10/20/2015
Rel2300
Professor Patides
Hinduism Yoga
Hinduism is not like many other religions; such as, Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. Hinduism does not have a single founder, a specific theological system, a single concept of a deity, a single system of morality, a central religious authority, or concept of a prophet. Instead Hinduism consists of thousands of different religious groups beginning in 1500 B.C. during the Iron Age of India (Rosen, 2006, p. 3). Hinduism is considered to be the world’s youngest and most organized religion. There are many spiritual traditions within this religion and a very well-known tradition is the practice of yoga. Westerners often view yoga as a form of exercise and as a stress reliever. …show more content…
Karma Yoga is “the recognition that all action belongs to the Supreme Being” (Whicher & Carpenter, 2003, p. xi). Those that practice Karma Yoga live with good intentions and help others without expecting or receiving anything in return. A Karma Yogi lives his or her life as a tool for their higher power to carry-out good deeds throughout their life. The Hindus believe that one’s karma possesses of these thing things; Iccha (desire or feeling), Jnana (knowing), and kriya (willingness) (What is the meaning of Karma Yoga?). Our feelings, knowing, and willingness are all connected to each other. Selfishness, jealousy, greed, lust, egoism, and anger are qualities that one should not have if they want to practice Karma Yoga because it takes a person with a big heart, kindness, and compassion to achieve enlightenment and oneness with the higher …show more content…
The practice of Yoga helps one to purify his or her mind, body, and soul through meditation, using different postures, as well as carrying-out good deeds. The ultimate goal of yoga is to find one’s inner self and to become one with their higher power. Works Cited
"What Is the Meaning of Karma Yoga?" Yoga Wiz. Everyday Health Network. Web. 20 Oct. 2015. .
Budilovsky, Joan, and Eve Adamson. The complete idiot's guide to yoga. New York: Alpha Bks., 1998. Print.
Chopra, Deepak, and David Simon. The Seven spiritual laws of yoga: a practical guide to healing body, mind, and spirit. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2004. Print. Rosen, Steven. Essential hinduism. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2006. Print.
Whicher, Ian, and David Carpenter. Yoga: The indian tradition. London: Routledge, 2003. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost).
Young, William A. The World's Religions: Worldviews and Contemporary Issues. Fourth ed.