Muslims are asked to stop the practice of yoga, according to Malaysiakini.
Pensyarah Fakulti Pengajian Islam, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Prof Zakaria Stapa menasihati orang Islam yang mengamalkan senaman yoga supaya menghentikannya kerana bimbang boleh memesongkan akidah.
Bagaimanapun Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan belum membuat keputusan rasmi berhubung senaman tersebut.
Majlis itu akan membuat keputusannya dalam tempoh terdekat, kata Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim).
Yoga yang diperkenalkan sekitar 3,300 Sebelum Masihi dikatakan dapat membantu melambatkan proses penuaan, mengurangkan risiko kencing manis, darah tinggi, lelah dan penyakit berkaitan jantung.
Menurut Bernama lagi, amalan senaman harian itu kebanyakannya mempunyai pergerakan berdasarkan unsur dalam agama Hindu seperti manifestasi gerakan, konsentrasi dan posisi tubuh dilakukan sambil membaca mentera.
That makes me wonder about what the Catholics said about yoga too. I personally have stopped some of the things I practised since I converted to Catholicism. Some of them are my knowledge and implementation of fengshui around my home, study of the I-Ching and 8 pillars (pat chee) and other interesting subjects that were ok before I was a Christian. Though, not officially, we were told that tai chi, yoga and other forms of health exercise that touched on our souls too were not recommended for us.
It is not a matter of being fearful, blindly listening to orders or being obedient. Since I have practised those before, I do know that some of them are rather accurate and effective. Therefore, I see it as a test of my faith if I were to dwell in them. If you have the One Powerful Almighty God, why need other co-stars? Some parties insisted that feng shui is a science. But then, when you dwell deeper, you will note that all kind of lucky objects will be offered as remedies. Then, it is definitely against Christianity.
I have never taken an interest in yoga because many of the yoga centres I saw have a buddha-like statue to give one the zen feel. So, I have always see yoga as ’something I shouldn’t venture into’. I personally believe the Holy Spirit dwells in me and the Spirit will provide me the zen, without all the mumbo-jumbo.
So, is yoga against our Christian faith? Here’s an explanation I picked up from a Catholic forum, answered by Michelle Arnold, Catholic Answers Apologist in 2004 :
Physical exercises that are common to yoga that promote health and physical well-being are fine. What Catholics should not do is participate in non-Christian Eastern spirituality. If yoga contains non-Christian Eastern spirituality, one can do the physical exercises but refrain from the prayers. As a general rule of thumb, Christian spirituality is interpersonal (between persons) while non-Christian Eastern spirituality focuses the practitioner on the self.
I also find a very lengthy article on the Vatican about Christianity and the New Age. The article is very helpful towards the course I am currently studying. I am taking the Psychology and Spirituality course in College General and am trying to discover why we humans are reacting the way we do.
In conclusion, I will not take up yoga, fengshui, astrology and etc not because I am a devout Catholic Christian. Rather, I do not trust my own strength weaknesses and do not wish to fall into the fallacy of having a ‘tailor-made god’ whereby I take only whatever I can chew and spew whatever I cannot live up to. I will stick to my belief that Jesus is the one solution for everything I will ever need. If you wish to read another related article on New Age thinking, do check my old post on Oprah Winfrey church and what my church elder said about Christians and Oprah Winfrey.
If you are offended by my opinions or wish to pump your disagreement, sorry I am not interested to hear.
The English version on Malaysiakini is over here.
Additional readings on Yoga
October 29th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
so what’s your take on Marian Catholics and the apparitions of Mary?
October 29th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I believe that yoga is a form of exercise whereby the individual harnesses energy or something like that to feel better. I do stand corrected and do not profess to be a yoga-expert. If the explanation of yoga as found in Wikipedia is taken to be correct, then it is obviously against Islam and Christianity. Though one may practice yoga without chanting, the conscious mind is directed towards the achieving of certain mind-state which is again, contrary to the teachings in Islam and Christianity.
I have stayed away from fengshui, pantang larangs, horoscopes and the like ever since I accepted Jesus as Lord. I don’t condemn those who still practice or believe in the former as it is their free will. I only wish they would find out why they should not.
October 29th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
go to hell you , dont stay in Malaysia , is islam
October 29th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Religion is in your heart and not what you do to exercise your body…. There are many ppl in the State practice yoga and most of them are Christian.
I have been practicing yoga for the pass few years and do not come across any religious stuff. The mantras is to calm your soul and in another language. If you know the meaning, you can do it in English too. Choose wisely and choose what you and your body need to stay healthy.
October 29th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Hi lilian,
The Catholic Church in Klang (Our Lady of Lourdes)has started conducting Yoga lessons at their newly build Community Centre.. I’m thinking of enrolling inthese lessons.
If you are truly true to your faith,nothing can move you. Be true to your self ; this world is indeed too complex to comprehend. Enjoy what can bring you nearer to God. Meditation and Yoga can provide you this inner peace that we truly long for.And also lets start embracing & engaging with all our brothers of differing faiths. This is what our world really needs now! Isn’t that what Jesus thought us?
Good Luck & God Bless.
October 29th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
kevin – The link I provided sort of explains that.
ddd – I wish I can understand what you are saying.
pablopabla – It is like not knowing where to draw the line kind of dilemma to me, so I totally forget all about it. Just like the gambling as a little game and gambling as a sin, so I do not do it, easier.
leona – Whatever not endorsed by the official Roman Catholic church is not part of what I will follow. Just like stigmata, I read that only one saint’s stigmata was mentioned by the Roman Catholic church. And even Padre Pio’s stigmata was not recorded down officially. And frankly, I do not know what is Marian Catholics nor have seen any apparitions of Mary so your question is a mystery to me. I also learnt through Fr. Ignatius Huan in our psychology and spirituality course that we cannot believe everything because the mind and its hidden things (the Id) is a very powerful thing.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Matthew – Like you said, it is conducted BY the Catholic church. There is this thing call Christian meditation which is different from the other type of meditation. Hence, like what I copied and pasted above, there are these two different sides. Do read through the long article on the Vatican site.
October 30th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Dear Lilian,
thanks for this post.
However i beg to differ.
for the record I have practiced yoga in my gym (some big chain in KL)and we have never used and music even remotely similar to anything religious based. And we have never been told to ‘chant’ any mantra or anything.
I am a Catholic too and i do believe that there is only one God. And that Yoga and Tai chi, is merely what it is. Exercise. Its an ancient well researched method of helping you stretch and relax and unwind while burning calories and flexing your muscles. And i still remember when i was a kid that my church in my home town used to have a bunch of old men and women practicing tai chi every morning and sometime our old priest would join in too. Does that make them less of a Christian?
And another thing i firmly believe, if you are strong enough in your own beliefs nothing will be able to sway you from your God.
So now its Yoga, Now what about Aryuvedic Therapies, Acupuncture, Martial arts like kung fu and taekwando and Balinese Massages? Do they not have fine lines linking these practices to religion. So ban these too, What next? Stop women from pursuing education because it corrupts our mind?
October 30th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Karen – I have said it on my personal blog in reply to your comments there. And I am going to repeat. What the Muslims want to do with yoga, is none of the non-Muslims’ business. We have no right to question or challenge their decisions. As long as it doesn’t breach into our personal space, it is polite we just keep quiet. If we do not like Muslims to question our practices, how can we question theirs?
I have put it on my last line that I am not interested to hear what you disagree. Stating you are a Catholic does not make you the Catholic church or the voice. Please do read the article on the Vatican site because that is the Catholic views.
I have not said whether it is right or wrong for Catholics to adopt these tai chi, yoga but I have said it so clearly that I, personally won’t dabble in them. If I want exercise, I can do it in other ways. If I want peace of mind, I can go to the sanctuary. Simple as that.
October 30th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
with referance to lillians article date on the 30th october titled(OF ISLAM AND YOGA AND MY CHRISTIANS REASONINGS). TO LILLIAN.if ur not interested in peoples opinion and disagreement,who bothers to read urs,u can go fly kites lillian. hp
October 30th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
hp – Wakakakah, don’t you find it funny that there are people interested to comment then?
October 30th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
“What the Muslims want to do with yoga, is none of the non-Muslims’ business. We have no right to question or challenge their decisions. As long as it doesn’t breach into our personal space, it is polite we just keep quiet.”
And you have my respect for that. Well said, Auntie!
- MENJ
October 30th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Hi Lilian did Fr Huan touch on this in class ? I remember sometimes he would quote and discuss current issues and news. Just curious how he views it from that angle.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
domino – Actually, I did think of asking him. Then, I re-think, hey, I already got the things figured out, so why ask. The way I see it, the respective faith has to set some form of guidelines because there are many gray areas and if there is no directive or whatever, then, one can just sway to the side which is against their faith. I mean, if people look at it with common sense, yes, yoga does have some traits of Hinduism.
menj – I don’t know why people are so worked up over it. If they think it is fine, then, just carry on, what’s stopping them, right?
October 31st, 2008 at 3:30 am
Abrahamic faiths ARE so interesting isn’t it? Can’t help L.O.L reading this post. Keep it coming…
November 6th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Not only yoga but many other activities even forms of exercises – that can be detrimental to one’s inner self.
How do we differentiate?
Check the root? What is the origin of that game/activity? Did it originate as a spiritual activity or mere physical wellbeing activity? If it is spiritual, then you are engaging in spiritual movements and activities.
Just like you want to know what are the effects of taking medicine or nutritional products, you would want to know the root – how they are made, are they organic, are there any side-effects – these are important considerations. There may have good immediate effects – but what else is packaged with it.
Just a simple comment.
Steven W
November 24th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Of all comments that I read, I find the one from Mathew Alex quite interesting yet surprising. And thus, I am replying only to Mathew Alex here. No offense to friends of other faiths.
Meditation on what? Christianity teaches meditation on the Word of God. And, Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. He can give us the peace that surpasses all understandings if we give thanks to Him (Philippians 4:6-7). Can Yoga do so?
Yes, we should be respectful with our brothers of different faith. So much so that we need to wear the Gospel of peace on our feet, and show a good example to everyone. Learning Yoga no doubt help your body, but how about your soul and spirit? How about your relationship with God and His people?
Btw, Jesus not only taught us to “embrace & engage with all our brothers of differing faiths”. Jesus also taught us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that He commanded us” (Matthew 28:19-20). God also taught us to be still and know He is God (Psalm 46:10). God did not teach us to be still while practising Yoga, and forget about ourselves and everything including Him.
November 25th, 2008 at 1:58 am
David – I have covered the bases, making it clear that it is no one’s business what I said ‘cos I approach it as a former Taoist and deal with it as a Catholic. Yet, these people still got irked by it. I wonder if they are irked by my reasonings, which are strictly for my own observation or is there a force that grates on their conscience.
And LOL at your last sentence.
You know hor, I once read a book by Philip Yancey. He said we do not need to meditate because our God comes down to us to give us peace whilst another faith (dare not say Buddhists hehehe) have to meditate to achieve peace.
**Disclaimer again : What I said is between David C and I, so the rest got no excuse to get mad, ok?