"Christian Yoga" - Fr. Seraphim Rose
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- Опубликовано: 21 июл 2024
- Fr. Seraphim Rose examines the phenomena of “Christian Yoga,” which in his day (1970s) was gaining popularity and acceptance, and offers a sober warning to all, especially Orthodox Christians.
From “Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future”, Fr. Seraphim writes:
“The essence of Yoga is not the discipline itself, but the meditation which is its end. The author (French Benedictine monk, J. M. Dechanet) is correct when he writes: ‘The aims of Hindu Yoga are spiritual. It is tantamount to treason to forget this and retain only the purely physical side of this ancient discipline, to see in it no more than a means towards bodily health or beauty’ (p. 54). To this it should be added that the person who uses Yoga only for physical well-being is already disposing himself towards certain spiritual attitudes and even experiences of which he is undoubtedly unaware…”
“Anyone who understands the nature of prelest or spiritual deception will recognize in this description of ‘Christian Yoga’ precisely the characteristics of those who have gone spiritually astray, whether into pagan religious experiences or sectarian ‘Christian’ experiences. The same striving for ‘holy and divine feelings,’ the same openness and willingness to be ‘seized’ by a spirit, the same seeking not for God but for ‘spiritual consolations,’ the same self-intoxication which is mistaken for a ‘state of grace,’ the same incredible ease with which one becomes ‘contemplative’ or ‘mystical,’ the same ‘mystical revelations’ and pseudo-spiritual states. These are the common characteristics of all who are in this particular state of spiritual deception.”
“Even the purely physical sides of psychic disciplines like Yoga are dangerous, because they are derived from and dispose one towards the psychic attitudes and experiences which are the original purpose of Yoga practice.”
-Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future, p. 38-42, 68-69.
Buy the book here: www.sainthermanmonastery.com/...
For more on Yoga from an Orthodox perspective:
Hidden Fire: Orthodox Perspectives on Yoga (article): orthochristian.com/80417.html
Yoga: An Orthodox Christian Examination by Fr. Peter Heers: • Yoga: An Orthodox Chri...
Elder Paisios on Yoga and Hinduism: • Elder Paisios on Yoga ...
YOGA IS NOT GYMNASTICS-KLAUS KENNETH (An account of a very experienced former Yogi who lived in India and became and Orthodox Christian): • YOGA IS NOT GYMNASTICS...
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Развлечения
In high school, 1966, my best friend, who was Lutheran(i am Orthodox)won a trip to Europe. She came back smoking a pipe and doing yoga. I would visit and she would be crossed legs, with fingers forming a circle, and chanting. After that , she tried to get me to visit Anton Levay, a demonic leader in SF, and that was the beginning of the end of our friendship, as she had changed to the worse.
idk what you white people doing there in the name of yoga.
O +St. Seraphim Rose, pray to GOD for us all
+Through the prayers of our Holy Father's LORD JESUS CHRIST OUR GOD have mercy on us and save us
There is a big difference between stretching and yoga
Strecthing doesn't involve that foul smelling garbage the Indians think is incense.
Works of the flesh.
I believe in monasticism and the sayings of the holy fathers. Meditation is a good thing as it gives you inner calm. If God has created us thus then why resist it and say its evil? I dont think its a question of good or evil but rather about doctrines made by men.
@@yourkingdomcomeyourwillbedone elaborate please.
@@javariusjavarlamariuslamar3759 Stretching and yoga are literally exercises of the flesh. I didn't mean anything by it, this was just something that occurred to me years ago when I tried yoga for the first time. I realised that I was working my flesh to achieve some spiritual change. Pretty sure it's not biblically accurate or relevant, just a random thought I had.
Thank you Fr. Seraphim & OW, for this post. By the prayers of the Theotokos, of all the Saints and the Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and burn this mangod desire in our hearts, that we bow the knee to the true God man most blessed Lord Jesus Christ our only God & saviour, Prince of Peace, Lord of lords, King of kings.
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us ☦️
Thank you for posting. What a great book excerpt
When I was younger I went to a yoga studio.. at the end of the sessions the group would chant which was very disturbing, I became suspicious of this, read further on the topic and stopped doing it
THANK YOU for this Truth!
I did one-on-one yoga when I stuffed my back, as the osteopath said it would be much cheaper (the osteopath was $270/week!). It helped my back and legs a LOT!! But, its final aim is not good posture, but union with the pantheon of Hindu gods. I have not been back in a looooong time, I am trying to find somewhere else that is not yoga and not as expensive as a house to help my back, as it seems to be returning to its painful state.
My one question would be, is there ever a future where India is baptised in the Orthodox faith, and it's practices are baptised, like the Greeks philosophy was baptised, and many Church fathers studied the Greek philosophy and Christianised it?
What about Pilates as an alternative? Another option could be to look into Systema exercises - which is a Christian martial art mixed with breathing and exercise and restoring the body.
It is true that certain practices of pagan culture can be baptized, and no conversion of India would even be necessary for that to happen. However, these tend to be practices that are either neutral or else can fit well into religious practice. The problem is that it would seem impossible to baptize using postures of Hindu gods. Likewise, Christianity already has postures of prayer which differ from culture to culture. But yoga postures go beyond this. It is inherently occult. I could be wrong and would submit to the decisions of the Church, but I am not convinced that such a practice could ever be Christianized. There are already so many acceptable practices to use.
Omg. You are missing out. It is NOT about becoming a Hindu. Try another yoga studio. Youll thank me.
There’s no Christian yoga
Amen. It is a pagan spiritual practice
@@CHURCHISAWESUM it's Hindu's
@@shanmukeshsriramoju8630 same thing
@@theunknowncommenter725 what same thing ?
@@shanmukeshsriramoju8630 They Equate the term Pagan as bad
Are there Orthodox commentaries on mindful meditation? I admit it helped ease symptoms of my mental illness.
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.
There are plenty of resources to learn about praying the Jesus Prayer and cleansing the nous (the organ that communes with God) and focusing it on God in the heart. Our “mindfulness” is to rid our mind of all that is not God and according to God’s will. You can read “On the Prayer of Jesus” by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov. It would be best to ask your spiritual father (or trusted priest) since he can apply the Church’s wisdom to you personally.
@@OrthodoxWisdom
Thank you. God be with you.
As a currently non-denominational Christian, I practice centering prayer every morning, which is a form of meditation, but pray to God and Jesus before and after.
Make sure to be living a life of repentance daily. Mourning over your sinfulness and embracing Christ's divine life through the Holy Spirit by faith.
its done fairly commonly in u.s schools were religion is banned
Yup, I had a psychologist try to get me to go to a Buddhist temple once and recommended I read Thich Naht Hahn and Ken Wilbur.
So dangerous.
The poses were developed to summon certain Hindu spirits (demons). The poses are not neutral.
So many people do not know this and don’t care to know. They get hostile when you inform them
@@CHURCHISAWESUM indeed they do.
Shut up blind Christian puppet 😂
@@CHURCHISAWESUM Very True.
Demons and summoning? 🤣😂🤣😂😂...... If educated illiterate had an account on youtube
' Christian Yoga ' 😂😂 ,
HINDU'S LEFT THE CHAT !
That was the point of it, the summary of the video was that no such thing as Christian yoga
😂😂😅😅
Is there a problem with exercising too?
So what is the antidote then? We see the problem of falling into prelest through these methods, and obviously we shouldn't do them, but Fr. Rose did these things and he recovered...What is the solution? Does the book say?
Great question. The antidote is distrust in oneself and to become immersed in the ascetic tradition of the Church under the guidance of a spiritual father.
@@OrthodoxWisdom Ahh yes, well said! This takes great repentance and humility though. May Christ grant us those virtues and the strength to turn away from all that opposes Him. I appreciate your work Orthodox Wisdom, keep it up! God Bless
The biggest problem with yoga is that they try to claim the most simplest of stretches and say its "yoga". For example, simply lying on the floor is a "yoga" pose ("shavasana").
Laying on the floor and stretching the back backwards, that is also another "pose" ("fish pose", aka "Matsayasana").
But if one simply place an exercise block under their back and stretches out their back, it's no longer "yoga" ?
They keep trying to blur the lines between yoga and stretching and it's on purpose.
Is it true Icons use Hindu Mudras? I googled it and they looked pretty similar to me.
I looked at images of mudras and only one looked the same to me. However, the hand gestures in our icons, to my knowledge, are either originally Christian or are adopted from Greek culture of the early centuries after Christ, but not from Hinduism which wouldn’t have had influence on the peoples of the early Christians in the Roman Empire, including Jerusalem and the Jewish land under Rome at the time.
Yes, every hand gesture is already mentioned in Hindu scriptures, so in a way maybe we worship someone who potentially could be a Hindu, just an assumption... i am not a believer anymore btw.
This is not on topic of this video, but what church should you attend if there is no Orthodox Church in your city or any City near by. I think the closest Orthodox Church near me in 6 or 7 hours away
Though not easy whatsoever, one must do whatever they can to visit as often as possible and gather with Orthodox Christians in your area, if possible. Just like Christ was in Jerusalem and not Antioch, and those who wanted to be with him had to travel long distances, so too today those who live far from Orthodox churches must travel great distances to be with Christ in His Body, the Church. I pray you can find other Orthodox people, even inquirers, in your area and you can schedules times to travel to the nearest Orthodox Church.
Are there different God in different churches ..??
God is same whether you are Hindu/Sikh/Muslim/Budhhist or Christian.
There are just paths to get peace & to reach God. It's very easy...
Learn "Kriya yoga"...a very basic & vary fundamental exercise to follow & reach the peak in minimum possible time.
& Pls give some creative to Hindu for creating Yoga..there is nothing as Christian Yoga....it's always Hindu Yoga ....stop labeling it as Christian. ...I agree that it's for everyone but it's not necessary to label it as Christian/Muslim etc ...let it be as it is.
Do your best to attend an actual Orthodox Church, and don't accept inferior substitutes.
@@dustaatma550 Christians all worship the same Triune God, Jews somewhat do too but others pagan religions don't, we don't worship the same God. The point of the video was against "Christian" yoga, did you even listen to it or just saw the title came to the comments?
☦️☦️☦️
All you have to do is love God.
…. And your health wil be ALL BETTER….🙄🤔😘
Yoga can help your health, for sure, by taking tension out of the body, getting circulation going better to different parts of the body.
However, it makes you over focused on the physical, and any contemplation on gods and goddesses is dangerous. I followed the Bihar school of yoga and that school which mixed tantra with yoga is very dark. Swami Satyananda and his disciple and successor Niranjananda were and are demonised individuals. Niranjan featured in the book, "The Guru, the Young man, and the Elder". Scary guy!!
I do up dog / down dog every morning to stretch my back, shoulders, hips and hamstrings. There's nothing better to loosen your body after waking up and get the juices flowing for the day. But I do worry about the spiritual connotations of these movements.
They are just stretches nothing more nothing less
Fr. Seraphim says, “the person who uses Yoga only for physical well-being is already disposing himself towards certain spiritual attitudes and even experiences of which he is undoubtedly unaware…”
Do stretches, like Pilates and non pagan-inspired activities
@@OrthodoxWisdom I think that’s a stretch (no pun intended) on his part. The movement is the same but I think intention matters. Intention is what differentiates a stretch from yoga. I respectfully disagree with Fr. Seraphim
We all know what the road to hell is paved with… I’ll trust Fr. Seraphim (and St. Paisios, etc)
@@javariusjavarlamariuslamar3759 how can you argue or disagree with this Saint?
CAN THIS RUclips ADMIN REPLY TO. MY QUIERIES HERE IN THIS COMMENT SECTIO SO OTHER PEOPLE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO READ YOUR REPLIES TO MY QUESTION?... I'D LIKE TO CO FRONT Y'ALL FOR DIGESTING THE CULTURE OF SANATANI HINDUS
I’m here. What would you like to say?
yoga is overrated
yoga is blasphemy
I think if the intent is to stretch muscles there is nothing wrong.
If a spiritual activity is intented that's different. I do cobra stretchtes to stretch my abdominals.
If someone wants to do yoga for spiritual reasons they have a problem however.
if you're doing the same moves that were invented by the yoga heretics, you are are in error. you cannot separate the physical from the spiritual.
@@seraphim3TN so what? If a heretic invented underpants, you wouldn't wear them?
It's a bout intention, and where the heart is. Matter can't be evil, people can be evil.
Yoga can't be evil if performed solely for stretching muscles.
@@seraphim3TN neither the physical nor the spiritual is done for false gods here. Only for stretched muscles.
@@aiminghigh276 exactly right. I think this video is a bit of a stretch and irrational.
The thing is, yoga (all forms of it) is a spiritual practice.
Even Hindu gurus say, "There is no yoga without Hinduism, and no Hinduism without yoga".
Our ignorance or lack of intent will not avoid the consequences of this spiritual practice.
What about Ballet then? Classical violin
Yoga is made by hindu religion
Yoga is hindu spiritual practise, it is not related to christianity
That was what the video said, did you listen?
I read a book by Dr Rose about depression I found it harshI and not helpful. It did not seem to match with forgiveness and healing.
Which book? And “Dr.” Rose? He never earned the title of “Dr.” according to the world’s standards.
Is this saying non-orthodox christians can only exsperince spiritual delusions ?
No, but the humble approach is assume that unless one is united to Christ in baptism they are far more susceptible to demonic influence. But God is calling all men to salvation, standing at the door of their hearts and knocking, waiting for them to go further in the love of truth . Such a love of truth will ultimately lead to Truth who is Christ, and one unites to Christ in baptism and a life of obedience in the Orthodox Church.
The Benedictine monk asserts the practice causes him to yearn more deeply for our Lord and allows him to enter into a deep communion with the Holy Spirit, within which he is fulfilled.
Father Rose says the experience is false and akin to possession, that the orthodox experience of melding with God is more authentic and that the monk is deluded.
I am curious as to how Rose would describe his own experience of Theosis and how it would be different, and completely distinguishable, from a falsehood. If an observer were to watch his form, would the conclusion be "this is the real thing"?
I find it odd that a demonic practice makes you a more deeply convicted Christian. You´d expect the opposite, you know, becoming more hateful, cold, impatient, arrogant and averse to more closely knowing our loving God.
Could it be that father Rose simply has an inferior method of discipline and cannot reconcile that God is more accessible than he might think?
These are good questions and I appreciate them. Have you read “Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future”? Fr. Seraphim analyzes many different religious and spiritual phenomena on the basis of the teachings and witness of the Saints. He shows the nature of prelest (spiritual deception) and how it can often produce “positive” outcomes…yet they are still inspired by Satan who can disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14).
you know, on the subject of luciferian deception, I would say it is a little sad to live always in paranoia.
God has not given us the spirit of fear, He has ordered us to be brave, to seek Him, to knock on His door.
If Satan lays snares on the path, why are we afraid? those who earnestly seek God´s Truth will not fall because only those whose hearts seek excuses to give in to their lusts, will be taken.
We live in God´s light and in His protection, who can snatch us away from Him?
Lets have more faith that He guides us always.
@@OrthodoxWisdom for some strange reason my first reply was deleted, but basically:
No I have not read the book, but would appreciate the gist of it if you would?
I also invoke the defence "you shall know them by their fruits" and "how can a house divided stand"
By these I mean, that if the monk is propelled towards God, then isn´t that a good fruit which stems from good practice/theology?
and as Christ was also accused of casting out demons by the power of satan, how can a man be drawn towards God by Luciferian deception? The answer is this cannot be.
Without reading the lives of the saints, I’d both be most trusting of things like you suggest and/or more anxious as you wisely noted. But the lives of the saints teach us not to trust ourselves, our feelings and thoughts, to submit them to our spiritual father and the teachings of the saints, and humbly seek God’s help. This has also led me to much greater peace and confidence in Christ. As the Apostle Paul says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you…”
These are very good questions and can’t be answered in a few sentences. Regarding the book, I think you’ll really be happy if you read it. See the description for a link to buy the book and see here for the audiobook: ruclips.net/p/PLfcm1-wmkwADreyCPsZ-2vvoVIqUTnxyW
Those who are in the stillness of silent contemplative prayer know how available the grace and mercy of God is available to us.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
-Matt 23:13
Same lineage of Pharisees and scribes that existed when Jesus Walked still exists.
I am with Jesus in regards to some of the current religious leaders of Christianity ✝️ who gatekeep the kingdom of heaven and who aim to convince christians that there is something demonic about going inward...
Even the practices of hesychasm are gatekept. Father Seraphim in one video stated "leave Hesychasm and advanced forms of prayer to those who can receive it"
There are no such things as advanced forms of prayer.
Hesychasm has a simple meaning - silence and stillness. There is nothing advanced about it.
Prayer isnt a form...
But the monks teach so called techniques such as breathing exercises and endless chanting of the jesus prayer and the head has to be positioned a certain way but none of that actually pertains to hesychasm. Which is merely silence and stillness.
Forget these techniques and exercises. The grace of God isnt artificially induced through these efforts. But it is from non effort- silence and stillness is readily available to ALL and it isnt something that needs to be taught like these techniques and exercises.
Grace cant be induced by endless vocal prayers and yayayayayaya.
Just be still and be silent 🤫 and the joy and peace of the spirit you will reap. Relieve yourself of endless endeavors and efforts.
For Christians all is in Jesus Christ Yoga isn't religion ,Yoga is new experience for Christians religion is believe in Christ,Christian yoga means take new experience it is oxymoron
Yoga,........the very word even, means that the practice is not Christian Orthodox.
It is Hindu.
Orthodox must not practice ANY form of 'yoga' whatsoever, or any other religious habits or practices.
To teach or practice that there is a christian variety of 'yoga' and that it is merely an exercise is deceptive and demonic. There is no yoga in Christianity.
Jesus Christ never once preached or taught that we need to contort our bodies or practice ANY form of yoga.
On meditation, He taught:
"When you pray, pray like this....."
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed (holy) be Thy (Thy is plural, in this case Triune - 3) name,
Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one......
It is very interesting to see that someone in west has translated Yoga that is an ancient Hindu practice to Christian Yoga 😂🤣😂. When Europe comes to India ,they described it as a orthodox, unscientific & barbaric traditional practice. BUT WHY SUDDENLY Attraction to Yoga..?? If it's scientific than why .. Christian Yoga...let it be Hindu yoga...just adopt it...to your own culture & religion.. because Hindu believe in " vasudhev kutumbakam" means this whole world is our own family. Why Christian & west are so afraid to give due respect to Hindu culture & creadit of creation of Yoga to Hindu & India.
Christians are the most prideful and ignorant of all the religions.
Islam is close though.
Besides the holy father's wisdom on the spiritual nature (whether one is aware of it or not) of yoga, a second reason is that yoga is super lame. Go lift.
Just a warning: Brushing your teeth is a yoga practise 🤷🏼♂️
There is no such thing as Christian yoga? This is misleading
I find Fr. Seraphim quite troubling. If we listen to him, I feel as if we would never talk about glory, because this was a Roman and pagan concept and equates God to the opinions of men. We would have no Christmas trees and no candles, probably no icons either if he had been born 1400 years ago. There is an undeniable common aesthetic style between the Ancient Greek and Roman idols and our icons . To listen to him, God is weak and cannot stand before the might of yoga stretches and rock music. Did the Lord Himself not say that those who believe will handle serpents and drink poison and not be harmed? Does Fr. Seraphim propose to interpret this purely in a literal sense? Is it not plain from the very words of Christ that a Christian is not so easily corrupted as that and can purify and draw nutrients even from poison? Granted, discretion is the better part of valor, but it seems to me Fr. Seraphim gives the devil far more than his due and shows an unmanly and unchristian timidity. Thank the Lord Jesus Christ that the Orthodox Church was here to keep him from outright heresy I say. But perhaps I speak of things I don’t know. I’ve never tried Yoga, but if I were to trust old Seraphim, I’d never listen to Queens for fear it would drive me to drunken revelry. He seems like an old man who is far too easily spooked.
"The devil roams the land for someone to devour" "the devil came to steal, kill and destroy" "be as wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove"
His job was to shepherd Gods people. Someone has to be clear on the demomic influences of the secular world. When men dedicate their lives to seeking the Lord they can probably discern easier the routes to hell
This comment section is hilarious. Like a bunch of people from the 20s saying jazz music is from the devil. I did yoga for years and it permanently healed my back and I probably have a deeper understanding and passion for christ than any of you do. Try attacking the real demons in the world like child molesters and modern slavery instead of hating people who relax and stretch on a plastic mat. Quick tip: try actually learning a little sanskrit. The common yogic chants in class are nothing more than gratitude statements that don't say anything about any gods.
“ supposedly” non religious. I do yoga often., and I NEVER invoke anything other than the postures that keep my body healthy and vital. You fear-mongerers are a hoot
There is nothing like Christian yoga. 🤣. Christianity has no relation with spirituality and science
That is what the video, did you even listen to it or just made a comment without thought? Also, majority of the scientists on whose work we have our modern science were devout Christians, few examples would be, Newton, Mendel, etc. So, your statement is false.
so simple stretching is dangerous...reconnection(yoga) to god is bad? so religion(religare-reconnection) is also bad? So focusing your mind on one thing is bad? Mantra(repetition of a word/sentence which connects you to god) is bad while repetition of jesus prayer(words) is good? Altering/change of character is bad? So iam not baby anymore therefore changed completely as person, means evolution from child to adult is unnatural and evil? So visions and miracles from person x is demons but visions and miracles from you is from god because you identify with certain tradition or wear a cross? Doesnt no one realizing the double standard here?
Yoga is made by hindu religion
Yoga is made by hindu religion
That's what the video said, it said that there is no such thing as Christian yoga, did you listen to it?
Yoga is made by hindu religion
Woh hi kaha gaya hai video main, suna karo
Yoga is from Indian kulture that's truth but for Christian yoga is not experienced as a strength religion, every thing is in Jesus Christ for Christian our mind and our heart,yoga is new experience not new religion for them . Believe in Christ Jesus are their religion Peace be with You