Yoga is Hindu. Period.

[Anonymous]

I am married to an Indian Christian and am a middle eastern Christian myself. I agree that it should be clear that yoga arose in India in the context of the Hindu religion.

However - people use and appropriate things from other religions all the time. Indian Christians (some of whom are part of communities who have been Christian for nearly 2000 years) run a multitude of schools and hospitals in India. The truth is most of the students at Christian schools in India are Hindus who have zero interest in the Christian religion. In some cases, various accommodations have been made for them such as giving an analogue of prasad during Christian religious services since Hindus don't take communion. (Prasad is food eaten during Hindu religious services.). That could be viewed as a distortion of the Christian religion.

People admire things in other religions - take it as a complement.

[Anonymous]

I'm just baffled by the anger in your post, OP. Why do you care so much what your "friend" thinks?

[Anonymous]

+1000, except "compliment, not complement." Proud, secular Hindu who was educated at a Catholic school in India.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your yoga practice can be whatever you want it to be. The Hindu religion doesn't "own" yoga.

+1 it's a firm of meditation and exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, we had this issue with my mom, yoga, and Reiki. Both yoga and Reiki really helped with some health issues she had. However, once she learned that they are essentially worshiping or appealing to other gods, she stopped.

I don't get this kind of response.

If you have your believe (let's say, Christianity), how can you end up worshiping other gods? Do you believe those other gods also exist? If you believe in the divinity of Jesus, do you also believe in the divinity of gods in other religions? How can you end up worshiping or appealing to them, if there's only one real god (Jesus, Allah, whatever you believe in)?

You don't have to believe that other gods actually exist in order for Jews and Christians to violate the first commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (BTW, there is an interesting piece on this commandment from the atheist perspective here: http://atheism.about.com/od/tencommandments/a/commandment01.htm)

For example, read this letter below, (Full disclosure: I have excerpted it a bit):

From: T. R. in Belgium

Dear Rabbi,

Could you please enlighten me on the controversy surrounding wearing wigs made of human hair from India, and also is it permissible to continue wearing one. Thank you in advance, T. R.

Dear T.R.

The Rabbis who oppose the use of Indian-hair wigs are not just splitting hairs. The root of the problem is that the hair from India seems to come from idolatrous ceremonies. Worshipers grow their hair in honor of a certain god, pledging to cut the hair at the temple of the god as a sacrificial thank-offering when their prayer is answered. ...

The hair is then auctioned to wigmakers, earning the temple a hair-raising 5.6 million dollars. ...

The problem is that the Torah not only forbids idolatry itself, but also prohibits deriving benefit from any accessory, decoration or sacrifice to idol worship. Primarily, such a sacrifice is forbidden only when it is similar to the Jewish Temple offerings of meat, flour, oil, wine and water. However, when this object of idolatrous sacrifice (tikrovet avoda zara) is whats normally offered, and is cut or broken in honor of the god, it is also forbidden to derive benefit from it in any way. Furthermore, the sacrificed object can never be nullified, even if its been changed or altered by some process, and even if its been indiscernibly mixed with some other permitted material.

http://ohr.edu/1698

It makes no sense. You believe those other gods exist, or they don't. If they don't exist, they have no power, no chance of influencing you. The Hindu gods don't affect you any more than Bigfoot affects you, or the Purple People Eater. If you believe in your "true" deity, then you believe others are also made up human concepts. You don't have any other gods ahead of the "real" god, because those other gods don't exist.

You are missing the point. For Jews, Muslims, and Christians at least, our God expects us to worship only Him. We are not supposed to do anything that even looks like worshiping other gods. It's not that we fear any actual influence from Krishna, Ogun, or Huitzilopotchli.

So then every person of faith should be living a 100% monastic lifestyle. Hell, you can't even enjoy snow, because you could be worshiping the abominable snowman. Or watch movies, or read any other books, or gain any kind of influence/pleasure from anything else, ever.

[Anonymous]

While I don't necessarily agree with the "tone" or delivery of the OP's post, I agree with the point being made.

If you pick up a copy of Yoga Journal magazine or any other mainstream yoga journalism, you will see the mention of any faith OTHER than Hinduism.

Vedanta is Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma. The semantics and word juggling done in these articles to try to explain the deep philosophical meanings of various aspects of yoga to avoid the word Hindu is mind boggling.

Yet it is clear why, the Christians and Atheists and New-Agey that they market to might shy away (actually run) if it's in any way outwardly spoken that it is connected at it's core to Hinduism. The fear of being associated with a presumed "idol worshipping" religion for Christians/Jews/Muslims and the fear of being associated with God for the atheists and new-agey folk.

The Western world has always had this feeling toward Hinduism, it does not fit into a neat box that can be described with a one liner. It caused a big problem for the colonialists. They used their MO of "civilizing the world through Christianity" to colonize but had issues with India since it was a highly civilized and successful country that was filled with "believers of false gods". Goes back to how religion is spread for political means.

Lots of Hindu related items that they liked were stripped of it's relation to Hinduism to pacify their minds or the history of it changed completely to comply with Western/Christian superiority beliefs.

But Westerners like Yoga and it agitates the mind to acknowledge it's roots, core, and unbreakable ties to Hinduism so they will find excuses in every which direction to disconnect it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I don't necessarily agree with the "tone" or delivery of the OP's post, I agree with the point being made.

If you pick up a copy of Yoga Journal magazine or any other mainstream yoga journalism, you will see the mention of any faith OTHER than Hinduism.

Vedanta is Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma. The semantics and word juggling done in these articles to try to explain the deep philosophical meanings of various aspects of yoga to avoid the word Hindu is mind boggling.

Yet it is clear why, the Christians and Atheists and New-Agey that they market to might shy away (actually run) if it's in any way outwardly spoken that it is connected at it's core to Hinduism. The fear of being associated with a presumed "idol worshipping" religion for Christians/Jews/Muslims and the fear of being associated with God for the atheists and new-agey folk.

The Western world has always had this feeling toward Hinduism, it does not fit into a neat box that can be described with a one liner. It caused a big problem for the colonialists. They used their MO of "civilizing the world through Christianity" to colonize but had issues with India since it was a highly civilized and successful country that was filled with "believers of false gods". Goes back to how religion is spread for political means.

Lots of Hindu related items that they liked were stripped of it's relation to Hinduism to pacify their minds or the history of it changed completely to comply with Western/Christian superiority beliefs.

But Westerners like Yoga and it agitates the mind to acknowledge it's roots, core, and unbreakable ties to Hinduism so they will find excuses in every which direction to disconnect it.

Exactly, thank you. I'm the OP, btw. Being open and accepting of other faiths doesn't mean I have to accept appropriation of mine in a way that completely strips its originating religion out of it.

I've independently enjoyed reading about Jewish Kabbalah. I'm NOT going to go around telling people that I practice the Kabbalah or that I'm an expert/initiate in it (which is what you're doing if you're not Hindu and yet you call yourself a "yogi". You are not a yogi. You don't even understand what a yogi is).

Being secular is not the same as appropriating. Calling anyone who stands up against this a "fundamentalist" or somehow lacking in secular feeling mischaracterizes the entire argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I don't necessarily agree with the "tone" or delivery of the OP's post, I agree with the point being made.

If you pick up a copy of Yoga Journal magazine or any other mainstream yoga journalism, you will see the mention of any faith OTHER than Hinduism.

Vedanta is Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma. The semantics and word juggling done in these articles to try to explain the deep philosophical meanings of various aspects of yoga to avoid the word Hindu is mind boggling.

Yet it is clear why, the Christians and Atheists and New-Agey that they market to might shy away (actually run) if it's in any way outwardly spoken that it is connected at it's core to Hinduism. The fear of being associated with a presumed "idol worshipping" religion for Christians/Jews/Muslims and the fear of being associated with God for the atheists and new-agey folk.

The Western world has always had this feeling toward Hinduism, it does not fit into a neat box that can be described with a one liner. It caused a big problem for the colonialists. They used their MO of "civilizing the world through Christianity" to colonize but had issues with India since it was a highly civilized and successful country that was filled with "believers of false gods". Goes back to how religion is spread for political means.

Lots of Hindu related items that they liked were stripped of it's relation to Hinduism to pacify their minds or the history of it changed completely to comply with Western/Christian superiority beliefs.

But Westerners like Yoga and it agitates the mind to acknowledge it's roots, core, and unbreakable ties to Hinduism so they will find excuses in every which direction to disconnect it.

I love you. Couldn't have said it better

[Anonymous]

And I'll just add, THANK YOU for pointing out how far Western yoga practitioners (not all, but quite a few) will say they believe in "Yoga" and "Vedanta" but deliberately avoid using "Hinduism" because of its polytheist aspects.

Yet they are perfectly okay using the word "Buddhism". A lot of this comes from the mistaken belief that Buddhism is atheist. It's not. Buddhism also has a very polytheistic pantheon, which gets dismissed because who wants to acknowledge Kuan Yin, Tara, and Manjushri?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, we had this issue with my mom, yoga, and Reiki. Both yoga and Reiki really helped with some health issues she had. However, once she learned that they are essentially worshiping or appealing to other gods, she stopped.

I don't get this kind of response.

If you have your believe (let's say, Christianity), how can you end up worshiping other gods? Do you believe those other gods also exist? If you believe in the divinity of Jesus, do you also believe in the divinity of gods in other religions? How can you end up worshiping or appealing to them, if there's only one real god (Jesus, Allah, whatever you believe in)?

You don't have to believe that other gods actually exist in order for Jews and Christians to violate the first commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (BTW, there is an interesting piece on this commandment from the atheist perspective here: http://atheism.about.com/od/tencommandments/a/commandment01.htm)

For example, read this letter below, (Full disclosure: I have excerpted it a bit):

From: T. R. in Belgium

Dear Rabbi,

Could you please enlighten me on the controversy surrounding wearing wigs made of human hair from India, and also is it permissible to continue wearing one. Thank you in advance, T. R.

Dear T.R.

The Rabbis who oppose the use of Indian-hair wigs are not just splitting hairs. The root of the problem is that the hair from India seems to come from idolatrous ceremonies. Worshipers grow their hair in honor of a certain god, pledging to cut the hair at the temple of the god as a sacrificial thank-offering when their prayer is answered. ...

The hair is then auctioned to wigmakers, earning the temple a hair-raising 5.6 million dollars. ...

The problem is that the Torah not only forbids idolatry itself, but also prohibits deriving benefit from any accessory, decoration or sacrifice to idol worship. Primarily, such a sacrifice is forbidden only when it is similar to the Jewish Temple offerings of meat, flour, oil, wine and water. However, when this object of idolatrous sacrifice (tikrovet avoda zara) is whats normally offered, and is cut or broken in honor of the god, it is also forbidden to derive benefit from it in any way. Furthermore, the sacrificed object can never be nullified, even if its been changed or altered by some process, and even if its been indiscernibly mixed with some other permitted material.

http://ohr.edu/1698

It makes no sense. You believe those other gods exist, or they don't. If they don't exist, they have no power, no chance of influencing you. The Hindu gods don't affect you any more than Bigfoot affects you, or the Purple People Eater. If you believe in your "true" deity, then you believe others are also made up human concepts. You don't have any other gods ahead of the "real" god, because those other gods don't exist.

You are missing the point. For Jews, Muslims, and Christians at least, our God expects us to worship only Him. We are not supposed to do anything that even looks like worshiping other gods. It's not that we fear any actual influence from Krishna, Ogun, or Huitzilopotchli.

So then every person of faith should be living a 100% monastic lifestyle. Hell, you can't even enjoy snow, because you could be worshiping the abominable snowman. Or watch movies, or read any other books, or gain any kind of influence/pleasure from anything else, ever.

You sound unhinged.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I'm also supportive of the Jewish rabbis who forbid the use of hair obtained from Hindu temples, btw. Not because I think there should be a division between Judaism and Hinduism, but because I respect that they are being honest with themselves and honest about what the hair represents.

[Anonymous]

As a Catholic, I hate that fitness trainers and cross fit enthusiasts everywhere are espousing the Health and strength benefits of the "single leg kneel" and "squats."

It is genuflecting and is also nicknamed "Catholic Callisthenics" and should be done in a devout manner, void of any "ugggghhh" exhalations typically seen at a Lifetime Fitness mirror room.

I agree OP, kidding aside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a Catholic, I hate that fitness trainers and cross fit enthusiasts everywhere are espousing the Health and strength benefits of the "single leg kneel" and "squats."

It is genuflecting and is also nicknamed "Catholic Callisthenics" and should be done in a devout manner, void of any "ugggghhh" exhalations typically seen at a Lifetime Fitness mirror room.

I agree OP, kidding aside.

I'm the OP. Thank you so much for making me aware of this re: the kneel, I would not have known otherwise.

[Anonymous]

? I thought Yoda was a Jedi?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, we had this issue with my mom, yoga, and Reiki. Both yoga and Reiki really helped with some health issues she had. However, once she learned that they are essentially worshiping or appealing to other gods, she stopped.

I don't get this kind of response.

If you have your believe (let's say, Christianity), how can you end up worshiping other gods? Do you believe those other gods also exist? If you believe in the divinity of Jesus, do you also believe in the divinity of gods in other religions? How can you end up worshiping or appealing to them, if there's only one real god (Jesus, Allah, whatever you believe in)?

You don't have to believe that other gods actually exist in order for Jews and Christians to violate the first commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (BTW, there is an interesting piece on this commandment from the atheist perspective here: http://atheism.about.com/od/tencommandments/a/commandment01.htm)

For example, read this letter below, (Full disclosure: I have excerpted it a bit):

From: T. R. in Belgium

Dear Rabbi,

Could you please enlighten me on the controversy surrounding wearing wigs made of human hair from India, and also is it permissible to continue wearing one. Thank you in advance, T. R.

Dear T.R.

The Rabbis who oppose the use of Indian-hair wigs are not just splitting hairs. The root of the problem is that the hair from India seems to come from idolatrous ceremonies. Worshipers grow their hair in honor of a certain god, pledging to cut the hair at the temple of the god as a sacrificial thank-offering when their prayer is answered. ...

The hair is then auctioned to wigmakers, earning the temple a hair-raising 5.6 million dollars. ...

The problem is that the Torah not only forbids idolatry itself, but also prohibits deriving benefit from any accessory, decoration or sacrifice to idol worship. Primarily, such a sacrifice is forbidden only when it is similar to the Jewish Temple offerings of meat, flour, oil, wine and water. However, when this object of idolatrous sacrifice (tikrovet avoda zara) is whats normally offered, and is cut or broken in honor of the god, it is also forbidden to derive benefit from it in any way. Furthermore, the sacrificed object can never be nullified, even if its been changed or altered by some process, and even if its been indiscernibly mixed with some other permitted material.

http://ohr.edu/1698

It makes no sense. You believe those other gods exist, or they don't. If they don't exist, they have no power, no chance of influencing you. The Hindu gods don't affect you any more than Bigfoot affects you, or the Purple People Eater. If you believe in your "true" deity, then you believe others are also made up human concepts. You don't have any other gods ahead of the "real" god, because those other gods don't exist.

You are missing the point. For Jews, Muslims, and Christians at least, our God expects us to worship only Him. We are not supposed to do anything that even looks like worshiping other gods. It's not that we fear any actual influence from Krishna, Ogun, or Huitzilopotchli.

So then every person of faith should be living a 100% monastic lifestyle. Hell, you can't even enjoy snow, because you could be worshiping the abominable snowman. Or watch movies, or read any other books, or gain any kind of influence/pleasure from anything else, ever.

You sound unhinged.

Its the same thing - saying you can't enjoy things like yoga, because you think it'll deter from your own religion. THAT is unhinged. And some seriously insecure faith.