Jump to content
IndiaDivine.org

Digest Number 277

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

In a message dated 1/11/2000 8:57:34 AM Eastern Standard Time,

Kundaliniyoga writes:

 

<< >>

I've been practicing kundalini yoga for about 9 months now, and have found it

to be a powerful tool for self development and growth. I've been troubled by

a nagging feeling that kundalini yoga may not be compatible with Judaism, as

it may fall under the category of idol worship. I know that this might sound

like a stretch - but if you think about it, in classes we invoke the aid and

presence of deities and revered teachers, we bow down at the end of class.

Plus there is a tie in to the Sikh religion, though as I understand it, it is

not at all required to become a Sikh, (only to be a seeker).

I would love to be able to settle this- any insights or understandings

you might have I would appreciate reading. Namaste and shalom.

Sheri

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>>I've been troubled by

a nagging feeling that kundalini yoga may not be compatible with Judaism, as

it may fall under the category of idol worship. <<

 

Dear Sheri,

 

Please do not worry about it. Kundalini yoga is as far from idol worship as

anything can be. You are not bowing to some idol at the end of the class.

You are bowing to the Divine in you and all around you - and as the Sikhs

say, there is nowhere that God is not. Yoga is a way of life. It doesn't ask

you to believe in this and that - it is just giving you a way to become and

experience. You do not have to become a Sikh (by the way, Sikh means just

"student"), just be yourself. Be your highest self.

 

Sat Nam,

 

Alina

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks for the challenge. I love them. However, I don't think I completely

understand what you're trying to say. What falls under the category of idol

worship? I'm thinking it is Judaism, because in all the yoga books I've come

into contact with, I've never heard of worship of any kind. Me personally, I

don't believe in worship. Worship, to me, is telling that person or deity or

whatever it is you're worshipping that you are weaker than it. Worship is

saying to them that you are not capable of being a part of the cycles of

life. Worship is confirmation of helplessness. I believe that we all play an

integral part in the scheme of things, whatever that may be. You can invoke

the help of a deity or a revered teacher without worshipping them. Chances

are that that being isn't perfect. It just knows something you don't, and is

willing to share that knowledge with you. That doesn't necessarily mean that

it is an all powerful and omnicient being, because it is giving you

knowledge in exchange for knowledge. When someone shares knowledge with you,

the greatest form of gratification is the return of knowledge -sharing some

of your own knowledge that is unknown to your benefactor- and therefore no

physical (or spoken) "thanks" should be due. It is understood. It's all

about sharing. My belief is that demand for worship is spiritual greed. I

believe that if there is a "God", then he doesn't impose upon the free will

of his children. We are here to learn and learn we will do from any source

we can find. God's goal for mankind is to strive to be like him; to know

All. Not to know everything, but to understand the universe as a whole. I'm

not sure that bowing down at the end of class is a form of worship or not.

It's simply a physical act of gratification. I'm sure some beings wouldn't

appreciate being bowed down to. They would prefer you to tell them something

they don't know. I also don't know which has the tie to the Sikh religion

-yoga or Judaism, but we are all seekers. To reach the goal that yoga

pursues, you have to be a seeker, and a true seeker has the essence of the

Sikh. You have to understand that in the spiritual realm -the realm of the

mind, names are not important. It's just simple recognition. When one person

calls him/herself a Sikh, another might call himself a seeker. When one

person calls himself an "Enlightened Christian" or an "Enlightened

Buddhist", in eyes of Spirit, it doesn't matter. They're simply two

different paths to the same source. The name means absolutely nothing.

Name's are simply for the purpose of satisfying the part of us that is

self-conscious. This is where conceit and over-indulgence comes from.

Anyway, this is just about all I can give you right now without confusing

you and myself. I hope you found the insight that you were looking for in

this. If you enjoy my points of view or simply like having conversation for

the purpose of finding the essence of truth, I would love to continue this

conversation with you. As I said before, I love challenges. Merry we part

and blessed be-

Nick

 

____

Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been trying to write to Kundaliniyoga and it gets kicked

back...is anyone else having that problem!. Something about mailbox full.

 

Hari Kaur

 

Here is what I wrote:

 

1/23/00

 

Sat Nam all,

 

I am just checking in for support. I am on day 23 of Sadhana! I can't

believe I am up at 3:15am! I show up at Yoga West in LA for group

Sadhana...what a difference it makes when I do a group vs. my own in my

house. I am doing this for at least 40 days as I want to see what the

experience will bring and it is also highly suggested as part of my teacher

training program at Golden Bridge in Los Angeles.

 

I am starting to experience something interesting with the mantras...when we

are all chanting in the same pitch...I don't know how to explain it, but I

feel it quite a bit in my head, the vibration...am I making sense?

 

I do have a few questions:

 

1. Why do some yogi's/sikh's wear orange turbins or blue vs. white?

2. In my 23 days, I have yet to see a woman lead a Sadhana...why?

3. I know that when a woman is in her cycle, in her first 3 days, there are

certain postures that you don't do full strength...is that the same principle

for Sadhana? And if so, what is the guideline?

4. I seem to have no flexibility at all when doing things like camel pose or

any type of posture where you have to lean back, wheel pose...even spinal

flexes seem to be very minimal compared to the yogis I see...if you can't do

it, then how do you get more flexible?

 

5. Why don't we end with Long Time Sun?

 

Any feedback would be appreciated!

 

Sat Nam

 

Hari Kaur

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Nick and welcome to Kundalini Yoga

 

When replying to messages on the list, please quote the relevant points from

the previous message so that others can see where you are coming from. I

found both of your messages today to be somewhat confusing.

 

Under quoting and over quoting are both equally bad, for differing reasons.

We should all strive to achieve the happy medium in this, as in everything

else that we do in life.

 

I hope that you enjoy your time here with us and will continue to

participate in our discussions.

 

Sat Nam!

Gordon

 

> "Nick Gunter" <warless

>

> Thanks for the challenge. I love them. However, I don't think I completely

> understand what you're trying to say. What falls under the category of

idol

> worship?

 

<----snip---->

Link to comment
Share on other sites

> Leavesseur

>

> I have been trying to write to Kundaliniyoga and it gets

kicked

> back...is anyone else having that problem!. Something about mailbox

full.

>

> Hari Kaur

>

 

Dear Hari Kaur

 

We have one r whose mailbox is full - the way that ONElist is set

up, such messages are returned to the message originator, and not to the

mailing list. There are very good reasons for this, as otherwise everyone on

the list would get them.

 

Your mail is getting through ok. The message you are quoting from was posted

to the list yesterday.

 

If this problem persists I will be obliged to put the offender on no-mail

status.

 

Sat Nam!

Gordon

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salutation Nick Gunter

Worship is sharing love with yourself both external and internal. Deify are

not God but an aspect of yourself as God/Goddess and the external

God/Goddess.

My the Light, Joy and Love of the Universe be with you

Namaste

Sri Param Eswaran

 

>"Nick Gunter" <warless

>Kundaliniyoga

>Kundaliniyoga

>Re: Digest Number 277

>Mon, 24 Jan 2000 10:49:25 PST

>

>Thanks for the challenge. I love them. However, I don't think I completely

>understand what you're trying to say. What falls under the category of idol

>worship? I'm thinking it is Judaism, because in all the yoga books I've

>come

>into contact with, I've never heard of worship of any kind. Me personally,

>I

>don't believe in worship. Worship, to me, is telling that person or deity

>or

>whatever it is you're worshipping that you are weaker than it. Worship is

>saying to them that you are not capable of being a part of the cycles of

>life. Worship is confirmation of helplessness. I believe that we all play

>an

>integral part in the scheme of things, whatever that may be. You can invoke

>the help of a deity or a revered teacher without worshipping them. Chances

>are that that being isn't perfect. It just knows something you don't, and

>is

>willing to share that knowledge with you. That doesn't necessarily mean

>that

>it is an all powerful and omnicient being, because it is giving you

>knowledge in exchange for knowledge. When someone shares knowledge with

>you,

>the greatest form of gratification is the return of knowledge -sharing some

>of your own knowledge that is unknown to your benefactor- and therefore no

>physical (or spoken) "thanks" should be due. It is understood. It's all

>about sharing. My belief is that demand for worship is spiritual greed. I

>believe that if there is a "God", then he doesn't impose upon the free will

>of his children. We are here to learn and learn we will do from any source

>we can find. God's goal for mankind is to strive to be like him; to know

>All. Not to know everything, but to understand the universe as a whole. I'm

>not sure that bowing down at the end of class is a form of worship or not.

>It's simply a physical act of gratification. I'm sure some beings wouldn't

>appreciate being bowed down to. They would prefer you to tell them

>something

>they don't know. I also don't know which has the tie to the Sikh religion

>-yoga or Judaism, but we are all seekers. To reach the goal that yoga

>pursues, you have to be a seeker, and a true seeker has the essence of the

>Sikh. You have to understand that in the spiritual realm -the realm of the

>mind, names are not important. It's just simple recognition. When one

>person

>calls him/herself a Sikh, another might call himself a seeker. When one

>person calls himself an "Enlightened Christian" or an "Enlightened

>Buddhist", in eyes of Spirit, it doesn't matter. They're simply two

>different paths to the same source. The name means absolutely nothing.

>Name's are simply for the purpose of satisfying the part of us that is

>self-conscious. This is where conceit and over-indulgence comes from.

>Anyway, this is just about all I can give you right now without confusing

>you and myself. I hope you found the insight that you were looking for in

>this. If you enjoy my points of view or simply like having conversation for

>the purpose of finding the essence of truth, I would love to continue this

>conversation with you. As I said before, I love challenges. Merry we part

>and blessed be-

>Nick

>

>____

>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

>

 

____

Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...