Of course no one owns yoga. Nor do you have to be Hindu to practice and benefit from yoga. Pretty obvious one would think, but not so for the many perturbed Western yogis who have entered the now global debate that the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) started about the Hindu origins of yoga. A letter to the editor of Yoga Journal, a scholarly position paper, the blog battle between HAF's Aseem Shukla and Deepak Chopra on the Washington Post's On Faith and one New York Times front-page story later, folks still don't get that it's not at all about ownership, but about origins. It's not about branding, but about acknowledgement. It's not about conversion, but about self realization. It's about understanding that yoga is but one of Hinduism's great contributions to humanity.
Perhaps some of the confusion is a result of the many ingredients of our modern lives -- mass marketing, crass consumerism, the worldwide Web and a Twitter-soundbite culture. It's a toxic cocktail that can lead to quick and faulty conclusions. But luckily there is an antidote -- directly from the source, which is HAF in this case.
"Take Back Yoga" is only the first half of HAF's campaign slogan, and the phrase may very well mislead one to conclude that HAF is asserting proprietorship. But a quick trip to HAF's website reveals the complete title of the campaign, "Take Back Yoga -- Bringing to Light Yoga's Hindu Roots," and also the campaign's history, purpose and catalyst.
It started back in 2008, with the Yoga Journal. The summer issue was not particularly different from any other -- the mantra of the month, the sacred Hindu symbol, Om, sprinkled throughout the magazine, advertisements for products like bottom-shaping yoga pants and sticky yoga toe socks, and, of course, feature articles offering advice, insight and wisdom on yoga. What we did not find, however, was any reference to Hinduism. In fact, Buddhism, Christianity and Judaism were more overtly associated with the discipline.
It was as if the Yoga Journal, as well as much of the $6 billion yoga industry, had agreed to some sort of unwritten covenant to use code words rather than what they deemed the unmarketable "H-word." Vedic, yogic, Sanskritic, ancient Indian and Eastern were the pseudonyms of choice to source key elements of Hindu teachings: bhakti, karma and moksha, even the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism's most revered scriptures.
After writing a letter to the editor, HAF's suspicions were confirmed when, during a follow up phone call, the young woman answering said, "Yeah, they [the editors] probably avoid it [Hinduism]. Hinduism does, like, you know, have a lot of baggage." Really? Hinduism has baggage and the world's other religions don't?
As an advocacy group seeking to provide a progressive Hindu American voice and to promote a better understanding of Hinduism, we were compelled to act. And so started a quest to bring awareness to the Hindu roots of yoga and, in turn, gain acknowledgement of yoga as one of Hinduism's great gifts. Hindus across America, including my school-aged boys, face ridicule, discrimination and uninvited proseltyization as a result of caricature, misinformation and false judgment about our "religion." Idol worshipper, cows, caste, dowry, many gods (lower case "g") -- these are the terms that more commonly define Hinduism in Western popular culture. Thanks to Deepak Chopra, we can add "one-eyed" and "tribal" to the list too. At the same time, 15 million Americans, from all religions and no religion, are turning to the power and healing benefits of yoga; some are even going beyond the physical to study Vedanta and the Gita or other "yogic" texts.
Deepak Chopra's take is different, and absolutely wrong -- at least in what he has articulated here on the Huffington Post. He is going beyond delinking yoga from Hinduism; he is actually proffering to delink the Vedas from Hinduism! Even America's sixth grade social studies textbooks, flawed as they are, accurately state that the Vedas are Hinduism's holiest scriptures. And Chopra's argument that Shiva cults preceded Hinduism? Well, that is as baffling an argument as would be to hold that the Buddha's eightfold path preceded Buddhism as the Buddha cult was not yet a formalized religion.
Sadly, instead of using his position of influence to foster understanding of Hindu traditions, Chopra too has succumbed to the H-word aversion. He did not celebrate the Hindu origins of Transcendental Meditation as its spokesman, just as his New Age avatar repackages Vedic (read: Hindu) philosophy for empire profits. He writes books on Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed and then specifies to Larry King that he is not a Hindu but an Advaita Vedantin (Advaita Vedanta is one of the most influential schools of Hindu philosophy). See a pattern of denial here?
Chopra is not alone though -- there have been many a Hindu guru in the last century, who in their desire to share that which they believed could enrich others, that which could be articulated in universal, SBNR (spiritual but not religious) terms, or that which could generate a pretty penny, have opted out of using the term Hindu. But call it what you may, Sanatana Dharma, Vedic traditions and Hinduism are synonymous. Hindus have long self-referred to our way of life as Sanatana Dharma -- the Eternal Law or Way which has no beginning and no end in history. And while "Hindu" may be the 12th century Persian abstraction referring to the Indic civilization existing on the banks of the Indus river, the diverse followers of Sanatana Dharma include those who accept the sanctity of the Vedas and other Hindu scripture. They believe in an all-pervasive formless or formed Divine; they believe in the laws of karma, dharma and reincarnation; they tread the various yoga paths (jnana, raja, karma or bhakti); and they accept that the ultimate goal of existence is enlightenment (moksha).
Dr. Chopra is absolutely correct in affirming that Yoga is ultimately about achieving enlightenment. But to profiteering yogis such as he, please remember that on the road to moksha there are still the signposts of satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing) and aparigraha (abstention from greed) guiding the way.
David Briggs: Hindu Americans: The Surprising, Hidden Population Trends of Hinduism in the U.S.
Yoga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It is wrong to deny that yoga has its origins in Hinduism | Ramesh ...
Yes, the mankind is eternally indebted to India and the Brahmin Family traditions who over milleniums have maintained the purity of Vedic Recitations and Vedic Knowledge. Without them long time ago Ayurveda, Jyotish (Vedic Astrology), Sthapatya Veda (Vedic Architecture), etc. etc. would have been lost. Thank you, India! Thank you Veda Bhumi, Deva Bhumi, Purna Bhumi - Bhârat.
Sanatana Dharma is a huge unlimited buffet of delicacies, but West has only a small mouth and a broken digestive system. West will superficially understand a word or concept, never bothering to go deeper, and almost immediately will start abusing the word.
Avatar: West now seems to think, Avatar refers to a personalized logo that shows up alongside your online user name, or a robot/program "brought to life" by plugging it into the gamers brain. There is a proper Sanskrit term for the latter, if only West cares to learn something from the original sources (Hint: VikramAditya).
Ms. Shukla, as a representative you have a great responsibility, which could be a big burden. Words and their proper meaning are very important when trying to communicate ideas across different cultures. Please handle them carefully, if not you will be mistaken for a 'pundit'*.
*Pundit - My sincere apologies to the great pundits of India. But today in the west pundit is a derogatory reference to one who talks a lot without knowing much.
http://dogmatoxin.wordpress.com
As a lifelong devotee and admirer of India and Her great heritage, I wanted to send out a word of caution to you about certain word usage. I hope you will take this as positive feedback from a friend. You have used the word Yogi very carelessly. Can we use the word Yogi to describe anyone who signs up for a yoga class? Think about it. Who is a Yogi? Who is a Guru? Who is a Pundit? These words, titles, are to be treated with care and great respect. For example, we recognize Mahatma Gandhi as a great Karma Yogi. Is it appropriate to use the word Yogi to address anyone who signs up for a yoga session? You have just went along with the western appropriation of that honorable word. Of late, I have seen Yogi being abused all over the internet, on blogs, social networks, and new sites like MeetUp.com, where yoga teachers communicate with their "yogi" students: Hi Yogis, blah blah. Namaste! - It is important to start a dialog with such yoga teachers and bloggers and stop this misuse.
Over the years West has imported some Sanskrit words as-is and it usually turns them into cliches, or worse - they will be used mainly for derogatory references. The words ultimately loose their original meaning and purpose. Examples: Avatar, Karma, Kundalini, Pundit, Tantra, Yoga etc.
(contd)
http://dogmatoxin.wordpress.com
In the book Maitreya's Mission volume 3 the following question regarding hatha yoga was posed:
Q. Some believe that the practice of asanas in Hatha Yoga is potentially dangerous due to crystallization of the subtler bodies and sudden changes in the glands, nervous system and blood.
What is your view on this matter? Should one avoid the practice?
A. Hatha Yoga is tremendously old — the most ancient of all Yogas.
For modern disciples (after the first initiation has been taken) it represents a lower (and potentially more dangerous) path. This is especially true for disciples in occidental bodies.
You are bringing a new concoction of your own neil - cool - keep it to yourself...
'yoga the hindu sect' and 'yoga the exercise' - precisely what the 'christian yoga' group are trying their best to copy...may I know who gave you the authority over patanjali's yoga sutra to make this split?
might be your 'Asthana' could one day come to replace 'Yoga' - all the best..
As you point out, this has nothing to do with "asserting control"; it just has to do with appropriate credit and historical literacy. The striking thing about the whole controversy, is the extreme reaction of the american yoga community. The kind of words used and accusation that this is a "extremist hindu movement" is certainly a shock to me. The american yoga movement should
introspect and ask itself whether its attitudes are consistent with the practice of yoga!!
Imagine if I began to take a day of rest on Sunday or Saturday. I also began to read certain christian or jewish scrptures on those days. But I keep insisting this is "middle-eastern wisdom"!! It has nothing to do with jews or christians!! It would be considered funny and a bit absurd. But this is roughly what the american yoga movement is currently doing.
now I ask you to pay a price for reading it as the patent of book is in my name.. what will you do???
Thats what is happening to Yoga in the name of 'Christian Yoga' with a $30 tag on it.
I think there is a lot of value to exploring one's religious tradition and other traditions and consciously determining what values resonate. There are no doubt less resources in the West compared to the other traditions but I think it is worth making the effort.
I'd also hope individuals exploring Hinduism or their own tradition might consider how the prevailing power structure in a particular environment helps to define, legitimize and invalidate specific religious traditions or beliefs. Why, for example, do many Muslim representatives in "the West" stress their shared religious underpinnings with Judaism and Christianity, while many Muslim representatives in Muslim majority countries draw distinctions between the traditions? When did the West decide it was founded on Judeo-Christian, as opposed to Christian, values? Why is worshipping a statue of Ganesh in your house icky idolatry but taking offence at someone burning bound sheets of paper with various ink markings containing the "word of God" considered justifiable provocation such that the President of one of the world's most powerful nations feels the need to comment on it?
I don't think it is wise to accept that a "true religion" can only be one that attempts to discredit theological evolution and diversity as heresy.
You could only release statements with facts that you have.. you are releasing statements based on your judgement.
Then put up a disclaimer.. that these are according to my opinion..
Do not give out loose talks - they make your stand even more unfortunate.
If you want to be with "us" - you first need to know "us" - and start at wikipedia first to know about hinduism and its various branches - thats a good place to start rather than trusting LSD gurus and other bogus internet mishmash stories.
By the way, bhakthi towards god and veneration of saints are no where equal.
You are trying to equate infinity with fraction.
'a product of middle- and upper-middle class Hindus in India trying to reconcile Victorian mores with nominal Hinduism.' - May I know what is victorian morales in nominal hinduism? - is there a church coir of 'hanuman chalisa'? or do you mean to say as song itself was 'borrowed' and was not there in Indic traditions?
Bhagavat Gita itself is complete and enough for any individual to achieve his destined needs be it anything less or greater moral in life - so what is your base for a 'baseless faith'.
'couple relatively modern "evangelical" strains like ISKON, Swadhyay, and Swaminaryan (high on faith and low on philosophy)' -Do you realize ISKON, Swadhyay and Swaminarayan have got deep rooted vedic lines running to the periods of founding in India 1000s of years ago? not like 'evangelical' saying that destroying the world will bring them salvation - the hindu strains are steeped in philosophy and dharmic thoughts - please remove your christian glasses.
'Half knowledge is always dangerous' - this is a good place to start if you are a truly motivated Hindu student - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/index.htm#vedas
'Well, Buddhists share many deities with Hindus such as Indra, Rudra, Varuna, Yama, etc.' - thats your level of understanding between hinduism and buddhism - both have the same acceptance of karma and dharma as the basis of life - they use the same 'CONCEPTS' ( like Indra, Rudra, Varuna, Yama) to describe day to day principles of Leadership, Anger, Bountifulness and Death - these are personified as deities.
Buddhism differs from Hinduism only in the aspect of acceptance of caste system and acceptance of God - while Buddhism is profoundly Atheist - Hinduism allows both Theistic and Atheistic ideas.
'Does being Hindu mean you believe that everything is an emanation of Brahman as you mentioned, the formless divinity which pervades everything? ' - If you read books of 'Advaitic vedantins' like DC, this is what you are left with - a christian and hindu mix of divinity as being formless - if God is formless, why did the formless god create form full world? 'Well, then you have to ignore strains of "Hindu" thought that forego these concepts.' - *&%$£" - what are you trying to convey here? 'Does being Hindu mean holding the Vedas as the holiest of "books?"' - of course yes - read my previous post on Hinduism and Vedic civilization meaning one and same - so, if Hinduism is Vedic - then
Hinduism has its basis in Veda, Yoga is a part of Veda and Vedic Literature, so is everything based on Veda (Total Knowledge).
'Lets see a modern Hindu perform the Ashwamedha sacrifice' - an 'Ashwamedha sacrifice' is performed by a king who is a ruler of land with all powers and wishes to make a commonwealth with other nations around him - in today's sense, India is fully democratic ( or 'Jana Rajya') and hence there are no real Kings of land today - so, where whom do you mean should do 'Ashwamedha Sacrifice'?
Your ideas are covered with many illogical reasoning -
Please read good books from correct authors like 'Bhagavadh Gita as it is' by ISKON by Sri Prabhupadha Swamiji. I could only wish you stay away from the LSD influencing gurus of america who are harming the current generation of american-indian youth with venom like messages for their own self pride and advertisement for more money ( God knows in which hell will those bogus gurus burn in their next life ).
"India was the Motherland of our race and Sanskrit the Mother of Europe's languages.India was the Mother of our Philosophy, of much of our Mathematic's, of the ideals emboded in Christianity ...of Self-Government and Democracy, In many ways Mother India is the Mother of us all.." ~ Will Durant
“Land of religions, cradle of human race, birthplace of human speech, grandmother of legend, great grandmother of tradition. The land that all men desire to see and having seen once even by a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of the rest of the globe combined. India had the start of the whole world in the beginning of things. She had the first civilization; she had the first accumulation of material wealth; she was populous with deep thinkers and subtle intellect; she had mines, and woods, and a fruitful soul." ~ Mark Twain
“I like to think that someone will trace how the deepest thinking of India made its way to Greece and from there to the philosophy of our times.” ~ John Archibald Wheeler
"To other countries I may go as a tourist, but to India I come as a pilgrim." ~ Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr
ENJOY the WISDOM @ http://www.hinduwisdom.info/quotes1_20.htm
1) To have, in the lines of Yoga, Yoga American Forum which should be governed by HAF and having control over all the Yoga schools in America.
2) To have all Yoga centers licensed under the above institution.
3) The licensing rules to include
a) Yoga teachers to have met a minimum training course for the basic Yoga exercises.
b) Yoga teachers to teach only those that are learnt by them.
c) Any improvisations in Yoga to have the acknowledgement and approval of both the Yoga American Forum as well as HAF.
d) To have constant and regular checks at the Yoga schools to find any violations in rules and regulations - as well as to check the minimum basic requirements of school like the Yoga mats, etc., are clean and hygenic, etc.,
e) To have all the schools distribute a booklet of Yoga with first page acknowledging the gift of Yoga as that of having Hinduism and Indian origin and followed by the life of Patanjali and his contribution - and the sequence of Yoga basic form of exercises mentioned in Yoga Sutra.
f) To have a governing member from the Krishnamacharya Yoga mandram - the original yoga school to test and validate any later modifications of yoga. These will prevent misuse of Yoga.