| Indian culture and the Indian people, as a whole, are | | | | religious leaders and practitioners must put our |
| deeply spiritual. The benefits of good spiritual health | | | | differences aside. We are being undermined by |
| should not be kept a secret. Bhakti Yoga is the most | | | | groups who have tried to turn the name of "God" |
| popular style of Yoga within India. | | | | into something shameful. |
| Yet, Bhakti Yoga is barely known outside of India. | | | | A society, which has a spiritual health deficit, |
| This is the Yoga of devotion to God. Some people | | | | becomes ill, because the ethical structure erodes. This |
| will debate what the Bhakti Yoga practitioner is | | | | is one of the problems the Roman Empire faced. As |
| devoted to, but ultimately this devotion is to God. | | | | Roman society became decadent; everyone began |
| When we mention "God," or spiritual health, in the | | | | to make their own rules. |
| United States, it has strangely become a subject, | | | | Let's learn from the past. Ethical guidelines exist within |
| which makes many people feel uncomfortable. Some | | | | all religions, but they also exist within Yoga. We call |
| groups, which claim to want to protect our civil rights, | | | | them Yamas and Niyamas. |
| would like to ban the words "In God We Trust" from | | | | The spiritual aspect of Yoga is rarely discussed in |
| US currency. "The Pledge of Allegiance" has been | | | | Yoga studios and health clubs outside of India. The |
| under fire, because it contains the word "God." | | | | style of Yoga most commonly seen, in the west, is |
| Most Christmas displays are turned into "Seasons | | | | Hatha Yoga, which usually focuses on physical, |
| Greetings" displays, in order to appease those who | | | | mental, and emotional health. |
| would also like to ban the Holy Bible from US court | | | | Hatha Yoga classes in the west, contain Christians, |
| rooms. Strangely, common sense has slowly been | | | | Jews, Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists, and others, |
| banned. While manners, respect, courtesy, and fair | | | | practicing Yoga in harmony. Intolerance is put aside, |
| play, are often seen as a sign of weakness. How | | | | and Yoga practitioners appreciate each other as |
| much more ground should any of us give, for the | | | | equals. This is the way it should be. |
| sake of being "politically correct?" | | | | The path of intolerance is full of ignorance. |
| Why should the few voices, who cry out, against the | | | | Intolerance breeds hate and polarization. Who cares |
| name of God, be considered over the many people | | | | what religion your neighbor is? Especially, if he or she |
| who do believe in God? On any given week, huge | | | | is responsible and has a moral code of conduct. |
| crowds of Christians, Jews, Moslems, Hindus, and | | | | While religious leaders are arguing over |
| others, celebrate and worship God in temples, | | | | interpretations, the power within our governments is |
| shrines, synagogues, churches, and mosques. | | | | being undermined by those who would have our |
| It is time for all religions to establish a unified front. All | | | | children believe in nothing. |