Is yoga a religion?

4 Responses to “Is yoga a religion?”

1. yati says:

   September 26, 2008 at 9:04 am

       Wake up to the fact that all this new age yoga is misrepresenting, exploiting, commercializing what is truly Yoga/Hinduism (the two are inseparable.)The various Yogas are undeniably the progressive religious/spiritual practices within Hinduism to ‘yoke’/yoga Atmana (individual soul) with Brahman (soul source)…basic Hindu tenet [the goal of these religious practices.] Hatha Yoga, often mis-referred to as just ‘yoga,’ are the Hindu worshipful postures to Hindu deities, Hindu Sages and the natural world(in a Hindu context.) It is a specific religion that is not “universal” and does not, as some new age cliches go…”fits into any religion.” Just one of many examples; in Monotheism there is no ‘yoking’ with Yahweh, Jesus or Allah…these “Creators” are forever separate from their “creation.” Below are some yoga facts to help end the illusion of spurious yoga, yogis and yoginis.
   Yati
   FACTS:
   ~Sanskrit: The ancient language of the Hindus [Webster's] Note: all subsequent terms are Sanskrit (Skr.) and thus Hindu
   ~Aum/Om: The most sacred syllable in Hinduism [Oxford World Religions]
   ~yoga: Skr. “Hinduism” [Webster's]
   ~yoga: Oneness of Atmana and Brahman [Dict. of Skr. Names]
   ~yogi/yogini:(male/female) Hindu Ascetic [Oxford World Rel.]
   ~Atmana: Skr. Self/Spirit; Hinduism [Webster's]
   ~Brahman: Skr. Hindu Religion [Webster's]
   ~yoga: Skr. A Hindu discipline [Oxford Am. Dict.]
   ~ yoga: Skr. A system of Hindu religious philosophy [Thorndike Barnhardt]
   ~yoga: Skr. general term for spiritual disciplines in Hinduism [Columbia Encyclopedia]
   ~Swami: Skr. Title of respect of a (Hindu) Holy man or teacher.[Oxford World Religions]
   ~Guru: Skr. A teacher of worldly skills…more often of religious knowledge…liberation (Moksa).[Oxford World religions]
   ~Moksa: Release/liberation – the fourth and ultimate goal of Hinduism.[Oxf. World Religion]
   ~The first recorded evidence of the Skr. word “yoga” is found in the Vedas.
   ~Veda Skr. The most ancient sacred literature of the Hindus.[Webster's]
   ~Upanishads: Text in Hinduism which ends or completes the Vedic corpus (body of [Hindu] laws
2. Andre Daley says:

   September 26, 2008 at 11:27 am

   yati,
   I am afraid you do not have a broad understanding of other religions. You say

   Just one of many examples; in Monotheism there is no ‘yoking’ with Yahweh, Jesus or Allah…these “Creators” are forever separate from their “creation.” Below are some

   In the Christian scriptures Jesus teaches his disciples to take on his yoke.  Matthew 11:29-30.  The word yoga not withstand, it is clear that yoga as a practice predates both Hinduism and Christianity. So just because Hinduism and Yoga share a common language does mean they are one and the same. The Christians New Testament scriptures shares a common written language (Greek) with the Greek mythology does that make them the same. All Christians bring their palms together in a posture of prayer as do Hindus. Do either of those religions have and exclusive right to that posture?

   While I respect your opinion and your right to hold and keep it, I encourage you to be careful about making sweeping generalizations  without fact checking.

   Namaste
3. yati says:

   September 27, 2008 at 7:04 pm

   Andre
      I do not profess to have a deep understanding of all religions, but try with Hinduism and am obligated to protect, uphold the Dharma. To be a true expert on all religions, would be like having a relationship with multiple wives, multiple intense professions…one can not be a Priest and a Swami nor can one be a Christian “leader” and a genuine Yoga instructor. One must choose a specific religious path and commit to it.     
      In your arguments, there is muddied reasoning, always found in spurious yoga, leading to delusional thinking  – delusional because they are in denial of facts. Being on the religious/spiritual quest as appears in “bio,” success comes through clarity…re-defining Yoga/Hindu words is unethical, to say the very least and a downward path…strengthening the raw ego, widening the gap to the Soul. As a serious student of prestigious schools in religion, why did you not dispute the ” yoga facts” from scholarly texts?
       The reference to my facts and comments as “sweeping generalization…” is quite “mirrored,” in your mixing of generalizations with specifics. “Taking on” Rabbi Yahshua’s (re-interpreted as Jesus) ”yoke” is not the same meaning as the Hindu word/practices, yoga. I believe it means, one is connecting with Jesus, becoming a disciple, and thus lessoning their “load.”  Yoking/yoga/yuj means, merging Atmana with Brahman, and is very different. Even if they were not, we would respect, out of common sense, that “yoga” is only found in Hinduism and its sects. There is no denying that religions have similarities but we do not take and steal from them (although rationalizing the uprooting of religion, becomes a habit)…one perhaps does devotions at Mass and I at Puja, but  we recognize they are different and of different religions. “Palms together,” (Namaste) means something different to a Hindu and a Christian…yes, some commonalities concerning the Divine but with a very different tenet basis. If you disagree, next time in Church address your Priest with “Namaste” and ask him to explain and or accept your merging/yoga with Brahman and do a Sun Salutation in reverence to Vishnu…since all is universal, he/she should have no problem in accepting your views. Also, given the facts, how can yoga (or any ‘thing’ for that matter), a religious practice, ”predate” the people practicing it…those people “of the Indus” later became known as Indus/Hindus?   Do not be weak, do not “respect my opinions” if they are wrong and unsubstantiated, and after disputing them say it’s OK to me, that’s dishonest. I have no “right to hold and keep it” and propagate falsehoods to others and by doing so, degrade another’s sacred religious practices. I’ll end with, “word knowledge devoid of facts, is delusion”, Patanjali, Y.S. I,9
   Yati 
4. Andre Daley says:

   October 1, 2008 at 11:26 am

   Yati,
   I encourage you to practice the karma you preach. Once again you make broad statements like yoga and yoke are not the without backing up your statements. You say you believe yoke in the Christian scriptures means something else but you don’t prove that. Then you call my thinking delusional because it is not based on fact.

   from the root of zeugnumi (to join, especially by a “yoke”); a coupling, i.e. (figurative) servitude (a law or obligation); also (literal) the beam of the balance (as connecting the scales) :- pair of balances, yoke. Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

   You did not adreess my statement of yoga predating both our faiths. I am a pastor so I do not need to consult my priest on this matter. I have studied both the Christians scriptures and the Yoga sutras, the yamas and niyamas. And while I do not consider myself and expert onthem I know there are many meanings of the phrase namaste. I also recognize that the word Sunday the day of worship for most Christians comes from the worship of the sun as do (sun salutations) surya namaskar. Just as Sunday is a day of worship of the son of God as we believe sun salutations can bring focus and intention to the son of God that followers of Jesus believe in.

   I do not harbor any disrespect toward your perspective spirituality or faith, its just not good Karna. I hope you can find your way to the same.