Episode 29: Yoga and Christianity
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- I talk about what brought me to yoga, misconceptions some Christians have been taught, and how Yoga is really Union with God. It is an expansive, universal term that includes all the ways we connect with the Divine.
Do you practice asana-yoga? What has the benefit been for you? Do you have spiritual practices that bring you to Yoga (union with God)?
It is so good that you are saying these things. Along with the recent trend that's seeing many returning to their Christian roots, or discovering Christianity for the first time, is a silly (and destructive) condemnation by some of the valuable yogic practices that have come to the West in the last sixty years.
Thanks! There is more beauty/goodness out there than what we have been led to believe.
I don't write this in anger or judgement. It is how I see these things, I may be wrong.
I live in Nepal. My neighbors are mostly Hindus and, in practice, most of them do worship idols. They have to go ring the bells, put the red/yellow tika on the statue, the flowers and the milk on the Shivalingam (Shiva's Phallus) everyday, because if they don't, they will not prosper. Most of them lie, cheat and are full of jealousy, but they don't think that it is bad. I have lived 9 years there, I know.
I don't say that Christians don't do those things, because they obviously do, but at least, the core idea is to live as Christ did, even if it impossible to achieve for us.
Another point, Christ is not only an ascended Master, that would reduce Him to a man. He is God in the flesh. That makes His sacrifice on the cross and Resurrection even more relevant. Were He only a man, it wouldn't make any sense.
As for Yoga, Union with God, as long as it helps someone in the walk with Christ, there is no problem with it.
With love
We will always find people of other faiths who show the worst aspect of them. There are Christians who are horrible humans, as you concede. I never judge a faith by its worst members but by the core of the original teachings. What I read about Hinduism through Yoga has some lovely teachings for nonviolence and peace and seeking unity with God. As for Jesus, it is the Hindu believe that he is an enlightened being, which I believe is sweet. The Christian perspective of Jesus being a unique Son of God or not is not relevant to the beauty I can see in other faith traditions.
I am a Christian.
There is nothing wrong with yoga.
There are some types of meditations Christians should not do.
The Bible encourages reflection, reflection on beautiful things, positivity, God etc etc.
But when meditation is meditation for the sake of meditation, the feeling of meditation, empting your mind etc etc.
Let the atheist do it.
Christians can meditate as meditation is one way to calm a very anxious mind. Any form of healing, I believe, ultimately comes from God. If it doesn't work for you, don't do it. Meditation is universal and is found in every religious tradition, even Christianity.
@siristrommen I said "types of meditation" I wasn't so negative as you put it.
Read my comment carefully. Without going into a lecture: emptying your mind is an Eastern thing
Reflecting on what is noble is Biblical.
Empting your mind is just stupid.
@@medusa210562 I see. I will just agree to disagree on that point. I think if the meditation, regardless of which it is, is helpful, it is of God.
@siristrommen I can not judge any single individual. If a person says to me, I like meditating. I can not conclude that they are doing anything wrong.
But If you are a Bible student, you know the meditation in the scripture is ALWAYS, reflection, contemplation, gratitude, etc etc etc.
The greatest dangers to Christianity come from ( not always) from humanism. Where something is good for goodness sake. That is perfectly ok if you don't know better.
@@medusa210562 Again, we differ there. I feel the greatest dangers to Christianity come from within, from tribalism, arrogance, misogyny, nationalism, and colonialism that have caused untold damage. I feel that the time to learn from others and see truth and beauty and healing where it is found is here. God is beyond the Bible in my experience. You don't have to agree with me nor I with you, we are on our own journeys of faith.