Yoga and the way it opens the doors to demons

QUESTION? / COMMENT!

I'm working with a group at a local Catholic Church and we're having a discussion on new age and occult practices, and why to avoid them. I know I've heard teachings from Father Ripperger saying to stay away from Yoga, but the folks in this group believe that there's no standing in the Catholic Church on the matter. Would you be help direct me to the answer? Is there a podcast of Father Ripperger or is there something in the catechism that I could direct them to, for them to do their own research?

ANSWER! / COMMENT!

Go to this website, it belongs to my friend Johnette Benkovic from EWTN - Blog - Women of Grace - https://www.womenofgrace.com/blog. Click on the ‘blog’ and it will take you to blog page which has a column that says ‘Categories’ on the right hand side. Go underneath and you can look up subjects like: new age, cult, energy medicine, occult, superstition, yoga, miscellaneous etc. You will find articles on ‘eastern practices’ under those subjects. This is a reliable Catholic website.

I would not do YOGA, not a chance, in no uncertain terms. You can't reconcile this practice with Catholicism.

YOGA (Sanskrit for "yoke" or "union") In Hinduism, it is the general category of various kinds of disciplines meant to unite a person with the divine. Yoga can refer to physical, mental, sexual, or other disciplines to achieve enlightenment [Catholics & the New Age by Fr Pacwa, p.225]. Hindus did not devise these exercises for athletic limbering or muscle building. All were meant to lead the practitioner to enlightenment and the awareness of his inner divinity [ibid, p.33]. Hindu Masters called Yogis or Gurus have this special knowledge and can teach it to us. Learning this way of enlightenment involves Eastern meditation and special postures called 'yoga' [Beginning Apologetics 4, p.26]. Yoga is a New Age term or Buzz Word [Todays Destructive Cults & Movements, Our Sunday Visitor, Reverend Lawrence Gesy, p.113]. People can become possessed through Yoga, it is an open door to demons. The experts on Yoga admit that the exercises and stretches are representations of eastern deities (which are demons). Watch what Professor of Exorcism Fr Chad Ripperger says about Yoga and the way it opens the doors to demons - https://www.womenofgrace.com/blog/?p=55332. Several exorcist have told me that the body postures in Yoga, mimick the postures of a person who is diabolically manifesting during an actual exorcism. 

Also read Johnette Benkovic’s research on Yoga. Johnnette is a Catholic expert on the New Age movement - https://www.womenofgrace.com/blog/?cat=11.

Another book that I would recommend to you is 'THE UNICORN IN THE SANCTUARY, Trinity Communications, by Randy England [A Catholic]. He has additional information on YOGA from a Catholic perspective. 

 

Yoga - Is it Permissible for Christians

The Church distinguishes between physical postures and the philosophy or religion underlying them (cf: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, On Christian Meditation). The adoption of a particular physical posture, even if originating in a religious or philosophical system foreign to Christianity, is permissible provided the posture is severable from the religion or philosophy that first motivated it. Its use then becomes possible in Christian freedom (cf. 1 Cor. 8), and indeed the Church has "baptized" even pagan practices that were not intrinsically linked to paganism.

The question of yoga, therefore, becomes "to what extent can yoga postures be independent of non-Christian religious motivation, as well as any intention to manipulate forces or energies described within a non-Christian world view?" This is the same question which arises with respect to Reiki healing practices, which also depend on a non-Christian, indeed an occult, world view.

If it is a matter, therefore, of simply using yoga positions for relaxation in preparation for Christian mediation, while not embracing to any degree the philosophy or explanation behind the posture, their use is theoretically possible.

However, many Christians who are former practitioners of yoga argue that it is not possible, that the dangers of the occult remain, especially by efforts to manipulate internal forces in order to achieve a particular physical state. That, while natural causation is claimed, in fact achieving the result depends on the existence of the very forces which the non-Christian philosophy teaches. Separating the philosophy from the posture makes possible the posture’s Christian use, but removes any value of it over any other physical posture. On the other hand, retaining the posture and seeking its purpose necessarily adopts a non-Christian world view, opening the individual to spiritual forces, as opposed to simply material ones, who are opposed to their salvation.

While the question of yoga has not been definitely answered by the Magisterium, Christians who are considering its use, or the use of any practice derived from non-Christian philosophies or religions, should be familiar with two documents: the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's On Some Aspects of Christian Meditation, and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue's Jesus Christ, The Bearer of the Water of Life. They should then scrupulously apply the principle of the necessity for the complete separation of a practice from any religious or philosophical system which is contrary to Catholic teaching or the practice of the faith. http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/yoga.htm

 

Read this as well: Yoga part 1 and 2 written by a Catholic Priest who is orthodox perspective: http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2014/02/19/what-is-yoga-a-catholic-perspective-part-ii?utm_source=Catholic+Spiritual+Direction&utm_campaign=34bc1124e5-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9dd96593f8-34bc1124e5-59861385

 

Yoga, Meditation on the Rise: One Will 'Open You to Demonic Power,' the Other Is Essential Christianity by Steve Warren http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2019/march/yoga-meditation-on-the-rise-one-will-open-you-up-to-demonic-power-the-other-is-essential-christianity

 

kundalini

/ˈkʊndəˌliːnɪ/

noun

1.

(sometimescapital) (in yoga) the life force that resides at the base of the spine

2.

the vital force lying dormant within one until activated by the practice of yoga, which leads one toward spiritual power and eventual salvation.

 

Now, the Yogis, in figurative language call this opening up of the inner consciousness the awakening of the kundalini. The kundalini — is coiled - up energy — energy in latent form or enslaved form. “The cobra is a symbol of kundalini power, cosmic energy coiled and slumbering within man. It inspired seekers to overcome misdeeds and suffering by lifting the serpent power up the spine into God realization” - https://www.pinterest.com/jaimemintun/kundalini-snake-medicine/