HINDUISM–THE RELIGION OF YOGA

It is an unfortunate fact that even today many still do not understand the Yoga/Hindu connection–so, let's look at the facts:

*Just as it is common knowledge that when one uses terms such as Baptism, Bible, Mass, Confirmation, Jesus, the Cross, Christmas and Pope, for example, one is referring to the religion of Christianity. Similarly terms such as : Yoga, Namaste, Asanas, Hatha Yoga, Astanga Yoga, Shiva, Kundalini, Chakras, Vedas, Puja, Samskaras, Patanjali, the Aum and Sat Guru, for example, refer to the religion of Hinduism a.k.a. Sanatan Dharma.

* The word "YOGA" (and other associated words) is Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the prayer language of Hinduism and is to Hinduism what Latin is to Christianity, or Hebrew to Judaism or Arabic to the religion of Islam.

* The word "YOGA" translates into "Spiritual Union" which is the identical meaning of the word "RELIGION." (Therefore it is an "obvious" fallacy that "yoga" is not "religion.")
[* Since "YOGA" (or CLASSICAL YOGA) is a broad term denoting the yogic/religious process to spiritual union, a preface word is used to correctly denote the specific spiritual discipline; i.e., Karma Yoga or spiritual union through ethics and self-less service, for example.]

* Guru Patanjali (often considered "The Father of Classical Yoga") was, of course, a devout Sanatanist/Hindu. This great sage comes from the Saivite Hindu lineage and naturally spent much of his life in and around the Chidambaram Siva temple in Tamil Nadu, South India.

* All devout Hindus (to one degree or another) live a spiritual/religious lifestyle following the various forms of Yoga; i.e., Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Nada Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Japa Yoga and Kundalini Yoga, for example. Obviously, these spiritual disciplines are not found in the Jewish, Christian, or Muslim religions, for example. [Note: Various Yogic disciplines are taught within the Buddhist, Jain and Sikh religions–religions that have directly evolved out of Sanatan Dharma/Hinduism.]

* All the yogic disciplines are detailed in the many scriptures of the Hindu religion; i.e., the Vedas/Upanashads, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Agamas and Tirumantirum, to name a few. In contrast, the Bible, Torah and Koran make no mention of Yoga.

* The authentic teachers of the many aspects of Yoga are the priests and prophets of Hinduism; i.e., Pandits, Pujaris, Sadhus, Yogis, Swamis and Sat Gurus. In contrast, Rabbis, Fathers and Imams are not teachers of Yoga.

* One only needs to look-up the word "YOGA" in a dictionary or encyclopedia to become aware of the Hindu connection; i.e, Yo'ga n. (spiritual union) Hinduism. (Websters) Yoga (Sanskrit "yoke"), one of the six classic systems of Hindu philosophy..." (Funk & Wagnalls).

* One only needs to look in any book on comparative religions to discover the Yoga/Hindu connection. One only needs to look up the word "Yoga" and one will be directed to the chapter on the Hindu religion certainly not to the chapter on Christianity, for example.

* Of course, any book on Hinduism will also be about the various spiritual disciplines of Yoga. For example, in Swami Sivananda's All About Hinduism "The Raja Yoga system of Hinduism is also splendid and unique..." "Hinduism provides spiritual food and Yoga Sadhana for all sorts of people..." p. 6. In contrast, pick up any book on Christianity and look for the spiritual disciplines of Yoga.

* And, of course, all one needs to do is visit a Christian Church, Synagogue or Mosque and inquire about being taught the various spiritual disciplines of Yoga to quickly discover where Yoga is not. Of course, one only needs to visit a Hindu temple or Ashram to be quickly immersed in authentic Yogic practice and teachings.
The point of presenting these facts is not to claim the superiority or exclusivity of Hinduism and its yogic spiritual disciplines but rather to simply point out what should be a common sense realization. "If it walks like a duck..." Certainly one would not speak of the Bible, Jesus and Easter, for example and then make the naive assertion that this has absolutely nothing to do with religion and certainly not Christianity. Similarly, anyone with a bit of knowledge would not use words like Yoga, Namaste and OM, for example, and then make the naive assertion that this has nothing to do with religion or Hinduism. This absurdity can perhaps be clarified by the following:
In the world of careers, everyone realizes that there many unique ways of "earning a living." Each one respects one's chosen specific way of "doing business." Certainly no one would cry "intolerant fundamentalism" to one one who stated they were a plumber, for example. And, who would cry "exclusivity" over the common sense realization that the plumber does not perform his occupation on a patient in the hospital? This job, of course, is for the one with the specific title of "Surgeon" or "Doctor." Ironically, however, too often in the realm of religion there is a tendency to think that simply because one states that they follow one or another of the world's religions that this amounts to creating an exclusive religion. There are obviously many profound religious paths (and perhaps more to come). This recognition and respect for the various religions should be natural as each individual and groups of individuals find an affinity with one of these spiritual traditions. Of course, a problem arises when any one of these religions claims exclusivity. This tendency is "obviously" an immature view. Equally naive however is the modern tendency to divorce the spiritual disciplines of Yoga from Sanatana Dharma/Hinduism-the religion of all forms of Yoga.
In Summary, the various spiritual disciplines of Yoga constitute the religion of Sanatana Dharma/Hinduism. Similar to all other religions, intimate instruction and services are offered only on a donation basis. Generally, everyone is invited to study these spiritual/religious/Hindu disciplines. However just as in any religion, the teacher is (in this case) a qualified Hindu teacher.

[Note: Sanatan Dharma/Hinduism is a world religion and not an ethnic race, therefore just as anyone can become a Christian, for example, anyone can become a Hindu.] What Yoga is not is an exercise routine, taught by anyone for a fee. The Hatha Yoga exercises, meant to prepare for meditation or Raja Yoga, are merely one part in a much larger progressive series of Hindu spiritual/religious disciplines.