www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology on Yoga and the Gospel

Here are links to two articles on Yoga and the Gospel. One is from Spirit Daily, and the other is an essay by a charismatic Roman Catholic priest.

(1) http://www.spiritdaily.com/churchfuture1.htm

(2) http://www.jmanjackal.net/eng/engyoga.htm

I find them interesting because the articles show (1) how Yoga, when it is diluted by New Age, leads to New Age practices in the Church; and (2) how yoga is fundamentally incompatible with Christianity.

As some of you know, I studied and practiced New Age, Wicca, Hinduism and Buddhism over the years. Eventually, this path led me back to the Gospel. And from that experience, I guardedly agree with the articles. The first article --about New Age practices in the Church-- is well evidenced: both in the article and in the experience of many (including myself and others here: "clown masses" etc.) The second article is good for the underlying reasons. Basically, the Eastern religions are monistic and panentheistic. The Western religions are make a distinction between Creator and creation, and they are monotheistic, and they are relational.

But the real point is why this is even an issue. People, especially in Western Christianity, don't know the Holy Spirit and His transformational process of theosis. As a result, many don't know Jesus Christ. And it is Jesus Christ who is the basis and fulcrum of our salvation.

I mention all of this because I know that I am not the only one at this Forum who has journeyed back to Christ by way of New Age and the Eastern religions. And, frankly, one of the reasons I (and others) are Eastern Christian is that the Eastern Church still knows the Holy Spirit and the Eastern Church still lives and preserves the life in Christ through the Holy Spirit. That was what we were looking for all along.

And that is potentially a major part of the vocation of the Eastern Church in the modern world: living and giving, preserving and presenting the life in Christ through the Holy Spirit, in all its fullness.

Thoughts ?

-- John

I would add that the Gospel is not the contradiction but the completion, correction and perfection fulfillment of all knowledge of the Truth that came before. That is because Christ is not just another way to God; He is the Way, the Truth and the Life of God. The key to so many of the desires for esoteric disciplines from Eastern religions in our Western society is a desire to transcend the phenomenology of human life and experience in order to find meaning, purpose and Truth in life. And the desire to find these outside of Christianity is an indication that Christians have not fully communicated the Gospel by word and by example. Yet, if we did, people would find what they are looking for: the life in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, unto God the heavenly Father.

-- John




"Oh most Holy Trinity!
Higher than any of our ideas of being, divinity, goodness !
Guide of Christians in the wisdom of Heaven !

"Lead us up beyond unknowing and light,
up to the farthest, highest peak of mystic scripture:
where the mysteries of God's word lie simple, absolute and unchangeable
in the brilliant darkness of a hidden silence.

"Amidst the deepest shadow,
the Trinity pours overwhelming light
on what is most manifest.

"Amidst the wholly unsensed and unseen,
the Trinity fills our sightless minds
with treasure beyond all beauty."

-- St. Dionysius the Aereopagite, "The Mystical Theology"

The second article, by Fr. James Manjackal, is very disturbing to me. For the past 14 or so years, I've been studying ballet. A few years ago I had a semi-serious lower back injury which has caused me to frequently see my chiropractor to realign my spine and sooth my inflamation. My chiropractor likes to use acupuncture on me quite frequently because it really releases much strain in my lower back. I knew it was an Asian tradition, but never took it to a Spiritual level, thinking it was just a homeopathic remedy, never associating it to, say, Yoga (which I already knew was anti-Christian). I'm wondering if I should end my acupuncture sessions, after having this eye-opener...

Uneasy,

blessedbyzgirl

I suggest that any Christian who is interested in taking up a discipline of meditation not explore any of the practices of non-Christian religions, but instead, explore the hesychast practice of continual repetition of the Jesus Prayer. Of course, one should keep in mind that to take up this practice is to take up a practice that is primarily one of prayer, and not meditation. To the extent that this practice can be considered one of meditation, the meditation is secondary to the act of prayer.
Ryan

Yoga as a spiritual system may be incompatible with Christianity, but this could be said for any true martial arts system as most of these have roots in Buddhist monasticism. However as a physical exercise regime I think it harmless as I do martial arts.

Of course for Syro-Malanbar and Syro-Malankar Catholics there is the enculturation issue. Can Yoga or any other physical program with a spiritual dimension be stripped of its un-Christian element and baptized for Christian use? Can it be authentic without being syncretistic?

The Syro-Malankar Catholic Kurisumala Ashram intergrates Yoga in its daily program so some say the answer is yes.

http://www.vagamon.com/kurisumala/kurisumala.htm

Certain people, like Michael Brown, shouldn't comment on things of which they know little.

Qi is not translated as psychic energy

[Linked Image]

The pictograph shows rice (the thing that looks like this:*) underneath steam. It means breath, spirit, a type of energy only when modified by another word, etc... But adding qi to other characters changes the meaning i.e. qi quan bing is the term for asthma, literally "breath gasping disease." When added with the character for strength or force li the term qi li means "physical strength." And finally when added with the word qiu which means "ball" to get the term qi qiu which means "balloon."

As far as yoga is concerned, there is a style of yoga called Ashtanga which was introduced by the yogis to the Hindus after they had observed the British soldiers' morning calisthenics. They are almost exactly the same exercises. Not that I'm in favor of sitting in a lotus position and chanting the names of demons to convince myself that my goal is to be absorbed into the Void. But exercises are just that, exercises.

Acupuncture works by bringing balance to the overall physiology. I believe the theories of Yoshio Manaka MD are the best ones so far. The theory is that there is a primitive "information system" in the body which is overlaid by the nervous system in higher animals. For example, sponges and jellyfish have no central nervous system with brains and long nerves, yet the various parts of these creatures function without any means of physical connection. It is theorized that this system is still active in humans, although dormant under the nervous system. Although there are other theories to be sure, just as you will hear many theories on how Stonehenge was built.

Just because these practices were not western or Christian in origin doesn't mean that they're tools of the devil. All of our theological terms were borrowed from the pagan Greeks, yet we don't shun philosophy because it came from them. We don't shun medicine because it came from the Greeks, Romans, and Arabs. (You wanna talk about some weird theories? People who have too much blood are red faced and happy?)

Not only that but the Chinese at one point had a triune god Tai Yi "The Great One" who was a composition of three gods in one.

Where do you think that the Dutch got the idea of hypodermic needles? From the Chinese filiform needles that they use in acupuncture.

I think it should be pointed out that, as Deacon Lance and Dr. Eric have noted, that the [i]exercise[/] aspects are not at all incompatible with Christianity. Where the problem enters the picture is when one accepts the premise that one achieves "spiritual enlightenment" by becoming nothing. Thus, in Zen Buddhism the goal is to meditate until one finds nothingness. This is, of course, quite the opposite of Christianity in which we seek theosis or a fullness of spiritual life, not an emptyness.

So, while I don't see a problem with Yoga, martial arts (which I, too, studied), or acupuncture -- there is a philosophical issue that needs to be considered.

Fr. Deacon Edward

That's why you should go to a good Catholic or Orthodox practitioner for your "alternative health care."

Actually, I think he does know what he is talking about. The issue (for me) isn't East Asian philosophy or alternative health care per se. The issue is what happens when these things are mixed into mainstream Christianity. The article by Michael Brown neatly summarizes the most egregious effects: the New Age practices that increasingly infiltrate the praxis of the Western Church.

It causes me concern because I don't want to see New Age practices spread in the Church, and I want to see it stopped.

It's not that I think Eastern religions or alternative health are bad per se. Like other posters on this thread, I don't think that martial arts or acupuncture or physical exercises are bad. I would go even further: many of the underlying philosophies anticipate (to varying extents) the revelation of the Gospel. What's bad is when there is no Christian preparation or Christian answer for the non-Christian philosophy that often goes along with these things. That doesn't mean getting rid of these things. It means, instead, having a ready Christian understanding of the spiritual nature of these things and the spiritual life in general.

And my conclusion still stands: Christians are increasingly taking up these practices as spirituality because they are in search of some kind of spiritual fulfillment that they have not received in Christianity. That, in turn, tells me that Christians have failed in sharing the Holy Spirit with each other.

So, the issue remains: how do we bring spiritual fulfillment to Christians in Christian ways so Christians won't go to non-Christian religions or spiritualities ?

-- John

You can practice these disciplines without buying into their religious origins; otherwise I doubt the communist government would have actually promulgated CHinese martial arts which I myself have studied.

Ned

Sorry, in additon I could add that the way meditation is often advertised in new age contexts in the west makes me doubt a good number of western practitioners of yoga and meditation adhere to eastern philosophies or their moral strictures which doesn't stop them practising those arts.

Ned

Yes, Fr. Deacon Stan and I are planning a trip to St. Louis(there about) where Dr. Eric is for Dr. Eric's excellent treatment. I think for me, I am not certain I would trust myself to just any accupunturist, but, we all know from Dr. Eric's wonderful posts on the forum that he is a 'solid' man of God. I trust that God will not lead us into error. Also, I don't think Dr. Eric entered this choice of work lightly, it would have been done with much prayer. That in itself makes a difference.

We could say Massage Therapists are to be watched out for, because some of them get into way out stuff. Definately have to be careful. However, there are those like our daughter, who is solid and strong in her desire to help improve peoples life. She not only prays before giving a massage, she prayes during, and in the last few years, has started using Gregorian Chant while she is doing it. That is prayer for her during the massage, and people who have no idea of what the music is, say they feel they have been prayed over for an hour. Then when the opportunity comes, they walk out of her office with a sheet of Scriptures and Prayers which includes
OUR FATHER
PRAYER BEFORE WORK

O LORD Jesus Christ, Only-begotten Son of your eternal Father: You have said with your holy lips: �Without Me, you can do nothing.� My Lord, I embrace your words with my heart and soul, and bow before your goodness and say: Help me, your unworthy servant, to complete this, my present undertaking, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen


PRAYER AFTER WORK

O MOST sweet Jesus, You are the fulfillment of all blessings. Fill my soul with joy and gladness and save me. Grant that your Name be glorified: for not to us, but to your Name are forever due honor, glory, and adoration. Amen.
PSALM 84 - PRAYER FOR PEACE
PSALM 5 - PRAYER FOR DIVINE HELP
PSALM 24 - PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE AND HELP
And the JESUS PRAYER

So I think that one needs to be cautious and know who you are going to see, that makes the difference.

Dear Pani Rose,

Thank you. I needed to see that. It rather sums things up.

-- John

Pani Rose and Alice, you ladies are making me blush.

I do not deserve such praise as I am an unworthy sinner.

And I would agree wholeheartedly that undertaking a practice of any alternative or mainstream (in America anyway*) medical study is only to be done with Spiritual Direction.

I have seen many who have gone into western medicine and lose their souls to atheistic materialism. (Basically, everything is just parts, even people. Therefore there is no God and no soul. In fact I would venture to say that western medicine is predicated on materialism.)

I have witnessed first hand the near destruction of a former Orthodox nun by studying alternative medicine. There is a friend of mine from California who is officially ROCOR but worships with the GOA in her city. She was in a monastery in the Holy Land and once she was given tainted water (not on purpose) and had contracted a parasitic disease. She was too sick to stay at the monastery and came back to the US. She eventually had to get help from an alternative practitioner since she found no relief from western drugs. The practitioner gave her something for the parasites and she was cured. She then decided to seek training in alternative medicine while working on her PhD in psychology.

So here she is writing a thesis, and studying Traditional Chinese Medicine, and performing massage therapy and yoga classes when I met her at the advanced acupuncture class.

The class teaches a method for finding the root cause of the "disease" or "disorder." The problem is that there is a "Cult of Personality" built up around the western doctor (Osteopathic Physician; D.O.) who brought this style of acupunture back from the Orient. Each point is supposed to have a psycho-emotional function attatched to it which corresponds to the name of the point. When the former master's wife (the new master) came and taught one weekend she was spouting all kinds of New Age gibberish like relativism, etc... Which really soured me on the whole concept of a point for each little personality quirk. The diagnosis is still valid in my estimation, if anyone wants to know about it PM me.

When talking with the former nun, I and another doctor, a D.O. from Chicago whom I would recommend to ANYONE, we were shocked to the core that she was buying into this stuff. She believed that The Jesus Prayer was just another mantra. She bought into the New Age syncretism hype hook, line, and sinker. So I explained to her the theories of Yoshio Manaka MD and other scientific theories and studies on how acupuncture is supposed to work. And I hope that the other doctor and I got through to her.

So beware whom you go to for your health care!

*Only in America are western drugs and surgery considered mainstream. Everywhere else in the world people receive herbs, homeopathy, massage, joint manipulations, acupuncture, pray, meditate way before they ever would even consider taking drugs or have surgery.