In today’s modern world, discussing an age-old concept such as yoga can be rather challenging. Globalization is a great accomplishment, yet it is sad when people choose to oversimplify age old wisdoms and knowledge that can bring tremendous benefits to humankind such as yoga. To assist in the comprehension of this intriguing philosophy, people have simplified a unique concept into the modern day understanding of the ancient day yoga. The intricacies of this practice may not be easily understood by the western civilization. It is a very dangerous and unethical to merely dabble on the surface and then talks about this subject as an expert! To simplify things, most westerners choose to emphasize the physical aspects of yoga, while neglecting the more important issues such as the state of mind. Yoga has been cherished as a form of physical activity that has some beneficial effects on the mind in creating peace and serenity.
It originates from the Hindu religion and it is actually a part of the Hindu philosophy. Indians understand that is not a mere physical activity, but yoga is part of a spiritual development that is realized through a systematic and disciplined physical approach. The westerner’s viewpoint that yoga is a physical activity is very wrong and distorted. Most westerners are aware of the strange symbols associated with yoga practice, but often they are misunderstood. Ironically, it is practiced as a popular form of sports. It also does a good job attracting those who wish to obtain inner peace and balance in the midst of the hectic modern lifestyle.
This perception is often strengthened by the various claims made by the so called yoga masters. Research shows that yoga has been highly misunderstood in the west and therefore plenty of fatal errors were detected in the way yoga is implemented. Closer observation reveals that the unique culture of each race has dramatically influenced the way yoga is practiced. It appears that the west is not prepared to pay the price necessary to gain a deeper understanding of this philosophy. For instance, meditation is the crux of this philosophy but busy Americans do not possess the time to spend in a few hours of relative sessions every day. The Hindus have a different set of value system that is very different from the west, and places low importance in the mere accumulation of physical wealth. Unless these values are changed, it is impossible for westerners to achieve the true wisdom and enlightenment as defined by the parameters of the Hindu religion. One needs to possess both time and patience to fully reap the rewards of a successful meditative session. The westerners do not place a high degree of importance in the attainment of philosophical wisdom, as it does for the accumulation of massive wealth and gaining power.
Yoga becomes a stylish endeavor instead of a spiritual experience. There is a lot of information going out promoting yoga as a form of sports; in fact you can grab any of those and start practicing yoga anywhere you want to. During the early years of yoga practice in the US, a lot of yoga ‘gurus’ have emerged, claiming to be experts of this discipline; yet they gradually dwindled into what they actually are – merely fake gurus and yet they still have real support from their disciples. This crooked philosophy has been widely spread by its loyal followers.
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