Author: Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati
Publication: Swamij.com
Date:
URL: http://www.swamij.com/christian-yoga.htm
Whether there is or is not such a thing as
"Christian Yoga," it has become a quite controversial topic recently.
Many so-called Yoga teachers claim that Yoga is just a physical fitness or
alternative health program, and therefore has no conflict whatsoever with
Christianity. Meanwhile, many Christians argue that Yoga is a religion and
should therefore not be practiced in any form by the Christian faithful. Still
other Christians bridge both of these views by creating a new category that
they call "Christian Yoga."
For thousands of years Yoga has been a universal
process leading to subtle spiritual realization or direct experience, regardless
of the religious orientation of the practitioner. Many of the principles of
traditional Yoga are contained in the esoteric or mystical teachings of virtually
all of the world's most known religions, including not only those of the South
Asia region, but also those of the Judeo-Christian heritage. It has often
and correctly been said that Yoga is in religion, but that religion is not
in Yoga.
A big part of the confusion about Yoga and
"Christian Yoga" stems from the fact that modern so-called Yoga
teachers and their institutions, particularly in America, have significantly
distorted or devolved the authentic, traditional Yoga of the sages. By attempting
to reduce Yoga to a mere physical therapy or medical treatment, they have
effectively thrown out the spiritual roots and goals of Yoga.
Modern Yoga styles and studios emphasize postures.
The Sanskrit word for posture is "asana" and the root of that is
"~as" which means "to sit." The Yoga Sutras (ca 2nd century
BCE) is one of the most known of the ancient texts on traditional Yoga. According
to the Yoga Sutras, asana or sitting posture is rung three of eight rungs
of Yoga, and the purpose of that is meditation and the deep absorption known
as samadhi, rungs seven and eight. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (ca 15th century
CE) is the most known traditional text that describes physical postures. Even
a glancing overview of that text will quickly reveal the true goals of Hatha
Yoga as also being the awakening of the subtle energy known as kundalini,
and the subsequent experience of samadhi.
Ironically, it is the Christians opposed to
Yoga who seem to indirectly be doing the most in the US to promote the truer
meaning of Yoga, although it is self-evident that this is not their intent.
Most of the Christian critics emphasize the orthodox or exoteric practices
of their religion, and either fail to see, or are opposed to the esoteric
or mystical roots of their own traditions. Because of this, they also either
fail to see the utility of traditional Yoga for their adherents, or are opposed
to it. While they are wrong in saying that Yoga itself is a religion, they
are most definitely right in pointing out the spiritual goals of Yoga.
The Christian clergy and the followers of
Christianity who are most outspoken against either Yoga or "Christian
Yoga" need to be acknowledged and appreciated for doing so much to promote
authentic, traditional Yoga. They are quite blunt in their descriptions of
how Yoga is a spiritual practice. While they make the mistake of saying that
Yoga is a religion, which it is not, Yoga is most definitely spiritual in
nature. Even the proponents of "Christian Yoga" are effectively
promoting the authentic spiritual goals of traditional Yoga by virtue of the
fact that they are attempting to create an alternative Yoga, which clearly
has a spiritual orientation, although theirs is in the context of a specific
religion, unlike traditional Yoga.
The continued efforts of the Christian clergy
opposed to traditional Yoga, as well as both the advocates and opponents of
"Christian Yoga" will bring many fruits for the Yogis and mystics
within all of the religions active in America. Their efforts will continue
to make it evermore clear that Yoga truly has to do with mystical, spiritual
realization, something for which many people have a persistent yearning and
cannot find in their institutional religions, "Christian Yoga" classes,
or modern so-called Yoga studios. Though not their intent, their convictions
will continue to lead many sincere seekers of direct experience to the authentic,
spiritual methods of traditional Yoga.
