How a Modern Orthodox Jew Struggled with Yoga and Judaism
A few years ago, freshly moved to Los Angeles, I started practicing yoga. I was feeling anxious and worried, and if I were still a New Yorker, I’d have gone on anti-depressants. But I’m a big believer in doing what the Romans do, and as it turned out, yoga helped a lot.
On March 4, 2010, In Uncategorized, by admin
How a Modern Orthodox Jew Struggled with Yoga and Judaism
A few years ago, freshly moved to Los Angeles, I started practicing yoga. I was feeling anxious and worried, and if I were still a New Yorker, I’d have gone on anti-depressants. But I’m a big believer in doing what the Romans do, and as it [...]
On February 2, 2010, In Jewish News, by admin
On January 29, 2010, In Jewish News, by admin
hamsa-yoga.org This video begins with a shaktipat with peaceful vibrations to still the mind. Then Yogiraj expounds on the secret principles of Kriya Yoga Kriya Yoga is The Alchemy of Total Transformation The Lightning Path to God Realization Cosmic Evolution and Karmic Dissolution Convergence of Science and Spirituality. Kriya Yoga requires initiation and empowerment by [...]
hamsa-yoga.org This video begins with a shaktipat with peaceful vibrations to still the mind. Then Yogiraj expounds on the secret principles of Kriya Yoga Kriya Yoga is The Alchemy of Total Transformation The Lightning Path to God Realization Cosmic Evolution and Karmic Dissolution Convergence of Science and Spirituality. Kriya Yoga requires initiation and empowerment by a Master, however, some essential concepts to give a clear understanding of the scope and sweep of the technique can be divulged. This video is the first to attempt to give a clear basic lesson in the fundamental principles of Kriya Yoga for spiritual evolution of consciousness. Yogiraj is a living master and solar seer, and helps sincere practitioners of yogic meditation awaken to higher levels of consciousness through chakra awakening/activation and esoteric practices of Himalayan yoga. Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath was born on May 10, 1944 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. He has been meditating since the age of 3, and spent his early years in the Himalayas amongst the hamsanath yogis, in whose presence he was transformed. The divine transformation flowered after his deep and personal experiences in 1961 and 1967 with the yogi-christ Mahavatar Shiv-Goraksha-Babaji, the same spiritual master described in Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi. He has a wife of 30+ years, Gurumata Shivangani, with whom he built by hand the Hamsa Yoga Sangh Ashram (Spiritual Retreat) outside the city of Pune, near Bombay, India. They have two sons, and two grandchildren. Yogiraj teaches yogic meditation for the evolution of human consciousness. These perennial practices of yoga are the most ancient closely guarded sacred practices of the Himalayan yogis and masters from time immemorial. They help the practitioner gradually transform him/herself into the likeness of his/her own divinity. This ancient art and science has been a way of life for rare yogis and ascetics of India and abroad who have sacrificed everything in the search for their own inner Truth, their inner Godessence. Today, Yogiraj demonstrates in his own life and livingness, that powerful spiritual practice can be integrated with family life and a career. By the blessings of Babaji, Yogiraj teaches these techniques, which he collectively calls “The Alchemy of Total Transformation” to sincere seekers throughout the world, who wish to integrate these practices into their daily life, without the necessity of giving up worldly pursuits. These techniques are called: 1. Mahavatar Babaji’s Kriya Yoga (NB, the exact same kundalini kriya originally given to Lahiri Mahasaya in the 19th century) 2. Siddhanath Surya Yoga – A dynamic osmosis of solar healing. Pranic self-healing with solar power. 3. Siddhanath Hamsa Yoga – The Way of the White Swan. If earth peace is to herald the dawn of the new age, let us all realize that: Humanity is one’s only religion, Breath one’s only prayer, and Consciousness one’s only God. Website: hamsa-yoga.org
On January 27, 2010, In Jewish News, by admin
Mahasaya in the 19th century) 2. Siddhanath Surya Yoga – A dynamic osmosis of solar healing. Pranic self-healing with solar power. 3. Siddhanath Hamsa Yoga – The Way of the White Swan. If earth peace is to herald the dawn of the new age, let us all realize that: Humanity is one’s only religion, Breath [...]
Mahasaya in the 19th century) 2. Siddhanath Surya Yoga – A dynamic osmosis of solar healing. Pranic self-healing with solar power. 3. Siddhanath Hamsa Yoga – The Way of the White Swan. If earth peace is to herald the dawn of the new age, let us all realize that: Humanity is one’s only religion, Breath one’s only prayer, and Consciousness one’s only God. Website: hamsa-yoga.org … Mahavatar Babaji Kriya Kundalini Yoga Meditation Humanity Religion Breath Consciousness God Spinal Chakra …
On January 8, 2010, In Uncategorized, by admin
When you teach Hatha Yoga, you are asked many questions. Although public awareness of Yoga, and its teachings, has increased, many people are just discovering some of the benefits within the many styles of Yoga. Therefore, you have to be prepared for the unexpected questions that arise about the mysteries of Yoga. Once in a [...]
When you teach Hatha Yoga, you are asked many questions. Although public awareness of Yoga, and its teachings, has increased, many people are just discovering some of the benefits within the many styles of Yoga. Therefore, you have to be prepared for the unexpected questions that arise about the mysteries of Yoga.
Once in a while, the question of religion does come up. Many times, Yoga teachers are asked if they are a Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist. To the public’s amazement, many Yoga teachers come from all of the major religions in the world. There is no single religion that all Yoga teachers participate in.
How can this be? Some Gurus preach that Yoga should be founded within a particular religion. Some Yoga teachers read the Rig Veda, Bhagavad Gita, and speak Sanskrit words, so they must be covertly teaching Hinduism, or some other religion, right? Wrong – some Yoga teachers do teach religion in their classes, and some do not.
If your Yoga teacher has the Vedas, Torah, New Testament, Holy Quran, and the Gnostic Gospels, in his or her library, what does that mean? It means that your Yoga teacher likes to read, study, and does not have a closed mind. That is all it means, unless your Yoga teacher preaches religion as part of his or her practice.
If a Yoga teacher does preach religion within Yoga classes, this should be easy enough to see and hear. In Yoga studios that reside in the Americas and Europe, this may not be what most Hatha Yoga students are seeking. Each student has the right to leave, but the public should be made aware that a Yoga studio is conducting religious classes.
Many of these potential Yoga students are not seeking religious conversion, religious instruction, and live in a culture with a strict separation of religion from government. This means that religion in the West is often compartmentalized.
For example: If a concerned doctor recommends Yoga to a patient with back problems – the patient is not being referred to a Yoga studio for religious instruction.
Therefore, if you teach a form of religious Yoga in the West, be honest about it. Most students, from western cultures, are in Hatha Yoga classes for the physical and mental aspects.
If you want to teach Yoga as spiritual health, get the proper training first, and give the public “fair warning.” Teaching good virtues is one thing, but teaching religion to your Yoga students is quite another. This is the “line in the sand” that some Yoga teachers should never forget.
The answers to spiritual enlightenment are within all religions, but it is up to Yoga students to pursue their own religion and find the answers to their spiritual health. There is no single “man made path” to spiritual health, enlightenment, or union. This is a myth that, as a species, we never seem to learn.
Throughout our history, Holy wars are always justified by both sides. Of course, the other side is always less human, less understanding, evil, and ignorant of the true path. “The world would be a better pace without the unbelievers;” is always a good battle cry.
Religion is too volatile a subject to discuss within a multi-cultural Hatha Yoga class. Therefore, if you are going to mix any religion with Yoga practice, it should be taught within a sectarian atmosphere.
© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
