In the last few years, I explored many different religions, especially the eastern ones. Myself I was growing up in a very traditional town in the center of germany. Not many people were really religious, but for one reason or the other, some went to church every other sunday.
My mom took a lot of love and sweetness in reading Jesus‘ stories and parabels to us. Teaching and transmitting to us his values, and how he, God and the guardian angels are there for us. So I learned to connect in some way to Jesus, but not in the same way to christianity or the institution of the church. Spirituality or religion was not something I had seen a lot of value in at that time.
All of this changed drastically, when I discovered the power of the science and practice of Yoga a few years ago. And with that, explored the religions and believe systems of the east.
Most surprisingly for me was, that I learned a lot more about the person of Jesus from Yogis and Hindus, than from christianity. By the former, Jesus is simply seen and respected as probably the greatest Yogi who ever lived and was known to us. A being of very high development and purity, and above all: aspiration for God and Love for humanity.
The whole world knows about his last few years. But almost nothing is known about his childhood and years as a teenager and young adult. Many believe that he actually travelled to and spend some time in India, meditating in remote caves and practicing forms of Yoga and Tantra, just like saints and sages of today. Which actually developed in him the knowledge and abilities he became famous for. Some even say that he still lives in the Himalayas, in the company of other immortals like Babaji, and together with his consort, Mary Magdalene.
The system of Yoga is very much connected to Hinduism, and its Gods and Goddesses. But surprisingly, I found it very different to any other religion or spiritual institution. Especially as it is not an institution. There is no head person (like the pope or Dalai Lama), or organization structuring it (like the Church). Also no major pilgrimage site (like Mekka or Jerusalem). The major book of Hinduism (the Bhagavad Gita) is very different in its style than the Bible or Koran. All temples are independently organized and many variations and streams exist. So much that it is not really clear or easy to define Hinduism. Many traditions who are devoted to the same Gods of Hinduism cant be really put into the same category. The system of Yoga and science of meditation itself is somehow connected to it, and uses elements of Hinduism to work with. But it barely can be put under the umbrella of Hinduism.
Contrary to what most people think, Hindus or Yogis do not believe in many Gods. But just as much as the christians and other religions, Hindus as well believe in just One unifying God or God-Head. The major difference is, that in Yoga and Hinduism it is strongly believed that God is our very own essence and Truth. He does not live somewhere in the clouds or outside of us.
Other Hindu Gods or Deities, like Siva, Ganesha, Brahma, Kali, Laxmi, and so on, are aspects of God and personifications of universal qualities. This was very clever and makes it easier to connect to certain universal energies and work with them. Siva for example is the being of transformation and new beginnings, Brahma the god of creation. Whatever energy and support people need in their life, they practice with and for the deity and energy according to it.
What I found is, that there is no other major believe system that goes as well and harmonious together with other religions and believe systems as Yoga and Hinduism. It is a friendly and open system, and actually more of a science and approach than classical religion or believe system. It supports and benefits other spiritual practices very much. This led unfortunately to some takeovers in the past, as seen especially in the north indian region of Kashmir. It was once dominated by devotees of the Hindu God Shiva. The local Shaivists welcomed their muslim brothers with open arms and intended to live peacefully side by side. The muslims in return killed almost all of them, burned most of the ancient scriptures and intended to destroy the whole knowledge and tradition. Today, Kashmir is almost completely emptied of its Shaivist heritage, and completely muslim. The tradition of Kashmir Shaivism is held up by very few schools and teachers spread around the globe.
But still to this day, especially Christians and Buddhists live peacefully together with Hindus across India and other parts of the world. Buddhism actually shares many similarities with Hinduism and practices of Yoga and Tantra. The roots might even have the same origins.
There is a famous analogy, where a group of blind people touch different areas of an elephant. When asked to describe it, the one who touches the legs answers: „it‘s a tree!“. Another touches the big tooth and says: „it‘s a speer!“. Another touches the ears and says: „it‘s a big pancake“. Another touches the tail and says: „it‘s a rope“
All of them have touched the same thing. But they experienced different aspects and interpreting it in their own way. As none of them has seen the whole picture, all of them were unable to see that they all touched the same elephant.
Learning more about Yoga was a big eye opener for me. Yoga is a big system and sophisticated science, and inspiring to learn and practice. For me, it answered more about myself and the universe than anything else before. It led me eventually to exploring more and writing about it. And hopefully inspiring you in one way or the other. And as much as I love to repeat it: Always look for more — there is always more! I will do the same! OM NAMAH SIVAYA
