NOVEMBER 10, 2014
					

Narendra Modi calls for World Yoga Day.

The Indian government moves to impose yoga and meditation in all universities

A U.N. Speech on Yoga?

http://guardianlv.com/2014/09/a-u-n-speech-on-yoga/

By Dyanne Weiss, September 27, 2014
The United Nations General Assembly heard a variety of speakers this week that drew a lot of attention – from Emma Watson on feminism at the beginning of the week to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. While Modi did address some topics one would expect from the leader of an emerging economy, it was an unexpected topic that caught ears. Modi’s U.N. speech may have touched on world peace and climate change, but it was the call for world yoga that turned heads.

Elected Prime Minister (PM) in May, Modi was making his first U.N. General Assembly speech and talking about climate change when he suddenly brought up yoga. The PM invoked his country’s Hindu and ascetic traditions, which he said might provide answers to climate change. Modi then surprised everyone by calling for an International Yoga Day and describing the ancient science of yoga as “India’s gift to the world.”

“Yoga should not be just an exercise for us,” Modi said, noting that yoga should also be used as “a means to get connected with the world and with nature.” He encouraged more people to take up the practice of yoga, which predates the Islam’s arrival in India. “It should bring a change in our lifestyle and create awareness in us.”

Modi has previously explained that he was introduced to yoga when he was young. At the U.N., he pointed out that the practice “is not about exercise but discovering the sense of oneness within yourself, the world and nature.”

Read just 2 of the 20 testimonies of former yoga practitioners on our web site to understand the grave spiritual dangers and dark side of yoga for Catholics.

TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-16
PRISCILLA DE GEORGE

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-16.doc

TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-19
CONNIE J. FAIT

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-19.doc

In the U.S., Modi is preaching to the choir. Yoga continues to rise in popularity. In 2012, a study showed that 20.4 million Americans regularly practice yoga, up 29 percent from the 15.8 million practitioners reported in a similar study in 2008. While Modi has long been a practitioner, in the U.S. less than 20 percent of those who regularly practice yoga are male.

Modi has commented that yoga is not expensive. All one needs is a mat to do yoga, per the PM. However, yoga in this country has become a multi-billion dollar business with expenditures on classes, equipment, vacations and clothing at price points from Lululemon at the higher end to Target or Walmart on the budget end.

While some U.S. practitioners worry about their attire, many forget or understate its link to India (in spite of saying “Namaste” and the Sanskrit names for poses). Modi’s reminder about “India’s gift” on the world stage to India’s gift is possible meant to remind Americans and the rest of the world audience of his country’s historical involvement.

World Yoga Day has actually been celebrated in some areas and yoga studios since 2007 (the next one is on February 22, 2015), but there has never been an official sanction. When other world leaders spoke at the U.N. about political issues, Modi advocated inculcating yoga in lives and urged the nations of the world to adopt an International Yoga Day. He noted that changing one’s “lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change.”

MY COMMENTS

In Narendra Modi’s own words at the United Nations, yoga derives from India’s “Hindu and ascetic traditions“; he also confirmed that the philosophy of yoga is monistic and goes much farther than the physical exercises or asanas when he said: “the practice “is not about exercise but discovering the sense of oneness within yourself, the world and nature.”” Simply put, ALL IS ONE.

So much for the false claims of those Catholics who teach that yoga may be practiced by disciples of Jesus Christ. Yoga, by its very name and nature, seeks a monistic union with “god”. Yoga is, as the Prime Minister’s words imply, far more than an
exercise; it is a Hindu spiritual regimen of bodily postures that uses breathing techniques called pranayama to enter a state of “meditation” that leads to a monistic union with the Universal Life Force that is in all and is all. Where there is yoga, there is pranayama and meditation.

Read on.

Yoga and pranayama very useful to me, says Modi

http://www.firstpost.com/india/yoga-and-pranayama-very-useful-to-me-says-modi-1723411.html

September 21, 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today advised that everyone should make yoga and pranayama* part of their lives for a healthy physical and psychological living.

“I’m fortunate that I was introduced to the world of yoga and pranayama at an early age. That has been very useful to me. I always advise everyone to make this a part of their lives,” Modi told CNN‘s Fareed Zakaria during his first world interview after becoming the prime minister.

Dwelling on the benefits of yoga, he said, “Sometimes, we notice our mind works on one thing, the body on another, and time brings us in conflict. Yoga synchronizes the heart, the mind, and the body. That is yoga.”

But the prime minister admitted he is a workaholic and has little time to rest.

“Look, I’m not the “not-working” type. I derive pleasure from my work. Work gives me relaxation too. Every moment I am thinking of something new: making a new plan, new ways to work. In the same way that a scientist draws pleasure from long hours in the laboratory, I draw pleasure in governance, in doing new things and bringing people together. That pleasure is sufficient for me,” Modi said.

*What is Pranayama?

http://www.indiadivine.org/news/meditation-and-yoga/what-is-pranayama-r42

After Narendra Modi’s wish, UGC asks all universities to introduce yoga and meditation

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-10/news/54868059_1_ugc-yoga-sessions-yoga-education

By Ritika Chopra, ET Bureau, October 10, 2014

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aggressive promotion of yoga seems to have made a believer out of the country’s higher education regulator.

Just a few days after he urged world leaders at the United Nations to adopt an International Yoga Day, the University Grants Commission (UGC), under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, has asked all recognised universities to start offering yoga and meditation lessons on campus to promote “holistic well being” of students.

It’s unclear at this point whether these lessons would be compulsory for students. Universities will have to employ qualified yoga instructors for this purpose and are also free to charge a small fee from participants.

The yoga sessions will be part of UGC’s positive health programme, an extension of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by HRD minister Smriti Irani on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Anand, Gujarat, last week.

Under the ‘Swachh Bharat, Swasthya Bharat’ (Clean India, Healthy India) scheme, universities will have to promote healthy living along with cleanliness. The UGC will provide financial assistance to universities to implement this scheme.

“A clean and healthy mind is as important as clean environment. Students these days are stressed and do not lead a healthy lifestyle. Health clusters in universities are the need of the hour. This idea might be new to India, but abroad it’s the norm,” said a senior UGC official, who did not wish to be identified.

Apart from yoga, universities and affiliated colleges are also expected to generate awareness about healthy diets, drugs and substance abuse, benefits of exercise and also promote communal harmony. Although the circular hasn’t made implementation of ‘Swachh Bharat, Swasthya Bharat’ compulsory, UGC officials told ET that they expect that most educational institutions dependent on grants will comply.

This is not UGC’s first attempt at promoting yoga. Under the XI Five-Year Plan, the regulator had initiated a scheme for ‘Promotion of Yoga Education and Practice & Positive Health in Universities’, which was a non-starter. “The government’s focus on cleanliness and healthy living gave fresh lease of life to the proposal to promote yoga on campuses,” said another UGC official.

PM Modi Now Has a Minister for Yoga, Ayurveda

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/pm-modi-now-has-a-minister-for-yoga-ayurveda-618896

November 10, 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, in his cabinet expansion on Sunday, created a separate AAYUSH portfolio, whose minister will be charged with promoting traditional medicines and practices of Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and
homeopathy.

As the first ever AAYUSH minister, Shripad Yesso Naik will have Independent Charge. AAYUSH was previously part of the Health Minister’s responsibility.
PM Modi begins his day with yoga and had in his speech at the United Nations in September, made a strong pitch to observe an International Yoga Day, which has reportedly been supported by 50 countries, including the US and China.
He also regularly mentions traditional Indian practices in his exchanges with important world leaders. PM Modi had such a discussion with President Barack Obama during his visit to the United States and had gifted a book on Yoga to his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott, who expressed an interest in the traditional Indian forms of physical, mental and spiritual practices when he visited India also in September.
While calling on member countries of the UN to celebrate June 21 as International Yoga Day, Mr Modi had said, “Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.”

See

AYUSH-THE NEW AGE DANGERS OF MARCH 25, 2008

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AYUSH_THE_NEW_AGE_DANGERS_OF.doc

YOGA-REPORTS

1. BRAHMA KUMARIS WORLD SPIRITUAL UNIVERSITY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/BRAHMA_KUMARIS_WORLD_SPIRITUAL_UNIVERSITY.doc

2. CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS ENDORSES YOGA FOR CATHOLICS

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS_ENDORSES_YOGA_FOR_CATHOLICS.doc

3. CATHOLIC YOGA HAS ARRIVED

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CATHOLIC_YOGA_HAS_ARRIVED.doc

4. DIVINE RETREAT CENTRE ERRORS-05
YOGA PROMOTED

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/DIVINE_RETREAT_CENTRE_ERRORS-05.doc

5. FORMER YOGI REJECTS A CHRISTIAN ALTERNATIVE TO YOGA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FORMER_YOGI_REJECTS_A_CHRISTIAN_ALTERNATIVE_TO_YOGA.doc

6. FR ADRIAN MASCARENHAS-YOGA AT ST PATRICK’S CHURCH BANGALORE 

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_ADRIAN_MASCARENHAS-YOGA_AT_ST_PATRICKS_CHURCH_BANGALORE.doc

7. FR JOE PEREIRA-KRIPA FOUNDATION-NEW AGE ENDORSED BY THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY AND THE CBCI

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOE_PEREIRA-KRIPA_FOUNDATION-NEW_AGE_ENDORSED_BY_THE_ARCHDIOCESE_OF_BOMBAY_AND_THE_CBCI.doc

8. FR JOE PEREIRA-KRIPA FOUNDATION-WORLD COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOE_PEREIRA-KRIPA_FOUNDATION-WORLD_COMMUNITY_FOR_CHRISTIAN_MEDITATION.doc

9. FR JOHN FERREIRA-YOGA, SURYANAMASKAR AT ST. PETER’S COLLEGE, AGRA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOHN_FERREIRA-YOGA_SURYANAMASKAR_AT_ST_PETERS_COLLEGE_AGRA.doc

10. FR JOHN VALDARIS-NEW AGE CURES FOR CANCER

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOHN_VALDARIS-NEW_AGE_CURES_FOR_CANCER.doc

11. IS BISHOP DABRE FORMER CHAIRMAN DOCTRINAL COMMISSION A PROPONENT OF YOGA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/IS_BISHOP_DABRE_FORMER_CHAIRMAN_DOCTRINAL_COMMISSION_A_PROPONENT_OF_YOGA.doc

12. NEW AGE GURUS 01-SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR-THE ‘ART OF LIVING’

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/NEW_AGE_GURUS_01-SRI_SRI_RAVI_SHANKAR-THE_ART_OF_LIVING.doc

13. PAPAL CANDIDATE OSWALD CARDINAL GRACIAS ENDORSES YOGA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/PAPAL_CANDIDATE_OSWALD_CARDINAL_GRACIAS_ENDORSES_YOGA.doc

14. U.S. CATHOLIC MAGAZINE ENDORSES NEW AGE-REIKI, YOGA AND ZEN

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/U_S_CATHOLIC_MAGAZINE_ENDORSES_NEW_AGE-REIKI_YOGA_AND_ZEN.doc

15. VISHAL JAGRITI MAGAZINE PULLS YOGA SERIES OF FR FRANCIS CLOONEY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/VISHAL_JAGRITI_MAGAZINE_PULLS_YOGA_SERIES_OF_FR_FRANCIS_CLOONEY.doc

16. YOGA AND THE BRAHMA KUMARIS AT A CATHOLIC COLLEGE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_AND_THE_BRAHMA_KUMARIS_AT_A_CATHOLIC_COLLEGE_IN_THE_ARCHDIOCESE_OF_BOMBAY.doc

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_IN_THE_DIOCESE_OF_MANGALORE.doc

18. YOGA, SURYANAMASKAR, GAYATRI MANTRA, PRANAYAMA TO BE MADE COMPULSORY IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_SURYANAMASKAR_GAYATRI_MANTRA_PRANAYAMA_TO_BE_MADE_COMPULSORY_IN_EDUCATIONAL_INSTITUTIONS.doc

YOGA-ARTICLES/COLLATIONS

1. A CATHOLIC ALTERNATIVE TO YOGA-PIETRA FITNESS

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/A_CATHOLIC_ALTERNATIVE_TO_YOGA-PIETRA_FITNESS.doc

2. AN INDIAN CATHOLIC’S PROBLEMS WITH THE CONDEMNATION OF YOGA ARE ADDRESSED

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AN_INDIAN_CATHOLICS_PROBLEMS_WITH_THE_CONDEMNATION_OF_YOGA_ARE_ADDRESSED.doc

3. AUM SHINRIKYO YOGA CULT

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AUM_SHINRIKYO_YOGA_CULT.doc

4. AYURVEDA AND YOGA-DR EDWIN A NOYES

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/AYURVEDA_AND_YOGA-DR_EDWIN_A_NOYES.doc

5. PRANAYAMA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/PRANAYAMA.doc

6. TRUTH, LIES AND YOGA-ERROL FERNANDES

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TRUTH_LIES_AND_YOGA-ERROL_FERNANDES.rtf

7. WAS JESUS A YOGI? SYNCRETISM AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE-ERROL FERNANDES

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/WAS_JESUS_A_YOGI_SYNCRETISM_AND_INTERRELIGIOUS_DIALOGUE-ERROL_FERNANDES.doc

8. YOGA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA.doc

9. YOGA-02

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-02.doc

10. YOGA AND DELIVERANCE

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_AND_DELIVERANCE.doc

11. YOGA IS SATANIC-EXORCIST FR GABRIELE AMORTH

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_IS_SATANIC-EXORCIST_FR_GABRIELE_AMORTH.doc

12. YOGA-A PATH TO GOD-FR LOUIS HUGHES

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-A_PATH_TO_GOD-FR_LOUIS_HUGHES.doc

13. YOGA-BRO IGNATIUS MARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-BRO_IGNATIUS_MARY.doc

14. YOGA-FR EZRA SULLIVAN

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-FR_EZRA_SULLIVAN.doc

15. YOGA-MARTA ALVES

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-MARTA_ALVES.doc

16. YOGA-MIKE SHREVE

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-MIKE_SHREVE.doc

17. YOGA-SUMMARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-SUMMARY.doc

18. YOGA-SUSAN BRINKMANN

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-SUSAN_BRINKMANN.doc

18. YOGA-THE DECEPTION-FR CONRAD SALDANHA

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-THE_DECEPTION-FR_CONRAD_SALDANHA.doc

20. YOGA-WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CATECHISM SAY ABOUT IT

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-WHAT_DOES_THE_CATHOLIC_CATECHISM_SAY_ABOUT_IT.doc

21. YOGA-WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAY ABOUT IT?

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-WHAT_DOES_THE_CATHOLIC_CHURCH_SAY_ABOUT_IT.doc

YOGA-DOCUMENTS

1. LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON SOME ASPECTS OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATION CDF/CARDINAL JOSEPH RATZINGER OCTOBER 15, 1989

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/LETTER_TO_THE_BISHOPS_OF_THE_CATHOLIC_CHURCH_ON_SOME_ASPECTS_OF_CHRISTIAN_MEDITATION.doc

2. JESUS CHRIST THE BEARER OF THE WATER OF LIFE, A CHRISTIAN REFLECTION ON THE NEW AGE COMBINED VATICAN DICASTERIES FEBRUARY 3, 2003

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/JESUS_CHRIST_THE_BEARER_OF_THE_WATER_OF_LIFE_A_CHRISTIAN_REFLECTION_ON_THE_NEW_AGE.doc

YOGA-TESTIMONIES

1.
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-01
MIKE SHREVE

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-01.doc

2. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-02
TERRY JUSTISON

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-02.doc

3. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-03
KENT SULLIVAN

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-03.doc

4. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-04
MICHAEL GRAHAM

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-04.doc

5. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-05
BRAD SCOTT

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-05.doc

6. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-06
JANICE CLEARY

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-06.doc

7. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-07
CARL FAFORD

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-07.doc

8. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-08
ANONYMOUS

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-08.doc

9. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-09
DEBORAH HOLT

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-09.doc

10. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-10
DANION VASILE

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-10.doc

11. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-11
MICHAEL COUGHLIN

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-11.doc

12. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-12
LAURETTE WILLIS

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-12.doc

13. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-13
KEITH AGAIN

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-13.doc

14. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-14 VIRGO HANDOJO

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-14.doc

15. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-15 PURVI

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-15.doc

16. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-16
PRISCILLA DE GEORGE

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-16.doc

17. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-17
SARAH

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-17.doc

18. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-18
BRANDY BORDEN SMITH

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-18.doc

19. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-19
CONNIE FAIT

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-19.doc

20. TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-20
LOSANA BOYD

http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-20.doc

Categories: Eastern Meditation, new age