Would the inner guru appear as a jesus like figure to a christian? If the inner guru is accessable via techniques in yoga, which is true, then why is it a chinese person sees him as a pony tailed Buddha and me a bald Buddha…etc…I dont think the guru would appear the same for a christian with a person who’s lineage is steeped in Christianity…after all, the techniques are the same for everyone yet the guru is seen according to lineage…I think???
Thomas, you have a good point with all this, but it really just comes to do you care? You like yoga. It has helped you with losing weight and gaining strength. So what does it matter who thinks it is Hindu, or that it’s spiritual, or its faith in disguise. What matters most is what is in YOUR heart and mind. You’ve found a teacher who doesn’t do anything but the asanas. Thats great! Don’t worry…be happy. Great name for a song BTW.
The topic for discussion is “Can a Christian practice yoga?”
So that’s what I’m trying to determine.
My answer at this time is “yes and no.”
But I’m working on somthing that’s a little more specific.
I’m still thinking about it thomas x needs thinking about
He/she can practice whatever they wishes to practice.But yoga is about transformation and change and this may involve having some of your philosphical preconceptions & conditioining about the nature of reality and indeed what s[pirituality might mean challenged. Change is usually a challenging process, that’s why it is’nt always straightforward. But i think once you divorce the other aspects, the breath, the state of mind from asana you may end up rather with somethingm like pilates or calisthenics rather than a complete intergrated mind-body-spirit system/science and philosophy.
The physical and the spiritual are like one neighbour and the next.They’re not divorced. That’s what all the philosophy is about.But yoga takes the vailidity and authority of what’s real to be based on one’s own experrience. In that sense if anything it tries to eschew dogma.In yoga they say you can have whatever ishta you like. The hindu’s certainly don’t mind and if you were in India they may likely warm to you more the fact that you had a religion say said you were a christain than say an atheist.There is indeed some expectastion that you are in fact religious because it permeates their culture.
It’s a non-secular science & philosphy that can be practiced by anyone of any religious persuasion or faith. Indeed some religious pre-ocupation or faith may likely deepen and strengthen one’ spiritual explorations and your faith.The biggest demon is your self and alot of it is based on fear.I’m sure this has gone on for millions of years.
You don’t need to buy any dogma. What seems right and real to you matters over what anyone else thinks or does’nt think…
[QUOTE=thomas;40945]The topic for discussion is “Can a Christian practice yoga?”.[/QUOTE]
Can I make a correction here? It may be subtle, but my thought was “can a christian be a yogi?” I may have used the wrong term, as it is assumed that a yogi is someone who practices yoga. I perceive a yogi as one who is well on the way to enlightenment, as someone whose nadis are purified. I practice yoga and in no way are my nadis close to being purified, therefore not a yogi.
If there is a better term for what I mean, please feel free to bring it to the discussion.
But i think once you divorce the other aspects, the breath, the state of mind from asana you may end up rather with somethingm like pilates or calisthenics rather than a complete intergrated mind-body-spirit system/science and philosophy.
I would be ok with that. That’s what I am hoping to do at this point.
Can a Christian be a Hindu?
[QUOTE=FlexPenguin;40952]Can I make a correction here? It may be subtle, but my thought was “can a christian be a yogi?” I may have used the wrong term, as it is assumed that a yogi is someone who practices yoga. I perceive a yogi as one who is well on the way to enlightenment, as someone whose nadis are purified. I practice yoga and in no way are my nadis close to being purified, therefore not a yogi.
If there is a better term for what I mean, please feel free to bring it to the discussion.[/QUOTE]
Can a Christian be a Hindu?
[QUOTE=FlexPenguin;40952]Can I make a correction here? It may be subtle, but my thought was “can a christian be a yogi?” I may have used the wrong term, as it is assumed that a yogi is someone who practices yoga. I perceive a yogi as one who is well on the way to enlightenment, as someone whose nadis are purified. I practice yoga and in no way are my nadis close to being purified, therefore not a yogi.
If there is a better term for what I mean, please feel free to bring it to the discussion.[/QUOTE]
OK, I thought anyone who does yoga is a yogi. Or a yogini if female?
I’ll have to do a search to figure out what nadis are and whether mine are pure (but most likely, they need a good scrubbing).
Very good intriguing question Kareng.
In India any religion goes, for the most part at leasst. If you’re religious then that is respected , partly because Hindu culture likes to se sees divinity within everything. If you are a westerner they will say’ so you’re a christain’ and you say ‘yeh, i’m a christain’ and they think that’s really sound & cool,right on…They warm to you.At least that was my experience 1993 when i went on my own.
Is it true that Gandhi was once asked “What do you think of Christian America?”
And that he answered, “I think it would be a good idea.”
That’s very funny, whether true or not that he said it.
Are there Hindu sects that believe similarly to Christian–that you get only one incarnation, and from there go to Heaven or Hell?
And also that God is a personal God, a creator, and separate and distint from his Creation?
[QUOTE=thomas;40959]Is it true that Gandhi was once asked "What do you think of Christian America?"
And that he answered, "I think it would be a good idea."
That's very funny, whether true or not that he said it.[/QUOTE]
It is true...kinda... but it was not about specifically about Christians or America... it was
What do I think of Western civilization? I think it would be a very good idea.
---Mohandas Gandhi
I have tried very hard not to post the follwing but I can no longer stop myself
Can a Christian be a yogi
Sure...why not 
hahahah nice one Yulaw
Exactly,Yulaw.Very good.
Well that Yogi was setting a bad example stealing all those pickinick baskets.
Poor Boo Boo. I wonder if he followed him into a life of crime.
Dear FP,
Every Sunday I look at all those yogis and yoginis sitting with me in church and all I see flowing from them is such peace, light, harmony and love that I can only answer YES to your question.
The mind will always divide, draw distinctions, separate and categorise, but what is important is what is in your heart. If you have peace about the truth in your heart, nothing else matters.
[QUOTE=Pandara;40994]The mind will always divide, draw distinctions, separate and categorise, but what is important is what is in your heart. If you have peace about the truth in your heart, nothing else matters.[/QUOTE]
You are speaking my language.
[QUOTE=Pandara;40994]Dear FP,
Every Sunday I look at all those yogis and yoginis sitting with me in church and all I see flowing from them is such peace, light, harmony and love that I can only answer YES to your question.
The mind will always divide, draw distinctions, separate and categorise, but what is important is what is in your heart. If you have peace about the truth in your heart, nothing else matters.[/QUOTE]
Is it yoga that led you to add beliefs about reincarnation to Christian beliefs?
If so, and if your friends are in the same boat, then that speaks against Christianity and yoga being compatable.
Of course we could call yoga Christianity, and then for sure anyone who practices yoga is a Christian, but Christianity is more than a name, and what Christ taught was more than just suggestions.
He came to save, but a belief in reincarnation makes his suffering on the cross to be meaningless, since there is no need to look for salvation if we keep coming back for another chance.
There is zero support for reincarnation in any scripture, the Catholic Church, or in 99% of Protestant churches. It’s a concept that is totally in opposition to Christianity.
So I would have to say that your example proves nothing (if these people are reincarnationists) because they are believing in a corruption of Christianity.
And we are comprised of an intellect and a will (or a mind and a heart).
The heart needs to be informed by the mind, and must not be followed blindly.