On Nov. 22 2208, an authoritative national Islamic body in Malaysia issued a decree, or as they call it a 'fatwa,' banning muslims in Malaysia from practicing yoga. A week later a higher council revoked this decree. The rightness or the wrongness of this decree does not concern me. To me, this is a purely islamic affair. As long as it effects only muslims, and does not impinge on the freedoms of non-muslims, particularly in Malaysia, the council can come up with whatever fatwas they see fit.
What interests me more on this issue was the international coverage that this piece of news got and the responses to them. This news even made the CNN World News Headlines. The subsequent rebuttals this news received from some yoga experts in Malaysia and from other parts of the world, claiming that yoga was 'just an exercise,' that it has nothing to do with spirituality, is a misconception that I would like to address in this presentation.
Every exercise system has a goal. If I want to build muscles, I will pump iron. If I want to build stamina, I can jog or get on a tread mill. If I want to stimulate spiritual awareness through exercise, then, I will do hatha yoga.
One may take yoga out of religion but not its inherent spirituality.Yoga is part of Hindu religious tradition and teachings, however yoga itself is a universal practice that is not the monopoly of Hinduism or any other religion.
This is why Hindu gurus have never restricted the teaching or practice of yoga exclusively to Hindus. You will never hear a Hindu guru claim that a student has to be Hindu to learn and practice yoga, or that yoga will only work if the yogi is a Hindu. This universality of yoga comes from the spiritual philosophies behind it.
The word yoga means union. This union refers to the oneness of consciousness that is achieved when a yogi's awareness merges with God. Yoga is a method through which this oneness is achieved.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
On Offering God Meat
Question: How is it that God accepted Kanappan’s meat offerings? Isn’t it an impure offering?
Answer: Yes, meat is an impure offering to give God. However you must understand that in Kanappan Nayanar’s case, first of all, God responded to his devotion, not the quality of his offerings. The story showcases the greatness of unbridled selfless devotion. It is not meant to give a devotee an excuse to offer meat or animal sacrifice to God. Secondly, Kanappan did not know better. Being born in a community of hunters and forest dwellers, meat was a central part of their diet. Meat was considered the best among foods to them since they lived in conditions where a balanced vegetarian diet may have been difficult to maintain. Thus it is natural for Kanappan, having grown up not knowing the concept of vegetarianism and not schooled in the protocols of temple worship, to offer God meat. To Kanappan this was the best quality food that he knew for offering God at the time.
Answer: Yes, meat is an impure offering to give God. However you must understand that in Kanappan Nayanar’s case, first of all, God responded to his devotion, not the quality of his offerings. The story showcases the greatness of unbridled selfless devotion. It is not meant to give a devotee an excuse to offer meat or animal sacrifice to God. Secondly, Kanappan did not know better. Being born in a community of hunters and forest dwellers, meat was a central part of their diet. Meat was considered the best among foods to them since they lived in conditions where a balanced vegetarian diet may have been difficult to maintain. Thus it is natural for Kanappan, having grown up not knowing the concept of vegetarianism and not schooled in the protocols of temple worship, to offer God meat. To Kanappan this was the best quality food that he knew for offering God at the time.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Forms of Paramatma
The Many Faces of Paramatma
One God, Many Forms
Dakshinamurthi
Krishna
Lakshmi
Mariamman
Nataraja and Sivakami Sundari
Click Here to view more forms of Paramatma.
My Hindu Page Custom Search Engines
My Hindu Page Custom Search Engines
Taking advantage of Google's Search Capabilities one of the unique services of My Hindu Page is to provide customized search engines. There are three such customized search engines as detailed below.
My Hindu Page Site Search
This Search Engine Searches for results only from MyHinduPage.org . This search engine can be found at the bottom of every page of MyHinduPage.org
The Hindu Search Engine
The Hindu Search Engine is customized to search through only selected Hindu websites. A growing list of websites that are included in this search engine are listed in this Search Engine's dedicated page, that can be accessed by clicking here. If you have a Hindu information or educational website that you would like to include in The Hindu Search Engine please send me an email with the site's URL for review.
My Hindu Page Web Search
My Hindu Page's entire World Wide Web Search is customized with Googles safe search filter and optimized for Hindu Search Keywords. This Search Engine is ideal for safe surfing on the Internet. It can be selected to be your browser's default search page by entering this URL: http://www.safesearch.myhindupage.org in your Browser's Home Page in its Preferences or Properties, or this Search Engine can be Bookmarked at its dedicated page (Click Here).
Meditaion Video Tutorial
Meditation Video Tutorial:
1. Introduction - The Desire to Meditate
Synopsis: Video opening collage, Dualities - The Nature of Life, The Desire to Meditate.
2. Introduction - The Five Bodies (1)
Synopsis: The five bodies: The Physical Body, The Pranic Body, The Astral Body and the Mental Body. The Soul Body the fifth body is in the next segment.
3. Introduction - The Five Bodies (2)
Synopsis: The five bodies: The Soul Body.
Meditation - Dhyana - Directory
Meditation / Dhyana Lessons Content
The true state of Meditation is not achieved, rather, it is attained. Meaning the state of meditation comes to us instead of we getting there or getting it. This is Dhyana. It is beyond the basic state of a stress free or a calm mind. It is the state a meditator attains prior to achieving God Realization (Enlightenment). In the yogic system of Ashtanga Yoga that comprises eight progressive steps to God Realization, Meditation or Dhyana is the eight step. It is achievable after much preparation of the body, intellect and emotions. A process where the physical and spiritual energies of these three faculties within ourselves are concentrated and then directed into the core of our being, that is into our immortal soul. In the soul, meditation or dhyana is its natural state of consciousness.
The first entry of Meditation Lessons is a Meditation Video Tutorial that is introduces the Ashtanga Yoga System and gives basic instructions for meditation.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Hatha Yoga Video Tutorial
Hatha Yoga Video Tutorial:
Surya Namaskaram & The Chakra Asana Series
1. Introduction To Hatha Yoga
Synopsis: Benefits of Hatha Yoga, History and Spiritual Science behind It.
2. Hatha Yoga Practice Guidelines
Synopsis: Practice Guidelines and Diaphragmatic Breathing
3. Surya Namaskaram
Synopsis: Steps of doing Surya Namaskaram, the Hatha Yoga warmup exercise.
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