Posted on 04/11/2018 6:45:09 PM PDT by marshmallow
The Church’s Doctrinal Commission released a report on ‘Yoga and Catholic beliefs’. The practice is mandatory in schools. Hindu nationalists "try to exploit yoga to achieve their political and sectarian goals." The Church warns against equating “physical experiences stemming from yoga with the workings of the Holy Spirit.”
Mananthavady (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The practice of yoga is incompatible with Christian doctrine, this according to a report issued by the Syro-Malabar Church, one of the three rites of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI).
Published in the latest bulletin of the eparchy of Mananthavady, the paper by the Syro-Malabar Doctrinal Commission is titled ‘Yoga and Catholic beliefs’ (Yogayum Katholika Vishvasavum).
It notes that yoga and Christianity cannot go together and that Hindu nationalist groups (Sangh Parivar) "try to exploit yoga to achieve their political and sectarian goals."
It calls for a “re-reading of yoga” since the “government has moved towards making yoga compulsory in schools and present it as an inseparable part of Indian culture.”
This is not the first time that Syro-Malabar Bishops have spoken out on this matter. Last year they stated that "yoga is not a means to reach contact with the divine, although it may contribute to physical and mental health."
Yoga is a set of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that originated in India and spread around the world. It combines physical and breathing exercises. In Hinduism, it is also a spiritual journey to experience contact with the divine.
In Indian schools, yoga is compulsory and every year, on International Day Yoga (21 June), schools focus on activities and events dedicated to yoga.
(Excerpt) Read more at asianews.it ...
Because Christians don’t meditate? Because Christians don’t chant? Because Christians don’t assume ritualized physical postures?
They really don’t understand yoga.
It is a wonderful tool for spiritual cleansing, just as fasting is an excellent tool.
People would sooner have severe back pain as a defense mechanism and hold their unresolved issues inside, rather than have them come to the surface and be resolved.
Yoga is a great psychological tool for removing the blocks and walls we create in our physical bodies to hide the unresolved issues in our souls.
What about Tae bo?
I hate to tell Christians who are closed minded, but the two hands folded together to pray is an ancient Hindu Mudra, used many many years before Jesus was born.
Yoga is basically a Hindu religious practice. But is there anything actually spiritual involved? It seems more physical than anything else.
Christians Practicing Yoga — Yoga retreats for Christian practicioners
http://www.christianspracticingyoga.com/retreats-and-workshops/
“People would sooner have severe back pain as a defense mechanism and hold their unresolved issues inside, rather than have them come to the surface and be resolved.”
You nailed it! When I was in my AWFUL marriage (explained here in detail through the years; I won’t bore anyone further) I had SO many physical ailments which were CLEARLY manifestations of my general unhappiness.
Today? TOTAL happiness and health. Go figure! :)
Yoga means “Union”...
Just as communion is unifying ourselves with Jesus and Our Father.
Anjali/Namaskara Mudra
So does the Catechism
Got news
No—because Christians don’t pray to demons.
There is no Hinduism without yoga and no yoga without Hinduism.
“Because Christians don’t meditate? Because Christians don’t chant? Because Christians don’t assume ritualized physical postures?“
Actually it’s because we do. They’re just not the same pastures and meditations that bring Hindu spirits like yoga postures do
The important question is who you’re praying to.
What good is happiness and health gonna do ya?
You'll have to spend the rest of your life maintaining it! ;-)
The Pita Nashak Mudra or Pran Mudra of ancient Hindu religion is the hand gesture used by Catholics to make the sign of the cross and to send blessings to another.
Catholic Church teaching states it is not okay for Catholics to go to other religions or pagan practices in order to gain health. There is enough that the Church allows in order to be healthy but where there’s not it’s not okay to desert ones faith for earthly comfort. It’s kind of the basis of Christianity
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