Angel Gonzalez
Semester essay
Philosophy World Religion
The practice of Hindu yoga
Yoga is an ancient practice that plays a big part in the Hindu religion. This spiritual tradition came from India and is still very prevalent today across the world. The practice of yoga spans across many religions but it is also used in non religious settings. A non religious example would be the popularization of yoga in the United States as a form of exercise. Yoga is a core root of the Hindu religion. They consider yoga as a philosophical school of thought and practice. It is highly regarded and equally as rewarding spiritually and mentally.
In Hinduism yoga is classified into three main groups, even though there are a few others. The Hindu religion believes in yoga as
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Karma yoga is the yoga of selfless action or discipline of action. It’s based on the idea that “selfish action binds the soul”, ("Introduction: Four Main Paths." Heart of Hinduism: Four Main Paths). Karma yoga fits nicely with it’s name since it’s structured around the belief of Karma and reincarnation. It is considered a nature type yoga. Karma yoga is often taught by zen teachers. It promotes peace and tranquility. The whole point of Karma yoga is to do things not for the self. You don’t think of your own self-centered desires but instead try to act without being apart of the results of your work. It’s all about not being attached. Krishna, the Hindu deity which gives a role of direction in the Bhagavad Gita, expressed that work done with no selfish intention or expectation purifies one’s mind and soul (wiki ). Jnana yoga is more about knowledge or wisdom. The practice of Jnana yoga is introspective, which means looking deeper into oneself. There is a lot of silent contemplation and undressing one’s spiritual identities. There is also much seclusion and studying involved. Those who practice this are usually seeking liberation due to the focus on escaping desires that drag the