Traditionally, Ayurveda was the dominant form of healing in India. Ayurveda promotes the use of medicinal herbs, diet, minerals and aromas to restore health, but the philosophy behind the use of these valuable remedies is based on energetic medicine rather than on the conventional science of nutritional medicine. In energetic medicine, the focus is on balancing two forces of energy that together are seen as the life force or universal energy. Ayurveda teaches the use of Yoga to achieve spiritual harmony through the proper channeling and balancing of universal energy.
Neither the Bible, nor conventional science recognizes the existence of this two-fold force, or universal energy. Instead, it is part of the fundamental philosophy of Hinduism, a religious system of thought that is fundamentally different and even antagonistic to Christianity. Many Christians assume that Yoga techniques are nothing more than spiritually harmless and physically beneficial physical exercises to condition the mind and body. But a close examination of Hindu Yoga practice brings this assumption into question. Should Christians practice Yoga? To answer that question, we need to look at the fundamental difference between Christianity and Hinduism and then allow Hindu Yoga practitioners themselves to tell us what Yoga really is.
The first verse in Genesis declares unambiguously that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The religion of the Bible does not entertain for one moment the concept that God is merely an energetic force. Rather, the God of the Bible is a supernatural, yet physically real and divine Being who knows and can be known. Furthermore, this personal God is declared to be the Creator of everything that exists in the universe. Before there was matter, there was a supreme God, a divine Being in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the philosophy of the Christian Bible.
This concept of a personal creator God is not fundamental to the Hindu religion. The beliefs of the common Hindu seem to include the existence of many gods. But the fundamental philosophical writings of Hinduism, the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, provide us with a better understanding of who these gods are. Although numerous gods are venerated for their superhuman powers, all of these characters were legendary historical figures who began to have divine attributes given to them over time. These Hindu gods lack the status of absolute divinity.
In addition to the veneration of human heroes who began to be seen as gods, the sages of the Vedic age also came up with the concept of Brahma who is believed to be the source of creation. But Brahma should not be confused with the concept of a divine god. The 129th Sutra of the tenth mandala of Riga-Veda declares that, “In the beginning in the state of flood there was neither matter nor non-matter, neither being nor non-being.”
Therefore Brahma is not the Creator God of the Bible. Brahma is presented as the source of creation, not as the conscious Creator. Brahma was an entity possessing only heat energy without any consciousness or personality. Creation occurred out of Brahma, not by Brahma. And it occurred out of non-matter without any external cause. This is philosophically identical to the atheistic Big Bang theory. Therefore Hinduism with all its colorful gods is actually another form of Atheism. It denies the existence of the supreme Creator God of the Bible and substitutes, instead, the worship of superhuman gods.
Now what every Christian needs to fully recognize is that the gods of all pagan religions, including the gods of Hinduism, are not merely figments of human imagination. They really do exist. The Bible is quite clear on that. In reasoning with the Corinthian Christians who were converted pagans who had once worshipped their many pagan gods, Paul wrote, “Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons,” (1 Corinthians 10:19-21.)
Hatha yoga exercises are simple posture practices utilizing a variety of positions of the limbs and body. The purpose is not only to stimulate muscle action and body fluid flow, but more especially to channel the movement of universal energy through the body to maintain health. The Hindu believes that yoga removes congestion and blockages of energy flow that cause disease. The yoga posture during meditation, and even without meditation, release the congestion and blockages of universal energy allowing it to flow smoothly through various organs. The exercises stimulate the chakras which in turn allow the energy to flow freely to preserve good health.
Emphasis is also placed on breathing in combination with yoga exercise. It is believed that air carries universal energy or life force into an individual and breathing in a certain way increases the amount of this energy in a person. According to The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Alternative Healing Therapies, page fifty-two, “The exercises of yoga are all designed to direct the flow of ‘prana’ and to release the body’s internal energy to create spiritual awareness.” Taking air into the right nostril is breathing in “sun energy” and breathing into the left nostril is breathing in “moon energy.” Hatha Yoga means, by definition, union of sun (ha) and moon (tha).
One set of yoga exercises called Surya Namatura, which means “Salutation to the Sun,” is a set of easy movements and postures not held for as long as in most exercise postures. According to A Complete Illustrated Guide to Alternative Healing Therapies, page 55, these exercises present a “spiritual salutation to the rising Sun, the source of all energy for life, and are found in many religious and pagan societies.” When the universal energy is delivered into the body by breathing, it travels to the lower chakra, ascends in undulating motion through the chakras until it reaches the seventh crown chakra at the top of the head. When this is achieved, the person receives immortality. This may take many lifetimes to accomplish.
The Sanskrit word “yoga” comes from the same linguistic root as the English word “yoke.” The goal of yoga is to “yoke” or connect the practitioner with Brahma, the energetic god of Hinduism who lacks divinity. This god can only have one identity. All the pagan gods are demons, says Paul, and Brahma can be none other than “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience,” Ephesians 2:2. No wonder breathing is so important to yoga! The Christian who practices yoga is unknowingly yoking him or herself with the master demon of the earth and learning the way of the heathen, (Jeremiah10:2) rather than becoming yoked to Christ, and learning of Him, (Matthew 11:29.)
The yoga stretching poses are named after Hindu gods. Therefore when a person adopts these poses, he or she is calling upon these gods whether this is realized or not. In that worshipful pose, the yoga practitioner is essentially bowing in worship to the god whose pose has been adopted. This is in direct violation of the second commandment against the worship of idols and pagan gods who are all very real demons. Can a Christian practice yoga and remain a Christian? In a Jeremiah Films video titled, Gods of the New Age, an ex-Hindu guru who converted to Christianity makes it as clear as it can get. “There cannot be Hinduism without yoga and there can be no yoga without Hinduism.” In other words, to practice yoga is to practice Hinduism. Whether or not yoga actually improves health is not the question the practicing Christian must ask him or herself. To participate in these practices is to yoke oneself with demons. That makes the issue a simple choice. Which god will you worship and which religious system will you live by? “No man can serve two masters,” said Christ. “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons,” said Paul.
If you are Hindu, then you must practice yoga as it is essential to your religion, which you have a perfect right to practice according to your personal convictions. The religion of the Bible gives you absolute freedom to choose not to serve the God we Christians serve. So let’s be perfectly clear that this is not about Hindu bashing. But if you are a Christian, leave all aspects of Hinduism to the Hindus. The religion of the Bible and the rational medicines that it prescribes, including cleanliness, diet, exercise, and trust in divine power, is well able to keep you healthy without the practice of yoga.
Until next week, be wise, be healthy and God bless!
Neither the Bible, nor conventional science recognizes the existence of this two-fold force, or universal energy. Instead, it is part of the fundamental philosophy of Hinduism, a religious system of thought that is fundamentally different and even antagonistic to Christianity. Many Christians assume that Yoga techniques are nothing more than spiritually harmless and physically beneficial physical exercises to condition the mind and body. But a close examination of Hindu Yoga practice brings this assumption into question. Should Christians practice Yoga? To answer that question, we need to look at the fundamental difference between Christianity and Hinduism and then allow Hindu Yoga practitioners themselves to tell us what Yoga really is.
The first verse in Genesis declares unambiguously that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The religion of the Bible does not entertain for one moment the concept that God is merely an energetic force. Rather, the God of the Bible is a supernatural, yet physically real and divine Being who knows and can be known. Furthermore, this personal God is declared to be the Creator of everything that exists in the universe. Before there was matter, there was a supreme God, a divine Being in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the philosophy of the Christian Bible.
This concept of a personal creator God is not fundamental to the Hindu religion. The beliefs of the common Hindu seem to include the existence of many gods. But the fundamental philosophical writings of Hinduism, the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, provide us with a better understanding of who these gods are. Although numerous gods are venerated for their superhuman powers, all of these characters were legendary historical figures who began to have divine attributes given to them over time. These Hindu gods lack the status of absolute divinity.
In addition to the veneration of human heroes who began to be seen as gods, the sages of the Vedic age also came up with the concept of Brahma who is believed to be the source of creation. But Brahma should not be confused with the concept of a divine god. The 129th Sutra of the tenth mandala of Riga-Veda declares that, “In the beginning in the state of flood there was neither matter nor non-matter, neither being nor non-being.”
Therefore Brahma is not the Creator God of the Bible. Brahma is presented as the source of creation, not as the conscious Creator. Brahma was an entity possessing only heat energy without any consciousness or personality. Creation occurred out of Brahma, not by Brahma. And it occurred out of non-matter without any external cause. This is philosophically identical to the atheistic Big Bang theory. Therefore Hinduism with all its colorful gods is actually another form of Atheism. It denies the existence of the supreme Creator God of the Bible and substitutes, instead, the worship of superhuman gods.
Now what every Christian needs to fully recognize is that the gods of all pagan religions, including the gods of Hinduism, are not merely figments of human imagination. They really do exist. The Bible is quite clear on that. In reasoning with the Corinthian Christians who were converted pagans who had once worshipped their many pagan gods, Paul wrote, “Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons,” (1 Corinthians 10:19-21.)
Hatha yoga exercises are simple posture practices utilizing a variety of positions of the limbs and body. The purpose is not only to stimulate muscle action and body fluid flow, but more especially to channel the movement of universal energy through the body to maintain health. The Hindu believes that yoga removes congestion and blockages of energy flow that cause disease. The yoga posture during meditation, and even without meditation, release the congestion and blockages of universal energy allowing it to flow smoothly through various organs. The exercises stimulate the chakras which in turn allow the energy to flow freely to preserve good health.
Emphasis is also placed on breathing in combination with yoga exercise. It is believed that air carries universal energy or life force into an individual and breathing in a certain way increases the amount of this energy in a person. According to The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Alternative Healing Therapies, page fifty-two, “The exercises of yoga are all designed to direct the flow of ‘prana’ and to release the body’s internal energy to create spiritual awareness.” Taking air into the right nostril is breathing in “sun energy” and breathing into the left nostril is breathing in “moon energy.” Hatha Yoga means, by definition, union of sun (ha) and moon (tha).
One set of yoga exercises called Surya Namatura, which means “Salutation to the Sun,” is a set of easy movements and postures not held for as long as in most exercise postures. According to A Complete Illustrated Guide to Alternative Healing Therapies, page 55, these exercises present a “spiritual salutation to the rising Sun, the source of all energy for life, and are found in many religious and pagan societies.” When the universal energy is delivered into the body by breathing, it travels to the lower chakra, ascends in undulating motion through the chakras until it reaches the seventh crown chakra at the top of the head. When this is achieved, the person receives immortality. This may take many lifetimes to accomplish.
The Sanskrit word “yoga” comes from the same linguistic root as the English word “yoke.” The goal of yoga is to “yoke” or connect the practitioner with Brahma, the energetic god of Hinduism who lacks divinity. This god can only have one identity. All the pagan gods are demons, says Paul, and Brahma can be none other than “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience,” Ephesians 2:2. No wonder breathing is so important to yoga! The Christian who practices yoga is unknowingly yoking him or herself with the master demon of the earth and learning the way of the heathen, (Jeremiah10:2) rather than becoming yoked to Christ, and learning of Him, (Matthew 11:29.)
The yoga stretching poses are named after Hindu gods. Therefore when a person adopts these poses, he or she is calling upon these gods whether this is realized or not. In that worshipful pose, the yoga practitioner is essentially bowing in worship to the god whose pose has been adopted. This is in direct violation of the second commandment against the worship of idols and pagan gods who are all very real demons. Can a Christian practice yoga and remain a Christian? In a Jeremiah Films video titled, Gods of the New Age, an ex-Hindu guru who converted to Christianity makes it as clear as it can get. “There cannot be Hinduism without yoga and there can be no yoga without Hinduism.” In other words, to practice yoga is to practice Hinduism. Whether or not yoga actually improves health is not the question the practicing Christian must ask him or herself. To participate in these practices is to yoke oneself with demons. That makes the issue a simple choice. Which god will you worship and which religious system will you live by? “No man can serve two masters,” said Christ. “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons,” said Paul.
If you are Hindu, then you must practice yoga as it is essential to your religion, which you have a perfect right to practice according to your personal convictions. The religion of the Bible gives you absolute freedom to choose not to serve the God we Christians serve. So let’s be perfectly clear that this is not about Hindu bashing. But if you are a Christian, leave all aspects of Hinduism to the Hindus. The religion of the Bible and the rational medicines that it prescribes, including cleanliness, diet, exercise, and trust in divine power, is well able to keep you healthy without the practice of yoga.
Until next week, be wise, be healthy and God bless!
(Ian Anthony Jones is a health educator and missionary from the US now married to a Naga and residing in Dimapur. He will be contributing every Friday to the Morung Express under the column: Health & Healing. You may contact the Health and Healing columnist and give him feedback at: edenbarak.ngo@gmail.com)
