SANATANA DHARMA AND THE MODERN WORLD

Is Yoga Hindu?

Yoga is the science of meditation that appears in Hinduism, which is a broad tradition, as the essence of its spiritual practices. Yoga is not merely yogic postures but includes pranayama, mantra and various meditation approaches. Yoga is an integral part of Sanatana Dharma or the eternal tradition.

Yet whether we regard Yoga as Hindu depends upon what we understand Hinduism to be. If we follow the superficial and stereotypal view that Hinduism is an ethnic religion, then Yoga, which is a universal science, goes far beyond Hinduism, however intimately it may be related to it. We see Buddhist and Jain systems of Yoga and practices in many different mystical traditions that resemble Yoga.

However, if we understand Hinduism as Sanatana Dharma or the universal tradition, which is its true reality, then we see that Yoga and Sanatana Dharma must always go together. Yoga or union with universal consciousness is the practice of Sanatana Dharma or the universal path. Just as Sanatana Dharma leads us to universality, so does Yoga. Sanatana Dharma is the greater science and culture of Yoga, its application to all aspects of life.

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