| The benefit of yoga is twofold - increased | | | | Christianity preaches. Christians believe |
| health and unification of the spirit with the | | | | that studying yoga is akin to practicing |
| body. It is accomplished through the use of | | | | Hinduism, and one cannot separate the |
| many different aspects, but mainly through | | | | philosophy of Hinduism from their Christian |
| the combination of Asanas, or postures, and | | | | beliefs, regardless of the health benefit of |
| breathing/meditation practices.This raises | | | | yoga.As a practicing Buddhist, I take issue |
| many question in the Christian community. In | | | | with this viewpoint. To me, this smacks of |
| my research for this article, I was very | | | | tunnel vision and narrowmindedness. A |
| surprised at the viewpoint of the Christian | | | | Christian is expected to open their heart and |
| apologists, and their take on yoga and its | | | | minds to Jesus, and to give in to the spirit |
| practice. I have hesitated on writing this | | | | of the Lord. They are expected to rely on |
| article because of that viewpoint. However, | | | | blind faith, and to accept the word of God as |
| I feel that this question and the stance of | | | | the only truth in the world. A thinking |
| the Christian community warrants reflection | | | | person would find this hypocritical, for on |
| on the subject.Yoga has a history dating back | | | | the one hand Christians preach that Yoga must |
| over five thousand years, to the beginning of | | | | be avoided because opening the mind to |
| the civilization of man. Little is really | | | | clearer vision encourages the possibility of |
| known about Yoga. it is believed to have | | | | demonic possession, yet on the other hand |
| originated in Mehrgarh, a neolithic | | | | preaches that one must open the mind and |
| settlement in what is now Afghanistan. | | | | heart to accept Jesus into their lives. |
| Scholars believe it has grown out of Stone | | | | Opening one's heart and mind is exactly that |
| Age Shamanism. In this early period of | | | | - whether it is to look into one's self, or |
| civilization's beginnings, Yoga was a | | | | to accept Jesus into their lives. If, as |
| community resource, because of its attempts | | | | Christians preach, we are open to demonic |
| to determine cosmic order through inner | | | | possession if we look inside ourselves and |
| vision, and apply it to daily living. In | | | | open the mind to all the possibilities, how |
| later years, yoga evolved into an inner | | | | then can we safely open our hearts to the |
| dialogue through which the Yogis sought to | | | | concept of Christianity? Is there a |
| develop their own salvation and | | | | gatekeeper who makes this decision when we do |
| enlightenment.Archaeological evidence of the | | | | so that determines what path we are to |
| existence of Yoga first appeared in stone | | | | follow? I think not...For the record, I was |
| seals excavated from the Indus valley. It | | | | raised in a Christian household. My father |
| depicted figures in many Yogic Asanas, or | | | | was the deacon of a small Baptist church in |
| postures, and officially put Yoga in the time | | | | the farming community where we lived. My |
| period of approximately 3000 B.C. Of greater | | | | mother, who taught us children to question |
| import, it also linked yoga to the great | | | | everything, moved from the Baptist community |
| Indus-Sarasvati Civilization, a period in | | | | to the Assembly of God churches, and was |
| time that was considered modern and | | | | ostracized by my father. I think that to her |
| efficient.From the Indus-Sarasvati | | | | dying day, she resented my father for this |
| civilization came the ancient texts known as | | | | narrowmindedness. Life is a matter of |
| the Vedas, the oldest scriptures in the | | | | choice, and my mother believed that we are |
| world. The Vedas are a collection of hymns | | | | not required to operate under the illusion of |
| that praise a higher power and contains the | | | | blind faith, but to do what is right to us as |
| oldest recorded history of Yoga teachings. | | | | an individual. And it is why I walk the |
| The Vedas required the practitioner to | | | | Noble 8 Folded Path. It is simply a matter |
| transcend human limitations, and reach a | | | | of choice, and questioning everything in this |
| higher spiritual plane. In later years, | | | | universe.I believe that the practice of yoga |
| texts known as the Brahmanas were written to | | | | is a good thing. It provides us with great |
| explain the rituals and the hymns of the | | | | health benefits, clearer vision, and harmony |
| Vedas. Following this came the Aranyakas | | | | in our souls. And in this day and age, what |
| texts, which outlined the practice of Yogis | | | | else is there? Whether we be Christians, |
| living in the seclusion of the forest. This | | | | Muslims, or Buddhists, we must not disrespect |
| led to the beginning of India's medical | | | | the feelings and thoughts of others, their |
| tradition, known as Ayurveda. All in all, | | | | rights to practice as they wish, or try to |
| Yoga transformed into a practice of health, | | | | push our views down other people's throats. |
| harmony of the spirit, and a way of life.The | | | | To live in harmony is exactly that...To find |
| Christian viewpoint is thus - if one opens | | | | out more about the benefit of yoga, visit my |
| the mind to clearer thinking and inner | | | | website at Smith is a published and award |
| vision, they open the spirit to demonic | | | | winning author who's website informs and |
| possession. It is felt that Yoga practice | | | | educates the person wanting to learn more |
| borders on occultism, and that opening one's | | | | about yoga and its practice. Visit his site |
| mind and spirit to the benefit of yoga is | | | | to stay informed on the exciting world of |
| both dangerous and against everything | | | | yoga. |