ISKCON South Africa Annual Report - 2014 | Page 46

Bhakti Yoga Society - At a Campus Near You
The Bhakti Yoga Society (BYS) operates on campuses at some of the
most prestigious universities in South Africa.

Bhakti Yoga Society wins Most Outstanding Student Society
of 2014

The BYS through dynamic programs focuses on helping students tackle
the typical problems and obstacles they are confronted with, and
attempts to develop the spiritual character of the members by
introducing many new concepts which include reincarnation, karma,
sense control and practical yoga. Using the ancient Vedic scriptures as
a reference point, the Society attempts to establish a spiritual
foundation for interested students. The Vedic texts emphasize the
differences between the body and the soul, and this is the focal point
behind all the societies’ meetings, workshops and activities.
Many students confess how they had initially been very skeptical, yet
how they had evolved had now become so much more satisfied in
their lives by engaging in the all-inspiring mantra meditation. Other
students showed great appreciation for the Bhagavad-Gita As it is, and
explained how its transcendental words had changed their lives.

Activities
BYS is open for all students to register, in some instances membership
requires a nominal fee. BYS exposes students to vegetarian cuisine,
engages in vibrant and lively kirtans on campus and has a Vedic library
in the tranquil ‘yoga lounge’ for students to take advantage of Vedic
wisdom.
Students receive keynote addresses on Krishna conscious philosophy.
Some of the distinguished keynote speakers during the year included
His Holiness Bhakti Caitanya Swami, Bhakti Vasudeva Swami, Bhakti
Narasimha Swami and Lalitanatha Prabhu who wrote the book “Rethinking Darwin”.
One of the major ways of creating a lasting impression and a
commitment to bhakti-yoga is by hosting retreats. There are regional
and national retreats. June saw the national retreat held in Durban,
which saw more students participating than any before.
At some campuses members gain access to the world of body, mind
and spiritual rejuvenation. Students are welcomed into the enlivening
array of:
• A-year-long hatha yoga class twice a week
• Morning mantra meditation sessions three times a week
• Monthly kirtan programmes

The award from Wits University was handed over to the BYS Chairperson – Jyotika
Heerabhai and Atlarang Moletsane by the University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Adam
Habib alongside prominent public figure Advocate Thuli Madonsela who holds the
office of Public Protector in South Africa. She was gifted a Bhagavad Gita As It Is.
This is the second time in four years ISKCON’s BYS has received the award, as the
society was the winner of the inaugural award in 2011. With firmly fixed and
excellent leadership taking WITS BYS forward we have every hope and ambition to
continue to be seen as a significant contributor to this prestigious academic
institution.

BYS Operates at these campuses

•
•
•

Wits University
Thswane University of
Technology
University of Pretoria
University of Johannesburg
Cape Town University

•

University of the Free State

•
•

•

Stellenbosch University

•
•
•

University of Kwazulu-Natal

•

Durban University of
Technology

University of the Free State
Mangosothu University of
Technology