| Why would anyone, of any religion, seek spiritual | | | | but sometimes they have to do with moral examples |
| growth from Yoga practice? How compatible are | | | | of religious leaders and the education of the people. It |
| Yogic concepts with other religions and philosophies? Is | | | | is hard to convince educated people with threats, |
| Yoga a wing of Hinduism or an ancient Universalist | | | | when the leadership of a religion is up to its ears in a |
| approach toward living? Let's take a closer look at | | | | scandal. |
| why people are choosing the Yogic path for their | | | | There is no need to point fingers; all you have to do is |
| spiritual health. | | | | listen to, watch, or read the news. We readily accept |
| Yoga was practiced for thousands of years by | | | | scandals within governments. It has been a historical |
| Hindus. When Yoga moved out of India, it was | | | | fact that governments are often less than perfect. |
| assimilated by people of many cultures and religions. | | | | However, to be let down by religious leaders takes a |
| These new non-Hindu Yoga students could not erase | | | | toll on the faithful. Scandals in religious settings have |
| their previous religious, philosophical, and political learning. | | | | created a culture of spiritual "castaways." |
| That said, the teachings of Bhakti, Raja, Karma, Jnana, | | | | How compatible are Yogic concepts with other |
| Hatha, Kundalini, Mantra, Tantra, and Yantra Yoga will | | | | religions and philosophies? All religions teach us to |
| differ and integrate to some degree. | | | | forgive, to be tolerant, and to love each other. This |
| Therefore, teaching and learning Yoga depends upon | | | | message is clear to see in Yogic teachings. If you take |
| the Yogic style, the teacher's method, and the | | | | part in any form of Yoga, courtesy and mutual |
| student's culture. If a student is familiar with the Ten | | | | respect, are foundational concepts of the practice. |
| Commandments, he or she will see some similarities to | | | | Is Yoga a wing of Hinduism or an ancient Universalist |
| the Yamas and Niyamas. In all cultures, morality is a | | | | approach toward living? The answer is: It depends |
| universal concept. Humanity's largest struggle has been | | | | upon your Yoga teacher, where you study, and |
| with fear of outside ideas. | | | | lessons learned in your classes. If you practice |
| Anyone can get a copy of any religious text on the | | | | fitness-oriented Yoga classes in a gym, chances are |
| Internet. The authenticity and quality of the | | | | that Yogic philosophy may not be part of your class. |
| interpretation could be subjects for debate, but the | | | | If you practice in an ashram - this was traditionally a |
| fact is - people are reading more Holy Books than | | | | religious settlement, where a priest, monk, or a group |
| ever before. In fact, people are reading more about | | | | of people, lived in seclusion from society. Yoga studios |
| everything than at any previous time. | | | | are usually at store front locations and will not be |
| Why would anyone, of any religion, seek spiritual | | | | secluded, but philosophy and lifestyle will likely be |
| growth from Yoga practice? The reasons are many, | | | | addressed. |