{"content":[{"text":"Yoga and Christianity: Are They Compatible? \n – A Biblical Worldview Perspective","bbox":{"left":0.071429,"top":0.056023,"width":0.8372820000000001,"height":0.065703}},{"text":"Michael Gleghorn takes a hard look at yoga to determine if the practice is compatible with Christian \n living. After examining the spiritual underpinnings of yoga and the relationship of the physical \n aspects to the spiritual teaching, he concludes that Christians seeking physical exercise would be \n wise to consider techniques other than yoga.","bbox":{"left":0.071429,"top":0.157083,"width":0.8494400000000001,"height":0.067222}},{"text":"What is Yoga?","bbox":{"left":0.071429,"top":0.241264,"width":0.15392,"height":0.017958999999999975}},{"text":"What is yoga? For many in the West, yoga is simply a system of physical exercise, a means of \n strengthening the body, improving flexibility, and even healing or preventing a variety of bodily \n ailments. But if we inquire into the history and philosophy of yoga we discover that “much more than \n a system of physical exercise for health, Yoga is . . . [an] ancient path to spiritual growth.” It is a \n path enshrined in much of the sacred literature of India.{1} Thus, if we truly want a better \n understanding of yoga, we must dig beneath the surface and examine the historical roots of the \n subject.","bbox":{"left":0.071429,"top":0.276178,"width":0.855593,"height":0.11923699999999998}},{"text":"Before we begin digging, however, we must first understand what the term “yoga” actually means. \n “According to tradition, ‘yoga’ means ‘union,’ the union…of the finite ‘jiva’ (transitory self) with the \n infinite’…Brahman’ (eternal Self).”{2} “Brahman” is a term often used for the Hindu concept of \n “God,” or Ultimate Reality. It is an impersonal, divine substance that “pervades, envelops, and \n underlies everything.”{3} With this in mind, let’s briefly look at three key texts that will help us \n chart the origin and development of yoga within India.","bbox":{"left":0.071429,"top":0.412177,"width":0.8413390000000001,"height":0.10189799999999993}},{"text":"It appears that one can trace both the practice and goal of yoga all the way back to the Upanishads, \n probably written between 1000-500 B.C.{4} One Upanishad tells us: “Unite the light within you with \n the light of Brahman.”{5} Clearly, then, the goal of yoga (i.e. union with Brahman) is at least as old \n as the Upanishads.","bbox":{"left":0.071429,"top":0.530837,"width":0.8544840000000001,"height":0.06722300000000003}},{"text":"In addition, the word “yoga” often appears in the Bhagavad Gita, a classic Hindu text possibly \n written as early as the fifth century B.C.{6} In chapter 6, Krishna declares: “Thus joy supreme \n comes to the Yogi . . . who is one with Brahman, with God.”{7}","bbox":{"left":0.071429,"top":0.614823,"width":0.8018870000000001,"height":0.04988500000000007}},{"text":"Finally, in about A.D. 150, the yogi Patanjali systematized yoga into eight distinct “limbs” in his Yoga \n Sutras. These eight limbs are like a staircase, supposedly leading the yogi from ignorance to \n enlightenment. In order, the eight limbs are: yama (self-control), niyama (religious observances), \n asana (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), pratyahara (sense control), dharana \n (concentration), dhyana (deep contemplation), and samadhi (enlightenment).{8} It’s interesting to \n note that postures and breathing exercises, often considered to be the whole of yoga in the West, are \n steps three and four along Patanjali’s “royal” road to union with Brahman.","bbox":{"left":0.071429,"top":0.68147,"width":0.856454,"height":0.11923700000000004}},{"text":"We see that yoga is an ancient spiritual discipline deeply rooted in the religion of Hinduism. This \n being so, we may honestly wonder whether it’s really wise for a Christian to be involved in yoga \n practice. Next, we’ll continue our discussion by examining some of the important doctrinal \n differences between yoga and Christianity.","bbox":{"left":0.071429,"top":0.817469,"width":0.8196110000000001,"height":0.067222}}],"images_bbox":[],"images_bbox_not_text_overlap":[]}