Enlightened Living

Mindfulness practice in everyday life.

Michael J. Formica, MS, MA, EdM is a psychotherapist, social scientist, and educator in Westport CT. He is an Initiate in the Shankya Yoga lineage. See full bio

August 11, 2008, Spirituality

Comments on "The Royal Path of Yoga Science"

The Royal Path of Yoga Science

By Michael J. Formica on August 11, 2008 in Enlightened Living

Yoga is a science of spirituality that is deeply rooted in both psychology and metaphysics. In fact, it harkens back to the ancient, pre-Cartesian meaning of psychology - the study (logos) of the spirit (psyche). Yoga is not a religion. It is a vehicle for manifesting higher levels of consciousness that can, but need not be, directed at our chosen vision of God or Goddess. Read More

"...a deeper connection to our chosen vision of God."

Submitted by Skeptic on August 12, 2008 - 8:15am.

Shouldn't one rather aspire to have a deeper connection to the vision of God that is in some sense correct, and therefore not chosen? Isn't there something creepily self-indulgent, if not solipsistic, about concerning oneself with impressions without regard to their correspondence to the truth, instead of arriving at impressions BECAUSE of their provisional truth-value?

Chosen vision...

Submitted by Michael J. Formica on August 12, 2008 - 8:45am.

Maybe that should have read "chosen version". There is no "correct" vision or version of God, save the one that is correct for the individual, and is, therefore, chosen. The statement refers more to Gaia, Brahma, Jehova, Yahweh, Allah, The Goddess, etc. and their respective avatars (Christ, Krishna, Muhammed, Buddha, etc.) as ideals to which one subscribes, rather than any implication of ego or solipsistic imposition of self in the choice. Blessings, Michael

I do agree that yoga is not

Submitted by farouk on October 3, 2008 - 1:41am.

I do agree that yoga is not a religion and that practicing yoga doesn't mean that you are deviating from the religion you believe in. I think yoga and meditation can help people become more conscious of their own prayers. thank you Michael:)