Can a Christian be a Yogi?

Spirituality Religion
#191

yogatatryit, you need to understand this not all Hindus are liberal univeralists, some of us are more conservative. The liberal Hindus accept other religions as equally valid paths, but not the conservative Hindus. You will find if you go to online forums on Hinduism, such as Hindudharma.com, that most Hindus there hold conservative views like mine and do not like Abrahamic religions.

In any case Jesus is not a prophet or saint of Hinduism and the bible is not a scripture of Hinduism, and even somebody with no religious knowledge at all will be able to tell you that. Also, there is no such thing as a prophet in Hinduism.
The concept of “prophet” is a special soul or messenger that is selected by god or the officials in heaven to convey a message of god. There is no such concept in Hinduism. In Hinduism we have risis, gurus, munis who are humans who have realised higher states of consciousness. We also have the concept of “Avatars” these are incarnations of Vishnu that appear at important periods of degeneration in human history, and they are numbered as 10(this does not include Jesus)

If the 10 commandments is not a scripture then why do we abide by its teachings not as hindus but all humans lets just take 4 and see…

To save you any further embarrasement in calling the 10 commandments scripture, I will set the record straight. The 10 commandments are not a scripture they are part of a scripture known as the bible, in the old testimant.

You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witness

Are very general wrongs in all societies. It is common sense. You have missed out the most important of the 10 commandments:

You shall have no gods before me, for I am a jealous god
You shall not have any image or of god
You shall work for 6 days and not worth on the 7th day

Hindus are definitely not abiding by these. Hindus are in direct violation by having several gods and several images of god and worshipping idols. The OT prescribes death to anybody who breaks the commandments, and therefore according to the OT all Hindus should be killed.

Why on earth would we abide by something that wants us all killed and our temples destroyed?

Anybody who violates these commandments is sinning. They will not only be punished on Earth by the clergy, but punished in the after life with eternal damnation.

What Hinduism has is yamas and niyamas. These are not “do’s and don’ts” these are general guidelines on how to live with well being. If you violate the yamas and niyamas you do not incur “sin” you simply suffer the consequences of your action as per the law of karma. So for example if you do not keep yourself healthy and clean, you suffer disease. There is no clergy to punish you for these violations and nor is there a judgement in the afterlife where you will be condemned for it.

The yamas and niyamas are basically ideal behaviours that we must gradually train ourselves to do. It is not expected that we can do them right away, but gradually through practice we rectify our negative behaviours.

And what color is Krishna? Brown? He has no color regardless, You said “of course we don’t know it is true” but then “Nobody is even sure what the original Jesus - if there was one - actually taught.”

Krishna was dark-skinned. The word Krishna itself means “black” He is depicted as a blue because Vishnu is described as blue, representing the colour of the universe. Shiva is also depicted as blue. The historical person Krishna however was definitely not blue.

You say I am making a mockery of Hinduism, but actually it is you who are giving misleading information to people. First you say Jesus is considered a prophet in Hinduism, then you said Hindus abide by the ten commandments, and then tell everybody categorically Krishna was a blue man. Anybody who is not an idiot clearly can see you’re speaking nonsense.

#192

Of all the rhetoric I’ve encountered, the best meaning for the name yoga is the contemplation that enables us to discriminate between the two separate realities - nature and consiousness. To be a true yogi, you’ve got to be good at that. I see nothing that would prevent a devout priest of any religion from getting there. In fact, there are many I’m sure who already are.

#193

There is no clergy to punish you for these violations and nor is there a judgement in the afterlife where you will be condemned for it.

The clergy doesn’t punish. I could do the most horrible sins publicly, and there is nothing the clergy can do to me to “punish” me.

And note that it is not the will of God (or the clergy) that anyone would be damned, and there is always the opportunity to repent.

#194

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;42058]

Krishna was dark-skinned. The word Krishna itself means “black” He is depicted as a blue because Vishnu is described as blue, representing the colour of the universe. Shiva is also depicted as blue. The historical person Krishna however was definitely not blue.

[/QUOTE]

Again with the definite language. Why couldn’t he be blue? There are many tangible reasons beyond the fantastical. And who am I to rule out the fantastical?
Please consider that pigments and dyes have been used throughout history.
Julius Caesar brings evidence:" All the Brittani, indeed, dye themselves with woad, which produces a dark blue coloring."
The Ice Man (3,300BCE) of the Similaun glacier in the alps had a cross (GASP!) and a tribal bodyart.
Dramatic blue skin colour has been witnessed in individuals afflicted with Menengitis and Argyria a condition caused by exposure to elemental silver may cause dramatic blue skin. Another condition Chrysiasis from elemental gold exposure also may lead to the symptom of blue skin.
Human skin color is primarily due to melanin; it ranges from skin almost black in appearance to white with a pinkish tinge due to blood vessels underneath. What range has Krishna?
Blue skin can happen.
Blue skin happens.

#195

[QUOTE=FlexPenguin;40891]Well, can he/she?[/QUOTE]Water of LIFE is Kundalini.

John 7:38 [B]Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.?[/B]

#196

[QUOTE=Yogamark;43950]Again with the definite language. Why couldn’t he be blue? There are many tangible reasons beyond the fantastical. And who am I to rule out the fantastical?
Please consider that pigments and dyes have been used throughout history.
Julius Caesar brings evidence:" All the Brittani, indeed, dye themselves with woad, which produces a dark blue coloring."
The Ice Man (3,300BCE) of the Similaun glacier in the alps had a cross (GASP!) and a tribal bodyart.
Dramatic blue skin colour has been witnessed in individuals afflicted with Menengitis and Argyria a condition caused by exposure to elemental silver may cause dramatic blue skin. Another condition Chrysiasis from elemental gold exposure also may lead to the symptom of blue skin.
Human skin color is primarily due to melanin; it ranges from skin almost black in appearance to white with a pinkish tinge due to blood vessels underneath. What range has Krishna?
Blue skin can happen.
Blue skin happens.[/QUOTE]

It is certainly possible that there can be people who have blue skin, but in this particular case the blue skin of Krishna is only a symbolic representation. In Hindu art blue skin is used for many deities such as Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Kali, and it represents the colour of the akasha/cosmos.

#197

If God does not have a religion, how can a process of union with Him subscribe to one?

#198

A Christian is also a part of this cosmos… breathing the same universal air…

#199

I practice yoga for my health benefit though! the flexibility and strength that I get from yoga is awesome. But i dont touch the spiritual part of Yoga. even some christian practitioner said we can meditate and connect to God by yoga meditating :slight_smile: Although I know by practicing meditation can bring you to self control, mind-relaxing and calmness, but I prefer practice the poses since I almost (nearly) fall asleep everytime I do meditation. hehehe

#200

I almost (nearly) fall asleep everytime I do meditation. hehehe

This is something you will need to fight or you will never be able to meditate. It is one of the obstacles on the path of Yoga drowsiness and laziness, you need to fight them by fighting to keep yourself awake. Everything you see yourself nodding off, become aware of it and quickly bring your head upright. If it continues, get up from meditation go for a 5 min walk or jog on the spot, wash your face with cold water, and resume. Eventually you will overcome these obstacles and be able to meditate.

#201

Why Not? These days they compromise on everything else;)

#202

[QUOTE=thomas;41862]The Catholic faith is one faith with no discrepancies and no “denominations.”[/QUOTE]

“No discrepancies and denominations.” Classic example of an obtuse Christian mind.

#203

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;44619]This is something you will need to fight or you will never be able to meditate. It is one of the obstacles on the path of Yoga drowsiness and laziness, you need to fight them by fighting to keep yourself awake. Everything you see yourself nodding off, become aware of it and quickly bring your head upright. If it continues, get up from meditation go for a 5 min walk or jog on the spot, wash your face with cold water, and resume. Eventually you will overcome these obstacles and be able to meditate.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the suggestions. It will be ok if I do it in my quite room…
But it’s quite funny to do that in a yoga class, I have to jog on the spot alone while the others are meditating. hhehehe

#204

By the time a Christian becomes a Yogi/Yogini, I doubt you could consider that Christian…a Christian.

#205

[QUOTE=Nietzsche;44880]By the time a Christian becomes a Yogi/Yogini, I doubt you could consider that Christian…a Christian.[/QUOTE]

Well, if you talk of of organized religion, then yes!!.. but otherwise, that ain’t the case. A Christian could meditate on Christ or make Him the ultimate goal of one’s yogic practices! this way, a Christian still remains a Christian… :slight_smile:

#206

[QUOTE=b.shahvir;44899]Well, if you talk of of organized religion, then yes!!.. but otherwise, that ain’t the case. A Christian could meditate on Christ or make Him the ultimate goal of one’s yogic practices! this way, a Christian still remains a Christian… :)[/QUOTE]

Yes I speak of THAT organized religion with all its hierarchies, rituals, dogma, domineering central authority and what not.

#207

[QUOTE=Nietzsche;44916]Yes I speak of THAT organized religion with all its hierarchies, rituals, dogma, domineering central authority and what not.[/QUOTE]

You shouldn’t lump all Christians together. Not all of them recognize an authority. Don’t hold against Catholics what another Christian sect does, and vice versa.

#208

I was indeed speaking of Catholicism. But really, I was indirectly affirming shavir’s point that a yoga practicing Christ worshiper would cease to be a Christian in terms of established doctrine.

#209

My teacher always called yoga a science. Yoga is often refered to as the “sister science” to Ayerveda, right? Yoga is the science of the mind, body and spirit. In science we conduct experiments and see if they work. This is always how I have approached yoga. There is no one doctrine, or dogmatic stance that one HAS to embrace to be a yogi, right? So of course you can be a Christian and a yogi. The thing is though, the more you study yoga, the more questions you might be forced to ask ourself about your faith- what ever that faith is- so as long as you are open to the challenge, be both!

#210

[QUOTE=yogisamantha;44936]My teacher always called yoga a science. Yoga is often refered to as the “sister science” to Ayerveda, right? Yoga is the science of the mind, body and spirit. In science we conduct experiments and see if they work. This is always how I have approached yoga. There is no one doctrine, or dogmatic stance that one HAS to embrace to be a yogi, right? So of course you can be a Christian and a yogi. The thing is though, the more you study yoga, the more questions you might be forced to ask ourself about your faith- what ever that faith is- so as long as you are open to the challenge, be both![/QUOTE]

Exactly…yoga is the scientific practice of union with God Almighty, that’s all!! :slight_smile: