Priest explains why yoga and new age are dangerous

[Michael_Mayo]

Patience? Sure it’s not pain tolerance? :stretcher:

Maybe you should cross yourself seventy times before doing that. (If it were me though, I’d just zap the suckers. Being a mage leaves me enough on my plate already.)

I think if one were to actually do a word search in the main Church documents we have been discussing the only place “demon” would be found is in the sentence, “The term New Age has even been abused to demonise people and practices.” And that is exactly what has been done in this thread.

There should be no pain. If you have the patience, stretch until you can just barely feel it and hold for a minute. Then go further until you barely feel it again and hold another minute. Do that about 5 or 6 times. It can be pretty boring unless you have music. (Of course, not New Age music )

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

And that is exactly what has been done in this thread.

Adds to the irony already in place here eh? That’s very sad indeed.

There should be no pain.

Now you tell me! :crying:

 

[TheHolyTrinity]

Unfortunately the new age movement feeds off not just forms of Eastern spirituality and any other tradition it wants to, including Catholic ones too.

There is a very interesting article about a woman called Connie J. Fait on the subject of Yoga dangers. She is a former Tibetan nun, yogi, and head of a Tibetan Buddhist Temple yoga now reverted back to her birth religion Catholicism.

Fait states that"postures also known as asanas are the basis for the theology of Hinduism." Fait goes on to state that "Yoga asanas are not exercise as westerners would like to believe. The knowledge of the Yogic Tradition is deeply hidden in mystery, and only understood by accomplished yogis who have passed on those secrets orally to one another for 5000 years. Yoga asanas are recognized as the main tool to realizing these secrets and is accomplished only through a process of experience. Anyone who is doing yoga asanas is in that same process – whether or not they are aware of it or intend it"

For further reading see below attachment:

View attachment 21092

Conclusion from Women of Grace Article:
"Yogic asanas are not a personally willed experience, they only occur spontaneously. Clearly, the willful act to practice any of the asanas is predictably dangerous for ones body, mind and soul."

For a very long time I am firm in my believe that yoga is incompatible with Catholicism, that it is a danger for Catholics who don’t know their Faith well.

 

[christofirst]

– whether or not they are aware of it or intend it"

I’m sorry, but I cannot accept this part of the warning. It seems to fly in the face of our loving God and our free will. Our intention is what matters most!

Now I’m reading the book recommended here by Mystical Seeker (thank you!), Armchair Mystic, by Mark Thibodeaux, S.J., (complete with Nihil Obstat & Imprimatur, for those who see that as a requirement of trustworthiness). He is speaking about prayer, but two passages caught my attention, and can also, I think, apply to this discussion:

**“The actual words (of a prayer) are not as important as the expression of my intent to be in relationship with God.”

“God is all-knowing, and so He can read the intentions beneath the prayer.”**

Shouldn’t this same understanding apply to Yoga, assuming we are performing the stretches and postures to build up and maintain our bodies, which we know Scripture declares as the temple of the Holy Spirit?

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

I’m sorry, but I cannot accept this part of the warning. It seems to fly in the face of our loving God and our free will. Our intention is what matters most!

Now I’m reading the book recommended here by Mystical Seeker (thank you!), Armchair Mystic, by Mark Thibodeaux, S.J., (complete with Nihil Obstat & Imprimatur, for those who see that as a requirement of trustworthiness). He is speaking about prayer, but two passages caught my attention, and can also, I think, apply to this discussion:

**“The actual words (of a prayer) are not as important as the expression of my intent to be in relationship with God.”

“God is all-knowing, and so He can read the intentions beneath the prayer.”**

Shouldn’t this same understanding apply to Yoga, assuming we are performing the stretches and postures to build up and maintain our bodies, which we know Scripture declares as the temple of the Holy Spirit?

I’m glad you like the book! What you are writing goes well, I think, with Rom 8, my favorite chapter outside of Matt 5-7:

Rom 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

The Metamorphose artilce basically deals with Kundalini.

I don’t think we will find that in any science book.

So what is it? A myth? An aspect of Easter philosophy one can either believe in or dismiss?

If anyhting, it sounds most like a potential of human development designed by God?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini

 

[TheHolyTrinity]

I’m sorry, but I cannot accept this part of the warning. It seems to fly in the face of our loving God and our free will. Our intention is what matters most!

So now that you are part of this thread you know now that the yoga postures are called asanas. You now have an understanding that the yoga asanas (positions) are recognized as the main tool to realizing these secrets. willed experience, they only occur spontaneously. Clearly, the willful act to practice any of the asanas is predictably dangerous for ones body, mind and soul.

Now I’m reading the book recommended here by Mystical Seeker (thank you!), Armchair Mystic, by Mark Thibodeaux, S.J., (complete with Nihil Obstat & Imprimatur, for those who see that as a requirement of trustworthiness). He is speaking about prayer, but two passages caught my attention, and can also, I think, apply to this discussion:

“The actual words (of a prayer) are not as important as the expression of my intent to be in relationship with God.”

“God is all-knowing, and so He can read the intentions beneath the prayer.”

Contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus

Shouldn’t this same understanding apply to Yoga, assuming we are performing the stretches and postures to build up and maintain our bodies, which we know Scripture declares as the temple of the Holy Spirit?

The term Hatha Yoga has been commonly used to describe the practice of asana (poses).

Hatha Yoga asanas is a catalyst to the awakening of the two energies. Asanas positions are aimed to harmonize and purify the body systems and focus the mind in preparation for more advanced chakra and kundalini practices.

The meaning of Hatha, broken up as Ha + Tha. “Ha” means Ida nadi - moon principle. or and “Tha” means Pingala Nadi - sun principle.

• Nadi means psychic passage of energy .
• Hatha means balance of Ida and Pingala Nadis, or balancing of mental energy of Ida and Vital energy of Pingala Nadi.

So Hatha Yoga asanas practices results in balancing the entire nervous system. The basic purpose of Hatha Yoga is to purify the Ida and Pingala Nadis and then uniting these 2 forces with the third Psychic Nadi Sushumna, which carries Kundalini at Ajna Chakra (eyebrow center).

Yoga asanas is incompatible with Catholicism

First Thessalonians 5:21-22 teaches that it is the responsibility of every Catholic to be discerning: “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.”

In the New Testament, discernment is not optional for the believer-it is required.

Failure to distinguish between truth and error leaves the Catholic subject to all manner of false teaching. False teaching then leads to an unbiblical mindset, which results in unfruitful and disobedient living-a certain recipe for compromise.

Unfortunately, discernment is an area where most Catholics stumble.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Hatha Yoga asanas is a catalyst to the awakening of the two energies. Asanas positions are aimed to harmonize and purify the body systems and focus the mind in preparation for more advanced chakra and kundalini practices.

The meaning of Hatha, broken up as Ha + Tha. “Ha” means Ida nadi - moon principle. or and “Tha” means Pingala Nadi - sun principle.

• Nadi means psychic passage of energy .
• Hatha means balance of Ida and Pingala Nadis, or balancing of mental energy of Ida and Vital energy of Pingala Nadi.

So Hatha Yoga asanas practices results in balancing the entire nervous system. The basic purpose of Hatha Yoga is to purify the Ida and Pingala Nadis and then uniting these 2 forces with the third Psychic Nadi Sushumna, which carries Kundalini at Ajna Chakra (eyebrow center).

Yoga asanas is incompatible with Catholicism

Why is it incompatable

Failure to distinguish between truth and error leaves the Catholic subject to all manner of false teaching. False teaching then leads to an unbiblical mindset, which results in unfruitful and disobedient living-a certain recipe for compromise.

Unfortunately, discernment is an area where most Catholics stumble.

This is your flaw: if all of your first post is error, then the only danger is believing it to be true. I don’t think anyone here is arguing that Kundalini, chakras and all that are real.

If they did happen to be real, which no one here is claiming, then yoga would still be a benefit to make the body fit for it all

 

[christofirst]

And I still say intention matters. As long as an act is not inherently evil, and stretching or assuming some position for the sake of good health must certainly not be evil, then, as Scripture tells us, “For we know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him” Rom. 8: 28. Despite its non-Christian origins, is it not possible to sanctify a neutral thing or action, like stretching, as the Church has often done with many things once associated with non-Christians - like Christmas trees?

Let’s imagine that the first person who ever did push-ups was a murderer who wanted strong arms to better strangle his victims: evil intention. Now the person who apprehended this fit murderer noticed his strong arms and decided to also do push-ups so as to more effectively subdue criminals: good intention! Now if you also wanted to be strong and healthy, would you shun push-ups because of the first guy? Wouldn’t make sense to me.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

And I still say intention matters.

I think they are coming from a position that an analogy like smoking might help clarify. People smoke to relax and just enjoy it without intedning to get cancer or lung disease. But there is a big difference between yoga and smoking and a great deal of evidence based research to discern what is actually good from what is bad. Of course the detractors’ main concern is not physical but spiritual for which there can be no evidence, only interpretation. They seem to choose sensationalist sources rather than what the Church actually teaches because they support their fears.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Of course the detractors’ main concern is not physical but spiritual for which there can be no evidence, only interpretation. They seem to choose sensationalist sources rather than what the Church actually teaches because they support their fears.

Sadly, these people love to point out cases of actual possession as ‘physical evidence’ that is devil worship.

 

[TheHolyTrinity]

Why is it incompatable.

If they did happen to be real, which no one here is claiming, then yoga would still be a benefit to make the body fit for it all

Sadly, these people love to point out cases of actual possession as ‘physical evidence’ that is devil worship.

In regard to the previous (2013) thread on Yoga.

Both of you are au courant to the Yoga discussion.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

… au courant …

Nice word. (had to look it up)

 

[TheHolyTrinity]

And I still say intention matters. As long as an act is not inherently evil, and stretching or assuming some position for the sake of good health must certainly not be evil, then, as Scripture tells us, “For we know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him” Rom. 8: 28. Despite its non-Christian origins, is it not possible to sanctify a neutral thing or action, like stretching, as the Church has often done with many things once associated with non-Christians - like Christmas trees?

Let’s imagine that the first person who ever did push-ups was a murderer who wanted strong arms to better strangle his victims: evil intention. Now the person who apprehended this fit murderer noticed his strong arms and decided to also do push-ups so as to more effectively subdue criminals: good intention! Now if you also wanted to be strong and healthy, would you shun push-ups because of the first guy? Wouldn’t make sense to me.

Corinthians 10:21 " Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils."

A interesting video to watch, on youtube if you have the time.

This talk includes Purvi’s testimony of her journey as a former devoted Yogi to a follower of Jesus Christ as well as an analysis of Yoga from a biblical perspective for the first hour.

You think you can be Christian and do yoga?

God Bless
THT

 

[Michael_Mayo]

God Bless
THT

In the full context he is talking about the conscience of other because we do not believe in other God’s. SO perhaps we should not be speaking of yoga because of your conscience.

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[f]

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Then again, incense has been offered to just about every god in every religion. Does that mean we should not burn incense?

 

[christofirst]

Corinthians 10:21 " Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils."
God Bless
THT

God bless you too! Yes, you are able to show me much anecdotal evidence and opinion that Yoga is in some way demonic. And as others here know, I can also point to the persuasive writings of several noted Catholics, namely the Benedictine Jean Dechanet, Thomas Matus of the Camaldolese order, and Paulist Father Thomas Ryan, who effectively argue that, properly understood, the practice of Yoga is indeed compatible with Catholic Christianity.

Can you or anyone here show me in any official document issued from the Vatican, such as the previously mentioned “On Some Elements of Christian Meditation” or “Jesus Christ, Bearer of the Water of Life” or any other official Church document you can find, a clear definitive statement that Yoga is demonic?

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

Do you ever get really fearful when it snows, knowing how many crystals are being laid out, all around your house?

Think about it. Ice crystals … crystals … new age … Crystal Cathedral Ministries going bankrupt in 2010? Could be a door opening somewhere.

 

[christofirst]

Do you ever get really fearful when it snows, knowing how many crystals are being laid out, all around your house?

Think about it. Ice crystals … crystals … new age … Crystal Cathedral Ministries going bankrupt in 2010? Could be a door opening somewhere.

I just heard Crystal Gayle singing on my old radio, which itself contains crystals! Oh no! But honestly, misinformation is no laughing matter.

 

[Path_Finder]

You have different kinds of yoga disciplines, imagine if all Christianity was judged on the basis of the Westboro Church.