When yoga practice includes meditation, is it a violation of Christian beliefs?

Question

Since meditation involves some chanting, I understand some Protestants say it's against the religion. Does this apply to Catholics as well?

Answer 1

Depends. Are you chanting to some other deity or an earthly power, or just trying to shut off the senses? There is no problem with meditation so long as you are not using it as a form of communication to some other Higher Power. And a dangerous thing about Buddhism and Hinduism is a high emphasis on the Self, that the deity is within you and you are a part of it. Christianity is contrary to this, you must be concerned with others because what you do for others, you do for God, what you do for yourself is just that - only for you.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Firstly I am not a christian,just to clarify things. I know that recently in the USA a pastor came out against the practice of yoga.This has also come up in Malaysia where they either tried to,or did in fact ban yoga.I think they actually just stopped the chanting of mantras as it was not Isamic in its nature,but possibly allowed the yoga to continue as a form of exercise. I guess to a degree I can kind of understand a problem with the chanting from a christian or muslim perspective,but I can not see a problem with the physical aspects of yoga. Some christians may argue that it is borrowing from other religions and therefore wrong,if this is the case I would strongly recommend a review of christmas.This was borrowed from the pagans and if borrowing 1 thing from other religions is wrong,then borrowing anything from other religions is wrong. I know many christians who do yoga and from what I have seen from the way they live,they are good practicing christians,whose love of Jesus is strong and true.

Answer 4

As a Lutheran and as someone who enjoys yoga, I have spoken with my pastor about it. As we talked, several things came out. First, I do yoga as a way of stretching and relaxing, and getting my body realigned. He didn't see a problem with that. Second, when there is time to "meditate" I either use that time to clear my mind or to listen to God. Let's face it, most of us talk to much and don't listen enough. Again, no problem. Did I look at it as a religious experience? No, it is exercise and stress relief for me. His final decision... as I was approaching yoga, no it was not a conflict. If I was truly practicing yoga, with the beliefs, diet, way of life, etc. that would be a problem.
Oh, if your mind wanders when you are meditating, try doing a more appropriate chant. Repeating the Hail Marys, saying the Lord's prayer, listening to the Benedictine chants.... lots of appropriate options!

Answer 5

There's nothing anti-Christian with deep breathing and trying to unclutter your mind from worldly cares. In fact, I that makes a person more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

There are also secular purposes for it - I've used it to help me fall asleep, and pain management for some chronic pain (it's been very effective for that actually).

All of my meditation has involved counting using normal English numbers, and using my imagination to remember a time when I felt very calm and peaceful. I have not prayed to another god, or chanted, for me it has been nothing more than a simple practice of peaceful mental exercises. I would recommend it to anyone.

Answer 6

It is not a violation of Christian belief. Many Christians mediate. Roman Catholics do, Anglican, Orthodox, Lutherans, etc. all do. We do centering prayer, which is meditation. One can use a Christian mantra. And as others here have said, your goal is union with the Christian God.
Here is a website that is a Roman Catholic group that teaches how to meditate. It is what all Religious do. (Religious=monks and nuns)
http://www.centeringprayer.com/frntpage.htm

Answer 7

Yes I will yes. It is a violation of Christian beliefs. Yoga itself is a part of Hindu culture and religion where one meditates BRAHMA - the supreme god of Hindu. Either one is protestant or Catholic, the first basic thing is that we all are Christians and hence should follow bible.

Answer 8

There IS such a thing as Christian meditation, but I doubt it's compatable with Yogic exercises. I'd find another teacher. There ARE Yoga instructors who focus on the excercise, and who leave your spirituality to you.

Answer 9

When a Christian practices yoga, they are participating in an eastern mystical religious practice.

Even their own literature agrees with this. In the attached link, they even talk about a serpent, and higher consciousness. These are demonic manifestations, and you would be inviting them in your life.

Why would a Christian even consider this? There are those who say that you can separate the exercise component from the mystical, but that is another lie of the enemy.

A Christian should flee from this, so they don't become a victim of the lie. If Satan cannot have your soul, he will have your walk if you let him. And eastern meditation is one sure fire way to do that.

Paul even says, "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot eat at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons. Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than he is, are we?" (I Corinthians 10:21-22)

And

"What harmony exists between Christ and Beliar, or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common?" (II Corinthians 6:15)

For those who claim to be Christ's, yet say that yoga is permissible, hear Jesus' words: "Why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord,' but don't do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46)

Christ is the Living Word of God. His Word tells us what we should do. Those who choose their will over His, are disobedient.

Answer 10

No, the bible talks about meditating a lot, as long as you are meditating on God, it can be an extremely healthful experience, and it can create a peaceful balance in your spirit.