Alan Goos, Fargo, Letter: No harm in teaching yoga to children

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Articles > Others > Alan Goos, Fargo, Letter: No harm in teaching yoga to children

Published by Nitin_shah on 2007/12/24 (76 reads)

I agree in the need for a separation of church and state as called for in “Yoga is an ancient spiritual discipline” (letter, Dec. 16), however, there is no harm in teaching yoga to children.

Yes, it is true that yogic meditation is part of the Buddhist religion, but Buddhism and Christianity are not at odds with one another. In a book by Father Joseph Spae, a Christian pastor, on Buddhist-Christian empathy he wrote: “Some Christians still labor under a host of misconceptions in regard to Buddhism. Yet there are many others – particularly in Buddhist countries – who realize that the Buddhist culture and tradition are worth their interest and support, not only as treasuries of mankind, but also as an actual enrichment of the Christian faith.”

In fact, in this world there are Christian-Buddhists who practice Christianity and Buddhism equally. Such persons don’t consider themselves to be following only part of either religion but to be a full member of both. Meditation is by no means forbidden by Christianity, and Buddhism does not bar you from believing that Christ died for your sins. Neither Christianity nor Buddhism prevents the other in one’s life.

As far as the “all things in God and God in all things”: This is perfectly orthodox within Christianity. This is alluded to in the vine-and-the-branch imagery of John Chapter 15 as well as in Acts. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

The instruction of yoga only teaches someone how to practice yogic meditation. It does not teach or dictate what one must meditate on. If one feels the need to pray during the prayer- like mountain pose, they can. They can feel free to meditate on the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostle’s Creed if they so choose.

I also urge parents to research the yoga movement for themselves. The Dhali Lama clearly states that we need Christianity, and all world religions, in order to reach world peace. Please, do not be so quick to judge. There is a lot we can learn from one another.

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