Jesus Christ And Yoga

"Contains selected excerpts from Paramahansa Yogananda's book "The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You," which book is a commentary on the New Testament gospels and noncanonical source material, focusing on the quest to uncover the original teachings of Jesus"--Provided by publisher.

Every Christian should be informed of the true origins and effects of yoga and its ungodly manifestations of Kundalini energywhich literally defined means an awakening of the Serpent Power.

Featuring a full-length, instructional workout DVD, "Yoga for Christians" helps readers cultivate a deep prayer life while becoming more fit and trim.

Only through spirituality can man's meanness and smallness be conquered and his divine nature manifested. To transform materialistic influences requires a gigantic spiritual effort and living spiritual inspiration. This can only be achieved by a great spiritual master. Jesus Christ, who, by millions of people is regarded as an incarnation of God, came into our world to teach us spiritual truths by which we can be free from bondage and attain immortality. His teaching does not consist of mere words but is based on his own realization in silent prayer. His spirituality was not like something grafted on his personality; reality and strength were exhibited in his mode of life and his activities. He came to this world as the Divine Light to show the path which leads to God to human beings who forgot about him in their deep immersion in the vast ocean of worldliness. His spiritual life inspires us. This book is an attempt to study the teachings and activities of Jesus Christ for our spiritual development. Interreligious learning is the norm today, and we have much to learn from how people in other faiths see and interpret even our most fundamental and treasured beliefs. But we need to learn well; we need stellar examples of deep learning. Shyam Sundar Goswami's Jesus Christ and Yoga goes deep into the mystery of Jesus in great detail and with great imagination, drawing on every resource available to the Goswami. Jesus is seen differently indeed from this fresh perspective--even as yoga itself is transformed in the light of Christ the great yogi. Goswami's classic study, accessible once more, is now more timely than ever. Francis X. Clooney, SJ, Parkman Professor of Divinity, Harvard University Sri Goswami's remarkable familiarity with the teachings of Jesus, and his citations of corresponding teachings by the seers of ancient India, offer a significant learning experience for both Christians and members of Eastern religions. The notable resonance, albeit not complete, between classical yoga teaching and aspects of Christian theology and spiritual practice takes yoga far beyond being just a physical "feel-good experience" into being a means for acquiring divine knowledge and deepening one's relationship with God. Fr. Thomas Ryan, CSP, author of Prayer of Heart and Body, Meditation and Yoga as Christian Spiritual Practice

People often equate yoga with Eastern religion, but Brooke Boon sees it as an exercise style that Christians can use to generate patience, strength, and deeper worship. Author and yoga instructor Brooke Boon combines her passion for Christianity with her commitment to health to introduce yoga as a physical and spiritual discipline that strengthens the body and the soul. Clear explanations and photographs make yoga accessible for any reader, and Brooke offers customized routines for readers struggling with specific issues, such as weight loss and anxiety. Through it all Brooke uses scriptural references to help reinforce the idea that by taking care of our bodies we can also take care of our faith.

A MEETING OF MYSTIC PATHS offers a daring look at Christianity through the eyes of yoga philosophy. It honors the mystery of Jesus while offering dazzling new possibilities for further spiritual development.

Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time The Gnostic Gospels is a landmark study of the long-buried roots of Christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Gnostic Gospels has continued to grow in reputation and influence over the past two decades. It is now widely recognized as one of the most brilliant and accessible histories of early Christian spirituality published in our time. In 1945 an Egyptian peasant unearthed what proved to be the Gnostic Gospels, thirteen papyrus volumes that expounded a radically different view of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ from that of the New Testament. In this spellbinding book, renowned religious scholar Elaine Pagels elucidates the mysteries and meanings of these sacred texts both in the world of the first Christians and in the context of Christianity today. With insight and passion, Pagels explores a remarkable range of recently discovered gospels, including the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, to show how a variety of “Christianities” emerged at a time of extraordinary spiritual upheaval. Some Christians questioned the need for clergy and church doctrine, and taught that the divine could be discovered through spiritual search. Many others, like Buddhists and Hindus, sought enlightenment—and access to God—within. Such explorations raised questions: Was the resurrection to be understood symbolically and not literally? Was God to be envisioned only in masculine form, or feminine as well? Was martyrdom a necessary—or worthy—expression of faith? These early Christians dared to ask questions that orthodox Christians later suppressed—and their explorations led to profoundly different visions of Jesus and his message. Brilliant, provocative, and stunning in its implications, The Gnostic Gospels is a radical, eloquent reconsideration of the origins of the Christian faith.