User:Nobody60/Nils/Yoga and Christianity
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You are a yogi or a yogini, if you practise Yoga for health, beauty, strongness, relexation or healing. You are a yogi, if you practise Yoga for inner peace, happiness and enlightenment. You are a yogi, if you are enlightened. Enlightenment means to live in God, in the light, in a cosmic consciousness. In modern Yoga your religion is free. Yoga teaches the unity of all religions. You can be a yogi and a hindu, a christian, a moslem, a buddhist or an atheist. Spiritually, humans can be compared to onions. Tension and conflict must be dissolved layer by layer. When one layer is peeled away, the next quickly appears at the surface until the inner core is revealed. At this point, a lasting inner joy is found, and the Yogi or Yogini lives in light (despite the fact there is still much to be done).
Wikipedia: Yoga is the Hindu practice of physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goals of yoga are varied and range from improving health to achieving moksha (spiritual freedom, elightenment). In the West, the term "yoga" is today typically associated with Hatha Yoga and its asanas (postures) or as a form of exercise. In the 1960s, western interest in Hindu spirituality reached its peak, giving rise to a great number of Neo-Hindu schools specifically advocated to a western public. A second "yoga boom" followed in the 1980s, as Dean Ornish, a follower of Swami Satchidananda, connected yoga to heart health, legitimizing yoga as a purely physical system of health exercises outside of counter culture or esotericism circles, and unconnected to a religious denomination. Some Christians integrate yoga and other aspects of Eastern spirituality with prayer and meditation. This has been attributed to a desire to experience God in a more complete way.
Christian meditation is a form of prayer in which a structured attempt is made to get in touch with and deliberately reflect upon the revelations of God. Christian meditation is the process of deliberately focusing on specific thoughts (such as a bible passage) and reflecting on their meaning in the context of the love of God. Christian meditation aims to heighten the personal relationship based on the love of God. Teachings in both the Eastern and Western Christian churches have emphasized the use of Christian meditation as an element in increasing one's knowledge of Christ. Christian meditation involves looking back on Jesus' life, thanksgiving and adoration of God for his action in sending the Son for salvation. In her book The Interior Castle (Mansions 6, Chapter 7) Saint Teresa of Avila defined Christian meditation as follows: "By meditation I mean prolonged reasoning with the understanding, in this way. We begin by thinking of the favor which God bestowed upon us by giving us His only Son; and we do not stop there but proceed to consider the mysteries of His whole glorious life." St. Theresa viewed Christian meditation as the first of four steps in achieving "union with God", and used the analogy of watering the garden. She compared basic meditation to watering a garden with a bucket, Recollection to the water wheel, Quiet (contemplation) to a spring of water and Union to drenching rain. Thomas Merton characterized the goal of Christian meditation as follows: "The true end of Christian meditation is practically the same as the end of liturgical prayer and the reception of the sacraments: a deeper union by grace and charity with the Incarnate Word, who is the only Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ." Christian meditation is different from the style of meditations performed in Eastern religions (such as Buddhism) or in the context of the New Age. While other types of meditation may suggest approaches to disengage the mind, Christian meditation aims to fill the mind with thoughts related to Biblical passages or Christian devotions.
Nils´ Life as a Yogi edit
Spiritually, humans can be compared to onions. Tension and conflict must be dissolved layer by layer. When one layer is peeled away, the next quickly appears at the surface until the inner core is revealed. At this point, a lasting inner joy is found, and the Yogi or Yogini lives in light (despite the fact there is still much to be done).
Nils experienced many intense cleansing processes along the path as a Yogi. Heat and cold flooded his body. Fear coursed through his spirit, doubts plagued him. Sometimes he felt dull and inactive. His muscles ticked and relieved themselves of tension. For many years Nils had to work through his sadness. He grieved for the loss of Helga, Petra, the Eco-woman, the Sex Goddess, and the Yoga Woman. He grieved over his youth, the loss of his career goals, his lonely life and the suffering and rage in general. Then he returned to his spiritual goals and continued with self-discipline to the way of enlightenment.
The first four years saw a continuous forward progress. After he became used to his new situation, defined his goals, and found the appropriate exercises, many old stressful situations were easier to handle and he returned to his state of happiness. In his dreams he lived through past exam situations, school stress and negative experiences from his childhood. All these stress situations dissolved and receded. His entire past life’ stress dissolved from his sub-conscious. His soul experienced calm and peace.
In January 1989, Nils dreamt of a small cottage which stood on pillars in the middle of the sea. Then came a storm and the cottage crashed into the sea. The cottage was a symbol of his old self. That old self went under and made room for the experience of inner joy. Nils woke up and perceived the energy of happiness coursing through his body, and felt as though he were swimming in a sea of joy.
In 1990 he wrote a book called “Positive Thinking, Basics and Techniques”. In writing this book, he pushed open the question of how important the life of being is in order to be happy. Who lives in being, can be at peace with life. He lives very relaxed. Such a way of life dissolve well all the internal tension. On the other hand it is on the Yoga Way too important to practice every day consistently. Even the intense spiritual practice is an important way to resolve the tension.
There are two different schools of yoga. One teaching is to live based on existence (Ramana Maharshi, Lao Tzu, Buddha) and the other focuses on the spiritual practice (Swami Shivananda, Sai Baba, Amma, the Dalai Lama). Who is right?
Nils had to answer the question for himself. He busied himself everyday with the question of existence to the point where he continued to consider the question even when asleep. As he woke up in the morning, he was in a deep state of enlightenment. His spirit had solved the problem while he was asleep. The answer was convincing. Enlightenment, inner happiness, and existence (being) are tightly connected. Those who come into a deep state of being reach for enlightenment. Those who let go of all attachments to external things, relaxed so deeply in their soul that enlightenment and inner joy can be found.
Nils is of the opinion that both teachings are correct. Exercise and practice as well as merely existing are both important along the spiritual path. Each person must go into the self and find out what point at one moment is the most important for him or her. Who is prone to inertia, should emphasize the intense practice. Who is internally restless, should first found to be. Every type of person needs a special way of approaching stillness and exercise in order to grow optimally along the spiritual path.
In the beginning of the year 1991, Nils visualized an entire cosmos full of happy beings. He wished that all beings on earth would be happy. He identified himself with all beings and their wish for happiness. He thought of the mantra, “may all beings on earth find happiness”. He opened his heart to all beings and suddenly he found himself in a dimension of all-encompassing love. The landscape around him changed completely, as all was bathed in light. The thought, “I am love” reverberated throughout. He had never experienced such a strong love. The whole universe was nothing but happiness and love.
Nils reached a point in his endeavors toward enlightenment where such breakthroughs took place frequently. It was a very fascinating, but demanding time. Nils felt inner happiness and cosmic consciousness in his being quite often, and these experiences lasted about an hour at a time. Because of this strong energy, a lot of inner conflict was dissolved, and a difficult process of spiritual purification took place. When these bouts of depression appeared, Nils then practiced spiritual exercises, went for walks, and read spiritual books. He lay in bed and meditated for hours, until the inner turmoil receded. He sometimes also ate sweets or watched television.
The first half of 1992 was a very difficult time. Nils lived a constant roller coaster ride, where he experienced extreme joy and extreme suffering. This constant change took its toll on his energy. Although he rejoiced in the experience, he was glad when the large fluxes of energy calmed over time. He felt the huge wells of joy less often, but also experienced the difficult phases less often, for which he was quite relieved.
The autumn of 1992 saw the process of spiritual purification come to a smoother and more consistent phase. Nils attributed this to the fact that he went about this in a more gentle fashion. Secondly, he created a routine to live by with which he could avoid these periods of depression and negativity. He combined the purification and recovery periods with one another.
In December 1995, another difficult period began. Intense energy coursed through his body, and he could scarcely sleep at night and was dull and not well-rested during the day.
The last major period of spiritual cleansing was in March 2003. In a short amount of time, a lot of inner conflict dissolved. Nils felt as though he was being electrocuted, and was so warm he did not need blankets at night despite the winter cold. After four weeks, the cosmos turned off the electricity, so to speak. Nils needed a week to recover. Afterwards, he ate a lot of cake. Then he felt good again.
My experience of Jesus Christ edit
Nils: "My parents are atheists. After my studies, I became a lawyer. When I was thirty, I found my spiritual calling in addition to my profession. I did three hours of spiritual exercise daily. In November 1986 I had my first big enlightenment experience. During a meditation while lying down, a warm column of energy slowly rose from my lower belly. As the energy reached my head, my self-consciousness disappeared, I became one with the all-encompassing love of the cosmos. I experienced extreme happiness. I was suddenly able to understand the holy books written throughout mankind's history at a deeper level.
The high point of my spiritual experience was what I felt as the entrance of the Holy Spirit. A thick beam of energy flew from the sky and into my crown chakra. The energy flowed through my body and filled it out completely. On my head was a small flame of energy. This experience is comparable with the Pentecost event. On the heads of the early Christians appeared small energy tongues. Spontaneously arose in me the thought that now I have been blessed by the Holy Spirit. I felt the energy beam as a descent of the Holy Spirit.
A short time later I had another amazing experience. When I made my daily walk one evening, I suddenly had the feeling that I was seen from the sky. It was as if at the sky there was a large eye that saw me. The message of this eye was: "You can go your way with trust. You are guided by God." I read the Bible thoroughly from front to back. Through my experiences of enlightenment I could now understand the deep wisdom in the Scriptures. I also understood what the term "God" did mean.
In 1994, one day I layed on my bed and meditated. My thoughts always came to rest more and more. Suddenly Jesus Christ stood as a person in a great shining light in the middle of the room. Back then I lived for six years as a hermit in seclusion. I knew immediately that this luminary was Jesus Christ. Jesus came to me and floated into me. I was filled with bliss. I rested for some time in this unimaginably large energy of love, peace and light. I think I got the blessing of Jesus Christ for my spiritual path."
Contentment edit
Nils (2012): Last night I had a dream. I saw all the readers of my God-article. I saw that they believed in the truth of my words. Enlightenment exists. God exists. There is a life after death. But the readers wanted more and more. They were not content. They were never content. Television teaches them always to be discontent. In school they learn that they must always be better and better. All their life they search inner happyness and cannot get it. In my dream I thought about how to help them. Discontentment is a mental problem of many people in todays time. Wishes always grow. If one wish is fulfilled, the next wish appears soon. If one looks for outer luck, one will never be completly content. An enlightened is inwardly happy. He is even inwardly happy if his outer life is chaotic. He rests in himself and in Gott (unity consciousness). A yogi rests in the great Sat-Chid-Ananda (being without attachment to outer things - unity - bliss). A christian rests in God (in holiness, happiness and all-embracing love). To get complete happiness, we have to work on our mind. We must learn positive thinking. We must learn to be content. The founder of yoga Patanjali tought the ten points of yoga (Yoga Sutra). A yogi must train his spirit to be content. In christianity we learn to be thankful. Thankfulness is a way to happiness. Contentment is a way to happiness.
How can we learn to be thankfull and content? Look at your mind. Find a thought that makes you thankful. Enlightenment is mostly a mental problem. Negativ thinking causes tensions in your body and your mind. You can resolve the tensions by overcoming your negative thoughts with positive thoughts and with meditation (spiritual exercises like yoga, walking, praying). A good way to overcome your negative thoughts is orakel reading. There is alway one negative thought that hinders you on enlightenment and bliss. An oracle can help you to find this negative thought und to develope a healing positive thought. If you train every day your spirit by positive thinking, praying or oracle reading, you can change your spirit to happiness and to enlightenment. You only have to do it consistently every day untill you are enlightened. Then thankfulness, contentment and positiv thinking come out of the deep of your soul. I wish you that. Try oracle reading (Angel oracle, Buddha oracle, I Ching oracle, Tarot) or find your personal way of mental work (for example thankfullness training according to Sonja Lyubomirsky).
Buddha oracle edit
2. There are three ways to develop enlightenment. There is the path of spiritual practice (yoga, meditation, reading, walking). There is the way of all-embracing love (do good, the bodhisattva path). And there is the path of rest (inner peace). The main path to inner happiness is to live in the rest. The essence of a Buddha is the inner seclusion from the world. A Buddha enshrined his soul in the transcendence (in a higher dimension of consciousness, in the Nirvana, in pure being, in the void / unit, in inner peace and happiness).
Who lives secluded and constantly does his spiritual practice is growing five times as fast as other people to enlightenment. Most people in today's time flee the silence. They are fleeing the inner happiness. Take every opportunity to get rest. Do your spiritual exercises. Go through the uncomfortable feelings of boredom and get an enlightened state of consciousness (unity consciousness, inner harmony, inner positivity).
3. Go your way with joy. What do you need to feel comfortable today? A little pleasure (eating, drinking), some social contacts (internet forums), some slowness, some beauty (music, flowers) and some fun? If you live the joy on the spiritual path in the right amount (not too much and not too little), it helps you to get spiritual victory. "My way of pleasure is ..." Forwards. Success.
Saint Anthony the Great is the founder of Christian Yoga. He lived in the third century in Egypt. As a young man he had a vision in a church. Out of the empty space a voice spoke to him: "Do you want inner happiness, go into the desert and live as a hermit." Anthony had to go through many spiritual crises and cleaning processes, but after a few years he reached enlightenment. Exciting at St. Anthony is the fact that he got on his spiritual path in contact with his former lifes. In Christianity, the doctrine of the rebirth was later rejected largely. But only if St. Anthony had resolved all tension from his previous lifes, he was able to attain enlightenment. In the texts it is said that in his mind appeared wild animals, which torn him with their teeth. Even with his sexual wishes he had to fight. With his will power and his spiritual exercises (prayers), he overcame his worldly attachments and reached a life in the light. The main principle of St. Anthony was, "Sit down in your hut, and your hut will teach you everything." Feel inside the right way of your daily spiritual practice. What triggers on your inner tensions? How can you overcome your fears and desires? What exercises brings you best into the light? His second principle was, "Some yogis need a flower in their hut, and some do not need a flower." Who needs a little pleasure on his way, should give it himself every day.
12. The fastest way into light is to visualize oneself as an enlightened being (Buddha, Yogi, Goddess) (deity yoga).
Buddha = We visualize in the sky above our crown chakra our happiness model (Buddha, a Goddess, ourselves enlightened). We rub our palms over our head and think, "Om Buddha. Om all enlightened Masters. Om inner wisdom. Please guide and help me on my way." We think the mantra until our crown chakra opens and the energy from the sky flows down to us and fills our body with happiness.
Light = We move a hand in blessing before the heart chakra and think: "I send light to (name). May all people be happy. May the world be happy." We feel really connected with all beings in the world.
Cosmos = We visualize the cosmos with all stars around us. We put our hands in the lap, circle with the thumbs, move the toes and think: "I live in a cosmic consiousness. I take all things the way they are. I flow positive with my life."
Mantra = All movements come to rest. The back is straight and the belly is relaxed. We think and visualize the numbers from 1 to 20 in our head, thorax, abdomen, legs, feet and in the earth. We think and visualize the numbers in the entire universe around us.
Stop = We stop a minute all thoughts completely. When thoughts arise, we push them away.
Relax = We relax. The thoughts and feelings may come and go as they want. Our body and our mind clean themselves by their own. We just watch our internal affairs and remain in the meditation. At this stage of meditation, there are two big mistakes. The first mistake is that we meditate too strong. Then no thoughts appear and no inner tensions resolves. The second error is to force thinking. We solve our problems or fall into daydreams. The proper way is just to be a passive observer of our own emotions and thoughts. We do not control things. We only watch everything that emerges from our inner self. We stay in a state of inner silence, everything dissolve by itself and suddenly we're happy.
Keep = Keep your inner happiness. Make the right spiritual exercises at the right moment. Bring the light of peace, love and happiness in the world. Forward with wisdom, love and inner peace.
52. With spiritual exercises you can activate your Kundalini energy (the energy of enlightenment). You can put yourself into a state of peace, power, positivity and happiness. You can bring yourself into the light (in a life in serenity and happiness) and so flow inwardly happy through all outward problems. You can give yourself so much power by your spiritual exercises that you can manage good all your life tasks.
The most important spiritual exercises are reading, walking, yoga, meditation, good deeds (Karma Yoga) and the daily connection with the enlightened Masters (Buddhas). The highest form of yoga is the wise combination of exercises and life. What exercises do you need to get successful through the day? You can live as a winner when you do the right exercises at the right moment. Save yourself by your spiritual exercises. Success! Sitting, walking and mental work:
Inner happiness appears if the tensions in the body and in the mind are resolved. Buddha developed a very simple yet genius practice. This consisted of “sitting, going, and mental work.” When one varies one’s activities between body work, mental work and meditation, the inner conflict and tension can be done away. When a person only meditates, the spirit becomes dull and listless. Routine movement makes the spirit clear, keeps the body healthy and gives the person inner energy. If you only go or do Yoga asanas, the mind is restless. Inner happiness comes from inner peace. If the body is kept very quiet, you can get into deeper dimensions of meditation. In addition to periods of sitting in combination with movement, working with the thoughts is important in getting rid of inner conflict. A spiritual person should develop his or her thoughts with love, wisdom, and self-discipline.
Yogi Nils has extended this basic model of stress resolution to the way of the five activities: reading, walking (or doing Yoga asanas), meditating (lying or sitting), doing good for others (Karma Yoga), and to enjoy life. These five activities in constantly changing and always in the right time are an effective way of stress resolution. As meditation Nils practices the two-step Kundalini meditation. In the first stage, he cleanses his energy channels through visualizations, mantras and breathing exercises and activates his kundalini energy. Then he stops for a few minutes all thinking until his mind is completely at rest. Then he just stays at rest and let the thoughts and feelings come and go as they please. This is the stage of lingering in meditation (Vipassana, Zen, Mahamudra). All negative thoughts and feelings appear by itself. If one would suppress his thoughts, there would be no deep-solving process. This many yogis do wrong and thus block their enlightenment.
At a certain point, physical rest can cause the energy of a person to go inward. The person no longer has to direct oneself towards outer activities, and puts more worth on the inner spiritual cleansing, the dissolving of inner conflict, and the development of inner happiness. This turning point must be discovered by each Yogi for him or herself. It is difficult to find and difficult to hold onto. Life energy tends towards an excess of activity or towards dullness. Both need to be avoided with daily exercised self-discipline. Yogis know when they need which technique. When the body is dull and lacking energy, the Yogi goes for a walk. When he or she feels restless, he or she practices Yoga or meditates. When the spirit seems to rebel against the spiritual way, a book on spiritual topics helps to bring back the conviction towards enlightenment. A Yogi senses the inner conflict and uses the proper techniques to dissolve the tension. That is usually what the body and soul wants the least at that moment. Wherever the neurotic tendency to feel repelled towards something is usually the way to the light. On the other hand, we need sometimes to give the body and soul what they would like, otherwise tension is built. The way to happiness requires a lot of wisdom and inner sensitivity.
The Ten Ethic Principles of Patanjali edit
Patanjali is the father of Indian yoga. He lived in the second century BC. In the Yoga Sutra, he grasped the essence of all yoga knowledge together in a few words. The two main sets of Patanjali are, "Yoga is the calming of the mind. Then the yogi lives in the light." To soothe the thoughts Patanjali recommends a two-step way. The first stage is the development of positive ethic qualities (the ten yoga principles). Without positive qualities in meditation inner peace will break through the chaos of the outside world again and again. The second stage of the yogic path is to practice meditation. In meditation we quiet our thoughts completely. We stay in inner peace. At some point we develop the ability to combine meditation and outer action. Then we can always stay in peace and happiness, and at the same time we can fulfill our external obligations.
1. Non-violence (ahimsa) = No killing other beings. Be meek. Be peaceful.
2. Truthfulness (Satya) = Live in the truth. Basically, be honest with yourself and others. Also no little lies of convenience. A lie is permissible only in well justified situations, for example, if you save with a lie the life of another human being. A Yogi is silent in doubt . Those who consistently lives in the truth radiate truth. Their fellow men trust them.
3. Righteousness (Asteya) = Not stealing, not cheating. A Yogi is in professional life generally honest. He does not seek unwarranted advantage, but he is looking for fair trade.
4. Wisdom (Brahmacharia) = Live in the spiritual focus (in the light/in God = Brahman). Do not serve the money (outer luck) but the inner happiness (God, Brahman, enlightenment). Be centered in your inner happiness and peace.
5. Simplicity (Aparigraha) = Be moderate in external enjoyment and consumption. A spiritual person lives modestly outwardly and inwardly rich. A Yogi uses his energy not in outer actions, but lives so peaceful that it turns inward and cleanse his body from the inside. One day, he lives permanently in the light (the cosmos energy).
6. Worship of the spiritual goal (Ishvara-Pranidhana) = Thus we do not lose our spiritual path, it is necessary that we remind ourselves again and again to our spiritual goal. We can worship an image (Goddess, Shiva, Patanjali), we can bow before a statue (Buddha, Jesus, Shiva) or speak a mantra (prayer). What is your spiritual goal? Send light to all beings, and wish a happy world.
7. Sacrifice the ego (Shaucha) = Purification / cleaning. The way into the light passes through the crucifixion of the ego. Without a crucifixion there is no enlightenment. True sacrifice is an art. He who sacrifices too much braced themselves internally. Who sacrifices too little, does not solves his tentions. How do you get inner peace today? "I let go of my false desires. I take things as they are. My sacrifice today is ... "
8. Selfdiscipline (Tapas) = A clear goal, a clear life plan and a clear way of practicing. Tapas means to lead a disciplined life. Follow your inner wisdom and you'll win on your spiritual path.
9. Reading (Svadhyaya) = The daily reading (mantra, meditation, oracle) keeps us on the spiritual path, cleanses our spirit, connects us with the enlightened masters and makes us to spiritual victors.
10. Contentment (Santosha) = Satisfied with what one has. Which idea will help you to get into the satisfaction with yourself and your life? "My thought of satisfaction is now ..."
Positive psychology emphasizes positive values edit
Sonja Lyubomirsky is one of America's happiness researchers. She is a professor and wrote the international bestseller The How of Happiness. She wondered what one can do if one wants to get a happy life. She accepted that, after the current state of research about 50% of a given human's happiness level is genetically determined. About 10% of happiness is affected by external living conditions, but 40% of happiness can be influenced by the mind of a person.
According to Lyubomirsky, the secret of lasting happiness is to turn our attention mainly to that 40% and constantly maintain our inner happiness. We should exercise regularly, avoid negative thoughts and encourage positive thoughts, maintain our social relationships and have a positive task in our lifes. Many studies demonstrate the positive effects of meditation on our happiness, "Meditate every day. Begin with five minutes and increase to up to 20 minutes a day."
Sonja Lyubomirsky developed a twelve-point program for personal happiness. The main point for her is gratitude. We should focus on the positives in our lives and be grateful. We should live according to principles such as optimism, joy, helpfulness, forgiveness, good social relationships, good health care and a positive task if we want to achieve a happy and fulfilling life.
Yoga with positive thinking edit
Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The goals of yoga are varied and range from improving health to achieving Moksha (enlightenment). Yoga exercises are designed to resolve internal tensions (Samskaras) and thus bring out inner happiness. The exercise improves health in the body and increases positiveness in the mind. Over the years the Yogi is in harmony with himself and the world, living in existence, peace and love.
1. Go or jog on the spot, with your arms moving by your side. Visualize light, turn around and think, "I go the positive way." What is the positive way for you today?
2. Do the windmill. Straddle your legs apart, bow forward, turn like a windmill into the spinal column and think: "My goals are ..." What goals do you want to achieve in your life? Count up three goals.
3. Do the frog. Bring your feet together. Bow your upper body forward. Push yourself up with your hands on the floor and move your buttocks down in a crouch and back up in the air. The head goes up to the sky and down to the earth. Practice the frog several times and think: "I have strength and endurance."
4. Use your arms and legs. Lie down on your stomach. Raise your left arm and right leg. Bring both back to the earth and lift the right arm and the left leg. Do this several times. Think, "I take things the way they are." What will you take today?
5. Involve your upper body. Lie in the prone position, with your hands on the floor and repeatedly press the upper body up and down. The head goes to the neck and forward. While breathing in and out, think, "I let go of my false desires." What do you want to let go of today?
6. Do a back turn. In the prone position, turn your pelvis to the right and then to the left. Your head must lie on your hands. Think, "I am sad because ..." What grieves you today?
7. Get your feet moving in the prone position. The head lies relaxed on your hands. Think, "I forgive... (my partner / parents / the cosmos / God), that he/she... I forgive me, that I ..." Whom do you want to forgive today? Think these words until a feeling of sadness arises in you, of letting go and forgiveness.
8. Perform cycling. Turn on your back, lift your head and move your arms and legs. Think, "My positive thought today is...." What makes your mind positive? Think of the beauty in life. What is good in your life?
9. Do the candle. Stretch your legs to the sky. Your hands support you at the back. Visualize the sky, move your feet and think many times the mantra "Heaven", until you feel the energy.
10. Move into the meditation seat. Roll from the candle into your meditation seat (cross-legged or heel seat). Put your hands in your lap. The back is straight and the stomach is relaxed. Move one hand and wrap them and think, "I send light to ... May all people be happy. May the world be happy." Stop all your thoughts for a minute. Relax. Go your way optimistically.
Discussion edit
(Jesus.de, 2011)
Nils: I represent the position of the unity of all religions. I think that all religions basically aim at an experience of transcendence, which can be described by the term "enlightenment" or "holiness". I believe that all religions should work together positively, because they have in the center the same goal.
German catholic: More and more Christians are discovering yoga and other Eastern meditation techniques. In the Catholic educational centers we offer a wide variety of yoga courses. In the practice Yoga is not contradictory to Christianity. Yoga is not only beneficial to the body and the mind, but also allows new approaches to Christian spirituality.
Evangelical Church in Germany: Radical rejection of yoga is just as wrong as an undifferentiated affirmation.
Catholic parish of St. Michael in Stuttgart Sillenbuch: Yoga is an ancient system of physical and mental exercises. Yoga is one of the cultural heritage of humanity regardless of culture. Yoga can tolerate very well with Christian meditation. Yoga exercises are offered in St Michael for more than 25 years. They are very successful.
Nils: In yoga, each can go his own way. Christians should keep their faith in Jesus. There are many different spiritual paths in Yoga and ideas of God.
Hindu: Jesus is transcendent, it is not necessary for him to be physically present. A true spiritual master must not be physically present. Sometimes I need energy in the form of a physically present master.
Nils: I see things like you. I work with the transcendent masters and the masters on earth. In my experience, both is helpful and even necessary for me. If there are in the afterlife enlightened masters like Buddha, Jesus and Swami Sivananda (my yoga master), then it is wise to beg them for help. A master who is present on earth can write books, give lectures, initiations (energy transfers) and personal advice. I find it very inspiring to see videos and to visit satsangs. My yoga teacher training with an enlightened Master has opened many energy doors (chacras). When I met Brother Roger (Christian enlightened, Taize) in Hamburg, I came into a dimension of light.
Ralf: An impersonal God is for me not enough. My whole belief system would break down and my life would be meaningless.
Nils: The great conflict between religions and within religions is, if there are higher beings or one being, you can call (pray) and wether you then gets help. There are in Yoga and in Buddhism the prayer group and the people, who do not pray. Amma has said that there are higher beings in the cosmos, that you can ask for help. You can call them in your own term as God, Allah, Buddha, Jesus or Shiva. Each person must decide whether he wants to pray or not. In Yoga, the prayer is optional.
Ralf: For me it is not a goal to resolve my ego.
Nils: God on a deep level you can only experience when you move beyond any belief system and when your sense of self (ego) releases. But who gives up his ego too early, can fail on the spiritual path. Therefore, there is the two-step pathway. First, you practice with a belief system and concrete meditations (with positive images and phrases). Then you just linger in the silence. With the grace of God you passes through the silence into the light of God. Teresa of Avila has first focused herself on the word "God" and prayed the Our Father. Then the happiness energy (Kundalini, Holy Spirit) woke in her, her thoughts came to rest and she came into the experience of God. Everyone should feel, whether concrete or abstract meditations are helpful.
Question: Is yoga a path of self-redemption?
Nils: In Christianity, there is much confusion about the path of enlightenment. A major criticism is in the fact that the New Agers want to redeem themselves and the Christians redeemed by the grace of God. Also between Catholics and Lutherans, it is controversial in how far a Christian should spiritually practice, or whether everything is done solely by grace. In yoga we focus on the spiritual practice. On the other hand, you can not force enlightenment. It comes ultimately from its own, spontaneously, as a grace.
Caro: The majority here in the forum beliefs that Jesus is the only person who lives in God in its fullness.
Nils: There are many different views among Christians. That's all right. We should openly discuss and find a good way of constructive cooperation. Of course, I can accept that Jesus is most important to you. I believe that we can find a way of understanding. For me, God is a higher dimension of consciousness in the cosmos, which can be expressed in many religions terms. Every enlightened is a son or daughter of God, because he or she embodies the consciousness of God. Jesus embodies for me the way of universal love. Jesus has many children. And that's just fine if they live together constructively. May the love of God be with you forever.
See also edit
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Search for Religious pluralism on Wikipedia. |
