Is Yoga a Religion?

Recently I held a yoga class and a student with a Catholic background asked me, "Is yoga a religion?" I think she had been enjoying my classes but was very concerned that some aspects of yoga might be 'canceling out' her Christianity. My answer to her would be that yoga is not a religion, but a philosophy that can increase the benefits of any spiritual practice.

First of all, yoga does not tell you who or how to worship. It is true that in Bhakti yoga, the yoga of selfless devotion that you are to give your unconditional love to a deity, but none is specified. If you do not come from a theistic background, or feel uncomfortable imagining God, you can always practice the many different branches of yoga that have nothing to do with worshipping a deity.

Yoga does not require membership in any religion. You can be Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Agnostic, or Jewish, just to name a few. No formal statement of religious belief is required. Yoga, however, does compel each of us to see reality as it truly is. It seeks to expand our world view, not to contradict or contract it. What Christian, Muslim or Jewish person, for example, would not be found a better Christian, Muslim or Buddhist person by having a calmer mind and more peaceful heart? These are the very qualities of Jesus, Mohammed, or Buddha.

Yoga has no rituals to perform. Though you may attend a class that chants mantras, burns incense, or uses aromatherapy, no specific rituals are prescribed. You can do yoga in complete silence in your backyard or on a beach. You can do yoga on top of a city building amidst rush-hour traffic. You are not required to appeal to any saints, nor pray to any sacred icons. There are no worship services to attend. You are not asked to tithe or contribute financially. Though, Karma yoga does ask you to become an active member in your community and to give of yourself to any worthy and appropriate cause. Yoga's aim is to build character and personality until the selfless act is one of the practitioner's regular repertoire.

There are no religious persons required to lead a group of practitioners in yoga. Yoga can be effectively taught by someone with a very different religious perspective than your own. Your yoga class is not a congregation in the religious sense, but a group of people with a common interest in trying to better themselves. They may have come to yoga for various reasons. Some may want to become more flexible, and others may want to reach a spiritual understanding of life, but you are not unlike a group of people who enjoy the same kind of music or the same kind of food.

Some may argue that yoga is a religion. The word, 'yoga' after all comes from the Sanskrit word which means 'to yoke'. It is thought that this refers to a sense of Union with the Infinite. Religio also mean to 'link-back' to spirit, but you do not have to be Hindu to practice yoga. You do not have to adhere to specific rules and regulations. Though Patanjali describes the cultivation of virtues such as compassion, goodwill and acceptance, the cultivation of these virtues are not in themselves a religion. One can be without religion entirely and still cultivate similar virtues. While the finer aspects of our characters can be realized through the practice of yoga, it is up to the practitioner whether or not to frame these awarenesses within a religious context.

Although yoga differs in many ways from religion, it is generally agreed that it is an overarching and powerful philosophy. Understanding the difference between a philosophy and religion is important. Philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom or the search for understanding, whereas religion is a system of institutionalized beliefs that can be accepted or declined. Though this is certainly not a judgment on the world's religions, the epistemological origin of the word religion comes from the Latin, religare, to tie back and restrain. Yoga does not ask you to tie back your beliefs but to expand them.

In the words of Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati: "Yoga is in Religion. Religion is not in Yoga. While Yoga may be in Religions, the many Yoga practices with body, breath and mind, along with their transcendent goal of direct experience, are generally neither characteristic of religions, nor typically practiced by the adherents of Religions." It is true that many of the same principles contained within religions are also observed in yoga. Yoga, however, is not an institutionalized system. You can practice yoga on your own. Furthermore, just because there is overlap between some philosophies of say, Buddhism and Christianity, would you say that they are the same religion? Yoga stands aside from religion. Although yoga instills certain beliefs, some that might be misconstrued as religious, there is an error in thinking this so. Are our beliefs not influenced by governments, education, psychology, society, culture and family? Why do we not call these things religion also?

Yoga has one ultimate aim, which is to systematically cleanse the entire being until we are able to find stillness and silence - to experience the vastness of a field of absolute possibility. This is the similar aim of many wisdom traditions. From this place, one can experience spirituality in the context of their culture, their own country and their own religion.

Christina L. Sarich (c) 2008 All Rights Reserved

YOGA HALE

Yoga: Sanskrit Word Meaning, to Yoke Oneself to God    Hale: Hawaiian Word for House