Sometime back I had explored the concept of doing yoga along with fasting, when a Muslim student in my yoga class had posed me a question about this. Many support the idea of doing yoga during Ramzan (Ramadan) since it is compatible with cleanliness, nonviolence, detoxification, moderation and meditation/prayer. These are all a part of the yogic lifestyle and are also recommended during Ramzan. However, this got me thinking – is yoga compatible with other faiths?
The Greek Orthodox Church statement
I came across a recent news item about a statement made by the Greek Orthodox Church about yoga. As it happens, the Greek media had recommended yoga as an effective means for dealing with COVID-19 related/quarantine stress, and to keep fit. In response to this, this religious denomination (part of the Christian faith), issued a statement that yoga has no place in the lives of Christians. According to the statement, yoga practices such as Surya Namaskar and several aasans are “absolutely incompatible” with the Christian faith. According to this view, yoga is a “fundamental chapter in Hindu religion,” not just physical exercise. As such it was felt that practicing yoga would be like subscribing to the religious beliefs/rituals of another religion.
Is yoga religious?
I would put forth the view that yes, yoga is more than just a series of physical exercises. However, I would not call it a religious practice. There is a spiritual aspect of yoga, since it helps us connect to our own inner selves and helps us attain inner calm. Hence, I would argue that it’s spiritual rather than religious. Surely spirituality is compatible with any and all religions? In my view, Hinduism is itself such as vast, varied and all-encompassing religion that it embraces many of the tenets of all other faiths as well.
Further, I believe that the various religions that have come into being are all roads that lead to the same destination. All religions help bring us close to the almighty while teaching us how to be good human beings, not to lie and cheat, and how to live with love and peace with our fellow human beings. The yogic lifestyle is less about religion and more about learning eternal life lessons that help us to become healthier in mind, body and spirit.
Spirituality vis-à-vis religiosity
From what I have read, the point of view of the Greek Orthodox Church is the exception rather than the rule. Most other religious groups do not view yoga as a religious practice and they see no contradiction in practicing their respective faiths alongside doing yoga. And shouldn’t the spiritual plane transcend religious ritual?
In my humble view, even if yoga does retain some religious connotations, embracing some positive aspects of another religion doesn’t make one any less an adherent of their own religion. Understanding and embracing aspects of other faiths can only help a person grow as a spiritual being, in my view. After all this is the beauty of India, where we enshrine unity in diversity; where a masjid shares a wall with a mandir and a church can be found cheek-by-jowl with a gurudwara! In an already polarized and divided world, we should be trying to find commonalities and not differences. I think yoga can be just such a point of commonality; a wonderful tool to unite all humanity in a thread of oneness.
Now with International Yoga Day just around the corner (Sunday, 21 June 2020) this is a good time to spread the message of yoga – of striving for spiritual growth, and working for physical fitness and mental wellness. It doesn’t matter which path and which faith one follows, yoga is something that helps us along each of those paths.