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Looking into New Religion Part II - The Selling of YogaThe medical world touts yoga and meditation as the cure for everything from flatulence to cancer. Yoga teaches you how to move the energy in your body, and since everything is made of energy, animal, vegetable and mineral, we can control our health, well-being and our spiritual life. Since energy vibrates at different levels, and depending on the rate of vibration, you can either see it, such as rock, or not see it, such as wind. A table is energy re-arranged. We are energy, not souls, according to yoga.
This makes perfect sense and is believable, scientific even, and is usually the hook to drag people into yoga classes. We know there’s a life force within us and Christians call that the soul. The spirit that lives within us is part of the Holy Trinity. The problem with yoga, is this philosophy (which trickles into the classes) teaches that all life force, both that which vibrates at high rate and that which vibrates at a low rate, is God. We used to say, “God is in the lamp post.”
The duty of a good Yogi is to get in touch with that energy and control it’s flow. But, we’re told, we can’t control the energy if we’re freely operating in duality, or in this three-dimensional world. What this means is, if we’re hyped up, we can’t tune into God. Thus, in order to sit for hours in meditation, one prepares ones body by doing Hatha (system of physical) yoga, or what we now recognize as a yoga class. What’s the harm?
Eastern healing arts always work with “energy channels and states of awareness.” Yoga can not exist without this philosophy. Classes always combine postures and meditation. Yoga teaches that unless we’re in a motionless, erect state, our eyes focused between the eyebrows (called the 3rd eye) we’re not centered, or out of balance to the energy–or God. Yoga classes can call this practice anything they want, but it’s a Hatha Yoga.
Just who's teaching the class?
Over the years, I’ve known many yoga instructors. All of them were involved in some form of eastern religion or thought. You can’t be a yoga teacher if you’re not seriously instructed in the history of yoga. Before you start the class ask the instructor if he/she believes Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and if he died for our sins. I can almost guarantee you, you'll get an explanation something like this:
"I believe in Jesus, but Jesus isn't the only way, I mean, think about it. What about those poor souls in the amazon who never heard about him? What kind of God abandons innocent people? God loves everyone. Krishna and Buddha taught the same message as Jesus. Besides, there's proof Jesus knew yoga and taught it to his disciples. He was only a great yogi, or sage. Doesn't it make sense that the lord responds to all, and works for all?" Then they might quote Carl Jung:
"The deeper your understanding of self realization the more influences we have on the whole universe by our spiritual vibrations. Yoga offers the possibility of a controllable experiences and this satisfies our scientific need for facts--and besides this, by reason if its breadth and depth, its venerable age, its doctrine and method, which includes every phase of life, it promises undreamed of possibilities!"*
All Yoga classes use eastern lexicon freely and over time introduce more of the philosophies into the class. Talk of higher power and chakras (energy centers in the spine), burning of incense, playing or singing chants, and nearly always, at least at the end, some kind of guided meditation. They often teach yoga breath work which may or may not include a mantra, such as Aum. You may see an altar with flowers and statues, along with incense, even food, an offering to their Gods. There may be gongs and Thangka's hanging around. They might sell books, soap stone elephants, lotus chains and sandalwood beads. You might see yogic symbols on the walls, such as the Aum (OM) sign, lotus flowers, and pictures of India Gods, such a Lord Krishna. Or, the other extreme, you won’t see anything but blank walls and yoga mats.
The Yoga class environment depends on where the classes are given and what kind of yoga is being taught. In Indian philosophy, yoga is the name of one of the six orthodox philosophical schools. There isn’t just one kind of yoga class, but all systems of yoga do not harmonize with Christianity.
“What is the big deal about yoga? Who cares what it’s called, right? It’s just exercise to lower my blood pressure–my doctor recommended it! You’re another intolerant right-winged Christian full of yourself!”
As Paul said in Galatians 4: 16 “Have I now become the enemy by telling you the truth?
Yoga is a Sanskrit word and it encompasses a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. Its disciplines of asceticism and meditation are believed to lead to spiritual experiences and a profound understanding or insight into the nature of existence.
If you practice yoga of any kind, the understand the root:
Pantanjali
Patañjali ** is the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, a major work containing aphorisms (original thought) on the philosophical aspects of mind and consciousness... In recent decades the Yoga Sutra has become quite popular worldwide for the precepts regarding practice of Raja Yoga and its philosophical basis. "Yoga" involves inner contemplation, a rigorous system (works) of meditation practice, ethics, metaphysics, and devotion to the one common soul, God, or Brahman. (You are God.)
Physical movements of yoga practice in combination with pranayama (life control), constitutes a form of yoga referred to as Hatha Yoga. In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali describes asana as a "firm, comfortable posture", and referring specifically to the seated posture, most basic of all the asanas. He further suggests that meditation is the path to samadhi (state of perfection); transpersonal (mystical states) self-realization (one with God).
The Sanskrit term yoga has many meanings. It is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, "to control", "to yoke", or "to unite". Common meanings include "joining" or "uniting", and related ideas such as "union" and "conjunction." Sanskrit is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism.
Satan loves ignorance, and practicing an ancient yogi discipline is ignorance of the Bible's message of freedom in Christ.
“But now that you know God–or rather are known by God–how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” Galatians 3:16
Cancel the yoga class and take a stretching class.
To be Continued...
* CG Jung, Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda, Self Realization Fellowship
**Patañjali is known to be an incarnation of A-di S'esha who is the first ego-expansion of Vishnu, Sankarshana. Sankarshana, the manifestation of Vishnu His primeval energies and opulences, is part of the so-called catur vyu-ha, the fourfold manifestation of Vishnu. (Wikipedia)
This makes perfect sense and is believable, scientific even, and is usually the hook to drag people into yoga classes. We know there’s a life force within us and Christians call that the soul. The spirit that lives within us is part of the Holy Trinity. The problem with yoga, is this philosophy (which trickles into the classes) teaches that all life force, both that which vibrates at high rate and that which vibrates at a low rate, is God. We used to say, “God is in the lamp post.”
The duty of a good Yogi is to get in touch with that energy and control it’s flow. But, we’re told, we can’t control the energy if we’re freely operating in duality, or in this three-dimensional world. What this means is, if we’re hyped up, we can’t tune into God. Thus, in order to sit for hours in meditation, one prepares ones body by doing Hatha (system of physical) yoga, or what we now recognize as a yoga class. What’s the harm?
Eastern healing arts always work with “energy channels and states of awareness.” Yoga can not exist without this philosophy. Classes always combine postures and meditation. Yoga teaches that unless we’re in a motionless, erect state, our eyes focused between the eyebrows (called the 3rd eye) we’re not centered, or out of balance to the energy–or God. Yoga classes can call this practice anything they want, but it’s a Hatha Yoga.
Just who's teaching the class?
Over the years, I’ve known many yoga instructors. All of them were involved in some form of eastern religion or thought. You can’t be a yoga teacher if you’re not seriously instructed in the history of yoga. Before you start the class ask the instructor if he/she believes Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and if he died for our sins. I can almost guarantee you, you'll get an explanation something like this:
"I believe in Jesus, but Jesus isn't the only way, I mean, think about it. What about those poor souls in the amazon who never heard about him? What kind of God abandons innocent people? God loves everyone. Krishna and Buddha taught the same message as Jesus. Besides, there's proof Jesus knew yoga and taught it to his disciples. He was only a great yogi, or sage. Doesn't it make sense that the lord responds to all, and works for all?" Then they might quote Carl Jung:
"The deeper your understanding of self realization the more influences we have on the whole universe by our spiritual vibrations. Yoga offers the possibility of a controllable experiences and this satisfies our scientific need for facts--and besides this, by reason if its breadth and depth, its venerable age, its doctrine and method, which includes every phase of life, it promises undreamed of possibilities!"*
All Yoga classes use eastern lexicon freely and over time introduce more of the philosophies into the class. Talk of higher power and chakras (energy centers in the spine), burning of incense, playing or singing chants, and nearly always, at least at the end, some kind of guided meditation. They often teach yoga breath work which may or may not include a mantra, such as Aum. You may see an altar with flowers and statues, along with incense, even food, an offering to their Gods. There may be gongs and Thangka's hanging around. They might sell books, soap stone elephants, lotus chains and sandalwood beads. You might see yogic symbols on the walls, such as the Aum (OM) sign, lotus flowers, and pictures of India Gods, such a Lord Krishna. Or, the other extreme, you won’t see anything but blank walls and yoga mats.
The Yoga class environment depends on where the classes are given and what kind of yoga is being taught. In Indian philosophy, yoga is the name of one of the six orthodox philosophical schools. There isn’t just one kind of yoga class, but all systems of yoga do not harmonize with Christianity.
“What is the big deal about yoga? Who cares what it’s called, right? It’s just exercise to lower my blood pressure–my doctor recommended it! You’re another intolerant right-winged Christian full of yourself!”
As Paul said in Galatians 4: 16 “Have I now become the enemy by telling you the truth?
Yoga is a Sanskrit word and it encompasses a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. Its disciplines of asceticism and meditation are believed to lead to spiritual experiences and a profound understanding or insight into the nature of existence.
If you practice yoga of any kind, the understand the root:
Pantanjali
Patañjali ** is the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, a major work containing aphorisms (original thought) on the philosophical aspects of mind and consciousness... In recent decades the Yoga Sutra has become quite popular worldwide for the precepts regarding practice of Raja Yoga and its philosophical basis. "Yoga" involves inner contemplation, a rigorous system (works) of meditation practice, ethics, metaphysics, and devotion to the one common soul, God, or Brahman. (You are God.)Physical movements of yoga practice in combination with pranayama (life control), constitutes a form of yoga referred to as Hatha Yoga. In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali describes asana as a "firm, comfortable posture", and referring specifically to the seated posture, most basic of all the asanas. He further suggests that meditation is the path to samadhi (state of perfection); transpersonal (mystical states) self-realization (one with God).
The Sanskrit term yoga has many meanings. It is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, "to control", "to yoke", or "to unite". Common meanings include "joining" or "uniting", and related ideas such as "union" and "conjunction." Sanskrit is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism.
Satan loves ignorance, and practicing an ancient yogi discipline is ignorance of the Bible's message of freedom in Christ.
“But now that you know God–or rather are known by God–how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” Galatians 3:16
Cancel the yoga class and take a stretching class.
To be Continued...
* CG Jung, Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda, Self Realization Fellowship
**Patañjali is known to be an incarnation of A-di S'esha who is the first ego-expansion of Vishnu, Sankarshana. Sankarshana, the manifestation of Vishnu His primeval energies and opulences, is part of the so-called catur vyu-ha, the fourfold manifestation of Vishnu. (Wikipedia)
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