This is my attempt to draw a comparison between
Kriya Yoga and Christianity. But first a few words on interspirituality. I first came across the term while reading the book "Jesus in the Lotus" by
Russill Paul, who explains it quite well. I recommend reading his book. While searching for more information on interspirituality, I found a site,
Lighthouse Research Trails Project, that gives very misleading information about interspirituality by making it look like some sort of threat to Christianity and by erroneously defining the term "interspirituality" as "the combining of the world religions". No! An interspiritual approach does not mean mixing all the worlds religions into one religion. Nor does it mean cherry picking the best parts of different religions and adding them to your own religion. It is an approach that not only recognizes the similarities among religions, but also respects their differences and allows them to coexist. Here is a good page I found that helps explain further:
What is interspirituality?
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| The above photo represents my personal interspirituality. Books: The Yoga Sutras, The Bhagavad Gita, The Tao Te Ching, The Sermon on the Mount According to Vendanta, The Bible (Die Bibel), Tostoy's translation of the Gospel (Chetveroyevangeliye), Figures: the Buddha and Christian Rychener one of my Mennonite ancestors. Background: symbol for the sound "OM". |
For me to be interspiritual means I am both a
Mennonite and a yoga practitioner. Both paths complement each other well, but at the same time each one can stand on its own as a sufficient path. I also understand that they have many differences. However, different doesn't mean one is wrong or inferior. Studying a second religion or spiritual path is like learning a new language. It will enrich your world view, and it shouldn't threaten your primary religion if you are secure enough in it.
Kriya Yoga, as defined in
yoga sutra II.1, I find to have similarities with two passages from the Bible's New Testament: Mark 8:34
* and Romans 12:1-2
*. These two Bible passages and
sutra II.1, all provide the spiritual aspirant with a three step process. The three steps are:
Kriya Yoga Mark 8:34 Romans 12:1-2
1) tapas 1) carry your cross 1) your body as living sacrifice
(self-discipline)
2) svadhyaya 2) deny self 2) renew your mind
(self-study)
3) isvara pranidhana 3) follow me 3) know gods will
(surrender to a higher power).
How are the three concepts in
Kriya Yoga similar to those in Mark and Romans? We will begin to look at this question in the next installment of
Yoga Goggles, as I will break it down part by part starting with
tapas.
I would like to extend a special thanks to the authors of the following articles from Elephant Journal:
Is Yoga Un-Christian?
and Further Thoughts on Yoga and Christianity,
for inspiring me to write this post.
*The complete passages:
Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (NIV)
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)
