Yoga and Christianity

Yoga and Christianity

Yoga and Christianity are two pillars of light which when studied together mutually enrich each other. Many, who practise Yoga, stop short when it comes to any mystical or spiritual considerations. Yoga and Religion are two words which are synonyms as the former means Union, and Religion in the same sense, is to bind back to God or the source that is the creator of everything that exists.   What confuses many Christians who approach ancient Hindu based practices is the apparent confusion of Gods, which refer to the many functions of one reality, rather than many Gods?

Yoga is Union in the sense of not only discovering the link factors that make us tick, but also discovering those which aid our mutual understanding and development. This means waking up to the fact that there is a universal or cosmic intelligence that guides us all. Whether Yogi, Christian or both, it is a committal to a lifetime of hard work and ‘letting’ the techniques of heartfelt meditation speak to us, whether via the medium of Hermeneutics, Art, Religion, Philosophy or Science.

Self-recognition is an important first step in self-understanding, and the fact of our own sentience and the feeling that we exist, would not be possible if the ground of our existence were a non-sentient, a none knowing power. The potential that we have for life must have existed since the beginning of time, as it is not possible for something which is dead and inert, to produce something intelligent from itself.

The Self (Atman)’ is that intelligence in us which knows, and has been guiding our development since the beginning of time. Yoga is learning to be guided by the source of that development, by stilling the mind, and clearing away the many cobwebs that prevent us seeing clearly. Both Yoga and Christianity express this universal truth in their own ways; Yoga through the concept of Brahman, “that which expands greater than the greatest”, which is a reference to the Absolute which is without limits, yet complete in itself. The Christians express this concept with “Our father, which art in heaven”; Our Father being the generative power which has guided us from the apparently “NO Thing” of infinite space into life and Being.

Sanskrit is the ancient sacred and classical language of the Hindus and yoga, having its origins in the sonic geometry of the universe, not unlike the words of Jesus that resonate down the years and bring light and understanding to those who have ears to hear. The Yogi who is working to unite the teachings both East and West, will have at their disposal a good Yoga/Sanskrit dictionary and a Red Letter Testament, in which the words of Jesus are highlighted in red. Sanskrit is unique as the words act like windows between time and eternity and assist with the hermeneutic art of the interpretation of words at the initiating level of spirit; the words of Jesus, having the catalytic power to awaken and inspire.

The spiritual teachings of the world are more than intellectual propositions and awaken the light in our hearts. This light is the light of consciousness that has links with the creative and healing energies of the universe. The ability to heal has now been largely lost to the human race. Thus-Yoga is the art of re-awakening the Divinity within ourselves. The following exercises are meditative in nature and toward ‘Self’ discovery awakening the creative powers within ourselves.