125 Comments Posted
I have been practicing yoga for over 15 years. As a scientist, I see clear health benefits.
One of the most beneficial practices is clearing the mind, and simply focusing on deep, calming breaths. Your recommendation to let "thoughts of Torah ...ring around in your mind spontaneously as you practice" would detract from the relaxation of emptying the mind. Clearing your mind of all thoughts, including beneficial thoughts, is critical to certain physical responses, such as lowering blood pressure. Clearing the mind is quite difficult to do (it's more difficult than the postures), but is a valuable learning.The more thought-filled a person's mind habitually is, the more beneficial it is to take a complete break.
The "sun saluatation" may have begun as a Hindu worship, but it isn't now. It's just a remarkably complete sequence of stretches. In a non-religious context, it should no more be forbidden than the rest of yoga practice.
Other than that, your article was very good.
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The challenge is finding an instructor who does not verbally infuse the class with Hindu thought. I do yoga at the YMCA. One instructor has what I call a neutral class, but I cannot participate when either of the other two instructors show up as substitutes. There are CD's with neutral workouts.
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The Alter Rebbe in Tanya suggests that an empty mind is an invitation to unG-dly and probably eventually totally forbidden thoughts. This goes against one of Yoga's most basic requirements to empty the mind completely. In addition, contrary to the sun, moon, meat, etc. as you write that has been used for idolatry, Yoga is not a direct creation of G-d, but as a form of idolatry in itself. Meditation in Judaism has a totally different focus, and it is not possible to strip a form of meditation from its "soul" and transform it into at most a "half-kosher" exercize.
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An empty mind is probably permitted for the purpose of healing when necessary. Also, when a kosher mantra is used, the mind is not empty.
If an idol worshipper invented antibiotics as a type of idol worship, would humanity not be allowed to use this cure? Of course they would. They would just need to take away the non kosher attachments and substitute kosher ones.
Meditation is like medicine. It should only be used by those who need it for healing. And then, only in a kosher way.
I agree that there are meditation methods in Judaism (prayer etc.) which are most beneficial. But when someone needs other methods, it is important to try to help them if possible.
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Health is kosher. Being able to walk is kosher. So what if you can't totally clear your mind and meditate. It is good to be flexible and healthy.
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breathing and posture during a yoga practice is important. Apply it while reciting the Amidah and any personal prayer. You will notice the difference.
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Yoga ( yoke in Sanskrit) is a Hindu religious practice. Some try to do away with its religious foundation. Many yoga teachers have not studied Hinduism and have no idea they are teaching a religious rite. Hindus will tell you they are offended by Westerners trying to turn their religious practice into exercise ( many believe, but not tell outsiders that yoga is the most effective missionary tool that they have!) I studied with Indian Hindus. They all believe it to be a missionary tool. Hinduism is idolatry.
Aryeh Kaplan pointed out that the kundalini is the nachash (the serpent) and that this and other chakras are a source of impurity.(paraphrase).
If you teach or practice yoga please research the basis of the asanas, mudras, etc.
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What I have difficulty with is your comment on the Sun Salutations or any other postures you are referring to. The problem is not the postures themselves. It is the intention that runs through the mind while in the position. Are you thinking of prostrating to a deity, the sun, the moon etc.. or are you simply making space in your lower back , shoulders and hamstrings to relieve any tension in those usually tensed areas. If a person had back issues and a doctor would recommend doing backward and forward bends, would we say sorry, the Sun Salutations are not available because some people decided that back bends or forward bends should be used for religious purposes ? If someone decided to make swimming or running a part of his religious practice, would that mean that they would no longer be fit for anyone else who would like to do laps or run a marathon?
The problem for a Jew when doing the Sun Salutations is really the same one for all the postures. Many of the postures could have been used one way or another for the same purposes as in the Sun Salutations. Sun S. is made up of some upward extensions and push ups . The problem is not the actual movements, but the names given to them and the thoughts and intentions that fill the mind while doing them. It is all about the intention and what you meditate upon when you are moving your body. If you do yoga to worship the sun or you swim to worship the ocean, then obviously you are doing something that is against the whole essence of Judaism. But if your yoga practice is void of any religious connotation that is contrary to Judaism and is being done purely for health reasons, to release stress, to strengthen your body, to find balance and is done in a kosher way, then your yoga can actually be beneficial in a lot more ways.
My recommendation is if you are going to do yoga, tell your audience to take the time to choose their teacher carefully, clear your practice from any religious aspects, only focus on the mental, emotional and physical benefits of yoga. Through Kabalah Yoga, I have been showing people how to shape into the Hebrew letters to avoid all the Sanskrit and Hindu teachings and then meditate upon the letter. I basically teach them how to get into an Alef (with the feet grounded, tail bone inward, spine neutral etc…) , a Beit, a Gimel etc.. It is really amazing to see that many of the yoga people I showed it too are comfortable and happy to have discovered this different focus. It’s all in the intention and in the message being conveyed .
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While people agree that yoga is halachically OK, what is not addressed is that everything that is halachically ok IS not necessarily something we should be doing for fun. Those who use yoga for health reasons have a point behind using something whose source is steeped in opposite of holiness. However, people could be more wary of using yoga as a regular extracurricular activity when there are many other breathing-relaxation-excercise techniques that it could be exchanged for.
(There are many examples of things that are deemed halachically Ok but are not meant for us to embrace like the rest of the world does...)
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However, I have never encountered a system of stretches for flexibility that comes close to what yoga movements (not meditation) provides. So I am not sure a comparable alternative exists.
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Mr. Gozlan, I think your program seems very well-intentioned; it looks like a great way for people to exercise with a good purpose, I highly commend you for creating it. However, I disagree with your comments that one should strive to "clear" his yoga practice from religious aspects of yoga. How does one clear religious aspects from a religious rite, which yoga absolutely is? Granted, the idol is more subtle than, say a statue, but the idol is present in yoga-it is the power of self, the bliss, the namaste (often translated as the god in me greets the god in you), etc. I miss yoga, but it is part of another religion, and hence, not kosher.
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Hinduism is a religion, yoga is not. Most Hindus do not practice yoga , since it is not an active part of their rites. Yoga comes from India , but is NOT an essential part of their religion. The issue with yoga is that songs and rites of Hinduism have been added to yoga, when in reality they are not important to yoga practice. If you strip away any religious connotation to yoga, then we have an exercise for body and mind that can be very beneficial
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The vase majority of Jews don't observe kashrus, build sukkot, or dance with the Torah on Simchas Torah--does that mean these things are not part of our spiritual rites, religion, etc.? So Yoga is an UNessential part of Hinduism--that doesn'tmake it any less a part of Hinduism. In fact, yoga was brought to this country in the 60sand70s (earlier too, but mainly then) by gurus who were considered to be Hindu holy men. Many Hindus consider yoga to be the best missionary tool they have; spend 1 hour on the internet-what you comeaway with will convince you. Key words-Hinduism, Hindu, Yoga. How can you strip yoga of it's religious foundations? (Connotation is not the issue) It is integral to it. As mainstream magazines like Yoga Journal protest that yoga has nothing to do with religion, they publish plenty of artices about all the spiritual benefits of yoga, the power of the kundalini (unclean energy which Jews are NOT supposed to develop), and more.
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I am new to yoga and have never in any way been exposed to it’s Hindu references.
My first introduction to Yoga was through the Hebrew letters and thus my yoga has no dark side. To classify all yoga as unkosher would be the same as to ban Tai chi, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do and all the other martial arts.
I only once attended a class that referred to the postures by their Hindu names and also referenced the sun salutation, downward dog etc…I was admittedly very uncomfortable and throughout the movements I meditated on my holy thoughts while recounting the Hebrew letters I was posturing.
The Jewish concepts and the sparks that are revealed throughout my yoga class empty my mind of all the extraneous clutter and fill it with truth.
Clearing the mind….....does not mean emptying it!!!
The combination of Torah, meditation and a great physical workout leaves me invigorated, energized and totally connected to Hashem…….Thank G d.
My yoga is strictly kosher.
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Again, Montreal, I think what Mr. Gozlan is doing is great-making up his own "yoga".(see 4 posts up). I see that clearly my comments touched a nerve. From my understanding posturing the Hebrew letters is wonderful. And, if it is called yoga and attracts Jews who would otherwise be doing Hindu Yoga, even better. There is more of a question with Martial Arts because they are not all founded in religions, as yoga is. (Again, spend the time, do the research-yoga is without debate a religious rite of Hinduism-and it is hard to debate in a vacuum -it is important to know the facts). However, many Rabbis do question the appropriateness of some martial arts, many of which are based on the development of qi especially as channeled and develope through the dan tien "chakra". For example some Rabbis say Tai Chi and its parent martial art, Qi Gong are forbidden (I used to teach these and was told theywas not ok, so I stopped). Others even say Kung Fu. I haven't heard about karate or judo,
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Call it what you like.....yoga or kosher stretching...
I am not interested in researching or learning about Hinduism and where Yoga may have originated from.
Your frustration in the fact that you do not practice "Yoga" anymore is very evident.
I am shaping my body into hebrew letters which I see and feel.
I encourage you to try the same.
I speak on behalf of many beginners and advanced that join me in the posturing to the Hebrew letters.
We all enjoy it.
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There must be a misunderstanding here. I keep saying how great I think your Hebrew Letter posturing is, but that traditional yoga is the problem. I think you keep missing that part of my posts.
Also, I am not frustrated in the least-in fact, I am and was enjoying the debate.
It was very clear to me that this debate is about yoga, not Hebrew letter yoga. I hope I have made that very apparent.
Why do you enter into debate about the religious nature of traditional yoga if you are not willing to investigate the matter? Why debate at all? We can reject it as fit with no evidence, but we are not allowed to accept it as fit.
It is important to be informed before one says something is kosher-and many Rabbonim seriously question if yoga, or martial arts, as you mentioned, are kosher. May I say, and please forgive me--I do not mean to offend but you sound a bit frustrated may I suggest you learn chapter 17 of Tanya-it really is very helpful.
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In 1979 the Hasofers of Australia had yechidus with the Rebbe. This is what
the Rebbe said:
"The only meditation that is enjoined to all Jews is that which is part of G-d's service, prayer. The Code of Jewish Law states that before each prayer one must meditate "on the Greatness of G-d and the humble state of man." This meditation is done with a fixed intent and at a fixed time. Its goal is to enhance the quality of one's prayer, not to calm one's nerves.
"Other types of meditation should only be used by those who need them for therapeutic reasons. A healthy Orthodox Jew does not need meditation to attain tranquility. On the contrary, if he begins to meditate, he may hurt himself psychologically."
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My understanding of Yoga, as it is taught by B.K.S. Iyeygar - the creator of the world's most popular form of yoga is...
"the union of body with consciousness and consciousness with the soul."
In my humble opinion...if you enjoy yoga, as a form of exercise to strengthen your body & mind - GREAT!
Eat well, exercise often and enjoy a healthy life. Shalom
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There are references throughout Torah, Tanach and Zohar to physical meditation and prayer through the body. The gemara in Brachot describes how Rabbi Akiva moved from one part of the room to the other whilst engaged in private prayer. As mentioned by an earlier post, yoga means 'oneness'; the same as 'Echad'. Yoga is a meditation and another word for tefilla, albeit with a clear system of physical postures. Although there are clear halachic problems when it is practiced within the context of a yoga studio that has statues of Hindu deities at the front of the room, a deep yoga practice that is contextualised within Hebrew verses can provide a fabulous uplift to any Jewish religious experience.
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I am a yoga teacher and on sundays i am teaching yoga to a friend that just had a baby, we trade that her husband teaches Talmud to my son one day a week after school. Since she is giving so much by nursing, as a wife and new mom. So all the Yoga poses I made her do were to activate all the energy centers in her body, the kabbalah also talks about centers in the body unfortunately i don't know a lot about kabbalah since i think it is not kosher for me to study it but i am convinced about the energy centers so we just did some poses without sun salutations. At the end of class just from my heart without planning it i told her this is the last pose to release tension and as you do it just think "H is with me and nothing else matters". She told me "that is exactly what I was thinking"
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You write, "i don't know a lot about kabbalah since i think it is not kosher for me to study it ..."
What a strange world we live in where Yoga is considered kosher, but not Kabbala!
If you are a spiritual seeker, then you MUST go and learn the spiritual heritage of your people. See this article: The Truth About the Baal Shem Tov.
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The notion that yoga be not kosher only was recently heard thats why I turned to your very interesting article I am going to investigate more about kabbalah and yoga and meditation but before profundizing on kabalah I want to learn how to be a better person learning torah, mitzvots and middots, like that I will know some kabbalah but before knowing the secrets of the Creator I need to first be a better jew, learn more hebrew. (And of course english). It is true the world is up side down that is why it is very tough to raise children. Thank G-d they go to orthodox day school, but the yetzer harah is every where and we are very stressed so I deffinetely need to do and learn more kosher yoga. Thanks so much for your answer.
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Esther:
Kabalah, meaning to receive in Hebrew, refers to the ancient wisdom of awareness based upon the Hebrew letters. The Hebrew letters are the tools G-d used to create the world and gave them to us in order to maintain our lives and this world we live in. To live life according to kabalah is to have a higher understanding for every thought we think, each word we say and everything we do. I think you and I and every person on this planet is ready to understand the creator in this way. By doing knowing the creator, we are learning to understand and become aware of our own lives. Your name is Esther and in Hebrew it means hidden. Perhaps this is your purpose as seen in your name, to discover the hidden energy of the creator!
It all begins with the Hebrew letters , the Alef Beit , the secret language of light, kindness and beauty.
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Ladies and Gentlemen,
There is some misinformation. To clarify, therefore;
1. Classical Yoga predates known religions and early sources show it being practiced 4000 years ago, before Hinduism and Buddhism. Yoga is a physical meditation practice.
2. The Lubavitcher wrote a sicha allowing the use of Transcendental Meditation in certain circumstances, which is a form of yoga. Contemporary poskim (rabbinic authorities) and prominent rabbis have confirmed it's potential and usage to enhance prayer and oneness with the Creator.
3. The Bible, Talmud, Zohar and Hasidic tracts are full of references to physicality and physical movements. I'll be delighted to provide makorot (sources) on request; contact marcus-at-bibliyoga.com
4. Take a look at www.bibliyoga.com . Spirituality can be accessed through the body, within a 100% kosher and authentic context.
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I posted an earlier comment entitled "The Rebbe Says," about the Lubavitcher Rebbe's view which contradicts what you wrote, Mr. Freed. You refer to a sicha. Please provide a reference.
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Here is a condensation of the Rebbe's talk on meditation in 1979:
http://www.sichosinenglish.org/essays/37.htm
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It puzzles me why hodu has the same shoresh as Yehudi maybe it is just a coincidence. I want to learn more about my religion I think Yoga has helped me being a happier jew, helping other moms to breath (We don't meditate) just breath and distress, with fitness yoga. Our kids grow up as happier jews seing that their moms are happier learning Torah and doing Mitzvots because Hashem gave us the chance to do the Mitzvah of guarding our health we had time to breath therefore we can give to others happily with Simchah, how it is suppossed to be. Thankyou
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Hi Rabbi Freedman
Agreed with your article - exactly why I started Yoga Mosaic (which actually began as an association for Jewish yoga teachers who have to study Yoga texts in the course of their qualification but lean to their Jewish roots) subsequently extended to include students too - so that we could provide a network for all things to do with yoga and Judaism - and feel very comfortable with the wisdoms of the East and the committment to our Judaism.
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How can yoga be Kosher if it is not mentioned in the Torah?
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Neither are potato chips.
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This is quite amazing. If "yoga is kosher" then so was the holacaust. After all, G_D put everything here for a purose.
How insulting to the Hindus for whom all of Real Yoga is our religion. And, of course, there is no God or G_D in the Hindu/Yogic religion.
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Swami Param: If there is no god in Hinduism, then who or what is Ishvara? Who or what is Brahman? Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva?
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I have known and studied with many Indian swamis, pandits and yogis of Hindu birth who have dedicated their lives to teaching that yoga is a comprehensive holistic approach to self-development and is not a religion. It is clear that there are differences of opinion within the Indian community on this matter.
“I believe that yoga is a complete science of life which is equally applicable and helpful for men, women and children. Religions are social sciences which help to maintain culture and tradition and support the lawful structure of human society. Yoga is a universal science for self-improvement and enlightenment. All the methods of self-growth which are found in any religion are already in yoga literature.”
“We [advanced yogis who have studied and practiced the yoga system of Pantanjali, Advaita Vedanta, Sri Vidya and Prayoga Shastra] do not associate ourselves with any particular religion, caste, sex or color.”
--from Living with the Himalayan Masters, by Swami Rama
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You are right Zorach, "there is no god in Hinduism.." Isvara/Siva is one of our many MahaDevas. You should, also, think twice about who you claim to have studied with. "Swami" Rama was a convicted sex offender. His Himalayan Institute had to pay out close to two million dollars due to his sexual misconduct. Most of these "Indian personality types" have fallen into the same traps. It is these ego-centric individuals that have created the phony yoga of today. Of course who is more ignorant these leaders or the sheep?
Again, the point is, factually all of Real Yoga is Hinduism. To deny the facfs of Yoga/Hinduism is to enter religious bigotry. Jews, especially, should know much better than to enter this kind of violence. If people do not want to study Hinduism/Yoga, please leave it alone and don't make it into something palatable to your ego
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I wish to draw from the last two bloggers. To deny the many Yogas are Hindu, is like denying the evidence of the Holacaust. The Yogas are the progressive religious/spiritual disciplines within Hinduism and its sects. The purpose is for the yoking/yoga (root word 'yuj', Sanskrit, (ancient prayer lang. of the Hindus) of Atmana (individual soul )with Brahman(soul source), basic Hindu tenet. As Swami Param points out, Brahman is not G-d,a noun, i.e.; male creator. Many previous comments insisting yoga can be incorporated into Judiasm is insulting to Judiasm. In effect, proponents of Jewish Yoga are saying, Judiasm is an incomplete religion and must, therefore, after unfounded rationalzations, plunder Hindus and Hinduism.
Swami Ramas quote raises many questions to his state of mind. First, a 'Swami' is a celibate Hindu monk. The quote states no association to a particular religion. Yet the Guru/sage and scriptures identified are undeniably of Hinduism.
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The honest and accurate question is; "Is Hinduism Kosher?" For, despite the inaccurate comments, all of Real Yoga is Hinduiism.
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After viewing Swami Param’s web sites, I regret having responded to his other posts, as it is clear that he is not interested in any open-minded dialogue or tolerant of views other than his own. Rather, he is engaged in an active crusade to criticize and discourage anyone from expressing any perspectives that diverge from his. He claims the only definition of true Hinduism, which for him is the same as true Yoga. He states that anybody who has a different perspective on these subjects is an ignorant egoist. He makes proprietary claims to all terminology associated with yoga, asserting that they are sacred religious terms in accordance with his definitions only, and he claims insult and offense if anyone uses them contrary to his definitions. Yet, despite his belittling, demonizing and attacking anyone who does not agree with his point of view, he professes to be an adherent to ahimsa, non-violence in thought, speech and action.
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Zorach - Swami Param's convictions, based on substantiated facts, is one thing. Ones opinion, based on un-substantiated facts, is another. The former is clear judgement, the later just "ain't Kosher."
A Swami, has a duty to defend the Dharm/Hinduism/Yoga. It is one thing not to favor his style of writing, but not honestly examining the facts and their logicol conclusions are another.
In a desire to have an "open minded dialogue" with you or others, please show me the contradictory evidence to Swami Param's statements and to mine of 6/19/8. If I am wrong, I then can re-examine my convictions that all of Hinduism is Yoga and visa - versa. Excuse any possible insensitivity for using the Holocaust as an example, but there are many of the "opinion" that it did not occur. The occurance of the Holocaust, however, can be substantiated using logic. To hasten the correction of any of my mis-understandings of "Yoga", please only present substantiated facts and leave out "opinions" of others.
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~Sanskrit: The ancient language of the Hindus [Webster's] Note: all subsequent terms are Sanskrit (Skr.) and thus Hindu.
~yoga: Skr. "Hinduism" [Webster's]
~yoga: Oneness of Atmana and Brahman [Dict. of Skr. Names]
~Atmana: Skr. Self/Spirit; Hinduism [Webster's]
~Brahman: Skr. Hindu Religion [Webster's]
~yoga: Skr. A Hindu discipline [Oxford Am. Dict.]
~ yoga: Skr. A system of Hindu religious philosophy [Thorndike Barnhardt]
~yoga: Skr. general term for spiritual disciplines in Hinduism [Columbia Encyclopedia]
~The first recorded evidence of the Skr. word "yoga" is found in the Vedas.
~Veda Skr. The most ancient sacred literature of the Hindus. [Webster's]
So, my friends, to not recognize that Yoga is Hinduism is to insult the Hindus. For anyone (especially) a Rabbi to "use" yoga but make sure it is cleansed of Hinduism is to practice the worse from of religious bigotry. Sorry your Judaism does not offer you what you apparently want from pilfering Yoga
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I want to believe that our mystical sages —Medieval or 'way back in the time of the Neviim (or even earlier)— also had practices designed to help the soul realize its identity with G-d — which is what "yoga" is about.
But where is this knowledge? Does it exist?
I understand that the mitzvot are supposed to perform this function for us. And our "prayer" too is a form of meditation.
How did Moshe get tuned in? Or, for that matter, Avraham? Did he have practices? Did he just "listen" very carefully? (After all, that could be one way of describing meditation.)
What was Moshe doing for 60 years in Midian? His father-in-law was a "priest" of shaman of some kind, no?
Moshe revealed to us the "way of Judaism," but how did he empty himself in order to learn it?
The faithless among us have trouble doing mitzvot because G-d said so. We need to KNOW, we need to replicate Moshe's experience.
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Jim,
Yoga is not about G-d, God or Jewish mystical sages. It is very common for many to confuse generalities and specifics. There is much in common among the many religions but to not respect their specific language, terms and concepts is to practice dienial and even insult, at best.
A Yamuka is the same as a turban, right? After all they are both head coverings.
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Jim, There is more information coming forward about meditative practices within the Jewish tradition. Check out Kings I, Chapter 19 about Elijah experiencing the "still, small voice". Books by Aryeh Kaplan and Avram Davis are also excellent sources. I think you are on to something when you bring up "listening very carefully". Meditation is all about listening. You listen within, you listen without. After all, what does "Shema" mean? It means to hear, to listen. Research the Hebrew terms "Hitbodedut", "Kavannah", "Hitbonenut","Avodah Be-Bittul", "Yichud". Judaism has traditionally placed great emphasis on mitzvot and deeds, but the deeds need to be grounded from the inner silence and peace, which is why "shalom" is such an important word, because it is an expression of the inner peace and equanimity that can be established through meditation that grounds, guides and empowers our thoughts, speach and actions. Best of luck on your search..
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I deeply honor Rabbi Freeman for this article.
Strike a pose while meditating on its Sanskrit name. Clearly this is not kosher. Example: Do a sun salutation and think "I bow to the divinity of the sun."
Do the same movements while praying from the Jewish liturgy, such as saying the Modeh Ani. Kosher now? If not, why not?
Is the problem in the sequencing -- that the poses were originally put together with an avoda zara intent? Then we better stop singing "Adon Olam," because its melody, its sequence of notes, was composed as a German beer hall tune. Judaism is rife with things picked up from other cultures. What matters is what we do with them, not their originator's intent.
Or do the poses themselves have magic powers -- to open the chakras, release the kundalini, etc.? What if I don't believe in those magic powers, because I'm a Jew? Then they're just harmless movements. Like a picture of Jesus is, for me, powerless to cure my ills.
What matters is the symbolism.
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Dear Zorach Decatur:
After many years of Kaplans meditation practice I reched the same conclusion you did.
Have you listenned to your breathing ( I belive in hebrew is Shamoa) while reading the morning Amidah?
Have you felt the energy the letter shin sheds when prying the morning Shema?
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It is so wonderful to be engaging in an international dialogue about Jewish spirituality. It is no accident that the Shema and the Amidah are so central to Jewish prayer, as they also provide a great source for the lost art Jewish meditation, which is now resurfacing. Breath, as a conductor of life force, is certainly a key to understanding life, death and spiritual transformation. The Torah teaches us that God gave life to humankind through the breath: God’s exhalation was our inhalation. And the Talmud refers to spiritually evolved beings leaving bodily existence through death by Divine Kiss: our expiration is God’s inhalation. It is quite poetic and beautiful.
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Dear Zorach:
I have two chabad rabbi friends who live and work in Barranquilla. They teach by showing the whole community how they live and what they think is right. It has been very difficult to learn from them topics such as breathing, drug addiction, meditation; they seem more interested in what you think than how you feel. I have read some of the comments in this page and found that most of them inform of what the writer thinks, believes, what their system of belief tells them is right to practice. None tells you about what you feel when you pronounce a word when engaged in prayer or when you become conscious of your breath when prying. Only through your body you can connect with G-d. Your thoughts if not properly handled will not direct you to feel great. G-d matters where not intended to argue or to make others feel uncomfortable. Where there is Shalom, harmony there is where G-d lives.
What about breathing and Yom Kippur?
Thank you for your comments.
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If you are interested in authentic, practical Jewish meditation, please check out the Kaddish meditation.
I hope to post more of these in the near future.
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Dear Leon,
First, I am very happy that Rabbi Freeman shared the wonderful meditation on the Kaddish that he refers to. I look forward to his sharing similar insights into other parts of the traditional liturgy, as I think there is a great hunger for such insight and enlivening of what has too often become rote and lifeless. As far as your comment regarding thought vs. feeling, I believe there is room for both as paths towards spiritual development. Judaism has always stressed the intellectual aspect through Torah study, but at its best, it is not merely an exercise in intellectual gymnastics, for which it has been criticized over the years, but it also can serve as a path leading beyond the intellect to pre-intellectual “knowing”. Judaism has also stressed the devotional/feeling aspect through prayer, and the path of action through performance of the mitzvot. These paths are not exclusive, but rather complementary, and are intended to provide a balanced approach towards Peace.
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Rabbi Freeman,
I would appreciate it if you could also discuss practicing yoga on Shabbos. Would your answer be different if one practiced alone in one's own home, together with others in a Jewish group setting (such as at a Shabbaton), or at a yoga studio (without cash exchanged-such as if there is an unlimited membership).
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What about Karate-Do, Kung Fu, Akido. The do at the end means "a path or way". So the way of karate, kung fu. I know there's a problem with Akido but I don't think Karate or Kung-Fu are connected as much with idol worship.
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This seems to summarize the issue: If it is a path, your path to fulfillment and your meaning in life, then it is in conflict with your Jewishness. But if it enters as a handmaid, an assist to your Jewish path, then it may be kosher.
Basically, we're trying to avoid cheap syncretism. But to do that, you have to have a good knowledge of the depth of your Jewish path.
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Thank you for this perspective on another ancient and profound aspect of the world's teachings. As far as I know, there is nothing comparable in Judaism. I appreciate R. Freeman's balanced approach. I would like to hear his response to the above question about Shabbos. My own learning and experiencing Judaism has brought me to a place where I can appreciate Yoga on a deeper level.
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Think of the notion that "since there is nothing comparable in Judaism..." then the implication is it is "kosher" to "do yoga." Real Yoga is Hinduism. Therefore, are those who are stealing Yoga from the Hindus and fashioning it into the Jewish, Christian or Muslim religions "admitting" that they are learning from Hinduism?
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Shalom all. There've been a lot of pixels spilled here about whether or not Yoga originated with, or is intrinsically identified with Hinduism. My understanding is that this is not the relevant question, halachically at least. Even were we to conclude that yoga is considered a "sacred rite" to Hindus, the fact remains that many non-Jews use yoga in a secular manner. Prof Saul Joel, a scholar or Indian Philosophy at York Univ in Toronto, told me that all the schools of thought in India (including the carvacas, materialist-athiest school) practiced yoga for health etc. This would seem analogous to a non-Jew using an idol for a profane purpose, which then renders it permissable to the Jew to benefit from. I told this to a Dayan (Religious Judge) in Jerusalem who had advised someone against yoga due to possible "accessories to foreign worship", and he said that this information places the whole discussion in a different light.
here's some jewish rock while you stretch myspace.com/yoodrock
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The erroneous point has been made (over and over) that it is (basically) OK to steal Yoga from the Hindus and (attempt) to make it secular. The professor is flat at wrong that "all the schools of thought in India practiced yoga for health" (as opposed to religious practices).
Fact check: The Sanskrit/Hindu word "Yoga" means "Yuj Atman Brahman ca" (to yoke to the individual Soul and the Soul Source). Hindus view the various Yogas (to accomplish this Soulful end) as very a healthy means indeed!
Again, Jews, especially, should have learned the lessons about stealing others identities!
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Dear Sorach:
Could a Jew like myself become a Swami?
I would love to have the authority swami's have to speak in the name of all the millions of people born in india.
Could I use the word Yoga without been acused of stealing a word which belong to the Hindus without the written permission a a swami?
I agree with the swami, he believes his belief system is the best there is and far ahead of all the belifs systems ever deviced by men. He has the right to believe in what he chosed to believe in and no one has the right to contradict that.
I would love to become a swamy so I can call what I want, specially, the jews who prettend they know best about yoga words which do not belong to the hindus.
The same argument could be used for the words amen and aleluyah, and Moshiach.
We should all respect everybody's belief system.
A'Shem matters were not made to argue or to make anybody feel unconfortable.
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Dear Mr. Swami,
"Stealing others identities"?, by doing a certain yoga postures? Do you allow whiteys to take deep breaths or is that also out of bounds?
Tat twam asi, MR Swami. You are That, right? So why all the torrid identity politics? Chill out man. Why not twist yourself up into something nice, take a deep breath, and turn on to some smokin' vintage rock and roll at www.myspace.com/yoodrock.
peace,
yaacov "drjake" lefcoe
Yood Power Rock Trio
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I don’t agree with Rabbi Freeman’s conclusory summation. I believe that I have deep ties to both Jewish and Indian spirituality (and by this, I mean to point out that there is much more to Indian spirituality and yoga than the physical exercises that Westerners have come to equate with yoga). I don’t think they are mutually exclusive, but rather that they can complement each other without either being relegated as the “hand maiden” to the other. I don’t think that this complementary approach can be dismissed out-of-hand as “cheap syncretism”, but rather can be regarded as a significant synthesis. I try to steer clear of the many doctrinal dogmas espoused by adherents to both traditions, and delve more deeply into their underlying complementary and harmonious spirituality. I am very grateful for this East-West interchange, as it has greatly enriched my life.
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"Interesting dogma," but here are a few "common sense" answers:
1. Can a Jew become a Swami? The temptation for satire aside, yes, if you renounce Judaism, become a Hindu and remain unmarried. Do you want this?
2. Using the Sanskrit/Hindu word "Yoga" is fine. We like it when people desire to learn about the Hindu/Yogic religion. However, since you are not a Hindu, just don't teach Yoga/Hinduism.
3. Like your other confusions, you put words in my mouth. I never have said "he believes his belief systme is the best there is ..." How absurd.
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Swami is not called "Mr",except in ignorance or sarcasm/intentional disrespect, as "Mr Rabbi" would be as telling of the user. To mis-construe "deep breaths" as Pranayama makes as much sense as a blog "is Yoga (Hindu practices) Kosher (Jewish practice)?" Swami, is trying to get common sense across in logical/FACTUAL manner, this is not HIS opinion...Yoga is Hinduism and vice versa. Circumcision is done for health concerns in the secular community. It is nonsense calling a non-Jew's circumcision a Briss or berit milah, and the performing secular Doctor at the hospital a Mohel. Does it make any sense in similar new-age,non-logic/unethical fashion, as reflected in this blog, that Kabala(Oxford World Rel: term encompasses all the esoteric teachings of Judaism)has nothing to do with Judaism but generic term for"spiritualism"or "exercise." The various Yogas, whether Hatha Y, Karma Y, Bhakti Y, etc., encompass the practices of Hinduism and its sects...just look them up in scholarly texts!
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Who gave Zorach and others the right to encourage this "synthesis" and create something false/counterfeit, and then to further disrespect, exploit Hinduism by using more "palatable" terms like "Indian spirituality." People promoting nefarious deeds always use "cover-up" words to market their intent and hide the truth of the matter from the less discerning. I believe a recent mass genocide was called a "cleansing." So,whatever reason you want to veil your need for incorporating Hinduism into your invention of a "spiritual" practice or into Judaism , it is still unethical and does not say much for those involved...study Hinduism but do not steal it.
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OK so you object to the use of the term "yoga". What should we do? Can we say "secularized forms of yoga? Or perhaps "exercises derived from traditional hindu practices." No matter what we call it, Jews will still analyze it and it's acceptability for us according to halachic principles. You may not like that these practices have in your view been bastardized or secularized etc yet retain the name yoga. Yet for us--as I was pointing out in my original post--the very fact of this secularization, or "profanation" if you will, of what was arguably originally a primarily religious practice is what may allow us to use it. So, because we like to be diplomatic, we could change our terms say, but that would not alter the basic question as to whether "it" is kosher or not. And that latter discussion is a halachic one that requires an ability to discuss such matters with some degree of familiarity with Torah sources.
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Exactly what about yoga asana practice is "Hinduism"? Not breathing, everyone does that. Not meditating. Not moving, no religion owns a copyright on human body positions. As I said above, it's the symbolism. It's the Sanskrit asana names and mantras and associations. It's the philosophy -- that your movements circulate prana, elevate kundalini, and bring you toward enlightenment and freedom from the wheel of reincarnation.
If non-Hindus sit and move, however they wish, using non-Hindu words and philosophies, then they are doing something that is not Hindu. It is a generic movement practice, given meaning by its new context. It is what is common to Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. It is harnessing the body's teachings to move the world toward Spirit.
I study Hinduism out of Asteya, a wish to respect and not steal it, as I develop my kosher Jewish movement practice. The only Sanksrit word I retain is "yoga". I end my classes with "Shalom."
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Dear Zorach:
How difficult is to explain non jews our terminology.
They think they know what does the word kasher means.
The swami yati thinks he knows judaism because he reads some hinduism. By his writtings you can tell he believes judaism is an ideology or a nationality. To be a jew you just have to read never mind prictice, never mind feeling it, do not use you heart,use only your thoughts.
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Everything about (real) Yoga is Hinduism. The Sanskrit/HIndu word "yoga" means "to yoke Atmana and Brahmana." Here is a suggestion, why not hold a Stretch and Relaxation class. If one has simply come up with some stretching, breathing and relaxation exercises, just do that and call it that. In this way, one utlilizes both common sense and respect. Of course, if one has learned from the Hatha Yoga of Hinduism, one should disclose this fact.
The bottom line is, stop misrepresenting Yoga/Hinduism. I promise not to hold classes on any Jewish practice. Fair enough? Show not only respect but also a bit of understanding.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to write this article for everyone to see. I love doing yoga but i thought it was not okay. Now I know that as long as i do it to heal my body and relax my mind it is okay. And thank you for the tip of studying Torah beforehand.
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I don't know enough about Yoga to know if this is an equivalent substitute, but if you just want a workout that focuses on streching, and mind/body,
I've seen a lot of gyms and yoga studios who also offer Pilates in addition to their yoga classes.
Pliates is a routine of excercies that work your cored strength and flexibility. It was originally invented by Jospeh Pilates for parapalegic veterans in order that they develop their core strength without the use of their limbs. It later became heavily used by the dance community. As far as I can tell, it's purely an excersie routine and has no religious background.
There are books and DVDs also where you can learn the routines if there's no classes offered in your area.
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HI Tzvi,
I always enjoy reading your columns. I have some ideas on the Yoga commentary that you recently posted. Could it be that we can make our own mantra from hebrew words? Could it be that our own "mantra" is our name. On second thought the very word mantra, does imply self worship of some sort.
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The pull to raise the sparks , without losing you own identity and the way of the torah. For some it is possible to elevate these practices which are natural and can be used in the ways of G-d "In all your ways I know you".
Obviously if this is kosher according to the Halacha.
For others of the Gevurah type, Judaism is the pure unadulterated stuff.
Judaism obviously does not believe in any other religion, we do believe in the holiness hidden in all creations which draws us to uplift it.
These are question I believe that must be asked to the Soul doctors, to whom are these practices Holy and to whom detrimental.
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Wow what a miracle that i'm reading this tonight. i just taught my first "Emuna Exercises" Class for Chabad of Moorpark, CA. In it i tied chassidic principle of meditation, postiive thinking, conscious living, neshama/neshima, tracht gut v'zei gut, etc. and it was totally beseder. no az, nothing un kosher. i actually would like to keep developing it and offer it to Chabad houses everywhere G-d willing
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What is suggested for exercise according to Jewish Law?
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Who is a soul doctor?
Are there faith exercises?
Thank you in advance for your comment
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If adopting a practice does not contradict your core belief and aids you on your path towards spiritual advancement, does it matter that that practice comes from outside of your native faith? That’s the focal point of this discussion. But isn’t there something more essential here than the origin of practices and the language associated with them?
While faiths share commonalities and similarities, there are irreconcilable differences. Jews cannot worship deities from the pantheon of Hinduism because to represent G-d in spatial and visual terms would represent the impossibility of the created describing and thus limiting the Creator. Yet the Jew might not feel much intellectual dissociation in contemplating the Hindu concept of Brahman. G-d both emanates and encompasses all; G-d is the 360th degree of reality on every plane. This belief is mutual to Judaism and Hinduism.
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There are limits to comparison, but these are differences of imperfect and limited mortal discernment and perspective–not of Ultimate Truth. Humans can only seek Ultimate Truth; we cannot create that Truth. At the end of devotion and spiritual evolution, you do not find Judaism, Hinduism, or other creeds; the end leads to union with the Divine, with G-d. Chassidic thought speaks of communion with G-d through the paths of mitzvoth, prayer, and study. Hinduism has its transcendent path of Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana yoga – the yokes of action, devotion, and knowledge. These are not the same as but are similar to mitzvoth, prayer, and study. A worthy question at the end of this inquiry and debate is whether Judaism and Hinduism(and other religious systems and modes) are coming from and going to the same place–from G-d and back to G-d again. This isn’t about rote adherence to rituals, rules and dogmas or zoning out in meditative bliss–it’s about coming closer to and reuniting with G-d.
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While I can understand your concern and belief that yoga is a religion, I find it difficult to take you seriously as a "religious leader".
Why? I looked you up and found your website. You have a section titled "The Torah Foundation" where you "mean no disrespect towards the Jewish religion" and want to "make a point". At the end of your "point", you ask: "Are there no words in the Jewish Faith for charity?" This is pure ignorance and disrespect! The word "TZEDAKA" in Hebrew means "righteousness" and refers to the Torah command to give at least 10% of what one earns. The word also means that what we give was never ours to begin with - G_D entrusts us with at least 10% more than what is ours so that we will give it. The word "tzedaka" has a much greater meaning than "charity".
Now that you know we have a word and concept of what you refer to as "charity", can you please explain why, as a so-called "religious leader", you are full of ego, hatred and negativity toward other human beings
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If one reads the article "The Torah Foundation" by visiting 'classicalyoga.org', it is clear the comment in question was blatantly (one would have hoped) been seen more as satirical/sarcastic to make the point that many people propagate, as Swami wrote, "this deception by stealing the Sanskrit/Hindu ..." words like Karma, Yoga, Mantra etc. Ironically, so-cal and obviously others on this site do not get the "point"...exploiting /stealing from others is not "Kosher" or good "Karma," but often a disguised form of persecution. Also, "Pure ignorance and disrespect" and confusion of generalities and specifics would be in saying "Karma Foundation," "Kosher Karma," "Jewish Baptism," "Catholic Bar Mitzvah,"....last but not least the absurdity of "Jewish Yoga!!!" If there was a genuine premise to "understand your concern and belief that yoga is a religion," one would carefully have researched the meaning of Yoga and chosen not to twist its meaning and justify doing so, as those on this site.
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You hoped that the anti-semitic article titled "The Torah Foundation" on 'classicalyoga.org' was "seen more as sartirical/sarcastic to make a point..."?! This means you think it is OK to be "biting, cutting, mordant, bitter, derisive, ironic or sardonic" regarding the false accusation that Jews don't have a word for charity!
You seemed to know the definition of sarcasm when you wrote:
Swami is not called "Mr",except in ignorance or sarcasm/intentional disrespect, as "Mr Rabbi" would be as telling of the user."
So it's ok for your Swami to show disrespect to Jews by spreading hateful blatant lies on the internet? Seems like a double standard to me.
As for the dogmatic claims that yoga is a religion: Yogi Swatmarama was a 15th Century yoga sage who focused only on purification of the body. This is the root of hatha yoga. Just because you dislike other yoga branches that differ from yours doesn't mean you have to attempt to disqualify them!
Peace! Shalom!
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Enough with the lashon hara on Swami P. It is a blessing that he speaks out for what he sees as an injustice, even if he is coming from a place we disagree with. You redeem more sparks with honey ...
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I concur with the notion / metaphor (and certainly an attempt at practice) that a Catholic Bar Mitzvah or Jewish Yoga, classically / orthodox / literally attempted is absurd and furthermore, impossible. Yoga done by a Jewish person, however, may be simply contradictory in the literal sense. From personal experience, however, I find them complimentary in important ways and hope to make a good life through the best of intentions.
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i have a linear prayer book and psalms.
i use verses from psalms or shmone esre to chant.
i think the mussar movement uses this technique as well.
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I can only speak from my own experience, so there isn't really anything to agree or disagree with ;) because it's all my personal observation.
I lived in South-India for a year (all together) and learned the following things:
- Not all religious Hindus practice yoga (just like not all Jews keep kosher, put tfilin, etc.) and not all people who practice it are Hindus.
- Yoga cannot be a missionary tool, since Hinduism in not a religion you can convert to - your are either born into it, or not.
- People I met and lived with believed that there was ONE source, one entity that cannot be named or understood by people, and the stones, trees, sacred places and murtis (these are the idols) are manifestations of the ONE to make it easier for humans to recognize it and get closer to understand it. Thank you, Rabbi Freeman for mentioning this!
Living there made me appreciate Judaism more and made me want to learn more about it and led me towards a more observant life.
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As an Orthodox Jew, I have been doing (notice I did not say practicing) yoga for many years as my primary form of physical fitness. As Rabbi Freeman correctly points out, there is an important ,but enigmatic concept of releasing the mind to enable the body to simply work as Hashem made it in His perfection. Yoga has a tremendous benefit to one's health to enable a person to be fit to perform mitzvahs. By the way, sun salutation is simply the name of a series of postures. Never have I had any intention of saluting the sun. By the way, thanks for the suggestion to study Torah before Yoga. My class is usually after I have davened and said Tehillim in the morning, so maybe I intutited the Rebbe's advice!
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The Swamis claim yoga as theirs and the Rabbi's are indignant when we cross the line by misbelieving that yoga is kosher -esp. without research or proof. Since we have no clarity and remain in doubt with mixed rhetoric and split rationale ,the solution therefore is to use discretion.By this i mean , one can keep Kosher by practising not yoga, but by doing natural exercises whilst meditating ,praying & reflecting on G-d ;with the help & guidelines in Torah !
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"Unlike the idols and temples erected by idolaters, they were here before Adam was created. It was the mistake of Adam's offspring to consider them autonomous beings."
What does it mean - is it real - "before Adam these things were present" - please guide
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Jewish Yoga is a burgeoning movement. I count 85 teachers combining Yoga and Judaism around the globe, between the two Web sites that collect them (Yoga Mosaic, Torah Yoga Assn.).
To answer R. Freeman's request for Jewish Yoga techniques, here are the basics (and their sources):
1) Teaching a passage of Torah prior to the movement segment (Torah Yoga, D. Bloomfield);
2) Renaming the poses for Hebrew letters (Alef Bet Yoga, S. Rapp) and Jewish symbols;
3) Incorporating Kabbalistic breathing techniques and imagery from the Sefirot (Ophanim, Z. Zavidowsky);
4) Developing new movements expressive of Jewish prayer meanings (Minding the Temple of the Soul, T. Frankiel and J. Greenfeld).
5) Personally, I combine all of these in my classes (Gentle Jewish Yoga).
Hebrew Kirtan, that is, Yoga music with Hebrew replacing Sanskrit, is growing in popularity as well. See Kirtan Rabbi (Rabbi A. Hahn), or Kabbalah Kirtan (Yofiyah).
Support this chat -- donate to Chabad.org.
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The sun and the stars were here before Adam was created. They are not like idols, created by men to be worshipped. So to, the health and mental benefits of forms of exercise, relaxation and breathing are not inventions of men, but simply their discoveries of the benefits planted by G-d in His Creation.
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Thank you Rabbi Freeman for your guidance.
What should be done to avoid material aids to become idols?
Could Breathing become an idol?
Could Tefila, Tzedaka and Teshuva become idols when used to represent human endeavors in the name of G-d?
Kindly guide us as to the way to avoid using G-d creations as if they where idols?
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There are many wonderful points being made in these contributions. With limited space, I wish to look at some of the observations made and would appreciate some helpful responses from readers. I will make 2 posts for this. 1) There are many Hebrew words similar to Sanskrit. For example, the Sanskrit 'Eka' means 'one' just like the Hbrew 'echad'. 'Hodu' (India), in Hebrew shares the same root as 'yehudi'. I believe this word means 'gratitude' or 'he who gives thanks'. 2) I wonder about the name and figure of 'Abraham'- is this really a title rather than a name? G-d renamed him with sound of breath 'ha', as was Sarai also re-named with this sound. The sound "A" has specific, deep meanings in Sanskrit, as it does in Hebrew, having to do with All That Is- The divine 'gap' of wholeness from which creation (duality) extends. The 'Shma' seems to be asking us to reflect on this relationship of Oneness of 'A'donai (singular) to Elohenu ('our' material world of duality). See next post.
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3) Abraham's and Sarah's names are peculiarly similar to 'Braham' and his consort 'Saraswati'. 'Braham' is the Totality of All There Is. Abraham lived in the Vedic civilization of Sumeria, which, as I understand it, was at the beginning of a cultural decline from 2500 BCE. Abraham was a witness, to this cultural decadence, and could be seen as the point of intersection between these two great philosophical movements. A reformer, Abraham emphasized the unseen Creator vs images which misled people down destructive paths.
4) I really like the point made about 'kundalini' and the 'serpent' of Eden. The practice of kundalini was highly developed in Vedic civilization and possibly, this practice may have inadvertantly created a wantonly sexualized society, unintended by the rishis (see sculptural art and architecture of ancient India). The story of Sodom/Gomorah demonstrates similar practices. This is just the surface-pls direct me to scholarly writings on these topics.
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Dar Rabbi:
Breathing cannot become an idol because it was nor made or formed by men.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Tefillah, Tzedaka, Teshuva: Were they created by god? could they become an idol?
Which definition of worship would you choose to refer to an idol?
Worship: prayer, devotion, homage, adulation, benediction, invocation, reverence, honor, religious ritual, pray to, invoke, venerate, glorify, praise, exalt, extol, bow down.
Please guide us.
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in an abstract sense, anything that becomes an end in itself has become an idol, because it stands on the path towards a human being achieving his ultimate purpose, which is to connect to the Ein Sof.
The serene, detached state that Yoga helps us achieve can be a useful tool in achieving our purpose, especially in these maddening times. When that state becomes an end in itself, it has become an idol.
In that sense, yes, even acts of kindness, prayer and perhaps even teshuva can become idols. Read Unidolatry.
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There is a book, Gifts of Abraham, the Untold Story of Brahman, by Audi Gozlan, who has contributed to this discussion, that addresses many of the subjects you inquire about, as does my book, Yoga and Judaism, and articles on my blog, particularly about the connection between nachash and shechina and kundalini (phonetecially, nachash is shechina backwords, and both certainly relate to kundalini), which you can locate through a google search, Yoga and Judaism.
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Dear rabbi:
Thank you for your guidance. Correct me if I am wrong:
Yoga could be Kasher only when used as a bridge to get connected with the Ein Sof.
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As long as we understand that as a rarified simplification and not as a universal rule of thumb to follow, I can live with it.
What's vital to remember is that we (quite paradoxically) see the Ein Sof in personal terms--an Infinite Light with a desire, so to speak, to be involved in our lives, desiring something from us and from our world. In terms of the Kabbala, the Ein Sof is synonymous with will, and the innermost of will is desire and delight.
This is a novel contribution of Jewish thought that I don't see adopted in the philosophies of India. Correct me if I'm wrong.
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“Through which aspect do you prefer to worship God, the Personal or the Impersonal?” – Ramakrishna. As long as we remember that everything is part of the Unfathomable Infinite, we are safe from the bogeyman of idolatry. Obsessing on anything as separate from the One becomes idolatry. Expressing awe and gratitude to the One through anything that emanates from the One is not idolatry. The clear, quiet mind resulting from meditation is a portal, a doorway to the Infinite that lies beyond the mind. We should not obsess on the doorway, we should behold where the doorway leads. The world of form, of creation, even in its totality, does not equal the Creator, as the Creator also lies beyond all creation. It is a subtle, but important distinction. “The best form in which to worship God is every form”. – Neem Karoli Baba. Quiet your over-active, agitated mind and you increase your chances to receive answers to all of your questions (if any remain) from The Source.
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Dear Rabbi:
Before we design a bridge to connect with the Infinite Light, could you inform me if that light has anything to do with Or (Aleph, Vav, Reish). The twenty-fifth word from Bereishit Bara on.
Thank you.
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The light mentioned at the beginning of Genesis is sometimes referred to as the "Ohr Ha-ganuz"--the hidden light. It is the essence of the Infinite Light and revealed through our struggle with the darkness.
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Dear Rabbi:
Before we get into darkness kindly confirm if we could call that light yom (yud vav mem).
Thank you for your guidance in the design of the connection with the Ein Sof.
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This is such an inspiring article. As a serious practitioner of yoga and a committed Jew, I was so happy to see this post. You have infused my Yom Kippur with a new level of spirituality.
Blessings,
Shannon (shoshana)
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This has been a fascinating read since I am doing a paper comparing Chassidic traditions to some Hindu Bhakti traditions. The wisest of you or perhaps the most educated recognize that you have more in common with each other then you have differences. Rabbi Freeman cited a story in which God did not reject the sincere prayers of a simple woman who did not know the sacred names of G-d. Brahmin, as the Universal totality of the Upanishads is not interested in the name given That Which it Is by humans, of India or anywhere else. If you seek to bring the sparks of the Divine together as they manifest on earth, do not be so vain as to think they must all be Jewish or Hindu or of any other culture or faith. The journey is the same for all of us. We may define it differently follow a different book or teacher speak a different language, trace our heritage to a different part of the world, but the path and I believe the essential goals are the same. Be gentle with each other as G-d is with you.
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We can see how obvious it is that Jews are craving the kind of kedusha (and experiential, 'so-called 'mystical', knowledge that comes with holiness) that meditation offers, and, according to many rabbis, was at one time practiced by Jews, although not centrally. It seems to me that Judaism must step up to the plate and make a central place in Jewish practice for Jewish meditation. The problem is that the oral transmission - the deepest teachings from the rebbes - has been severed, especially since WW2. While we have many people writing and teaching about Kabbalah on a cerebral level, I don't see much in the way of an authentic, contemporary, Jewishly Jewish meditation practice going on. Therefore, Jews are looking for this deeper kedusha --what they know was/is inherently within the Jewish teachings, but obscured or forgotten or even discouraged-- somewhere else.
In regards to the experience of the golden calf - the regression to idolatry even after the communal, external experience of G-d's Presence at Mount Sinai- I suggest that the ancient Israelites were spiritually not matured to a point where they could -en masse- culturally assimilate what they had just experienced and so backslid into something that was tangible for them- Egyptian idolatrous practices.
I would like to put forward that Jewish meditation can be inculcated in small daily doses of deep quietness (the "small, still voice") where the 'Shma' -the yechidus of G-d's Presence/Shechina is experienced, slowly becoming the ubiquitous back drop of the more matured spirituality of one's individual reality, therefore being the basis of Klipat nogah- raising the sparks, bringing G-dliness into the earth, helping to finish G-d's Creation. This is our essential Jewish task on this plane.
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To Liora:
I invite you to browse in www.chabad.org " the jewish meditation series" by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman.
Once you look at those jewish meditation teachings I would appreciate you comments.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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I am in complete agreement with what you have said, but as a student in Religious Studies I have noticed that human beings always seem to return to certain formulas in their relationship to their gods. There is almost always a group that approaches the Divine in the way you describe. However, there is a much larger group that tends to simplify the relationship in order to focus on a specific form or manifestation of the Divine because it is far more difficult to maintain an relationship with or seek unity with or understand a formless something. The Divine may be imagined as an omnipotent being/entity, similar to a human, or a figure may be created to represent the Divinity, or to temporarily "hold" the essence of the Divinity again to make it easier to focus ones love, worship, fear prayers etc. It is a small step from there to a misplaced worship of the figure itself as the one and only, actual representation of the Divine. I think that is what idolatry is supposed to mean.
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Thank you for your comments and insights. I am very interested in the paper you are working on and request that you post information on how to obtain a copy when you are finished. My personal focus has been more on Gyana/Vedanta, but I have always been interested in the power of emotion and devotional paths that seek to channel that spiritually. Folks who prefer the path of discrimination tend to look at emotions as just something that need to be controlled, but channeling those energies productively, not only controlling them, is also important. I hope you include research on the Jewish conception of the "circumcision of the heart" as it relates to this topic,
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Here is the link to the Jewish Meditation Series--a series of videos presenting traditional Jewish forms of meditation or mindfulness.
I would greatly appreciate to hear some comments on that series from participants in the oft-fascinating discussion here.
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Nobody has yet responded to the Rabbi's request, so I'll be the first. I viewed the first of the Modeh Ani and the one relating to Sukot. It is great to have someone provide deep insight into common prayers and rituals, to infuse them with meaning when they can become rote. Interesting production effect with the Modeh Ani, sort of speaking out of a vortex! It is also good to see the flesh and blood person behind the name of Rabbi Freeman. I'll continue viewing them, and I recommend them to others. I'll get back with more response after further viewing. Just wanted to get this in before Shabbat to let the Rabbi know someone is heeding his suggestion and responding.
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Dear Leon and R. Tzvi: The meditation series is beautiful- no doubt about it. 'Meditation' is a ever deepening process whereby simple-yet profound-awareness of one's self allows knowledge that the cognitive mind can not know in the same way. It is 'knowing' and 'be-ing' together, synergistically that brings 'knowledge' beyond the analytical brain. The 'knowledge' is, or is accompanied by, Divine Presence. Both of these profound prayers are the RESULT of this type of transcendent knowledge given to us by a long ago sage. But the PROCESS of 'meditation' must bring each one to this place of transcendent knowledge, that, in turn, becomes usefully integrated into one's daily life. I believe the unmentionable Hebrew names of G-d are the means to this transcendence and kasher with Divine presence. The yogis perfected this technique, but the Jews suppressed it. The sounds of the names of G-d have the power to blast through the cognitive barrier that separates us from Divine Presence.
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Dear Liora:
Thank you for your comments on Jewish Meditation. Arye Kaplan`s neshama gets connected with all those jews who practice all he wrote about the jewish way of meditating.
When you get connected to your feelings you will notice that it is your belief system which makes you believe that you can get separated from G-d.
Thank you again for your comments.
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Thanks Leon- that was an interesting comment about R. Kaplan. Have you experienced that? Is this transcendental knowledge or belief? Is R. Kaplan an intermediary between you and "Gd"? I have questions about how elevated (or not elevated) beings, no longer in the body, can interact with us. Do you trust the non-physical being(s) and how do you know who they are? For these reasons and more, transcendental experiences can be a twisted path, with or without a trusted a teacher. Its interesting to me that mainstream Judaism has emphasized Torah study, prayer and service vs. courting transcendent reality as the yogis and kabbalists have done. Also, Judaism insists on focusing on the highest reality, i.e. "Gd",- ultimately undefinable-for this reason. It may sound like I'm contradicting myself from the earlier post, but I'm just expressing the questions that have come up for me about meditation and transcendence, with diificulty because the posts are so limited in length. Shabbat shalom, L.
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For those wondering....
Google "Torah Yoga"
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yo·ga (y$ÆgÃ), n. (sometimes cap.)
1. a school of Hindu philosophy advocating and prescribing a course of physical and mental disciplines for attaining liberation from the material world and union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.
2. any of the methods or disciplines prescribed, esp. a series of postures and breathing exercises practiced to achieve control of the body and mind, tranquillity, etc.
3. union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.
[1810–20; < Skt]
—yo·gic (y$Ægik), adj.
—yoÆgism, n.
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Your post is nice Mark, but how does it contribute substantially to this discussion? Can you elaborate on your statement, "yoga isn't kosher for the Jew, only for the Hindu" ? Have you reviewed Jewish writings on the topic in order to make this statement? When you say "yoga" what aspect of this complex topic are you speaking about? Beyond Webster, do you have any real knowledge of the subject? Thanks for your clarification,
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Liora, truly incompletely, nor was it meant to. Years ago, I attended a few Yoga classes which i enjoyed, but my gut feel & fertile "inner still-voice" warned of foreign indiscernible entities. Admittedly i ignored the all too consuming round robin banter. Merely another basic, simple and quick answer, written within a few minutes impromptuously, endeavouring to answer the original title question only. Due to business constraints and lack of interest, I lost the thread of the varying comments a long time ago which are interesting, often amateurish and repetitive, which fail to answer the question directly.
Using a no brainer example, tangible and revealing: as a non-Jew I was removed from the local Orthodox shul. How much more grave for an Orthodox Jew to stumble, enter and engage in unchartered waters of Yoga, where foreign gods / philosophies are supreme over Moses's teachings, indeed where Torah is disregarded, unrecognised, and unheard of.
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Actually, Mark is one of the few comments of substance. All of genuine Yoga is Hinduism. There is nothing wrong with Jews meditating, stretching, etc. for what ever reason they choose...calling it Yoga is uprooting it from its Hindu source. It is like calling an everyday secular circumcision a Bris or having a Bris performed by an Imam...it makes no sense. It may seem like the same to the naive but should be recognized and respected much differently. So, Yoga can not be Kosher any more than Mass can be Kosher...confusing general terms with specifics,i.e.,sacred words having a context within a specific religion.
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I have encountered many yoga teachers and practitioners in both the East and the West who are quite aware of Moses' teachings, and not only have recogniized and heard of Torah, but also hold Torah in high regard. I do not take issue with your gut feel warning you against getting further involved with yoga, as that is your undeniable personal experience. But perhaps you can recognize that your personal experience may be different than that of others and not applicable to others. In accord with my inner small voice, I personally do not see that teachings of yoga and Judaism are absolutely and irrevocably in conflict. Others here have disagreed. That is all quite in keeping with the nature of discourse found in both the Talmudic and yoga traditions.
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If one is not really interested, why bother posting at all? I don't agree that you were asked to leave a shul, I don't think that's right. You were obviously interested in learning more about Judaism. Let me ask you this Mark- did you know there were many schools of 'prophecy' throughout Israel in ancient times? How do you think they were learning? Certainly, meditation techniques were used with close guidance. The yogis don't have a monopoly on meditation or higher states of consciousness- its a global time-honored phenomenon. Yoga happens to be one of the most articulated practices regarding higher states of consciousness of the human species. Jewish sages hid this knowledge until the 'end of days' when it was prophesied to be open to all. Now, post Holocaust, many Jews are looking for remnants of authentic 'Jewish-owned' esoteric knowledge that may have survived ww2. Because our tradition has been severed, we are forced to extricate it from the living sources of other cultures.....
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In my religious studies all literal translations of the word yoga come out as "a way", meaning a method or practice. It is a sanskrit word not a Hindu word although both are of the culture we know as Indian. The words and the philosophies they are used to express are believed to be around 6000 years old. If you all want to get hot and bothered about a word in a language, go ahead, but there are many similar paths out there to G-d, and it is only people who worry about things like words, and how precise a ceremony is. G-d is not Hindu, or Jewish, or Catholic or Muslim, and people of all faiths may come to see that there is more to their beliefs then following traditions. Pray to whoever you want. Use whatever words best express your feelings in whatever language you speak. If the prayer is of love and light and compassion and benevolence, then it is pleasing to the Divine. Yoga today is not what it started out as.
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I concur with Steve and Anonymous from Honolulu. The pot of gold to be found at the end of every rainbow (in itself pure white light separated into infinite shades of beautiful colors) is the ubiquitous, mysterious Creator known by an infinite variety of names. (Esoteric) Judaism recognizes the particularist and universalist aspects of Gd in the manifest world with the words:.. hashem 'elohim'.., which is in the plural or particularist form and..hashem 'echad'.., which is Gd in singularity or Universality. The 'Shma' prayer or meditation is a cognition of Gd's plurality AND singularity. 'Elohenu' is the plural possesive (our) of 'elohim', the many aspects of Gd's manifestations on the human plane of awareness. Meditation/yoga/prayer cultivates an awareness of Gd's Presence in the 'elohim' of our world, thereby elevating human thought and activity to the highest level of consciousness-creating an abode for Gd on Earth-integrating ('yog'). "yoga'=yoke: 2=1. 'Make learning, not war!
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Dear Liora:
Your four question marks tell me you are looking for something.
I will share my thoughts fruit of my belief system to add light to my comment.
Quoting a dear Rabbi, you cannot allow anything to stand on the path towards achieving a human's beeing ultimate purpose: connect to the Ein sof.
I practice meditation to convince my mnind that I am one with A'shem and that I am always connected with the Ein Sof.
It is imposible to allow anything (intermediary) between you and your neshama.
I am a product of A'Shem's hands who made my body and used His mouth to blow my life through my nostrils. that is how I became a human been. I am the result of A'Shem's wiil. why would I look for an intermediary?
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A friend of mine nagged me for six months to go with her to yoga. I was not interested but finally I gave in and I was privileged to learn yoga from an Indian guru. He used to say to us "I'm not here to teach you anything, I'm your servant, to help you dust of the conditioning and discover who you are". This was the beginning of my path to tshuva.
I have continued practicing yoga as it gives me such a wonderful feeling of physical and emotional well-being. I have since tried a few classes of Jewish yoga, or the hebrew letters, but I didn't like them. It felt hybrid and forced. When I do yoga I focus on my breathing and being present in the moment. That's all. My meditation revolves around davening (praying), before and after. Focusing on feeling G-d's presence.
As for mantras, I recommend saying Tehillim (psalms), and you will find verses that resonate with you. A particular favorite of mine is "hodu lehashem ki tov, ki leolam chasdo" (107:1).
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I would not even engage in a futile dialogue with someone such as swami paran whose intent is so obviously offensive. ("if yoga is kosher then so was the holocaust").
In my travels I have met people, and teachers from many different religions and callings, the indian guru, with whom I learned yoga, the japanese aikido master, the catholic nun in bangkok and the rastafarian healer from jamaica: they were all extremely kind, loving people.
I think that that is the mark of a truly spiritual person.
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A beautiful and profound point made. The Yoga masters I have studied with, although they revere the knowledge handed down from the rishis and sages of their tradition and the responsibility to maintain the purity of that knowledge, also recognize the universal, all-encompassing Truth that lies within everyone and every path, including religions. Jewish practice also struggles at times with defining its particular character as differentiated from other paths, such as xtianity or messianic 'judaism', etc. This conundrum reminds me of children whose parents have given to each one unique gifts-carefully, thoughtfully chosen for that child. When consciousness is at a higher level, we will be able to share our gifts, and also acknowledge and respect to whom the gift was given. After examining eastern 'gifts', I can now begin to better understand and define the gifts that have been divinely given to me and my special 'Jewish' task on this earth, differing from the tasks of other peoples.
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