the family includes members of all ages, from grandparents, for whom running may be challenging, to infants, who may also find it difficult to run properly. But running is essential. Even if one can only manage a brisk walk, to compete and participate in this social sport is necessary and commendable. 

The new-born can just about move its limbs. Slowly the baby learns to turn on its sides, on its tummy, learns to crawl and slowly stands on both feet and starts toddling. For some time the parents may need to hold the baby’s fingers to help it walk, but soon, and quite naturally, the child learns to run independently. Strength is required both in the legs as well as the back and hips for good running along with an excellent motoric and sensory control by the brain. Maintaining balance while walking and running, the coordinated hand movements and leg movements, which hand goes forward along with which leg, all this can be discovered intrinsically because it is all gifted or programmed by Nature.

Nature means God. Thus, going for a morning walk daily is in tune with nature and is ‘liked by God’ too. It is as if the sun rises simply to light up the path for those who wish to begin the day with walking. To expose the skin to the early morning sun to begin the daily routine is embedded in our culture in India. All this must be studied diligently just like runners practise pacing themselves and breath control so they do not run out of stamina in the long race. 

To accomplish all of this, meditation is a key skill, and the science of SOM Yog is to be understood. The SOM Yoga is an easy and effective technique based on the Vedic knowledge system. Yoga is the joy of reaching our potential and goals and experiencing the resulting bliss of being one with the Supreme. While relaxing on an easy chair or taking a bite of food, if one can spontaneously experience samadhi (complete contentment and oneness with everything), that is Yoga. We need to prepare ourselves in different ways to achieve this state. Rishi Patanjal researched and designed the eight-fold (Ashtanga) yoga. All those running the marathon need to study Yoga too. Study of yoga is essential for all joggers and runners. Nature is always by our side in this venture. We say that the deer is restless and constantly moving. But if the deer wouldn’t move how would the stealthy tiger see and follow it. The deer’s vision is very acute. It sees in all directions and is always on guard. At the slightest hint of trouble, the deer begins to run, and seeing it run, the tiger knows it must give a chase. This is natural awareness, active at all times. All yogic practices teach us to carefully weigh any situation and always keep our awareness at the highest level. To exercise or practise running or simply increasing stamina is not enough. For those aspiring to take part in the marathon, awareness and mental disciplines offered by Yoga are crucial.

The organisation of the marathon, and especially the family marathon, the ‘Sakal Media Group’ has undertaken yet another important social project. With foundations like this, one can progress towards organising meditation and SOM Yog events to progress towards the larger goal of evolution and contentment. 

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