Harlan's Problem With Yoga

[Administrator]

Originally Posted by rationalyogi

People keep referring to Buddhism as a religion rather than what it is - a path to enlightenment. In my opinion, the less enlightened one is, the more one needs religion.

By the same token, Judaism isn't a religion. It's a way of life.

It's semantics.

[Administrator]

Originally Posted by rationalyogi

I respectfully disagree (and I am of Jewish ancestry). A way of life that requires adhering to man-made laws (apart from society's laws of course) is a religion.

I am glad that I chose to remain anonymous

Once again, my point here is to note that your point of view is of course just that - it's your point of view.

Jews would say the laws they follow are of Divine origin.

The opening line of Wikipedia states:

Buddhism is often described as a religion[1] and a collection of various philosophies, based initially on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Gautama Buddha.[2]

Only afterwards does it say:

To many, however, Buddhism is not a religion, nor a philosophy or a set of doctrines, but rather teachings to guide one to directly experiencing reality.[


So it's really a point of view. I view Buddhism as a religion. That's my view.

And as far as being anonymous on the forum, were you expected to be hunted down by the thought police?

Peace.

[Karen Lee]

Hello Harlan,

Thanks for asking a good question.

I think it is very important to get a good definition of yoga -- and there is one classical definition from the Yoga Sutra-s of Pantanjali which have been passed down in precise Sanskrit from their origin 2000

[Administrator]

Wow Karen, I read your post 4 or 5 times with breaks to think about it.

I'm going to print it out and paste it up on my wall.

There is tremendous food for thought here.

I immediately ordered the Essence of Yoga book and will bump it to the top of my list of 100 books to read by next Friday.

I truly appreciate the time you took as well as the "centrist" perspective on the connection between yoga and religion.

Peace.

Harlan

PS. Shiva Rea recommended some books to me on Tantra and Kashmir Shavism. As I was reading them (actually studying them is a better term) I found they duplicated Kabbalistic texts concept by concept.

I recently read that if you took a book of religious mysticism and removed the cover, it would probably fit every religion. Such is the way of the mystic.

Thanks again.

[Karen Lee]

Originally Posted by Administrator

I immediately ordered the Essence of Yoga book and will bump it to the top of my list of 100 books to read by next Friday. .

Well, I sympathize with having a long reading list. Me too. Though I currently am bogged down by books on nutrition and health, not to mention needing to read my book club book!

If you are like me you'll never actually "finish" reading the Yoga Sutra-s, you'll just end up dog-earing the book, looking up sutra-s in times of spiritual nutrition. And then there are all the various translations, interpretations that will sneak their way into your bookshelf.

As I write I'm listing to "The Door of Faith"
by Krishna Das singing "God is Real"

Hare Ram Ram Ram
Sita Ram Ram Ram
I have found a way to live
In the presence of the Lord

Let us know how you feel about the Yoga Sutra-s. I'm curious.

Take care,

Karen

[Administrator]

Just waiting for them to arrive. It will be my weekend reading.

Thanks again.

Peace.