Yoga, Mindfulness Meditation Taking Place At Arlington National Cemetery To Commemorate Memorial Day

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LTRP Note: The following news story is posted not as an endorsement but rather for informational and research purposes and to show how the New Age is very active and “alive” in our Western society. Once again, we see that this world is turning to the devices of Satan for help rather than to the […]

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[The Glory Land]

Yoga Relaxation or Occult?*

-  Yoga is from the Sankrit word Yug, meaning "union" (with the Divine, your higher "SELF"). Yoga is a path for transcending the ordinary mind (who you think you are) in order to merge with your "higher SELF" or "God SELF." Yoga means "to yoke" -- to yoke with Brahman (i.e., the "Infinite," the "Universal Spirit," the impersonal force that the Hindus call "God") via the realization of an altered state of consciousness, thereby theoretically releasing oneself from the bondage of endless reincarnation. Yoga comes out of the Hindu Vedas. It can be traced back to Patanjali, who was a religious leader. Shiva, one of Hinduism's three most powerful gods, was known as "The Destroyer" -- he's called Yogi Swara or the "Lord of Yoga."

-  Consider the following portion of an article from a secular newspaper:

"It is estimated that there are 10,000 yoga teachers in the United States, who teach between 4 and 5 million stude

nt

s a week. Yoga is a program that involves conscious stretching, deliberate moveme

nt

s, co

nt

rolled breathing and relaxation exercises. Its purpose is to develop strength, flexibility, balance, body alignme

nt

, body awareness, muscular balance, calmness and co

nt

rolled breathing. Yoga originated from a school of thought in the Hindu religion, which suggests that postures can isolate the soul from the body and the mind.

"In the Western world, yoga is used mainly as a form of exercise. Yoga comes from the original Sanskrit word, 'joga,' which means 'to join.' Yoga means to join body, mind and breath; to get them to work together in harmony [This is a lie!]. It's very ge

nt

le, slow and meditative; but it requires conce

nt

ration. Yoga instructors say they have received a handful of complai

nt

s from people who believe yoga is i

nt

ertwined with mysticism and the occult. [We] acknowledge that yoga does indeed come from a portion of India's Hindu religion, but [our] classes deal mainly with the physical aspects of yoga, and do n

ot

in any way coerce people to become involved in Eastern religion" [an

ot

her lie]. (Source: 

The Bloomington Herald-Times

, 1991.) (Emphasis added.)

Sadly, even professing Christians have bought into this lie. Every Yoga teacher is, in effect, a Hindu or Buddhist missionary, even though "he or she may wear a cross, insist that Jesus was a great Yogi, and protest that Yoga is not a religion, but science. This is the most blatant of lies. Yet it has been so widely proclaimed and believed that in America's public schools, beginning in kindergarten and in almost every other area of society today, Yoga and other forms of Hindu-Buddhist occultism are taught and accepted as science. In contrast, Christianity has been thrown out of the schools and is being crowded out of every other area of life in the 'broad-minded' move to replace religion with the New Age 'science'!" (Source: Peace, Prosperity, and the Coming Holocaust, p. 147.)

-  Yoga is clearly a New Age concept that is deeply religious and pantheistic in its origin. It is widely practiced and supported by New Age proponents. The New Age movement denies the reality of sin and total depravity, and believes that man is generally good and is divine. They teach that there is a god within us, and we are to harness that and develop it through meditation and other metaphysical techniques. They teach that the only thing people need is enlightenment regarding their divinity. They believe that through reincarnation man is reunited with God. They believe in karma, which is a debt one owes because of his previous life. They also believe and teach the evolution of man as opposed to the Creation that is taught in the Bible. Yoga is also associated with imagery, visualization, hypnosis, mind magic, chanting ofmantra, positive thinking, and Silva mind techniques, which are not only unbiblical, but are potentially dangerous. When practiced by professing believers, it allows a certain external spiritual influence in our lives, which is inconsistent with, and disallowed (2 Cor. 6:14-18), in the teachings of the Holy Scriptures (2 Cor. 4:4).

The practice of Yoga is pagan at best, and occultic at worse. Its teachings emanate from the Eastern religions, all of which teach that self is God, only we just don't realize it:

"The goal of Yoga is 'self-realization ' -- to look deeply within what ought to be the temple of the one true God and there to discover the alleged 'true Self' or 'higher Self' and declare self to be God. N

ot

hing could be more religious than that, yet with straight faces all of the Yogis insist that practicing Yoga will n

ot

change anyone's religious beliefs. This is the religion of A

nt

ichrist; and for the first time in history it is being widely practiced throughout the Western world as Transcende

nt

al Meditation and

ot

her forms of Yoga." (Source: 

The Seduction of Christianity

, p. 54.)

-  Yoga calls itself science. "By calling itself science, Yoga (which is the very heart of Hinduism) has within the last [30] years become an integral part of Western society, where it is taught in nearly every YMCA or YWCA, in clubs, in public schools, in industry, and in many churches. Dressed in Western clothes, Yoga has gained acceptance in medicine, psychology, education, and religion under such euphemisms as 'centering,' 'relaxation therapy,' 'self-hypnosis,' and 'creative visualization.' Yoga is designed to lead to the 'realization' of one's true 'godhood' through an inward meditative journey that finally locates the ultimate source of everything within the human psyche." (Source: The Seduction of Christianity, p. 110.)

-  Hatha-yoga is a popular form of Yoga practiced today by those looking for a form of relaxation and non-strenuous exercise. Johanna Michaelsen, however, correctly discerns:

"There is a common misconception in the West that hatha-yoga, one of about ten forms of Yoga that supposedly leads to self-realization, is merely a neutral form of exercise, a so

ot

hing and effective alternative for those who abhor jogging and calisthenics ... [However], Hatha-yoga is 'one of the six recognized systems of orthodox Hinduism' and is at its ro

ot

s 

religious

 and 

mystical.

It is also one of the most difficult and p

ot

e

nt

ially [spiritually] dangerous forms of Yoga.

"The term 

hatha

 is derived from the verb 

hath, 

which means 'to oppress.'... What the practice of hatha-yoga is designed to do is suppress the flow of psychic energies through these channels ["symbolic, or psychic passages on either side of the spinal column"], thereby forcing the 'serpe

nt

power' or the 

kundalini

 force to rise through the ce

nt

ral psychic channel in the spine (the

sushumna

) and up through the 

chakras

, the supposed psychic ce

nt

ers of human personality and power. Westerners mistakenly believe that one can practice hatha-yoga apart from the philosophical and religious beliefs that undergird it. This is an absolutely false belief. ... You cann

ot

separate the exercises from the philosophy. ... 'The moveme

nt

s themselves become a form of meditation.' The co

nt

inued practice of the exercises will, 

whether you ... i

nt

end it or n

ot

, eve

nt

ually influence you toward an Eastern/mystical perspective. 

That is what it is mea

nt

to do!

 ... There is, by definition, no such thing as 'neutral' Yoga" (

Like Lambs to the Slaughter

, pp. 93-95). (Last emphasis added.)

-  Other types or brands of Yoga:

(a) 

Laya Yoga

: Path of Universal Body -- In Laya Yoga, the Macrocosm (the Universe) is directly networked with the Microcosm (the human body). There are five ce

nt

res 

(chakras, 

or "wheels") along the spine and one between the eyebrows that directly corresponds with some aspect of creation. These 

chakras 

are linked through an etheric channel along the spine. A primordial creative energy 

(kundalini) 

lies dorma

nt

at the base of the spine in the ro

ot

 

chakra. 

The Laya Yogi (someone who practices Laya Yoga), through meditation and 

Asanas 

(posture exercises), will coax this 

kundalini 

energy i

nt

o traveling up the channel through each 

chakra 

u

nt

il it reaches its poi

nt

of origin at the top of the skull. At that poi

nt

, the yogi will have merged with the source of creation. If the yogi then chooses to reverse the process, the 

kundalini 

energy will travel back down the channel recharging each ce

nt

re with an increased amou

nt

of 

Prana 

(life force energy). The result is that the yogi will then have more understanding of, and co

nt

rol over, all aspects of creation each time this process is done.

(

 

Karma Yoga

: Path of Selfless Action -- Action performed for the purpose of satisfying a desire has the effect of generating new desires that require additional actions. Addiction to pleasure (in any form) is a good example of this. Once the desire is satisfied, it generates more desire, which then needs to be satisfied 

ad infinitum. 

In Karma Yoga, one seeks to end this cycle by n

ot

being attached to the outcome of anything he does. Actions are thus performed based on what seems appropriate in a given situation. The person performing the action has no concern about whether the end result is "good" or "bad." Since the actions are n

ot

performed for self-gratification, the person is free of them. As a result of n

ot

being attached to the outcome, a person can become completely involved in whatever he is doing. In this way, yogis seek to end the eternal cycle of death and rebirth.

© 

Jnana Yoga

: Path of Transcende

nt

al Knowledge -- This type of yoga is geared toward those who have an i

nt

ellectual curiosity, who like to reason and analyze. The ordinary mind can never know Ultimately and Absolutely. Therefore, the goal is for the ordinary mind to realize that and, thereby, get out of the way. In effect, one uses the ordinary mind to transcend the ordinary mind. Gradually the ordinary mind reveals its true nature to itself. In the "Who am I?" inquiry, as taught by the great Indian guru Ramana Maharshi, the mind's false ide

nt

ities are discou

nt

ed one by one u

nt

il it is exhausted. Once the mind has exhausted all its answers, then the higher Self may emerge.

(d) 

Bhakti Yoga

: Path of Dev

ot

ion -- Bhakti Yoga is considered the simplest of the Yogas. Bhakti is a practice of self-surrender for the purpose of eve

nt

ually ide

nt

ifying with the source of love, or the higher Self. It is n

ot

unlike dev

ot

ion and service associated with religion in the West. The yogi selects a Sai

nt

, Guru, or an

ot

her figure to direct his dev

ot

ional love. Every act in daily life is done to serve the beloved one. Visualizations and 

ma

nt

ras 

are also part of Bhatki Yoga practice. The goal is to visualize the beloved one all the time. At first one may have a picture or represe

nt

ation to look at as the visualization skill is developed. A sound is repeated at the same time as the visualization. Although there are many words that can be selected, the sound of "GM" (A-U-M) is one anyone can use. This practice is especially suitable for people with i

nt

ense em

ot

ional natures. Key words are: worship, dev

ot

ion, self-surrender, visualization, and 

ma

nt

ra.

(e) 

Raja Yoga

: Path of Stillness -- In Raja Yoga, the goal is to quiet the mind through meditation where the atte

nt

ion is fixed on an

OB

ject, 

ma

nt

ra, 

or concept. Whenever the mind wanders, it is brought back to whatever is the

OB

ject of conce

nt

ration. In time, the mind will cease wandering and become completely still. A state of focused, uni

nt

errupted conce

nt

ration will occur. From this state, the yogi will eve

nt

ually merge with the higher SELF.

(f) 

Kriya Yoga

 -- Babaji's Kriya Yoga is a scie

nt

ific art of perfect God Truth union and Self-Realization. The great Master of India, Babaji Nagarag, revived it as a sy

nt

hesis of ancie

nt

teachings of the 18 Siddha tradition. Kriya Yoga claims to bring about an i

nt

egrated transformation of the individual in all five planes of existence: physical, vital, me

nt

al, i

nt

ellectual, and spiritual. It includes a series of 144 techniques or, "Kriyas," grouped i

nt

o five phases, or branches.

1. Kriya 

Hatha Yoga

: including "Asanas," physical postures of relaxation, "bandahs," muscular locks, and "mudras," gestures, all of which bring about greater health, peace, and the awakening of the principal energy ce

nt

res, the "chakras." Babaji has selected a particularly effective series of 18 postures, which are taught in stages and in pairs. One cares for the physical body, n

ot

for its own sake, but as a vehicle or temple of the Divine (religious, n

ot

just an exercise).

2. Kriya 

Kundalini Pranayama

: the "p

ot

e

nt

ial" technique, is a powerful breathing exercise to awaken powerful late

nt

energy and circulate it through the seven principal 

chakras

between the base of the spine and crown of the head. It awakens their corresponding psychological states and makes one a dynamo on all five planes of existence.

3. Kriya 

Dhyana Yoga

: meditation, the scie

nt

ific art of mastering the mind: to cleanse the subconscious; develop conce

nt

ration, me

nt

al clarity, and vision; to awaken the i

nt

uitive and creative faculties; and bring about the breathless state of communion with God, "samadhi" (n

ot

the God of the Bible).

4. Kriya 

Ma

nt

ra Yoga

: the me

nt

al repetition of subtle sounds to awaken the i

nt

uition, the i

nt

ellect, and the 

chakras

; the 

ma

nt

ra 

becomes a substitute for the "I" ce

nt

red chatter and facilitates the accumulation of great amou

nt

s of energy. The 

ma

nt

ra 

is supposed to cleanse habitual subconscious ten­dencies (it is a religious repetitive cha

nt

).

5. Kriya Bhakti Yoga: dev

ot

ional activities and service to awaken pure Divine universal love and spiritual bliss; it includes cha

nt

ing and singing, ceremonies, pilgrimages, and worship.

-  So if someone's interested in physical exercises that are designed to help one's body, he should not take Yoga, which is designed for death, and teaches how to reach this state of consciousness (see note) where one gets a better reincarnation. Even the physical positions in Yoga come right out of the Hindu scriptures, and are designed to put one into this state of consciousness where you imagine that you're God. Therefore, Christians who think they think they're getting relaxation and/or exercise, are really getting Hinduism! They think they're getting science, but they're getting religion. It's mislabeled and it's dangerous! (Source: a 1988 John Ankerberg Show program, "The New Age in Society.")

-  John Weldon and Clifford Wilson wrote in Occult Shock and Psychic Forces that Yoga is really pure occultism. Hans-Ulrich Rieker, in his book The Yoga of Light, also warns that misunderstanding the true nature of Yoga can mean "death or insanity." Another little known fact is that virtually every major guru in India has issued warnings similar to these; i.e., deep-breathing techniques such as the ones taught in Yoga are a time-honored method for entering altered states of consciousness and for developing so-called psychic power. [Note: Yoga is one of the basic means of reaching this altered state of consciousness. And the altered state is the doorway to the occult. Sir John Eccles, NOBel Prize Winner for his research on the brain, said the brain is "a machine that a ghost can operate." In a normal state of consciousness, one's own spirit ticks off the neurons in his brain and operates his body. We are spirits connected with a body. But in an altered state, reached under drugs, Yoga, hypnosis, etc., this passive but alert state, the connection between the spirit and the brain, is loosened. That allows another spirit to interpose itself, to begin to tick off the neurons in the brain, and create an entire universe of illusion. You've then opened yourself up. It's called sorcery. People are literally teaching themselves how to be demonized, all in the name of developing one's full potential.]

* Unless otherwise cited, parts of this report have been excerpted and/or adapted from  Examining & Exposing Cultic & Occultic Movements, Jack Sin, “Should a Christian Practise Yoga?,” April 2000, pp. 79-84.

Biblical Discernment Ministries - Revised 1/2002

[John81]

A growing number of Americans are embracing the practices of false religions and false religions themselves. In worshipping false gods and giving themselves over to heathen practices they are opening themselves up to the Enemy.

[2bLikeJesus]

I had to fight hard with my school because my "required course" for a transfer degree included "Health and Fitness" course.  One week of that course was devoted to Yoga, and I refused to be any part of it or do any of the homework or quizzes on the abomination, and I fought to not lose a letter grade for my non-participation.  By the way...the instructor has purple beaded hair, wears a crystal pouch always that appears to have not been washed in this century, has tattoos and piercings everywhere, and is named Breeze...(I'm betting she has a "Coexist" bumper sticker as well). I'm guessing that it would not have been generic non-religious as my school admin tried to say.