I hope this answers your question. Phone: +91 (44) 24611606 E-mail: michaelprabhu@ephesians-511.net, http://www.ephesians-511.net, . They may not call themselves Hindu, but Hindu knows where yoga came from and where it goes.". Catechisms are doctrinal manuals - often in the form of questions followed by answers to be memorised . But my personal experience in the yoga world does not recommend participating in it, nor does the immense spiritual baggage associated with it. According to Johnnette Benkovic, in her book, "The New Age Counterfeit," a number of yoga variations have gained popularity in the United States, including Hatha yoga, which professes salvation through physical exercise, and Japa yoga, which employs the repetitious use of a mantra often the name of a Hindu god to create an altered state of mind called pure consciousness or transcendental consciousness. Many other sources say similar things. Navi Gill, for example, is a Panjabi Sikh woman whose practice as a yogi is a radical one, coming from a community that has been historically excluded. To commit a -> SACRILEGE . My yoga formula works for everybody., One of the main gurus to bring yoga to the west, BKS Iyengar, writes that a true yoga asana is that in which the thought of [the Hindu supreme god] flows effortlessly and incessantly through the mind of the [practitioner]. Judith Lasater says that the intrinsic nature of yoga is that you cannot separate the asanas from other aspects of practice. Alexandria Crow, a prominent yoga expert, says, The poses are really a vehicle to teach [yogas] philosophy. According to a staff writer for Yoga Journal, the most prominent yoga source in the U.S. in terms of internet traffic, the reason for this is an innovation by the father of modern yoga, Krishnamacharya, who made the postures an integral part of meditation instead of just a step leading toward it., Significantly, subjective intent has a way of conforming itself to the moral object through repeated practice. It goes beyond postures that honor problematic Hindu gods and gurus. I have not practiced yoga in the context of a class since I began this research last August. St. John the Apostle, who was familiar with Greek philosophy by the time he wrote his Gospel, believed that Gods revelation in Jesus Christ supernaturally fulfilled the natural Greek philosophy of the Logos (Word) (similar to the way it fulfilled the revelation of the Old Testament). CONNIE J. FAIT, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-19.doc, TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-20 Does the Catholic Church allow this? To acquire spiritual power through corruption and desecrate what is holy through trafficking (simony). "If it is coupled with elements of Hindu spirituality talk about moving kundalini, or energy, around your body it is not appropriate for Catholics to use it as part of their exercise routine.". So doing these poses in the context of yoga, as part of the practice of yoga, regardless of subjective intent, turns them into a way to further yogas spirituality. Although constitutionally abolished in 1950, caste is embedded into the fabric of Indian society, trickling into South Asian culture at large. But they will never be delivered from the wheel of existence with its illusory lives and deaths until they realize that only God exists and all else is illusion (Maya). Take some examples: What about the purpose of yoga? Your email address will not be published. Tiwari finds "Christianizing" yoga suspect, as well as wrong-headed. It began as a spiritual practice but has become popular as a way of promoting physical and mental well-being. Perfetti notes: The true focus of the study is not primarily that of the physical level, but places the emphasis of the practice more on the mental and energetic levels. They dont realize that they are, at the same time, losing their spiritual centre and turning away from God The case of Tony DMello should be a warning to Catholics of the dangers of using practices devised by other religions! . Discussions around the Western appropriation of Eastern healing modalities are currently magnified in wellness circles all over. BELGAUM BISHOP DEREK FERNANDESCONCELEBRATES MASS IN NON-LITURGICAL SAFFRON ROBES. FRANKLIN DSOUZAWEARS THE HINDU MARK ON THE CENTER OF HIS FOREHEAD, Charismatic retreat preacher Fr. I have known people that teach yoga, practice yoga, wear spiritual gangster shirts. . . As Catholics, we believe that God does this through the means of a priest, in the person of Christ, in the Confessional. Similarly, the Catechism teaches that, for an act to be good, it has to have a good moral object, which is intrinsic to its nature and independent of intent. "This effort to extricate yoga from its Hindu mold, and cast it under another name, is far from innocent. We also understand the whole of our lives to be a prayer, and exercise itself can be understood as a prayer in that we are acting as proper stewards of our bodies by taking care of them and treating them as temples of the Holy Spirit. John of the Cross, Spiritual ExercisesSt. It is the gift that grounds me, allows me to overcome my bouts of anxiety, and channeled my vaginismus' curing. TERRY JUSTISON, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-02.doc, TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-03 Library : Divinization: Consulting Psychics and Mediums The reputed founder of Taoism is Lao Tsu, a Chinese philosopher who lived around 570 to 490 B.C. YOUCAT, the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2011. The intention of T'ai Chi is to allow one the opportunity to become more aware of the natural laws which govern change; not just change in the body as affects physical, structural movement, but rather principles of change and movement that govern every aspect of our lives and the world around us. Franklin DSouza lights the Hindu oil lamp (kuthuvilakku or nilavilakku). It is thus the Word of God. What does that mean? In this installment the author examines the widely popular practice of yoga and whether or not Catholics may include yoga as part of an exercise program. What is the Catholic position on Yoga? - Archdiocese of Regina However BISHOPS MUST ENSURE THAT YOGA IS NOT ENCOURAGED OR TAUGHT BY PRIESTS AND NUNS. The Christian mystical tradition, including writers such as St. Teresa of Avila, and St. John of the Cross, and more modern writers such as Irma Zaleski, who promotes a very good version of the Jesus prayer, provides all kinds of different prayer and techniques for contemplative and meditative types of prayer. Physical, moral, and spiritual difference and complementarity are oriented toward the goods of marriage and the flourishing of family life. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church online. The colonization, commodification, and consumption of healing are being named antithetical to a spiritually holistic lifestyle. In holding ourselves accountable, we make space for the insightful nuances of this indigenous tradition and allow ourselves the opportunity to evolve into the highest and most liberated version of ourselves. In this light, one can argue that Taoism is best viewed not as a philosophy opposed to Christianity, but one which needs to be fulfilled in Christ, who is the eternal Tao made flesh and revealed to all men! Ask Father Hardon. KEITH AGAIN, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-13.doc, TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-14 VIRGO HANDOJO, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-14.doc, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-15.doc, TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-16 ), PART I: Popular Movement Is One of the Most Pressing Challenges to Christian Faith, PART II: Divination: Consulting Psychics and Mediums. He should be aware of the danger to his belief being subtly changed to suit the practice. It is no longer okay to reap the benefits of healing modalities without acknowledging its history, particularly as supremacist politics are flourishing throughout South Asia. Gradually by sheer concentration of attention; the mind reaches a state of trance, where all mental activity stops and the consciousness rests in itself. This work is accomplished primarily through reviewing catechetical . YOGA PROMOTED, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/DIVINE_RETREAT_CENTRE_ERRORS-05.doc, EXORCISTS WARN AGAINST USE OF YOGA MANTRAS, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/EXORCISTS_WARN_AGAINST_USE_OF_YOGA_MANTRAS.doc, FORMER YOGI REJECTS A CHRISTIAN ALTERNATIVE TO YOGA, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FORMER_YOGI_REJECTS_A_CHRISTIAN_ALTERNATIVE_TO_YOGA.doc, FR ADRIAN MASCARENHAS-YOGA AT ST PATRICKS CHURCH BANGALORE, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_ADRIAN_MASCARENHAS-YOGA_AT_ST_PATRICKS_CHURCH_BANGALORE.doc, FR JOE PEREIRA-KRIPA FOUNDATION-NEW AGE ENDORSED BY THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY AND THE CBCI, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOE_PEREIRA-KRIPA_FOUNDATION-NEW_AGE_ENDORSED_BY_THE_ARCHDIOCESE_OF_BOMBAY_AND_THE_CBCI.doc, FR JOE PEREIRA-KRIPA FOUNDATION-WORLD COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOE_PEREIRA-KRIPA_FOUNDATION-WORLD_COMMUNITY_FOR_CHRISTIAN_MEDITATION.doc, FR JOE PEREIRA-KRIPA FOUNDATION-WORLD COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION-LETTERS TO THE BISHOPS AND THEIR RESPONSES, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOE_PEREIRA-KRIPA_FOUNDATION-WORLD_COMMUNITY_FOR_CHRISTIAN_MEDITATION-LETTERS_TO_THE_BISHOPS_AND_THEIR_RESPONSES.doc, FR JOE PEREIRA-PLANS YOGA EVENT SPARKS DEBATE http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOE_PEREIRA-PLANS_YOGA_EVENT_SPARKS_DEBATE.doc, FR JOE PEREIRA SUPPORTED BY HIS BISHOPS CONTINUES TO MOCK AT CATHOLICS, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOE_PEREIRA_SUPPORTED_BY_HIS_BISHOPS_CONTINUES_TO_MOCK_AT_CATHOLICS.doc, FR JOHN FERREIRA-YOGA, SURYANAMASKAR AT ST. PETERS COLLEGE, AGRA, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOHN_FERREIRA-YOGA_SURYANAMASKAR_AT_ST_PETERS_COLLEGE_AGRA.doc, FR JOHN VALDARIS-NEW AGE CURES FOR CANCER, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOHN_VALDARIS-NEW_AGE_CURES_FOR_CANCER.doc, IS BISHOP DABRE FORMER CHAIRMAN DOCTRINAL COMMISSION A PROPONENT OF YOGA, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/IS_BISHOP_DABRE_FORMER_CHAIRMAN_DOCTRINAL_COMMISSION_A_PROPONENT_OF_YOGA.doc, NARENDRA MODI SEEKS TO INTRODUCE YOGA IN UNIVERSITIES, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/NARENDRA_MODI_SEEKS_TO_INTRODUCE_YOGA_IN_UNIVERSITIES.doc, NEW AGE GURUS 01-SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR-THE ART OF LIVING, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/NEW_AGE_GURUS_01-SRI_SRI_RAVI_SHANKAR-THE_ART_OF_LIVING.doc, PAPAL CANDIDATEOSWALD CARDINALGRACIAS ENDORSES YOGA http://ephesians-511.net/docs/PAPAL_CANDIDATE_OSWALD_CARDINAL_GRACIAS_ENDORSES_YOGA.doc, U.S. CATHOLIC MAGAZINE ENDORSES NEW AGE-REIKI, YOGA AND ZEN, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/U_S_CATHOLIC_MAGAZINE_ENDORSES_NEW_AGE-REIKI_YOGA_AND_ZEN.doc, VISHAL JAGRITI MAGAZINE PULLS YOGA SERIES OF FR FRANCIS CLOONEY, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/VISHAL_JAGRITI_MAGAZINE_PULLS_YOGA_SERIES_OF_FR_FRANCIS_CLOONEY.doc, YOGA AND THE BRAHMA KUMARIS AT A CATHOLIC COLLEGE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_AND_THE_BRAHMA_KUMARIS_AT_A_CATHOLIC_COLLEGE_IN_THE_ARCHDIOCESE_OF_BOMBAY.doc, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_IN_THE_DIOCESE_OF_MANGALORE.doc, YOGA, SURYANAMASKAR, GAYATRI MANTRA, PRANAYAMA TO BE MADE COMPULSORY IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_SURYANAMASKAR_GAYATRI_MANTRA_PRANAYAMA_TO_BE_MADE_COMPULSORY_IN_EDUCATIONAL_INSTITUTIONS.doc, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AYUSH_THE_NEW_AGE_DANGERS_OF.doc, A CATHOLIC ALTERNATIVE TO YOGA-PIETRA FITNESS, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/A_CATHOLIC_ALTERNATIVE_TO_YOGA-PIETRA_FITNESS.doc, AN INDIAN CATHOLICS PROBLEMS WITH THE CONDEMNATION OF YOGA ARE ADDRESSED, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AN_INDIAN_CATHOLICS_PROBLEMS_WITH_THE_CONDEMNATION_OF_YOGA_ARE_ADDRESSED.doc, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AUM_SHINRIKYO_YOGA_CULT.doc, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AYURVEDA_AND_YOGA-DR_EDWIN_A_NOYES.doc, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/DEATH_OF_A_GURU.doc, MANTRAS YOGA WCCM CHRISTIAN MEDITATION ETC-EDDIE RUSSELL, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/MANTRAS_YOGA_WCCM_CHRISTIAN_MEDITATION_ETC-EDDIE_RUSSELL.doc, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/PRANAYAMA.doc, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/REIKI_YOGA_AND_CENTERING_PRAYER.doc, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TRUTH_LIES_AND_YOGA-ERROL_FERNANDES.rtf, WAS JESUS A YOGI? The Indian Ministry of External Affairs says, Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. Charismatic retreat preacher Fr. . All of the time. . If someone is engaging in non-Christian spirituality then that is a problem. The catechism is an organized presentation of the essential teachings of the Catholic Church in regards to both faith and morals. Father James Manjackal, a popular retreat master in India, described yoga to Catherine Maria Rhodes of the Catholic Media Coalition in this way: It is a spiritual discipline purporting to lead the soul to samadhi, the state in which the natural and divine become one. Inner Hinduism professes pantheism, which denies that there is only one infinite Being who created the world out of nothing. Secular society adores yoga, and not a few Catholics are fond of it, too. Yoga means yoke or union with the divine consciousness, Brahman. Palmer (translator), The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox AnthologyIgumen, E. Kadloubovsky (translator), E. Palmer and Timothy Ware (editors). Or Buddha. Some little ones will be misled. Is doing any stretch that comes from yoga bad? 100, 12:47:08; James Mallinson, The Khecarividya of Adinatha: A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation of an Early Text of Hathayoga, (New York: Routledge, 2008), p. 186, note 129; and David White, The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2012), pp. Discussions around the Western appropriation of Eastern healing modalities are currently magnified in wellness circles all over. Should Catholics Practice Yoga? | Catholic Answers Yoga: What the Catechism says Posted on January 23, 2013 by The Voice Of Bombay's Catholic Laity Yoga: What the Catechism says YOUCAT, the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2011 #355: "You shall not have strange Gods before me". Nor is there any (magical) technique by which one can capture or charm the divine, force ones wishes on the universe, or redeem oneself. Are 'New Age' practices compatible with Catholicism? It is caused by ocean temperatures and winds in the Pacific that oscillate between . We cannot accept erroneous or false beliefs about the nature of God, creation, sin, and redemptionincluding attributing meditation and contemplation to man-made, man-effected techniques rather than Gods gift. . Possible misuses of yoga and other non-Christian forms of meditation and prayer are addressed in the October 15, 1989, Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation.. Platforms run by practitioners of color are holding white practitioners accountable for the space they take up, exposing the devaluation of ancestral and Indigenous knowledge in the face of Western qualifications and accreditations. Nor is there any (magical) technique by which one can capture or charm the divine, force ones wishes on the universe, or redeem oneself. Balance on one foot, while holding the other foot to your calf or above the knee (but never on the knee) at a right angle. Or in other words, what kind of servitude does yoga bind its practitioners to? According to Iyengar Yoga Resources, yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj meaning to yoke or unite. I was raised in an Eelam Thamizh family, ancestrally belonging to the Vellalar caste of Sri Lanka. Its purpose is to secure the best disposition of body for the purpose of meditation. Pilates is an exercise program, not a religious statement. St. Thomas Aquinas argues that in fact, actions do have an objective meaning: The goodness or malice which the external action has of itself . Your email address will not be published. The term "New Age" is a bit of a catch-all in this document; it lumps together practices such as acupuncture, Zen meditation, yoga, homeopathy, transpersonal psychology, transcendental meditation, Feng Shui, crystal healing, and astrology. The practice of yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness. So yoga is at its essence a spiritual discipline. ->ESOTERICISM ignores the reality of God. Nor are nature and the cosmos God (-> PANTHEISM). What does Catholic Church say about yoga? - Wellbeing Port Adrian Mascarenhas flays my Open Letter on the Amazon Synod to Cardinal Oswald Gracias 02, Bangalore priest Fr. Father Thomas, a priest for 28 years, told of his experience of spotting people who appeared not to be consuming the Eucharist. is samadhifinal union with god and divine consciousness. Due to my familys privilege and position in an upper caste community, I have been afforded the freedom to interrogate and explore this issue. In 2 Kings 5 we find the story of Naaman the Aramean. I agree will the hierarchy agree with this if they disagree with this then again we need not go far. However, the Catechism says that our starting point needs to be in "accordance with our limited human ways of knowing and thinking" (40). It is imperative to acknowledge and uncover the contradictions. You become Jesus Christ. (This article originally appeared in The Catholic Standard and Times, the Philadalphia archdiocesan newspaper. Catholic Exchange is a project of Sophia Institute Press. ', The Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs, This item 8763 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org. Whereas most proponents of esotericism assume that man can redeem himself, Christians believe that only Jesus Christ and Gods grace redeem them. " This short article is by Fr. So what about that yoga practice? - U.S. Catholic '", This seems to be borne out by Swami Sivasiva Palana writing in the January 1991 issue of Hinduism Today: "A small army of yoga missionaries . Live Now | Online Holy Mass/ "the Pilgrim's Mass" - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time and St. Peter's Pence (Obolum Sancti Petri) July 2, 2023 - 9:30am.. I think theres a fine line between practicing an exercise and embracing another spirituality that takes you away from Christianity. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He thought the hall booking was for Pilates but then discovered it was also being used for spiritual yoga.Yoga is a Hindu spiritual exercise. Well, Norman Sjoman was a scholar who practiced under and studied the father of modern yoga, Krishnamacharya. Yoga catalyzes the socio-political climate of caste exclusion throughout India. Yoga may be a gateway to Satanism and Holy cracker theft, suggests barmy exorcistBy Barry Duke, September 27, 2012FOLLOWING a report yesterday that a Catholic priest had banned yoga classes from his Southampton church hall in Southampton, today we have a clearer picture of why Roman Catholics fear this Hindu spiritual exercise and other forms of New Age practices.Father Gary Thomas keeps a watchful eye on Holy cracker miscreantsFather Gary Thomas, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Saratoga, California, told a recent conference of exorcists thatThere is a greater need for exorcism because there is a greater frequency of the practices of the occult, New Age and Satanism, both on the part of Catholics and other people alike.Conference speakers explained that people begin experimenting with other traditions and rituals, often simply out of curiosity.They dont realize that they are, at the same time, losing their spiritual centre and turning away from GodWorse, some are doing naughty things in Church, like nicking Holy crackers and smuggling them out for obscene purposes.Father Thomas, a priest for 28 years, told of his experience of spotting people who appeared not to be consuming the Eucharist.If I dont know them, Ill say, Excuse me, will you please finish consuming the body of Christ in my presence?The St Edmunds Church yoga ban was imposed by Father John Chandler, who said the church had been misled by instructor Cori Withell from Hampshire. Reflection on the Catholic Catechism: Understanding Our Knowledge of As for as other combinations of exercise that include both the body and soul, again, we must keep in mind the context and the technique and content of the exercises and meditations used. The El Nio climate event is responsible for raising global temperatures and aggravating extreme weather events. . I said earlier that there is nothing wrong with being mindful, as long as it is in a Catholic sense. EPHESIANS-511.NET- A Roman Catholic Ministry Exposing Errors in the Indian Church Michael Prabhu, METAMORPHOSE, #12,Dawn Apartments, 22,Leith Castle South Street, Chennai 600 028, Tamilnadu, India. That yoga originated with worshipers of strange Gods as a means of knowing God is a fact. . Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while holding a pose can build strength. Yoga: What the Catechism says - EPHESIANS-511.NET- A Roman Catholic Can Catholics do Yoga? The harmony of the couple and of society depends in ANONYMOUS, http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-08.doc, TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-09 Like I heard someone say: Who checks in your mind when you check out?. John A. Hardon, S.J. That is why the best way to approach yoga is to learn as much as possible about the exercise you are considering in order to make a fully informed decision. These two principles have been used to justify discrimination against lower caste people. In the interview, Hozumi described the caste system as "cultural kundalini syndrome with energy completely getting lodged in 'high vibes' and power getting concentrated in human beings." The Deposit of Faith, which is contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, is safe-guarded and transmitted by the Magisterium of the Church, and the Catechism is the basic summary of this. Clerical sex-abusers and homosexuals: Is it wrong for Catholics to be judgemental. YOGA AND CHRISTIANITY-ARE THEY COMPATIBLE? FR. Steubenville, OH 43952 To find out, lets ask whether it is true that an actsay, striking a yoga posehas no meaning beyond the intentions of the person committing that act. But many experts dont believe such a thing is possible. Charismatic retreat preacher Fr. Catechism - Wikipedia Often they are vehicles for doctrines that are foreign to Christianity. Catechesis a form of religious instruction that typically involves a recitation of information in oral form. Fr. -a lot of the yoga philosophy and spiritual practices that go along with it as well as the deities associated in truth learning about those things took me away from my Christian/Catholic spirituality which has so much richness. According to the. He thought the hall booking was for pilates but then discovered it was also being used for spiritual yoga. Although many religions give instruction in the faith by means of oral questions and answers, the written catechism is primarily a product of Christianity. 96:5older translations read devils instead of idols), and the Church takes a strong stance against idolatry (Exod. Tai Chi is most visibly identified as a form of exercise or self-defense. Naaman no longer worshipped those gods, but he asked if the true Lord would pardon him if he bowed to serve his master. Brahmin priests and teachers hold the highest status, and lower caste communities (considered "untouchables") are made up of Dalits and indigenous Adivasi communities. Advertise on Catholic Exchange Library : The Exercise of Religion: Yoga | Catholic Culture When anyone of another religion adopts the practice he is not changing his belief. When people say the Catechism, they may be referring to the standard list of questions and answers used by the Catholic church. Often referred to as "the language of gods," terms like "om" and "pranayama" are used throughout yoga circles. I believe just as the Church issued a warning for De Mellos writings it must warn Catholics. What does it mean to be in a modern-day relationship with yoga as a practice? Someone who has access to Twitter should start messaging the Holy Father on all the occult practices done. Now, Christ calls us to bear his yoke (Matt. It goes beyond postures that honor problematic Hindu gods and gurus. No reasonable person should hold an irrational world view, in which people can tap magical powers or harness mysterious spirits and the initiated have a secret knowledge that is withheld from the ignorant.