Most Commented On Articles
Let's Take Yoga Back 
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Hindu Americans Need an Obama
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Where is the hope for the 350,000+ Kashmir Refugees?
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Why We Keep Rocking the Boat.
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Wall Street Journal Misses the Mark on India's Anti-Conversion Efforts
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The violence of conversion
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Kashmir: Pakistan, Pandits and Prospects for the Future « Kashmir ...
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Police arrest Uthayakumar, 15 others in aborted candlelight vigil
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In Evangelism Is Evil « The Reformed Pastor:
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In The violence of conversion:
Reply PermalinkOn 3/4/10 reformuscirf said:
""For those who believe they have access to such a Truth, the desire to offer it to others is both natural and rational.”
By Thomas Farr
Mr Farr should remember that Quality of news is never judged by bearer but by recipient.
The news to non-abrahamic recipient is "Your pluralist beliefs and ethos are wrong. You near and dear ones who departed earth are burning in hell. Reject your cherished way of life or else face eternal damnation."
Bad news should be delivered in most sensitive manner. It is insensitive to deliver bad news as good news. Unfortunately, This piece of bad news is sometimes advertised along with verbel violence and other vile tactics.
USCIRF needs structural reforms and process reengineering in order to ensure compliance with IRFA 1998 law and champion freedom of all faiths.
Visit: www.uscirf.blogspot.com for details
" -
In The violence of conversion:
Reply PermalinkOn 3/4/10 reformuscirf said:
"What Thomas Farr dubs as Good News is Bad News?
The news is Your pluralist beliefs and ethos are wrong. You near and dear ones who departed earth are burning in hell. Reject your cherished way of life or else face eternal damnation.
Bad news should be delivered in most sensitive manner. It is insensitive to deliver bad news as good news.
Unfortunately, This piece of bad news is sometimes advertised along with verbel violence and other vile tactics.
USCIRF needs structural reforms and process reengineering in order to ensure compliance with IRFA 1998 law and champion freedom of all faiths.
Visit: www.uscirf.blogspot.com for details.
" -
In India's Supreme Court Refuses To Order Constitution Amended To Clarify Status of Sikhs:
Reply PermalinkOn 1/21/10 reformuscirf said:
"India’s constitution defines all followers of Indic faith (i.e. Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Sanatan etc.) as Hindus.
Article 29 and 30 of Indian constitution provides lesser rights, benefits and protection to Hindus vs. non-Hindus paving way for hostile government take-over of Hindu institutes and misappropriation of its assets and income. More-over, Minority institutes also receive government patronage in form of Exemption from 2005 Amendment to the Article 15, 95% grant-in-aid, College Scholarship to pursue higher education etc.
Many organizations feel that Hindu label is a liability. It exposes them to ideologically inspired attacks, places them at a financial disadvantage and paves way for government confiscation. As a result, several entities like Rama-Krishna Mission, Arya Samaj, Sikhs, Jains etc. have filed law-suits and done intense lobbying to declare them self a non-Hindu minority religion. For Instance, in west Bengal, Rama Krishna Mission whose colleges and schools were in danger of hostile take-over by Marxist government petitioned the courts to have their organization and movement declared a non-Hindu minority religion.
So far India’s Supreme Court has rejected Rama Krishna Mission, Arya Samaj, Sikhs and Jain Organizations petitions asking for minority status.
Reference: www.uscirf.blogspot.com section: Error of Omission
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In Is yoga a religious discipline?:
Reply PermalinkOn 1/14/10 Vasu Gokaraju said:
"Do Yoga Without Losing Your Dignity
The following comments can be found at
http://vasugokaraju.blogspot.com/2009/12/do-yoga-without-losing-your-dignity.html
Comments:
If you have the root of Hinduism, then the stem is Hinduism, and the flower is Hinduism.
-- Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, Hinduism Today
Yoga is a gift to humanity from Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). Thanks to technology, the world is learning about this scientific method of curing mind and body without any side effects.
Coming to the main point, recently I have come across "Christian Yoga" and "Muslim Yoga'. When I dig deep into it, I could not believe how religious organizations have exploited the ignorance of people. After reading several articles and opinions of the people, I felt that it is started in the West and now some Asians are also doing the same.
New Names to Yoga Postures:
The issue is, every Yoga posture has a Sanskrit name as it is originated from Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). But people are not willing to accept Yoga if the original Sanskrit names are used while practicing the postures. It is not the issue of difficulty to pronounce these original names but it is the issue of religion. The name of the Yoga posture must be changed to something that does NOT sound like Hindu and only then people can practice Yoga without hurting their religious beliefs and personal pride.
First, Christians said that Yoga posters are demonic and cannot be practiced by "true" christian. Then they published Christian Yoga books with the same Yoga postures but different names. Now comes the Muslims. They first issued "Yoga Fatwa" banning muslims from practicing Yoga. Now they have released Muslim Yoga books suggesting the same techniques with different muslim fitting names. It is clear that they are trying to fool someone, but the question is whom they are trying to fool?
Here is my suggestion to those people. You could simply say "I practice yoga and heck with Hindus". Even your enemy would respect it as you are at least frank about it. But I don't think even your mom can support this self inflicting business of name changing. If you were to be right, eating at a Hindu restaurant should break your religious sentiments in a single bite.
Yoga in Secular Institutes:
As if that is not enough, even some schools are following the same habits. If the original Sanskrit names of the Yoga postures are pronounced in the school premises, it makes the school non-secular. But changing the name and doing the same Yoga posture some how justifies it. I don't know what kind of message the kids get from this justification. School is not the entire world. When those kids come into society, they will realize how twisted the school administration was OR the parents who forced the school to do it.
Adulteration of Yoga:
While we are in the context, I want to mention one more point about twisting Yoga to fit your ego. I have noticed that people are not happy with chanting AUM as prescribed by Yoga but instead they want to chant a sound that is religiously acceptable. If you are in that twisted mindset, you are the best candidate to be a future terrorist. The sound AUM is an integral part of Yoga and when practiced as suggested, it stimulates your body especially the brain.
As if that is not enough, some Hindu groups are even responding to these queries and giving conflicting responses without realizing that they are falling into the Western trap. Yoga has been practiced by other beliefs like Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism in its original form. But why these Christians and Muslims are finding it difficult to practice Yoga as it is? Why some of these Hindu groups are trying to convince Christians and Muslims as if Yoga cannot survive without them?
It is clearly stated in the Pathanjali Yoga Sutras that one should say AUM. But some prominent Hindu institutions are encouraging non-Hindus to use other religiously acceptable sounds like Amen or Allah instead of AUM. On what authority these Hindu organizations are making these changes? If the book says AUM you preach AUM. The only reason these Hindu organizations are making such blunders is to impress their non-Hindu followers. If that is not true, then I would like to hear what you got to say!
Religions or Spiritual Practice:
Now, here comes some “intellectuals” who try to conclude whether Yoga is Religions or Spiritual practice. The only reason why some religious groups in the West are trying to create this thought in the public is to separate Yoga from its roots. This deliberate action is needed for them in order to accommodate their non-Hindu followers without hurting their religious sentiments. Publishing the “Christian Yoga” and “Muslim Yoga” books is the proof. Now Western media joined the bandwagon and has been publishing numerous articles on whether Yoga is Religious or Spiritual practice without even mentioning the word Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma.
If you are one of those who is trying to figure out whether Yoga is Religion or Spiritual, please read this short story and figure out where you stand. The question is, are you are knowledgeable enough to discuss whether Yoga is Religious or Spiritual practice? Do you know the whole picture on this subject? If you are new to Hinduism and your primary source of information on this subject is your local religious head, then your dog has more information to tell you.
In conclusion, you are most welcome to practice Yoga as it is but changing its Name or Form to fit your ignorance does not hurt anybody but yourself.
Thank you,
Vasu Gokaraju" -
In Indian Buddhists Protest Hindu Control Over Temple:
Reply PermalinkOn 1/13/10 reformuscirf said:
"Here are few historical facts about Mahabodhi Temple:-
* Hindus worship buddha as an incarnation of Shri Vishnu. Hindu and Buddhist form of prayer is almost same.
* For 400+ years, Temple was owned and managed by Hindu Monks. Prayers and Celebrations were conducted by Hindu Monks. Buddhist presence in india was almost nil.
* In 1950's, Government of India confiscated Mahabodhi temple and several other major hindu temples. Government appoints advisory Board and administration committee. <b>As per the Law, Mahabodhi Board must have Buddhist majority and Committee must have Hindu majority.</b>
* Most political parties ruling india subscribe to un-hindu and/or anti-hindu ideology of extreme-left flavor (e.g. Communism, Maoism, Dravidian Anti-Brahminism, Fabian Socialism, Lohia Socialism).
* All temple committee/board appointments are political plums given to comrades and fellow traveler in political-ideological path. Many appointees are non-believers even thought they are nominally hindu or a buddhist.
* Almost all important hindu temples are confiscated, controlled, mismanaged and plundered by Govt.
* Govt. control over Mahabodhi and all other temples should be transferred to believers.
Reference:
http://www.mahabodhi.com/
http://www.bodhgayanews.net/
http://www.uscirf.blogspot.com/
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In Pew Forum Issues New Study On Religious Restrictions Around the World:
Reply PermalinkOn 1/1/10 reformuscirf said:
"Pew Forum's "SHI" (i.e. Social Hostility Index which captures social hostility towards minority faith) construction is faulty. It solely focuses on negative incidents and ignores positive incidents. It is based on row number of negative incidents instead of %age of negative vs. positive incidents. Thus, It completely ignores positive developments and ends up portraying exception as rule.
More-over, PEW Study fails to distinguish between Provoked vs. non-provoked negative incident. Hate-crime vs. non-hate-crime (e.g. tribal land dispute in orissa state of india).
For instance, PEW ignores following facts and declares india as socially hostile towards minority:-
Fact #1: Socially hostile people will never elect minority person as Prime-Minister or Chief-Minister. However, India's Prime-Minister, Vice-President, Supreme leader of ruling party and several chief ministers belong to minority community.
Fact #2: Number of positive incidents is perhaps 1000000% higher than no. of negative incidents. For example, Large scale hindu participation in christian and islamic festivals and prayers.
Fact #3: Most negative incidents are provoked due to non-hatred causes like tit-for-tat,land-dispute and govt. benefits etc. Provoked negative incidents are bad and must be strongly condemned. However, It is not as useful as unprovoked hate-crime is measuring social hostility.
In similar manner, PEW's Government Restriction Index is built on negative. It ignores positive government accommodations. For example, India is perhaps the only country which has 1 public holiday assigned for each and every religion (list: zorahstrains, jain, sikh, buddhist, christain, islam, hindu).
http://www.uscirf.blogspot.com" -
In Let's Take Yoga Back:
"Can I agree with all of the comments thus far mention. I take no side to this arguement however, I do want to provide some insight into this debate. Some people who have learned yoga truly have the insights to the authentic derivations of it from Hinduism while others not so much. What I do have a problem is with those Yoga teachers that takes the origins completely out of it as what Sheetal so eloquently described. Some comments also demonstrate this too. I attended yoga classes can't remember what type of yoga though... but that doesn't really matter now does it? Anyways, I encountered english phrases for asanas, rather than the traditional names. Its irritated the hell out of me in a way because, these new names offer no insight to the would be follower of yoga to understand its origins. Furthermore, it devalues the experiences of it.
On the otherhand, Sanskrit names for certain asanas are hard to pronouce. If Hindus have a hard time saying them, then how can we expect non-Hindus and "Westerners" address them by there proper name.
So, when push comes to shove as long as yoga isn't completely distorted from its origins and Christan don't contribute to the distortion of the facts as what the infamous Pat Robertson has done in the past.... I don't have a problem with the way its practiced.
Now, what I want to know then from everyone who has posted included Sheetal, is Yoga a secular practice or should it be tied down to religion as many people propogate. When u mix religion into anything it causes problems. When "all" Hindus themselves don't practice it, then how can we go and assert that it is Hindu form of worship. Hindus must assert their "uniform" identity. Until and unless we do, these problems will still surface.
What do you all think?" -
In HAF exposes anti Hindu bias of Uscirf:
Reply PermalinkOn 9/12/09 reformuscirf said:
"A blog advocating reforms at USCIRF has been launched. Visit uscirf.blogspot"
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In Police arrest Uthayakumar, 15 others in aborted candlelight vigil:
Reply PermalinkOn 9/10/09 Ramaraksha said:
"And these guys are running Travel ads in India asking us to visit their beautiful country. Let's boycott Malaysia. Tell your friends, write to newspapers and ask them not to visit Malaysia until these guys respect human rights. Hit them where it hurts. "
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In One Malaysia?:
Reply PermalinkOn 9/7/09 Ramaraksha said:
"And these guys are running ads in India asking us to visit Malaysia, touting how beautiful and wonderful their country is. Please, if you are Hindu or even if you are not, do not travel to Malaysia! There are plenty of other good destinations for you to choose from"
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In Wall Street Journal Misses the Mark on India's Anti-Conversion Efforts:
"Terrific article. When I first experienced anger over this while in India, I was a bit confused. Many of these Christian groups have been strong allies in my human rights/anti-Islamist efforts. But the more I thought about it and saw for myself what was happening, I shared the Hindu anger over it. It reminded me of Christian conversion efforts against my faith, Judaism. In times past, they were very coercive, too.
While I believe there are specific things that Hindus can do, as we Jews did; Sachi's article identifies a basic challenge that we have to face--and it relates to my initial reaction. That is ignorance. Hindus are a minority in Christian-majority US, just as Jews are. There is even less understanding of Hinduism among Americans--and ignorance spawns support for bad policies. Even one of the best US papers, Wall Street Journal, put that on display with its article.
I do not think it is the "responsibility" of Hindus to justify their faith; nor do I believe it is Hindus' responsibility to eradicate ignorance. But the sad fact is that observations such as Sachi made like will be made again--and again and again--even in a great country like the United States where many Indians have come and become prominent persons.
America truly is a great country, but people will passively or actively support wrong-headed positions because we continue as a nation to be ignorant about Hinduism and the greater picture of what Hindus face in the Northeast and elsewhere."Reply PermalinkOn 9/7/09 Ramaraksha said:
"I agree that we Hindus must talk, discuss and write about our faith. I noticed that whenever there was an article on Judaism in the chicago trib, there were at least a couple of letters from Jewish people, which means at least a dozen jewish people must have taken the time to write.
Talk about Hindu values, not just to americans but even to our children. Values like:
1. "Ishwar, Allah Tere Naam" - Only a Hindu would utter these words. Hinduism is an inclusive faith not an exclusive one. All good souls, even atheists, are welcomed by God Rama, unlike other religions which reserve heavens for themselves and condemn even good people like Gandhi to hell. That is not the Hindu way.
2. What if the Buddha had been born in Europe or muslim lands in the middle ages? He would have been branded a heretic and tortured to death! There would be no Buddhism today? And what do Hindus to the person who rejected Hinduism? Why, make him a God of course! It is not a coincidence that until recently western and muslim lands were barren except for one religion each, whreas Hindu India has always been a polyglot of hundreds of faiths!
3. The only major religion to pray to a female form of God! Most other religions insist that God can only be a man, relegating women to a second class status. 200 years ago women did not even have the power to vote, they were confined to the kitchen and told to take care of husband and family. Go back 2,000 years their status must have been even worse. It is quite clear that some religions are simply regurgitating values of those days, nothing divine here. But what is mind-boggling is that an even older faith, Hinduism, sought to give equality to women!
4. It is not a coincidence that Muslim pakistan has so much trouble with democracy while Hindu India does not. What is the only difference between the two countries? Religion! Hinduism is a Teacher faith whereas Abrahamic religions are King religions, God made in the image of a King. A King issues orders, commands and passes down judgements. When people appeared before the king, they fell to their knees and shook with fear, for this man could order their death without discussion! Hence a fear of God! In those days most kings were men, so God had to be a man. Using a King as a template for God reduces his devotees to the status of a slave, servant or subject. A King has no use for democracy, and it is for this reason that you see countries that move closer to islam find democracy hard to come by. Most cults and terrorists usually come from these king religions.
Hinduism/Buddhism are teacher religions. For a Hindu the goal is not a flesh-happy heaven but Moksha, a state of enlightenment. Enlightenment comes from gaining knowledge, with God as our guru. All are welcome in God's classroom, a teacher encourages discussion and debate amongst her students. Encourages them to speak their minds even disagree with the teacher if they feel that they are right. Democracy in action! India will remain a democracy as long as it is a Hindu nation." -
In Why We Keep Rocking the Boat.:
Reply PermalinkOn 7/30/09 Swami Param said:
"Speaking of majoritarian tryanny, those at HAF (and many other Hindus) are unwilling to even discuss some of their views on what is Hinduism--can we say closed-minded?
Swami Param
Dharma Yoga Ashram (Classical Yoga Hindu Academy)
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In Why We Keep Rocking the Boat.:
Reply PermalinkOn 7/22/09 Swami Param said:
"If one is going to "rock the boat," one needs to look one's beliefs. In looking over HAF's "Hinduism Basics," it is clear that more clarification is necessary. We Hindus should be willing to dialogue with each other (something HAF does not always do)in an effort to truly "promote understanding" among Hindus.
Like many Hindus, HAF misuses the Christian term "God." Thoughtful Hindus do not believe in God any more than a Christian would pray to Siva, Vishnu and (especially)the many forms of the MahaDevi. In praising tolerance, what does this mean--to tolerate misperceptions of Hinduism? In promoting pluralism, the Hindu is actually denying the wisdom of Tat Twam Asi. To use English terms, Hinduism is monistic (the opposite of pluralism) polymorphism and certainly not monotheism or any Theism/Theos/God.
In (falsely) claiming "Hinduism is the world's oldest living religion," what is the point if Hindus are going to merely capitulate to the lesser monotheism? It is because of the inability of many Hindus to stand for their Dharma that we have all the misperceptions and outright theft of Hindu Dharma. To understand this theft, simply ask many "What is Yoga; Mantra; Guru and Swastika," for example. In answer to these questions, you may very well get: an exercise business; any repetitive saying; an expert in anything and an evil symbol, respectively.
In Dharma,
Swami Param
Dharma Yoga Asrham (Classical Yoga Hindu Academy)" -
In Kashmir: Pakistan, Pandits and Prospects for the Future « Kashmir ...:
Reply PermalinkOn 6/30/09 Kashmirportal said:
"Thanks for including this article to your website and appreciate by providing link and credit to Kashmirportal.net website.
www.kashmirportal.net is my website with aim to provide a actual and true history, news, articles and conflict of Kashmir. I collect these from across the web. And I hope there will be no problem if I found some useful on your site to add it in my site.
Looking forward to hear soon from you.
Kashmir Portal" -
In Let's Take Yoga Back:
" The article and some comments demonstrate the confusion that occurs when something is twisted /misrepresented by many and their followers continue the spiral deeper into confusion...here we are discussing yoga or actually Hatha Yoga for the most part. The author, a Hindu, with seemingly the best of intentions, sadly plays into the phoney yoga movement/business/delusion. She recognizes the yogas are Hinduism, but yet is willing to take and promote non-Hindus classes teaching and misrepresenting her sacred religion and terms. We then see Omprem with a "Guru", mantras, a Hindu name, a "yoga" instructor, etc.who is presumably not a Hindu...this makes no sense! Omprem then chastise the author for having "pride" in Hinduism...what is wrong with healthy pride? Omprem conveniently finds it OK when a Hindu father is "pleased" or had pride because his son became a phoney "yoga" teacher. The phoney gurus referred to in "when you disparage those teachers you disparage their Guru also." should be taken to task for exploiting Yoga/Hinduism and misguiding the religiously naive.
Below are some FACTS too often overlooked in these discussions.
Sanskrit: The ancient language of the Hindus [Webster's] Note: all subsequent terms are Sanskrit (Skr.) and thus Hindu
~Aum/Om: The most sacred syllable in Hinduism [Oxford World Religions]
~yoga: Skr. "Hinduism" [Webster's]
~yoga: Oneness of Atmana and Brahman [Dict. of Skr. Names]
~yogi/yogini: (male/female) Hindu Ascetic [Oxford World Rel.]
~Atmana: Skr. Self/Spirit; Hinduism [Webster's]
~Brahman: Skr. Hindu Religion [Webster's]
~yoga: Skr. A Hindu discipline [Oxford Am. Dict.]
~ yoga: Skr. A system of Hindu religious philosophy [Thorndike Barnhardt]
~yoga: Skr. general term for spiritual disciplines in Hinduism [Columbia Encyclopedia]
~Swami: Skr. Title of respect of a (Hindu) Holy man or teacher. [Oxford World Religions]
~Guru: Skr. A teacher of worldly skills...more often of religious knowledge...liberation (Moksa). [Oxford World religions]
~Moksa: Release/liberation - the fourth and ultimate goal of Hinduism. [Oxf. World Religion]
~Veda Skr. The most ancient sacred literature of the Hindus. [Webster's]
~The first recorded evidence of the Skr. word "yoga" is found in the Vedas."Seers of the vast illumined Seer yogically control their minds and intelligence." Rig Veda V.81.
~Upanishads: Text in Hinduism which ends or completes the Vedic corpus (body of [Hindu] laws)[Oxf. World Religions]" -
In Let's Take Yoga Back:
Reply PermalinkOn 6/4/09 Swami Param said:
"Here are CYHA, we have been trying for years to give the non-Hindu yoga movement the Hindu/Yoga facts. Sadly, we have also been trying to get the Hindus (even HAF) to wake-up and smell the incense, so to speak, with little or no reply. In fact, it is many Hindus that actually have and do encourage this spurious yoga. The young Hindu lady who wrote the article is right to say "Let's Take Yoga Back," but this process would invlove not attending these spurious yoga classes.
Hindus should seriously ask, "Why do we have to take Yoga Back?" Why did we let it go? Look at how much Hindus have simply let go. Ask the average person about the Swastika and what is a Guru, Mantra, Kundalini, Chakras and of course Yoga, for example. The answers are revealing. Remember, Hindus, all of real Yoga is Hinduism: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Anyone can learn these Hindu/Yogas from a qualified Hindu (and not for fee). True religious/spiritual teachings and practices are offered on a donation basis--this is not a business!
On our web site, we have much information that is highly useful in the worthy mission of clarifying the Hindu/Yogic Dharma, so, "Let's Take Yoga Back" and so much more.
In Dharma,
Swami Param
Dharma Yoga Ashram (Classical Yoga Hindu Academy)" -
In Wall Street Journal Misses the Mark on India's Anti-Conversion Efforts:
"In 2005 I completed a 30 city (town, village, field, etc.) lecture tour in 4 Northeast states of India. I was able to see 1st hand the problems connected with coercive evangelical efforts & the movement of militants to separate from India. Not only do we Hindus find offense @ this, but so do a number of members of more moderate Christian denominations in India.
Fred Stella" -
In Let's Take Yoga Back:
"Namaste! I applaud this opinion. I am a former Catholic who formally embraced the Dharma 20 years ago, & teach Yoga @ a local college. I am very focused on teaching the firm Hindu foundation of Yoga, & include the deep spirituality of the tradition as well. Things are presented in a manner that allow those of any or no religious belief system to appreciate the benefits.
I will also become a part of a team who will be offering Hatha classes @ our local mandir this summer.
When we say "let's take Yoga back," we don't mean to exclude people outside of the faith from practice (we couldn't if we tried!). But we should do our best to make sure that the West knows its auspicious origins.
Fred Stella" -
In Let's Take Yoga Back:
Reply PermalinkOn 5/31/09 yogachandra13 said:
"thank you. i have found this disassociation as well. i found hinduism through my hatha yoga practice and a stay at an ashram for a summer. the two cannot be apart, my asanas or pranayama will not be what they are supposed to be without the mantra. CHANDRA"
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In Let's Take Yoga Back:
Reply PermalinkOn 5/30/09 caryn_sobel said:
"I am an American of European descent, who noticed this avoidance of Hinduism in yoga about twenty-five years ago, when I began my yoga practice. It was obvious even then that there was a concerted attempt to strip yoga of any religious connotations--a secularization, of sorts. Hinduism wasn't "popular" enough to warrant inclusion in the background, and some of my teachers even implied that Buddhism was the root of yoga.
Especially for those of us who had no early exposure to Hinduism, or the cultural heritage, exposure to it through yoga would have been meaningful and productive. I am glad I wandered my way to Hinduism eventually through another means, and it has definitely enriched my yoga practice, but the gaps over the years need not have been there.
Good article, Sheetal, and thanks for the laugh about breathing and falling out of poses!" -
In Let's Take Yoga Back:
"Expressed my sentiments exactly! After exploring both Buddhism and Hinduism for several decades, then deciding upon 'entering' the Hindu religion via a namakarana puja at our temple here, I,too, was a Yoga Journal subscriber as part of my sadhana. But I stopped because of the magazine's mercenary agenda of avoiding giving HInduism its proper respect and acknowlegment. Not only has nonHindu exploitation of Yoga for profit and fashionability been another example of racial piratism, it has cheapened the vast spiritual and cultural importance of Yoga sadhana until it has become a narcicistic industry at odds with its original Divine purpose. About time someone stood up and protested this prostitution of yoga's gifts..."
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In Let's Take Yoga Back:
"It amazes me anytime anyone says they are doing yoga and consider themselves as having an authentic practice, and say that yoga is not Hindu. One of my students this semester was a yoga teacher and he kept repeating that his yoga doesn't talk about or have anything to do with Hinduism. I asked him if he had read Patanjali and no, he hadn't. I told him that yoga came about so that people would be in good shape to worship God. He said that that is religion and they don't mess with religion. I told him enough about the spiritual side and even mentioned the siddhis to get him interested in knowing more. Who knows if he will follow up? In his defence, he lives in South Louisiana in a rabidly Catholic area and people here will protest the dangedest things. I first ran across this practice with the martial arts: Christians would protest that the instructors were teaching their kids anti-Christian philosophy and end up shutting down some schools. Since money seems to be the sole reason some people are running yoga or martial arts studios, some operators are willing to do or say whatever will let them keep making money. Of course all this would seem to be against the ethical teachings of yoga, so for them it is easier to pretend that yoga is just healthy exercise. I think these yogis that water down their teachings are maybe reasoning with this in mind. From what I have seen here in the gym, some of these guys are not competent to teach even the asanas, and are totally ignorant of all the rest of the iceberg. I wonder how many of the ones you are talking about even know that there is so much more to the whole thing than the physical. Oh well, asato maa sad gamaya...."
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In Let's Take Yoga Back:
"I applaud your wish for other Hindus in the West to begin taking Yoga classes and eventually to learn how to teach Yoga classes. I do have a couple of suggestions regarding your article though.
You describe yourself as 'a proud Hindu' in the article and while you refer to the religious basis of Yoga you seem unmindful that the virtues of Hinduism include viveka, vairagya, sama, santosha, and aprigraha all of which preclude pride.
In the article you rather disparaging refer to '[western]instructors who had given themselves Hindu names such as "Ganesh Das"'. Those people were in all likelihood give those names by their Gurus so when you disparage those teachers you disparage their Guru also.
As for myself, I am a westerner who has been teaching Sivananda Yoga for 25 years, including some time in Manhattan. My classes start and end Hindu chants/mantras and I do have a Hindu name given to my by my Guru. Additionally, I have had only Hindu student in all of that time but he did go on to become a teacher of Sivananda Yoga which incidentally pleased his father a great deal.
Good luck in your quest to wake up your compatriots to the benefits of Yoga and its links with their heritage and religion. But remember that Hatha Yoga is integral only to the Raja Yoga path and there are many paths to the top of the mountain.
"Reply PermalinkOn 6/8/09 Swami Param said:
"To Omprem: You confuse being proud with prideful. One should be proud about one's ethical life choices and acheivements. So, are we to take it that you have formally becomce a Hindu? Such a conversion or adoption would be a pre-requiste for being a teacher of any aspect of Yoga. Your point about Hatha Yoga being "integral only to Raja Yoga" is false. All the Hindu/Yogas are intertwined. Hatha Yoga is most essentially a posture/attitude which begins in Karma Yoga. In Bhakti Yoga, one learns to clasically sit for long periods of time in sthirasukhamasana. "
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On 3/6/10 reformuscirf said: