Yoga remains a difficult issue to discuss in this century. 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. In an attempt to make things easier, people have reduced a whole philosophy into one simple concept. The complex nature of its contents may be a little challenging for westerners to understand. It is disturbing to see a lot of people obtaining shallow understanding of this complex subject and yet remaining unhesitant to talk about it from an expert’s point of view. Due to the lack of a deeper understanding, most westerners view yoga as a physical activity. Yoga has been cherished as a form of physical activity that has some beneficial effects on the mind in creating peace and serenity.
This unique practice is actually a religious journey, a representation of one of the Hindu schools of thought. In India, yoga is considered a very spiritual experience that has a physical aspect to it. 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. Operating from the wrong paradigm, yoga became a form of sports in the western world. Additionally, people who desire inner tranquility would often find this practice to be beneficial.
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. Apparently, the west is not prepared to spend too much time in meaningful contemplations of this philosophy, hence the resulting fatal error due to a lack of understanding. While meditation is an integral part of the practice, the westerners with their ever busy lifestyles certainly do not posses time for such luxuries. The greed for power and material wealth which is integral in the western culture has no place in the Hindu culture. 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. Patience and time is crucial for meditation. 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 has been accepted as a fashion. If you are interested to take up yoga as a part of your lifestyle, you can get hold of some of those materials that are available, promoting this practice as a form of sports. Even the famous people who are fake yoga gurus have garnered a lot of support from their disciples. The growing influence of this unhealthy philosophy is attributed to the disciples who are loyal in spreading the word about the advantages of adopting this crooked form of yogic philosophy.
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