John S. reviewed on 4/19/2012 + 5 more book reviews

There is a lot that could be said about yoga and religion. This book doesnt say much to me. It just doesnt speak my language. The approach is not at all scholarly or astute. I dont want to be unkind but frankly the book is just about a Christian phobia about other religions.

I understand how Hinduism must look to Christians. Images play an important part in Hindu worship and Im sure Christians are greatly discomforted by that. Hinduism seems to have many gods and you were taught that you shall have not other gods, right? St. Paul would have told you not to fear idols because you are saved and Christ is with you. Dont worry that if you still your soul in meditation that a spirit other than the holy sprit will enter you. What is faith for?

Hinduism will still look pagan to Christians who don't know that most Hindus believe in one lord. Jesus will know you if you know him. A Hindu who knows the lord is the same to him as a Christian who knows the lord.

Indian holy men long ago knew the truth of one God. They became enlightened and then worked for the enlightenment of others. They knew a sacred truth that they came to in the peace of meditation. They must have believed others would come to the truth the same way.

I was expecting a book like Meditation in the Bible by Aryeh Kaplan, a book that is by the way so much more worth reading. The Hebrew prophets did the same thing Indian holy men did. The sought solitude to meditate and they found God. Yoga is not primarily a physical fitness program. It is much more about mediation. The Yogis just have a more Oriental and formal system.

The prophets were closed mouthed about thier practices so we know more about yoga than we know about the spiritual path of the prophets. That is why so many of the Jewish faith and some of the Christian faith turn to Eastern practices like yoga.

The prophets only taught their spiritual path to their disciples. The spiritual path is safer under the guidance of a master. Some Christian followers of yoga have had a spiritual crisis of conscience or something like a mental collapse. They were following a path that was not right for them and the guidance of an eastern master was not right for them either.

I do understand western and Christian sensibilities and I can see how Hindu religion and philosophy will discomfort some. The idea of emptying the mind will not appeal to most westerners. We want to fill our minds not empty them. Empty the mind first then fill it with light. "Be still and know that I am God." Meditate that the spirit of Christ is within you. Meditate on Christ as the Mahaguru. Psalms is book of meditation.

The Yoga Sutra teaches a way to make the temple of the soul a fit place for the Holy Spirit live. The sutra even recommends devotion to the lord but if you feel you are wrong to practice yoga because it involves non-Christian religious ideas stick to the religion you feel at peace with.

Most authors deal with the problem by saying yoga is not a religion anyway and you could have any religion and practice yoga but that is western thinking. It is a good superficial answer. It removes the spiritual value of yoga. Yoga is a spiritual discipline. It opens the way to the spiritual world but it can open the doors of the spirit world and the subconscious mind as well. There might be a danger of falling prey to spirits or subconscious forces that are not spiritual at all. A guru or some guidance is needed. The guru guides you past these dangers and provides psychological guidance. With faith and Christ as your guru you might follow the path safely. The first thing your guru will say to you is fear not

The Yoga Sutra prescribes worship and devotion but does not demand a certain type of worship. Some are not comfortable with so much spritual freedom.

Yoga might not be the right thing for Christians. If a spiritual path affects you negatively it is not right for you. Be guided by your conscience and the lord, who is the inner guru.

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