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