“ Syman describes yoga as a varied practice, but she makes clear that yoga cannot be fully extricated from its spiritual roots in Hinduism and Buddhism. She is also straightforward in explaining the role of sexual energy in virtually all forms of yoga and of ritualized sex in some yoga traditions” Mohler was quoted in his blog. He then stressed on how he was concerned about how yoga practices include physical and spiritual exercises, in the goal to connect with the Divine as well as wellness. He responded, “Believers are called to meditate upon the Word of God — an external Word that comes to us by divine revelation — not to meditate by means of incomprehensible syllables.”
Now I have to wonder about that….. After all… praying, meditation and connecting with the Divine can be richly varied in Christianity as well as Buddhism, Islam, Hindu, Paganism, and other religions that could fill up more pages than I could, but you get my meaning. Shall we see what I mean by that?
In process of praying-meditation…. Candles are used in yoga to help focus and become aware of the divine, and so do many religions.
Woman lighting candles at a church in Tbilis, Georgia
Jewish woman says the blessing upon lighting the sabbath candles (2)
A Muslim woman lights a candle at a shrine dedicated to the prophet Elijah (3)
Praying to get closer to the Divine, as Yoga encourages becoming aware of Divine in both physical and spiritual.
Kenyans praying (4)
Christian woman praying (5)
Muslim man praying (6)
A Kneeling Hindu Balinese Woman Prays and Gives Offerings at Sunset (7)
Pagan praying (8)
Meditating on problems/concerns. Yoga does that, to help clear the mind and process the problem… and we seek answers from the Divine, as well, don't we?
Christian meditating (9)
Woman of Sikh (10)
Tools that contribute to meditation/praying…..
Walking the Labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral (11)
Woman meditating- origins of labyrinths come out with 4000 years, from lands such as Egyptian, Indian, Native American, Greek and Northern Europe. (12)
Rosary beads in a Catholic Christian‘s hands- in which types of beads are used by Christians and Muslims (13)
A monk holds prayer beads in McLeod Ganj, India. (14)
Prayers Stones (15)
Scents to help us think of the Divine, as well as at yoga- after all, didn’t Jesus receive frankincense as a gift for one example?
Incense- which can be found in churches, as well as in temples and locations of prayers and residences. (16)
Praying to the Buddha (17)
We can’t go without music in prayer…and yoga
Harp music in church (18)
Signing with Deaf and Deaf/Blind in both preaching and singing in silence (19)
Drumming with shamans (20)
Choir of Southern Baptist Church Praise and Worship Center (21)
Now…. With all that we had seen, how can yoga NOT be a tool for Christians to get closer to the Divine? Meditation can be so different for each of us, but we share the common goal- to get intimate with the Divine in many names that we follow. We also can use meditation for mindfulness, wellness, holistic health and exercise.
After all, I confess to meditating while vaccuming and I do consider feeling closer to Her after the house is clean.
Resources
(1) http://kevinkoski.com/Hobbies%20and%20Interests/Bicycle%20Touring/rtw/photos.html
(2) http://religion.info/english/articles/article_470.shtml
(3) http://www.daylife.com/photo/0eoWf779ETeJg
(4) http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/01/steps-to-end-the-suffering-and-violence-in-kenya/
(5) www.joyfullyliving.blogspot.com
(6) http://islamiclearningmaterials.com/islam-prayer/
(7) http://www.digitalhit.com/posters/p/4901480
(8) http://witchywonderland.blogspot.com/2010/05/pagan-prayer.html
(9) http://www.spiritrax.com/subcategory.php?id=13
(10) http://www.sikhnet.com/news/naam-japo-meditation-prayer-and-its-purpose
(11) http://yourworldreligions.blogspot.com/2007/06/prayer-of-heart-christian-meditation.html
(12) http://naradashaktisolutions.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/labyrinths-the-upside-of-walking-around-in-circles/
(13) http://www.freshmeditation.com/blog/easy-step-meditation/rosary-meditation/
(14) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/india/739176/India-holy-cows-and-fine-shrines.html
(15) http://prayerfullife.com/2010/05/principle4/
(16) http://stjev.org/prayer-and-a-pint
(17) http://www.thaiworldview.com/bouddha/ceremo15.htm
(18) http://transfigurations.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html
(19) http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/6406132.html
(20) http://www.dreamingshaman.com/ongoing_events.htm
(21) http://www.1800gospel.com/2008/10/gospel-music-news-how-sweet-the-sound/
2 comments:
you hit right on the spot! Good!
I find it interesting that the guy (the name slipped my mind, I apologize) said that yoga was a form of occult behavior? Then surely, he must have thought the very same thing about different methods of prayers, dancing, and blessings toward their god/gods/goddess/goddesses, right? That form of thinking does bother me because it just showed how clos-minded some people can be.
Mediation is not limited to praying, blessings, yoga, dancing, but it can be applied to eating with your eyes closed, reading, crafting, exercising (just think runner's high), journaling, venting, whatever that comes in our lives. We do it without being "aware" of that. We go through life not paying attention to smallest things we do.
I think this man does mediate without realizing it or he just accepts HIS WAY of mediation, that's it. :P
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