FAQ:Uniqueness of YSAM Yoga Degree Programs

What is the benefit of a Doctoral Degree in Yoga –Samskrutham and Languages from YSAM University?

It would be good to have a brief understanding of the issue: What is the role and responsibility of a University? Why Universities run Ph. D programs and award Higher education degrees? What is unique at Yoga-Samskrutham University, Before answering the above question. Universities run their programs to groom a professional with a professionalism, who can earn a livelihood by use of skills learnt and validated. Secular Universities run their programs covering engineering, Accountancy, medical and the like to output doctors, engineers and the like. The accreditation bodies govern the business norms and ethics of University education process. Post Education, the guilds and licensing bodies regulate the norms of deployment of education for earning, the professional standard. This part is deeply linked to financial and power –administration interests of State. Therefore State uses public exchequer funds to fund and regulate the secular universities. And by nature of the constitution, Secular State keeps its fingers out of ‘Religion Education Providing Universities’ and programs promoting ‘Grooming Shaping and regulating Education programs on Religion, Professionalism of Religion and Religion Professionals’.

In the past, Guru-Kul’s served as the icons of ‘Religion Universities for Yoga –Samskrutham and Languages’, where ‘Guru trained and validated the output as a ‘Professional of appropriate skill related to religion’. The social dynamics, technology and globalization have modified the scenario and ‘University’ format has taken over the ‘Gurukul format’. Therefore there is a need for Guru kuls to catch up with the times and trends. Yoga-Samskrutham University is doing this work for Guru-Kuls to cover Yoga and Samskrutham traditions. Thus, the role and responsibility of Yoga-Samskrutham University as a Religion University under US Law, is facilitating the ‘Guru-Kul to progressively catch up with the Global Online University model’, retaining their freedom and dedicated responsibility. English Dictionary defines the word University to mean the following: A high-level educational institution in which students study for degrees and academic research is done; The experience of life regarded as a means of instruction. University is a word from Middle English and from Old French universite and from Latin universitas 'the whole'. In late Latin it means 'society, guild', from universus.

(http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/university). The physical infrastructure of a ' University' is a paraphernalia. The number of students is an indication of what education seekers are looking as the benefit of education, for their earning and sustenance of livelihood as a profession. In essence, University education is a preparation of a student for a livelihood of earning. A University is almost a final stop that comes in between the initial schooling which progresses through High school and college, shaping and grooming the unilateral dimension of ‘Employability- Earning Potential’ of the student. This is one of the popular meanings of the Samskruth word – ‘Vidyarthi’ for student. The education process is a connection establishing earning through an employability criterion, built progressively through a series of academic education institutions; where University is the final stop.

The livelihood can come as a 'Employment and advancement prospect at an employing agency like Government or private agency or even an individual'. Thus the value of the University program ends with Training and Certification about the skills acquaintance and proficiency'. And there ends the boundary of a University, a Guide and Professor. How to use the acquired skill for a livelihood - by job or otherwise enterprise, should one use the acquired skill for a job and earning at all, can self-enterprise be an alternative for the ' job-seeking' - These are issues beyond a University to answer.

Therefore, it is for the student to make a firm decision using discretion to plan the future of ' Transits from Student life to a Practicing Professionals Life'. The practicing professionals life may be a ' life of service governed by terms of employment, by an agency or functioning as a Professional Practitioner using the acquired skills to earn an income, or just stay out of the money-link to education and be a seeker of ultimate Truth. There is no conflict or crossing of one domain with another. Therefore, the appropriate choice needs to be done by you as the student.

What then is the value of a Ph.D degree? The value of a Ph.D degree is fully resting on what the student wants to do with the knowledge and skills acquired. The training has the value in facilitating knowledge acquisition and skill improvement: Continuing the Knowledge tradition transmission. Usage and upgrade, Research and refinement is for the way ‘Guru –Professor – Researchers’ steer the subject and society receiving it.

Is Ph.D a pre-qualification or an essential to teach and guide- in India ? Abroad? - This is purely a question on how the employer sets the filtering condition for job award and job-promotion. The University has nothing to do with this part. There is no government or Education institution in the world which 'guarantees' a ' job-placement – a job promotion and job-retaining'. Yoga and Samskrutham are Indian traditions and Professions needed by Sanatana Dharma- Practitioners.

Is it for Government to provide employment for these people ? – It depends upon policy of the governance. Does society need this ? It depends upon what Yoga-Samskrutham traditions can deliver to the current society to get a social acceptance and ‘worth –paying acceptance’. So the student needs to figure out what is the call: Teaching a past tradition and bask in the glory of past, Spread the tradition of one country –history –religion, OR explore the value of the given tradition as a relevance for current life and society and earn a livelihood as a professional: What do we serve with Yoga-Samskrutham (Spirituality ? Education? In current society? How does one connect Traditional Knowledge –systems and Current Money Earning and Souls yearning ? The UGC guidelines are for those institutions established under UGC frame work and which draw money –grants from Indian government and accountable to UGC.

- YSAM, as a ‘Religion University’ is covered under legal framework of US Federal Education laws and US Constitution-Amendment-1. US Constitution is NOT bound by the UGC frame of operation. Note: US Constitution – Amendment -1: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The UGC guidelines are for those granting degrees which lead to Job –qualification considerations and professions and employment under Government.

- YSAM, as a ‘Religion University under legal framework of US Federal Education laws and Institution of Higher Education authorized to award Doctoral and Masters Degree with a Religious Qualifier is NOT bound by the UGC frame of operation or is there a necessity to seek any prior approval. There is no provision under UGC which seems to provide for an American Religion University to seek such an approval or make it any way mandatory .

The subjects which are being considered for Higher education awards : Namely Vedic Yogas, Vedanga Jyotish, Yoga , Samskrutham, Tantra and such other topics are not covered under the Social Secular frame work of UGC topics for degree award or education rule framing. - YSAM, as a ‘Religion University under legal framework of US Federal Education laws and Amendment-1 is covering only those topics which have a ‘Religious Tradition related Higher Education and Excellence’, for which Government jobs enlisting or call for is not there ! And some day, if government wants to call for a ‘ job-post fill up’ with necessary qualification, as of now, there is NO INDIAN institution as of date which has the educational infrastructure and programs to meet the bill of requirements, Professors and the course outline. Whatever is being run in a skeleton mode is NOT meaningful and satisfactory under the excellence norms of ‘Traditional texts and Practicing Professions and Professionals’. Thus, YSAM programs are NOT bound by the UGC frame of operation OR GOVERNMENT JOB listing criterion.

YSAM works with Guru’s and Guru-Kuls and provide them a pathway to upgrade themselves to be on the pattern of Global Religion Universities, to serve the needs of future generation scholarship in Religion, Practices, Textual scholarship, Languages and Practical meeting of Faith –Practice community needs. In short it is a Total support and promotion of Religion Profession, Professional and Professionalism Education –Training and Advancement. An area in which neither the UGC nor the Government has any say. The rights are guarded under Indian Constitutional provisions. YSAM does NOT Promise or Promote a Job-Guarantee or Increment- promotion issue in its programs. The complete Programs of YSAM are for SELF- Improvement, Self-Employment and PEER RECOGNITION in the Special Fields of Traditional Knowledge disciplines.

The Constitution of India, as well as constitutions of all democratic nations of world provide freedom for promotion of ones religion and traditions. Indian constitution reads: Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 15 and Article 25 of the Constitution of India Modern India came into existence in 1947 and the Indian constitution's preamble was amended in 1976 to state that India is a secular state. Every citizen of India has a right to practice and promote their religion peacefully. However, there have been a number of incidents of religious intolerance that resulted in riots and violence, notably, the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, 2002 Anti-Muslim riots and the 2008 Anti-Christian riots. The perpetrators of the violence are rarely brought to justice despite widespread condemnation.

India is one of the most diverse nations in terms of religion, it being the birthplace of four major world religions: Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Even though Hindus form close to 80 percent of the population, India also enjoys multiple regions with majority populations of other religions: notably, Jammu and Kashmir with Muslim majority, Punjab with Sikh majority, and Nagaland with Christian majority. The country has large Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jain and Zoroastrian populations. Islam is the largest minority religion in India, and the Indian Muslims form the third largest Muslim population in the world, accounting for over 14 percent of the nation's population.

Rajni Kothari, founder of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies has written, "India is a country built on the foundations of a civilization that is fundamentally non-religious."