Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 Must self proclaimed 'yogis' impose their religious belief's on their students ?<br><br>I'm sorry [if i've offended anyone] but I have to ask this question as in doing so I hope to bring to light the fact that not all of us who practice yoga want a religious conversion to Hinduism.<br><br>Awright you gurus, please respondez, s'il vous plait ?<br><br>Pehala Shanti Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 In India, the goal of a Yogi is to do the asana while "unifying" oneself with God. here in America, Yoga is seen as a workout or even worse, a competition on who is more flexible in the yoga class. Even though the westerner might see yoga as a fitness practice, sooner or later the chakras will open up and they will eventually have to accept the "spirituality" that yoga offers. Originally, asanas were performed to prepare the body to do sadhana or spiritual practice. Just as Shiva cannot be without Shakti, sooner or later the yogi or yogini will realize that yoga without God is no yoga at all but a fruitless display of contrived poses.<br><br>Namaste. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 spirituality in life and yoga are ok, but people who believe in gods are sadly mistaken. reality check. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 Whos reality? You may be the one who is sadly mistaken. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 Granted, but seriously, if we are to believe in gods we need something more tangible than feelings to support our beliefs. You may believe if you want to believe, but in the end you have just a feeling to back it up, which is just about worthless as a proof. Thoudands of years of religious tradition wont make these feelings any more valid. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 Much more then a feeling sixtinain, but proof and probably discussion are probably pointless----impasse----what to do Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 Much more than a feeling? Like what? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 More tangible but subjective. We will never be able to convince each other. It's a moot point--- no use. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 A great response. As they say in the Christian religion, "Haleluia"<br>twochant Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 If you don't believe in gods then you don't believe in yourself....this is the evolution of the jiva.<br>twochant Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 If you look closely at the mind you will find that it is atomic - the prime element of ALL creation. The mind is unstable and constantly changing, but with some spiritual practice you can evolve the dualistic, moving between opposites, mind.<br>You can move from the general field of consciousness that exists in the plant kingdom, beyond the ego, into the buddhi or conscious mind.<br>And, if you are god within and this mind is directed inwardly it will manifest pure consciousness.<br>Look at your chakras....you move from earth, the gross element, to the pure ether of the soul.<br><br>I wouldn't discount those jivas from thousands of years of religious tradition just yet. Your material world is not the answer.<br>twochant Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 19, 2001 The things you say may be true in some sense, but none of them implies that there are gods, bodyless spiritual beings, afterlife, reincarnation, etc. All of them are most probably illusions, i.e. misinterpretations of one's religious experiences. We are just starting to understand religious experience and the human mind...<br><br>'Pure consciousness' might be a state of mind where one has learned to still the brain-structures that create the sense of self, nothing more and nothing less... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 20, 2001 twochant, next time remember you've only got about 45 minutes to finish your message before the acid kicks in. after that you start getting trippy... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 20, 2001 The Essence of Yoga by Bouanchaud: Reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali page 42 and I quote "Yoga should respect the beliefs, customs, and religion of each one who practices it". Therefore a Christian, Jew, Budhist, Muslim etc. can practice yoga. In yoga God is one. Om Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 20, 2001 In Bouanchaud's "The Essence of Yoga: Reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali " page 42 and I quote "Yoga should respect the beliefs, customs, and religion of each one who practices it". Therefore a Christian, Jew, Budhist, Muslim etc. can practice yoga. In yoga God is one. om Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 20, 2001 So what? Why are you so hell bent in forcing your atheism on this board? Some people believe in god than leave them alone for chrissakes! I know that when I do my asanas and I think of the lord I feel an extra sense of joy in it. I really feel that one-ness that I don't get in any other workout let alone church or bible study. I think yoga has shown the world that you can be physically fit and still be in tune with god. Working out with Jesus, now that's what I call union. Amen!<br><br><br>Namaste. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 20, 2001 <So what? Why are you so hell bent in forcing your atheism on this board?><br><br>I consider myself only a minor nuisance on this board. These are just questions that I've pondered for a long time so I like to talk about them. I could make some comments about 'working out with Jesus' and 'union', but maybe it's better to just let it be. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 20, 2001 Barbie-yoga,<br>I agree with you that people need to seek union with their own personal god. Yoga IS meant to be a spiritual practice and one of the reasons I think it has gained popularity in the West. Many people are lacking a spiritual aspect in their life and yoga brings it to them.<br>twochant Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 20, 2001 Barbie Yoga Wrote:<br>" I think yoga has shown the world that you can be physically fit and still be in tune with god."<br><br>Wrong. The inverse is correct. You CANNOT be in tune with God unless you are physically healthy.<br><br>And I have yet to find a better means of maintaining optimum health than Astanga Yoga.<br><br>Cheers, DMcG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 21, 2001 << You CANNOT be in tune with God unless you are physically healthy. >><br><br>Ddmcguire,<br><br>You CANNOT believe that in earnest - DO YOU??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 21, 2001 <You cannot be in tune with God unless you are physically healthy><br>Is anyone else out there as tired of this elitist claptrap as I am? I'm sure being fit does help you feel closer to God, and that's good, but why is it that some people think only the beautiful people can have a relationship with God? Up to your eyeballs comes to mind. That's like saying only Catholics can get into heaven or only Hindus can practise yoga. And I suppose only blond blue-eyed people over six feet tall can be spiritual. It only perpetuates the myth that some are superior by virtue of how they look. It seems to be the antithesis of what yoga was originally intended for and only creates competition, which we already have more than enough of in this world thank you very much. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 21, 2001 <You cannot be in tune with God unless you are physically healthy><br><br>I too have a problem with this statement. I've worked with people who have various types of disabilites, & some of them are more in tune with G-d than physically healthy people whom I've met throughout my life. In fact, some people who are physically healthy have egos that are so big, there's no room left to be in tune with G-d. Where on earth did you come up with that one? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 22, 2001 Based on the numerous posts in the past by the Mighty Students of Guruji, only THEY can be saved. We don't stand a chance because: 1) We cannot afford a roundtrip ticket to India to see his Highness perform. 2) Who has got a month long vacation time from their job? Certainly not poor hicks like me who only make minimum wage. Damn those trust fund kids! 3) We just aren't worthy, period. Only the blessed few can ever get the darshan of the Guru so we ain't it. 4) Lastly, according to funkybuglady, there isn't ANYWHERE in these United States that a "qualified" Ashtangi teacher can be found EXCEPT of course in Mysore, India. Sorry.<br><br>So there you go. I guess I better stick to my Yoga Zone tapes and do my practice at home away from the famed Ashtangis of Mysore. For some reason, I prefer it that way.<br><br>Yep. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 22, 2001 <<Who has got a month long vacation time from their job?>><br><br>We all do, that's why we love living in Europe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted August 22, 2001 <You cannot be in tune with God unless you are physically healthy><br><br>Put me down as one who disagrees as well. It seems that any physical disability could have the potential to actually bring someone closer to GOD b/c someone would be much more open to seeing that they are not this body and they are not this mind. The absolute beauty of god-realization is that it is accessible to all. All that is required is a sincere and open heart. After his stroke, RAM Dass said his illness brought him closer to God and he is thankful for it! And I think we'ver all seen people who have EVERYTHING -- money, good looks, healthy bodies, status, etc. etc. - and it often seems to pull them in the opposite direction and further away.... RAM DASS' book STILL HERE sheds some light on this subject and is now available in paperback. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
