- Published: October 3, 2022
- Updated: October 3, 2022
- University / College: The University of Sydney
- Level: Doctor of Philosophy
- Language: English
- Downloads: 41
due: World’s religions The article on world’s religions talks about ways which the religious people seek ways of transforming their lives to walk in the light. The writer tries to explain these concepts using yoga. Yoga is derived from the word yoke; it is an exercise designed to lead to integration or union. He looks at Hinduism and Christianity. Unlike the west, Indians use yoga to gain control of the body functioning. Both religions agree the end goal is to do what God pleases and align all our ways to God’s ways. Hinduism has sought different ways to please God that work for different people. While Christianity uses specific ways that may not necessarily work for everyone. It looks at four paths to the goal.
The first one is way to God through love. The strongest emotion that crowds human heart is love. The bhakti-yoga seeks to direct people to God’s love that is in every human heart. Through this, the Indians are able to know the Supreme Being. The same Bhakti principles have been incorporated into Christianity. This path talks about loving God in fact not just claiming to love God (Smith 1-3).
The next path to God is through work. This can be explained using the karma yoga. Karma yoga involves achieving perfection in one’s action. Work keeps people occupied. In Christianity, lazy people are often criticized while in Hinduism it states that one does not have to retire work so as to realize God. Realizing God can be done in our everyday activities.
The other path is through psychophysical exercises. This is explained by Raja yoga, which is yoga for the mind. It involves claiming the mind to concentrate on one point. Hinduism shows there is a connection between science and God.
In conclusion, what the Hinduism tries to bring out is seeking God is not a complex thing. It shows us we can seek God in our day to day activities. It goes ahead to show how we can realize Gods will in all areas. All in all, the same concepts are applied to Christianity.
Work cited
Smith, Huston. The Worlds Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions. New York:
HarperOne, 1998. Print.
