While many in the west see yoga as a program of seemingly harmless physical exercises, it is an intrinsic part of
Hinduism.
What is yoga?It's a practice by the means of which a spiritual seeker strives 1) to control
prakriti (nature) to make the jiva (the soul) fit for union with
purusha (the Oversoul), and 2) to attain
nirvikalpa samadhi (union with God) and thus
jivanmukta (the liberation of the soul from the rounds of birth and death).
Afterwards, the yogi is said to be a
jivanmukti or
atmajnani (a possessor of Self-knowledge). Western yogis prefer to call the goal "God-consciousness" or "Self-realization." Some call it "Christ-consciousness."
When did the practice begin? Evidence of the practice, say Hindu scholars, appears in the
Upanishads (ca. 1000 B.C.), which declare that atmajnana is the goal of life. Further evidence appears in the
Bhagavad Gita (ca. 500-400 B.C.), which advises serious seekers of God to practice "control of the self by the Self." But yoga was officially systematized by Patanjali, a student of the Samkhya philosophy, in his
Yoga Sutras (ca. A.D. 150).
Is yoga a religious or spiritual practice? Unquestionably, yes, as its history, methods, and goal prove. Four main yogas now exist. Depending on temperament and attainments, the yogi may choose one or more of "paths" to liberation:
karma (work),
bhakti (devotion),
raja (meditation),
jnana (
atmajnana, Self-knowledge:
Atman =
Brahman).
Ironically, hatha yoga is the third of eight limbs in Patanjali's system of raja yoga, the adoption of which presupposes the completion of the first two: scriptural study, moral purity, non-violence, etc. To practice hatha yoga is to accept the doctrines of raja yoga, involving the coiled serpent-power at the base of the spine (kundalini), seven chakras, postures (asana), breath control (pranayama), and meditation (dharana and dhyana).
Does Yoga Conflict with Christianity? In this edition of ''Rob's Reviews,''
Robert Bowman reviews the April, 2001, issue of Yoga Journal.
Is Yoga Really So Bad? "The truth behind this exercise sensation", by Sarah E. Pavlik,
Today's Christian Woman, Sep/Oct. 2001.
Profile: Yoga Brief profile by
Watchman Fellowship
Theory and Practice: Separable? John Ankerberg and
John Weldon document that physical yoga and Eastern philosophy are mutually interdependent.
Yoga and Transcendental Mediation: A Chritian Option? by George Smith, Christian Medical Fellowship
Yoga: An Overview Watchman Fellowship
Yoga: Exercise or Religion? by Brad Scott,
Watchman Fellowship
Yoga: Yokes, Snakes, and Gods by Marcia Montenegro, of
CANA
Yogasanas: physical postures, spiritual method or both? A preliminary, unedited report by
John F. Weldon
Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs by
John Ankerberg and
John Weldon. Includes an extended entry on yoga.
The Facts on Hinduism [Out of print] by
John Weldon. Includes information about yoga.
Alt.Yoga Newsgroup (
About newsgroups).
Alt. Yoga FAQ
Yoga is for better health (Pro) Claims that ''[y]oga is a science which leads an individual to better health and living through the balancing of the energies in the body and mind and the development of their awareness.'' The list is meant for those who wish to learn or share about all aspects of yoga.
Database of archived news items on yoga
(Includes items added between Oct. 25, 1999 and Jan. 31, 2002. See
about this database)
» For newer items, see
Religion News Blog
Yoga Journal (Pro) (See Robert Bowman's
response to the April, 2001, issues of Yoga Journal issue, in which contributing editor Alan Reder
argued that yoga can be practiced by Buddhists,
Christians, Jews, and Muslims - and by implication, just about anyone else - without any conflict with their religion.