Yoga Explained with Christian Comparisons
Yoga means “union”. Yoga is a system of performing certain physical, psychological and spiritual practices in order to cultivate a closer relationship with God. The date of origin for yoga practices in a comprehensive format is unknown. The mythical birthdate of yoga as an organized system likely goes back to at least 4,000 BCE. The practice was communicated from master to student in-person generation after generation. When the earth entered the darkest days of human understanding and mental capacity at approximately 700 BCE, fewer people were able to memorize or successfully practice these or any other spiritual teachings.
YOGIC TEXTS
Today, the Bhagavad Gita (or “Song of God”) credited to the author Vyasa, and The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (yoga “verses” organized and written by the sage Patanjali) are two of the main yogic texts. The texts known collectively as the Upanishads (wisdom recorded while “seated beside” a sage or mystic) were preserved by multiple authors. The Upanishads are considered to be the first written texts that refer to the philosophy and practice of yoga and appeared before either the Bhagavad Gita or The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Although academics continue to debate and disagree on all of these dates, it is likely that the order of appearance was the Upanishads (sometime earlier than 800 BCE), followed by the Bhagavad Gita…
