Guest guest Posted January 11, 2000 Report Share Posted January 11, 2000 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2000 Report Share Posted January 11, 2000 Does eating Italian food make you Italian? Its ingested and digested. Sat Nam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2000 Report Share Posted January 12, 2000 >>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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2000 Report Share Posted January 24, 2000 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2000 Report Share Posted January 24, 2000 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2000 Report Share Posted January 24, 2000 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----> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2000 Report Share Posted January 24, 2000 > 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2000 Report Share Posted January 25, 2000 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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