Yoga is not a religion. Rather, it is a set of techniques and skills that enhance the practice of any religion. A French author named Jean Déchanet discovered this in regard to his Catholic faith and wrote the book ChristianYoga (New York: Harper, 1960). In Malaysia Muslim’s case, I have found that Islamic yoga is a reality. It is possible to employ the skills of yoga to worship god better and to be a better human.
Yoga arose from the matrix of the Hindu world, although according to Mircea Eliade it is of pre-Hindu origin and can be traced back to prehistoric shamanism. Like India's other gifts to world civilization, for example the system of place notation on which all mathematics depends, yoga is not tied to the Hindu religion but has a universal applicability. It helps one to follow one's own religion better whatever that may be. Yoga is no substitute for any Islamic requirement, it just as a valuable addition to the spiritual path of one’s religion.
I totally disagree if Yoga banned for Muslims in Malaysia by authorities. Such act is more to the mockery of human rights, definitely not to protect the religion. I think it’s nothing wrong if write about Islam although I'm a Hindu. Correct me if I have misunderstood about Islam and yoga.
4 comments:
yoga plus mantra chanting is a complete exercise. you have a choice -do yoga minus mantra, still apllicable. that is hinduism. hinduism never impose restriction, its the most flexible and approachable teachings. muslims,christians etc can take up yoga without any fear of being converted into hinduism because hindus do not believe in converting people of other believe. enjoy yoga !!!
Maybe they should stop silat because it has Chinese origine. Probably they should stop shaking hand cause that it is western way. Maybe they should stop putting malay modified English version into their language! Seem like the chain reaction has started since the bible in malay incident.
@vesu - thanks for the info, hope Malaysian authorities change their perception on Yoga...
@Anonymous - hahaha... good suggestion, then they should ban all the things.... ;)
nice to meet u...
i appreciate ur opinion about yoga..
but i strongly believe that, there must be a tough reason why yoga is not applicable to the muslim community..
and i do research about this issue...
for muslim community, there are a lot of alternatives rather than yoga.
in praying itself, give so many benefits in term of emotion, spiritual, attitude, moral, health, and extra...
my be u can spent some time to research about muslim prayer...
u'll find some miracles about it..!
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