r2i forum

Does Yoga belong to Hinduism?

What do you think? Can yoga be practised without religious devotion? What is Yoga according to you?




"Shukla, 41, bemoaned that it had become quite fashionable to present yoga without any reference to Hinduism. "

...
....
Adding to the controversy were evangelical Christians who denounced yoga -- even sans mention of Hinduism -- as the devil's tool. They even condemned the fast-growing 'Christian yoga' concept that combines physical yoga with Christianity -- similar to bhakti yoga postures with Christian chants.

http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-does-yoga-belong-to-hinduism-the-debate-is-on/20110406.htm

Hinduism is more a way of life and Yoga is an integral part of the way of life. I have heard the same being said(way of life) about Islam, Christianity, etc. Before the Muslim Invasion of India, everyone in India followed either the "Hindu" or "Buddhist" or"Jain" way of life and that included yoga in the daily chores.

Before the English invasion, yoga was probably the only way to exercise by Hindu/Buddhist/Jain India and after the English invasion, Indians lost their way of life to the English lies, deceit, control and power, and started copying everything - eating, behavior, dressing,corruption, etc and that included replacing yoga with the English way of exercise using waits, machines etc. Now we did use weight training tools like Gada or Indian Club etc but they were not manufactured by a company and sold for a profit.
The reference to Hindu chants in Yoga is to bring the focus(consciousnesses) to the body and mind (internalize) from the external world. In my opinion, it doesn't matter whether you follow Hinduism or not, you can do yoga. All religions are just that - religions for the chosen few to make money and be in power, just like the politicians.
Your relationship with the god or lack their of is between you and the god and religion has nothing to do with it. The controversy is based on the zealousness,ignorance and power/monetary hunger of those preaching the religion.

As spirituality is for the soul, Yoga is for the body and mind.

Hinduism and Yoga doesn't belong to only a few but it belongs to the whole humanity.

layman, I look at it in two different ways:

1) Yoga pre-dates the Hindu religion. If anything, Hindu's adopted several practices more commonly followed by Yogis, to enrich their lives. Becaus Yoga was practised largely in India, the fine line between Yoga and Hindu religion blurred over time.

2) For arguments sake, even if we assume that Yoga and Hinduism are one and the same (which I believe is not the case), I dont see any reason why Yoga should be presented to rest of the world with reference to Hinduism. Just because some people mix education and charity with religion, Hindus need not mix Yoga with Hinduism. Yoga is a beautiful experience - let everyone who cares, practice and enjoy it (independent of his/her religious belief). You need devotion to yoga and not to any religion to practise it. Both Yoga and Hinduism can stand on their own feet.

A very nice read on How Yoga Won the West
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/opinion/sunday/how-yoga-won-the-west.html?src=tp



An extremely rare picture (or portrait?) of Swami Vivekananda from 1900 Pasadena, in CA, just 2 years before his samadhi!

Save this rare treasure picture, which is only in a few museums..

Layman, what about breathing? Hindus breathe, really. Believe me. They eat, pray, love too. Do these practices belong only to Hindu's? Does breathing, eating, praying, loving make one Hindu? Does speaking English make one catholic? Then what if I spoke Urdu?

Just kidding. What I mean is, yoga is just too broad and all encompassing to be limited to any religion. It so happens that many aspects of life in sanatana dharma were termed yoga, e.g. Karma Yoga as the Bhagavtgeetha treats it. But you are obviously referring to the 3rd anga of ashtaanga yoga, the eight-fold path to liberation. It is but one element of reaching salvation. If salvation and the means to attain it are limited to Hindus, then yes, Yoga belongs to Hinduism.

Now, just to derail this thread: everyone who takes a deep breath, meditates, does any yoga posture, must pay govt of India royalty (because Patanjali is long dead, was a distant relative:-)). Just a dollar per asana per month will do. And remember, we invented the Kamasutra, so every time, any one (or two) anywhere in the world... :love:

the great seer savored a good smoke, and on occasion chowed down on meat.[URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/opinion/sunday/how-yoga-won-the-west.html?src=tp"]
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/op...st.html?src=tp[/URL]

I seem to be following at least a few footsteps of the great swami :)