Page Title

INTRODUCTION
As a teenager I grew up through the rock 'n roll era and witnessed the influence many pop stars exerted on things such as fashion and philosophy. Most of the early 'greats' hailed from America —people like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. However in the early 1960's there emerged from Britain probably the most influential of all fashion and philosophical trendsetting rock groups— The Beatles. Most of us who lived through those times will, I believe, never forget the impact made by their unique hair styles and the famous jackets with no collars. As the years passed The Beatles came under many influences and one of the most famous was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who founded Transcendental Meditation. The publicity which surrounded this venture into Eastern Mysticism did much to popularize and gain acceptance for the Eastern religious practice of Yoga. It is important at the outset for people to realize that Yoga is essentially religious and not physical or as 'A Book of Beliefs' published by Lion Publishing Co. states (P147) "Yoga is the Hindu word which signifies a spiritual discipline by which men may reach union with God." Bearing this in mind we shall endeavour to answer the question 'Should you go to Yoga?'
Cecil Andrews

THE 'GOD' OF YOGA
As stated in the introduction, the goal of Yoga is to bring a person into union with 'God'. It is however essential at this stage to understand the 'God' the person practizing Yoga is seeking to be brought into union with. This 'God' is not the personal God of The Bible, but is instead the pantheistic 'God' of Hinduism which teaches that 'God is everything and everything is God'. This means that everything and everyone is part of the 'Great divine' or Brahman. When we under stand this we realize that Yoga is seeking to point people to a FALSE GOD. In the Word of God we find the position of the one, true God, Jehovah stated plainly "I am the Lord thy God . . . Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20 v. 2/3) "I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." (Isaiah 43v. 10).

THE 'WAY' OF YOGA
In the introduction Yoga was described as a "spiritual discipline" and this discipline has two elements when one considers two of the most popular forms of Yoga. One element relates to the physical and involves diet, fasting, breathing techniques (pranayama) and postures (asanas). These constitute the main aspects of Hatha Yoga. The other element relates to control of the mind where through meditation or chanting the practitioner seeks to free his soul from the bondage of his mind and body and to prepare himself for spiritual enlightment or true self-realization— that he is in fact part of the 'Impersonal Absolute' (Brahman). This element is the core of Raja Yoga. Hatha Yoga is seen as leading to Raja Yoga and there are other forms of Yoga which are rungs on the Yoga ladder leading to union with 'God'.

Yoga promotes a FALSE WAY to God. In the Word of God we find that union with God is only possible when the barrier to that union has been dealt with. We find this barrier to be our sins. Speaking of God the prophet Habakkuk wrote "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity." (Habakkuk 1 v. 13). However, God Himself dealt with that barrier when God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth and sacrificed Himself on the Cross of Calvary to pay the penalty for the sins of others. The Apostle Peter wrote concerning Jesus 'Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree. " (1 Peter 2v. 24). The writer to the Hebrews, speaking of Jesus said, 'When he had by himself purged our sins." (Hebrews 1 v. 3).

Knowing He would remove the sin barrier on the Cross at Calvary, Jesus was able to say to His disciples "l am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14 v. 6). Access to or re-union with God is only possible by personal faith in the finished sacrificial work of Jesus on the Cross. Entrance into the presence of God is by "the blood of Jesus." (Hebrews 10 v. 19). Union with God for the Christian does not mean recognizing oneself as part of God ('self-realization') but means becoming a member of God's family by adoption. To those in Rome who had trusted Christ alone for salvation the Apostle Paul wrote "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." (Romans 8 v. 15/16). In Proverbs 16 verse 25 we read "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Those who seek union with 'God' by practicing Yoga are following "the ways of death. "

THE PEACE OF YOGA
Yoga classes are often advertised as offering people the opportunity to get rid of the stresses and strains of everyday living, a chance to escape from the cares of the material world. On page 47 of 'Yoga Today' (Vol. 12 No. 4, August 1987) an advert for Pranayama Yoga, The Art of Relaxation, stated "it will induce the mind to calmness, eliminating tension and help one to face the demands of each day without fatigue of mind or body." Yoga classes are often held in leisure centres, schools and even on occasions in church halls. Some doctors have also been known to recommend Yoga to patients coming to them because they feel they 'just can't cope' or 'just can't go on'. Peace is the promise given to those who engage in Yoga.

The ultimate in this sphere is to reach a state of 'Nirvana'—a state of "passionless peace" as it is defined in the late Mr. Jim McCormick's booklet 'What every Christian should know about Hinduism and Yoga'. (Pll). Certainly man desires peace in his inner conscience and to cope with his outward circumstances, but what is true peace? The Word of God records the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in John chapter 16 verse 33 when He said 'These things I have spoken unto you, that IN ME YE MIGHT HAVE PEACE." The prophet Jeremiah spoke of people saying "Peace, peace; when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6 v. 14: 8 v. 11). Peace outside of Christ is no peace at all. Yoga promises a FALSE PEACE. To those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. he says "Peace I leave with you (peace with God) my peace I give unto you (the peace of God)." (John 14 v. 27). Peace with God comes at conversion to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 'Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans S v. 1). That brings peace to our inner conscience. The peace of God is ours through prayer, "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4 v. 6/7).

That brings peace to us in the midst of our outward circumstances. When we have cares, we are not to look to pagan religious practices and philosophies for respite, but we are to be as the Apostle Peter put it "Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. " (1 Peter 5 v. 7). True and lasting peace is found alone in the One who said "Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11 v. 28) and we learn from the Word of God that He "made peace through the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1 v. 20). Trust Him and His finished work and know and experience true and lasting peace.

CONCLUSION
Yoga is religious. Hinduism, Buddhism and other groups such as The Hare Krishnas and those who engage in Transcendental Meditation all recognize Yoga to be essential to their religious philosophies. These religions and groups stand in direct opposition to the "gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20 v. 24). One quote from 'Yoga Today' (Vol. 12 No. 4, August 1987) will illustrate how the religious philosophy surrounding Yoga contradicts what the Word of God reveals about God and His relationship to the world and man.

In an article entitled 'Spirit of the Upanishads' (The Upanishads are of course Hindu holy books) on page 18 we read "The Upanishads speak of God . . . maintaining that such a being is formless, all pervasive and transcendent, OF WHICH THE SOUL OR THE SPIRIT OF MAN IS A PART . . . To negate this universal vision and make God a tribal deity is to use religion as a divisive and obscurant force, rather than a uniting and illuminating influence in life, which its Latin root re-ligare (reunite) literally means. Religion becomes an opiate when it sets apart God from the world and makes him a means of escape from suffering that is a part of life." Having read this I was drawn to the words of the Apostle Paul when he wrote "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4 v. 4/5). Paul posed the question "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" and answered it "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 7 v. 24/25. Paul "determined not to know any thing . . . save Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2 v. 2).

That was why Paul could affirm concerning Jesus "He is our peace." (Ephesians 2 v. 14). Is He your peace? Should you go to Yoga? The Word of God says no. "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them." (Ephesians 5 v. 11). Yoga is "unfruitful" but for those who have trusted Christ for salvation and received the promised indwelling Holy Spirit (see John 7 v. 39) "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." (Galatians 5 v. 22n3).

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him." (Psalm 34 v. 8).
"Take Heed" Publications
11 Ballynahinch Road, Carryduff,
Belfast BT8 8DN