Yoga and Religion
June 18, 2016, 3:50 AM IST Economic Times in The Speaking Tree | Spirituality | ET
By Jayant B Dave
Yoga refers to the means by which human soul
attains the Supreme Being and experiences infinite bliss. Yoga is approach to
divinity, ascent unto truth in the simplest terms. All religions exist for one
great spiritual purpose: to once again bind man back to the supreme cosmic
source of his being. Humankind has not been able to integrate the three limbs
of religion: karma, or rituals, upasana, or mental worship, and jnana, or
philosophy.
Religion is now limited to rituals and
devotion. The philosophical insight has gone missing. Yoga helps to restore
spiritual life that is the axis of any religion. Sankara, a votary of jnana,
integrated nitya and naimittika karma (daily and occasional duty) into karma
yoga that purifies the mind and intellect and prepares them for pursuit of
Self-knowledge.
Likewise, bhakti including mythology is also
blended with knowledge to transform it into bhakti yoga. The Gita teaches that
whoever worships God with unwavering yoga of devotion transcends the three
gunas of sattva, rajas and tamas and becomes eligible to attain Brahmn. This
motiveless devotion helps one gain Self-knowledge. If action and devotion are
not validated by philosophy, they become mechanical and superstitious and do
not help devotees to get elevated.
They have to transform into yoga. Yoga
transcends religion and is a heritage for the whole of humankind. Yoga helps
one understand and truly practice one’s own religion by serving as a vital link
between religion and its spiritual import.
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