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maxdouglas402
Guest
excellent post Chantal
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Michael_Mayo
Guest
I don’t see how specific stretching has anyhting to do with seeking to be “as all knowing as God”.
The article you link states: “No part of yoga can be seperated from the philosophy behind it”. That would have to include not only stretches but also nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, compassion, honesty, etc.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamas
Certainly you cannot think that these practices are also dangerous.
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Shamati
Guest
This id absolutely riduculous. See my earlier post about the Saints of the Church explaining god sent his Son ti become man so that man can become ONE with God, DIVINIZATION: the meaning of Christianity & is what happened to all the great Saints. They dos not become separate Gods but instead they cleaned their insides free from the passions of this world and Man & in imitating Gods Love towards All became filled with the Holy Ghost & achieved union with God. this is possible & the Meaning of ALL religions, especially Christianity. Did you know the first Christians was actually called more like “Christers” as they Christed themselves throughbthe spiritual path & teachings of Jesus & his Apostles.
For example, I like christian deep meditation but happens to favour sitting with my legs crossed, would that now be forbidden since such a stance is also standard with in Buddhism & Hinduism?
Much of the physical yogapostures are quite commonly used stretchpositions & movements where one syncs the inhalation & exhalations with the movements. Are these positions now copywrited by yogis/buddhists & are christians forbidden to use them? If so, whom within the church will take it upon himself to construct new stretching positions for the catholic athletes.
The church seems very reactionary & afraid of all things outside even the latin tradition theres a perfect spiritual tradition in the eastern catholic & orthodox churches called hesychasm which could have filled this void. I know the latin church disregarded hesychasm and said study isvthe only way to illumination in thr 1300s but even the illiterate can become saints.
My local catholic church offers Zen-meditation: Good or Bad?
its the spiritual hunger that is killing the church from within & causing many males to give up on catholicism. Without true contemplatitive prayer on all the mysteries of the faith & virtues what is a religion but idolatry?
For example, I like christian deep meditation but happens to favour sitting with my legs crossed, would that now be forbidden since such a stance is also standard with in Buddhism & Hinduism?
Much of the physical yogapostures are quite commonly used stretchpositions & movements where one syncs the inhalation & exhalations with the movements. Are these positions now copywrited by yogis/buddhists & are christians forbidden to use them? If so, whom within the church will take it upon himself to construct new stretching positions for the catholic athletes.
The church seems very reactionary & afraid of all things outside even the latin tradition theres a perfect spiritual tradition in the eastern catholic & orthodox churches called hesychasm which could have filled this void. I know the latin church disregarded hesychasm and said study isvthe only way to illumination in thr 1300s but even the illiterate can become saints.
My local catholic church offers Zen-meditation: Good or Bad?
its the spiritual hunger that is killing the church from within & causing many males to give up on catholicism. Without true contemplatitive prayer on all the mysteries of the faith & virtues what is a religion but idolatry?
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maxdouglas402
Guest
From the sources that have been provided and through prayer, I have drawn the following conclusions.
Is all yoga demonic?: Not necessarily
Is doing yoga sinful?: Not necessarily
Does yoga lead to Jesus Christ?: No
I feel like the rich young man from the New Testament. If I can’t choose to follow Christ because I’m worried about the benefits of yoga (health, self image, relaxation) then I need to ask for the Grace to follow.
Is all yoga demonic?: Not necessarily
Is doing yoga sinful?: Not necessarily
Does yoga lead to Jesus Christ?: No
I feel like the rich young man from the New Testament. If I can’t choose to follow Christ because I’m worried about the benefits of yoga (health, self image, relaxation) then I need to ask for the Grace to follow.
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Lost_Wanderer
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I suggest you inform yourself on the pitfalls of false dichotomy.
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maxdouglas402
Guest
anyway, back to the topic of yoga…
I heard a priest say yoga leads to the illusion that humans can be self-sufficient. He also went on to say that yoga is open ended, and if you’re not opening up your heart and mind to God, you’re opening it up to something else.
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
Sidestepping the issue aren’t we? Tell me. Did you look it up? Do you understand what a false dichotomy now is?
‘Self-sufficient’ is a misnomer, not an illusion. Lots of people would call themselves self-sufficient but that doesn’t meant they rule out God’s role in their lives.
You know, I’m in the sudden mood for a little forum game. Let’s take this post of yours and make a few slight replacements.
Here’s, the problem. A majority of the Catholic population can follow Christ without worrying about the benefits of donuts.
Same with yoga.
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Veronica97
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I think it all boils down to this: for some, yoga seems to be fine. For others, it seems to be more of an occasion of sin or a spiritual threat. I think the individual person has to judge for himself/herself. Maxdouglas stated in his original post that he had had some bad experiences with dark forces and was fearful that yoga might not be a good thing for HIM. That is something only he can decide. I think we can debate until the cows come home and not come up with a definitive answer.
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maxdouglas402
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All I have to say is, “don’t try it for yourself.”
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Lost_Wanderer
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Just because you’re allergic to nuts doesn’t give you a right to deny me my almond-filled chocolate.
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maxdouglas402
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what’s the chocolate represent?
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TheWarriorMonk
Guest
I’ve always stated that such things are about intent. If you want and intend “yoga” to lead you to Christ, then it will lead you to Christ.
That does not mean engaging in Hindu spiritual practices will lead you to Christ. If you do stretches, breathing techniques, etc. that yogis (or any other persons from any other culture) have used for the benefit of improving your own “temple” (i.e., body), that is an act of improving and respecting what God has you. How is that not leading one closer to Christ?
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Chantal25
Guest
The exercise itself is fine, it isn’t the point. Yoga is practice by many that seek englightment and self empowerment. My words will never reach anyone’s heart, unless someone is ready to hear them, but on the other hand, do you wish to be right or do God’s will. I only wish to give enough doubt for you to pray our Lord and to ask you to keep you on the right path. The best thing to do, is to pray and ask for guidance. God is God and his will is his will. Our logic or interpretation can’t never alter the truth. Seek guidance through prayer. As a formal new age practitioner and teacher, i can understand the trap that lead me to this sad path, but thanks goodness, Mother Mary helped me and i was guided to pray and ask for help. New age, can brain washed you, if you aren’t careful.
Sister Faustina in her diary saw two visions. One path was a beautiful field with flowers, people are dancing, signing and are so happy. Sadly without for them to realize this, this path lead them to a precipice that went straight to hell. She had another vision where the path was very narrow and challenged with obstacles such thorns, but people persisted and the end of the path, led them to Heaven.
New age, give the illusion of happiness etc… It is so important to pray and most of all resume to practice your Catholic faith, read the bible, practice charity in every opportunity you can and pray for others. When i first resume to the church, i had to pray so much to be able to feel a connection. After confining in two priest about what i did, they helped me through prayer. Never i thought i was serving the dark but always thought i was working for God, if i would had not prayed, i would still be trapped in this illusion. Now, i feel this amazing gift that Jesus does for us during the miracle of the Eucharist.
Love and blessings
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Shamati
Guest
Well. Christianity evolved from judaism & merged with various greek philosphies such as platnoism & neoplatonism… One doesnt have to seek “self empowerment” for doing Yoga, In fact, one can use the breathing exercises & instead mentally ask for closeness to christ…
I cant see how a physical activitiy can be forever bound to the invocation of anti-christian mentality or even foreign Gods? This is impossible and to me the mere suggestion is blasphemous as it in the end limit God…
Go ahead with the meditation exercises whose goal is to fill one up with the Holy Spirit, which is Universal!
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VivienneJ
Guest
I’ve been reading this thread off and on, as I have others on the topic of yoga; some common sense is called for in this whole area.
Yoga postures are basically ways of stretching and exercising various muscles. Ja, some have strange names “Downward-facing dog”, “sun salutation”, “half-moon”; some are quite innocent “palm tree”, “chair”, “triangle”; in other exercises we have things like “jackknife” “rowing squat” - all are simply names for exercises.
Now you can go to yoga classes conducted by someone trained in the spirituality of that type of yoga and, as well as exercising your body, practise the spirituality = not a good idea.
You can get a DVD, book or whatever (in my case it’s part of my WiiFit programme) and do yoga exercises at home - a description of the exercise and you follow what the on-screen trainer demonstrates. Exercising your body for health, fitness, weight loss and while you do the exercises you may think about whatever you wish. You could be listening to your favourite music; praying; planning the rest of your day; thinking about the benefits of the exercise you are doing - none of these make the exercises you are doing demonic.
Indeed; and if you simply want and intend yoga to be a way you use to tone your body, improve your sense of balance, improve your fitness and lose weight, that is what it will do for you. If someone feels uncomfortable using yoga for those purposes, there are other exercises that can be used.
Yoga postures are basically ways of stretching and exercising various muscles. Ja, some have strange names “Downward-facing dog”, “sun salutation”, “half-moon”; some are quite innocent “palm tree”, “chair”, “triangle”; in other exercises we have things like “jackknife” “rowing squat” - all are simply names for exercises.
Now you can go to yoga classes conducted by someone trained in the spirituality of that type of yoga and, as well as exercising your body, practise the spirituality = not a good idea.
You can get a DVD, book or whatever (in my case it’s part of my WiiFit programme) and do yoga exercises at home - a description of the exercise and you follow what the on-screen trainer demonstrates. Exercising your body for health, fitness, weight loss and while you do the exercises you may think about whatever you wish. You could be listening to your favourite music; praying; planning the rest of your day; thinking about the benefits of the exercise you are doing - none of these make the exercises you are doing demonic.
False Dichotomy indeed, Maxdouglas; if I asked a 4th question, “does yoga lead away from Jesus Christ?”
Except he is saying that, because yoga is not right for him no one else should try it either:
…
Indeed; and if you simply want and intend yoga to be a way you use to tone your body, improve your sense of balance, improve your fitness and lose weight, that is what it will do for you. If someone feels uncomfortable using yoga for those purposes, there are other exercises that can be used.
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Shamati
Guest
Amen!
The King of the Universe is not concerned about imaginative copywrited bodymovements…
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Chantal25
Guest
Dear Shamati, the best person for you to talk about yoga, would be a priest. Ask God to guide you to the perfect person.
You have many opinion that is quite new age, you may not fully realize it and i truly don’t want to start an argument with you but i can say that i care enough to try to give you doubts so you can seek the truth. Please be careful, new age is very hypnotizing and deceiving.
I wish you well and i pray for you!
You have many opinion that is quite new age, you may not fully realize it and i truly don’t want to start an argument with you but i can say that i care enough to try to give you doubts so you can seek the truth. Please be careful, new age is very hypnotizing and deceiving.
I wish you well and i pray for you!
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maxdouglas402
Guest
Powerful testimony. Thanks be to God.
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Chantal25
Guest
((((Max)))))
Blessings to you!
Blessings to you!
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Shamati
Guest
As a matter of fact i am about to do just that. I’m only a potential convert to catholicism from swedish lutheran church & in that church many evil deeds are considered virtues, such as homosexuality, trans-gender sentiments, abortions up until labor, pre-marital sex is no longer an issue. Its a microcosm of what happens right now in the larger macrocosm that is western christianity.
I believe that we can not rebuild christianity by simply condemning all these actions that are essentially matters of the flesh and this world and get all Christian churches to reject these values in puirsuit of holiness without spirituality.
At the very center of the crisis of western christendom is a crisis in the soul. A majority of Christians, at least in Sweden, seem to be only concerned with the outer meanings of the bible, the amount of money and prestigious goods they can get and their looks.
Meanwhile the leaders of the churches sits idle & can offer little spiritual guidance & see their only function as wedding and burying. No wonder the apostasy to new age is so great since it demands no commitment to dogmas & instead offer the whole worlds practical spiritual techniques.
I cant see how the 8 limbs of yoga can be bad?
Yama : Universal morality
Niyama : Personal observances
Asanas : Body postures
Pranayama : Breathing exercises, and control of prana
Pratyahara : Control of the senses
Dharana : Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual awareness
Dhyana : Devotion, Meditation on the Divine
Samadhi : Union with the Divine
Union with God is also the goal of christianity & the path Jesus showed us. I just dont see where these 8 limbs of Yoga in its most basic sense contradict the Word of God or serve Evil? I appreciate your prayers & will pray for you also but i cant find the anti-christian teachings of these 8 limbs of what yoga is at its roots.
In the eastern churches there developed a discipline named hesychasm whose ultimate goal also is union with God. We already have the tools needed within world christendom but the inability of leaders to sense that te peoples souls are in hunger has lead many to believe there simply is nothing there but dogmas.
I believe that if christianity does not find its soul & teach its people the path towards sainthood, the religion will keep shrinking.
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