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Re: ARTICLE : Hinduism and yoga
Mukti Parupudi <mukti@interramp.com> writes:
>In Article<ghenDvCDtC.K81@netcom.com>, <l23@hopi.dtcc.edu> writes:
>>
>My two cents:
>Yoga is independent of Hinduism. As I recall, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras does not
>mention any Hindu Gods. The primary differences between Yoga and religion:
>a. Yoga does not require you to believe in any dogma.
>b. Anything talked about in Yoga can be experienced by the practitioner
>following the rules and techniques provided by his/her teacher.
>c. Yoga benefits the individual, not necessarily a society or
>organization or a priest.
>d. Yoga does not require any idols or temples.
>Cheers
>Mukti
Though I respect your knowledge, Mukti, I will have to differ slightly
on this.
Yoga evolved from Santana Dharma. To claim that it was never a part
of it or it is not a school of thought (Darshana) is not right, imho.
For example, you can put forth the same argument for certain upanishads.They don't mention Gods, they don't require you to believe in dogma, they
benefit the individual and they don't require any idols or temples. Can
you say that upanishads have no basis in Santana Dharma ?
It is indeed a pity if you mean that all Hindus (whatever that the
term may mean) believe in dogma, visit temples,etc.
You don't need to be a Hindu (Whatever that may mean) to practice
yoga or vedanta etc but to even deny the roots of its origin is not right.
Slowly, we may be left with nothing which we call Santana Dharma if all
vaishnavites, Shaivities, Shaktas, Tantrics, yogis dissociate themselves
from it.
Giri
