Thought of the Day

I don't believe in morality, but I believe in ethical conduct as set out by His Holiness the Dalai Lama: "Ethical conduct = a way of behaving that respects others’ right to be happy".

Thursday 11 February 2010

Is Yoga a Religion?

Because this is how I spend most of my free time, when I am not working or blogging, I thought I would share an edited version of my contemplations on the philosophy of yoga. After all, yoga is a life style and one that can radically change your outlook to life. I very often get questions like "is yoga a religion?" or "what is the difference between yoga and a religion?". So, here a succinct attempt to answer this question. 

The various yoga traditions share the same ontological concern that preoccupies religion: the transcendence of the limited human experience and the attainment of immortality. Yoga however, unlike organised religions, does not require an  aprioristic faith and does not label a non-believer a sinner or a non-dogmatic a heretic. In yoga, the practitioner is invited to undertake a spiritual path with an open heart and inquisitive mind, which may lead to the discovery of faith and devotion through personal experience. So, you can be a yogi and a Christian, a yogi and a Muslim, a yogi and a Hindu or even a yogi and an atheist as it doesn't matter what name you give to god, or if you believe in one to start with.
 
Photo from Kizie Blog

4 comments:

La chica said...

All I can say is that yoga can heal...

Amicacarmilla said...

This is a very beautiful way of describing yoga...

Donovan said...

Well said, namaste

Aman Merican said...

You have put things into perspective and defused the common misconception about yoga. Yoga is the perfect science to understand the human body.