01 Sep Yoga & Christian Mysticism
At first glance Christian mysticism and yoga might appear as two distinct spiritual traditions.
Christian mysticism arises from the Abrahamic religious tradition, while yoga is rooted in the ancient spiritual practices of India, closely associated with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
Despite these differing origins, both paths share profound similarities in their ultimate goals and practices.
Both Christian mysticism and yoga seek to transcend the limitations of the human ego, experience union with the Divine, and live a life of love and service to others.
This article explores the parallels between these two traditions, highlighting their commonalities in terms of their spiritual goals, practices, and the transformative experiences they offer.
The Ultimate Goal: Union with the Divine
At the core of both Christian mysticism and yoga lies the pursuit of union with the Divine, often described as God in Christian mysticism and as the realization of the Self or the Absolute in yoga.
In Christian mysticism, the goal is to achieve a deep, personal communion with God, often described as “union” or “theosis.” This union is not merely intellectual but involves the whole being, including the heart, mind, and soul.
The Christian mystic seeks to experience God’s presence intimately, transcending the separation between Creator and creation. The ultimate aim is to become one with God’s will and to manifest divine love in the world.
Similarly, in yoga, the highest goal is to attain a state of samadhi, or self-realization, where the individual soul (atman) realizes its oneness with the Absolute (Brahman).
This state is often referred to as moksha or liberation, where the practitioner transcends the ego and experiences the true nature of reality, which is unity with the divine.
The yoga practitioner, like the Christian mystic, seeks to go beyond the limitations of the individual self to merge with the universal consciousness.
Both traditions, therefore, emphasize the dissolution of the ego and the realization of a deeper, divine reality that transcends ordinary human experience.
The Role of Love in the Spiritual Path
Love plays a central role in both Christian mysticism and yoga as the driving force that propels the seeker toward union with the Divine.
In Christian mysticism, love is the essence of God, and the mystic’s journey is often described as a path of love.
The great Christian mystics, such as St. Teresa of Avila (pictured above), St. John of the Cross, and Meister Eckhart, wrote extensively about the transformative power of divine love.
For them, the soul’s love for God is both the means and the end of the spiritual journey.
The mystic’s love for God grows deeper through practices such as prayer, meditation, and contemplation, leading to an ever-closer union with the Divine.
This love is not limited to an emotional or sentimental feeling but is expressed through selfless service, compassion, and the embrace of God’s will.
In yoga, love is also a central theme, particularly in the path of Bhakti Yoga, which is the yoga of devotion. Bhakti Yoga emphasizes the importance of loving devotion to a personal form of God, such as Krishna, Rama, or the Divine Mother.
Through devotional practices like chanting, prayer, and rituals, the practitioner cultivates a deep, personal relationship with the Divine. This love for God leads to the dissolution of the ego and the realization of the practitioner’s unity with the Divine.
Other forms of yoga, such as Karma Yoga (the yoga of selfless action) and Jnana Yoga (the yoga of knowledge), also emphasize the importance of love, whether it is through selfless service or the recognition of the divine nature of all beings.
Thus, in both Christian mysticism and yoga, love is seen as the most powerful force on the spiritual path, guiding the seeker toward union with the Divine.
Practices for Transcending the Ego
Both Christian mysticism and yoga provide a range of spiritual practices designed to help the seeker transcend the ego and experience a deeper reality. These practices often involve prayer, meditation, contemplation, and ascetic disciplines.
In Christian mysticism, the practice of contemplative prayer is central. Contemplative prayer, also known as the prayer of quiet or the prayer of the heart, involves turning inward and resting in God’s presence beyond words and thoughts.
This form of prayer is akin to meditation in the Eastern traditions, where the goal is to quiet the mind and focus entirely on the presence of God. The Christian mystic may also engage in other practices such as fasting, silence, and solitude, which help to purify the soul and detach from the distractions of the world.
The Desert Fathers and Mothers of early Christianity, who retreated to the wilderness to live lives of solitude and prayer, are prime examples of how Christian mystics sought to transcend the ego through ascetic practices.
These early mystics believed that by renouncing worldly attachments and focusing solely on God, they could achieve a deeper union with the Divine.
In yoga, the practices for transcending the ego are encapsulated in the eightfold path of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, known as Ashtanga Yoga. This path includes ethical guidelines (yamas and niyamas), physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and meditation practices (dhyana and samadhi).
The purpose of these practices is to purify the mind and body, still the fluctuations of the mind, and ultimately achieve union with the Divine. Meditation (dhyana) in yoga is particularly similar to Christian contemplative prayer, as both involve quieting the mind and focusing on the presence of the Divine.
Moreover, in both traditions, the practice of selfless service (Karma Yoga in the Indian tradition and the Christian concept of “caritas” or charity) is seen as a means to transcend the ego. By serving others without attachment to the fruits of the action, the practitioner or mystic aligns their will with the divine will and moves closer to the ultimate goal of union with the Divine.
The Dark Night of the Soul and Spiritual Purification
Both Christian mysticism and yoga recognize the necessity of spiritual purification and the challenges that arise on the path to union with the Divine. This process of purification is often described as a “dark night of the soul” in Christian mysticism and as a series of obstacles or challenges in yoga.
The concept of the “dark night of the soul” was famously articulated by St. John of the Cross, a 16th-century Spanish mystic. The dark night refers to a period of intense spiritual desolation and inner struggle that the mystic undergoes as part of the process of purification.
During this time, the soul feels abandoned by God and experiences deep spiritual suffering. However, this dark night is seen as a necessary stage in the journey toward union with God, as it purifies the soul of all attachments and prepares it for the experience of divine union. The dark night is ultimately a process of surrender, where the soul lets go of its ego and desires, allowing God’s grace to transform it.
In yoga, the process of spiritual purification is also recognized as a challenging and often painful journey. The Bhagavad Gita, a key text in the yoga tradition, describes the spiritual path as one that requires great effort, discipline, and perseverance.
The yogi must overcome various obstacles, such as the restless mind, attachment to worldly desires, and the ego’s resistance to surrender. These obstacles are often referred to as “kleshas” or afflictions in the Yoga Sutras, and they must be purified through the practices of yoga.
The process of purification in yoga, like the dark night of the soul, is ultimately aimed at dissolving the ego and allowing the practitioner to experience the true nature of the Self, which is unity with the Divine.
Both Christian mysticism and yoga, therefore, acknowledge that the spiritual path is not without its difficulties. The process of purification is essential for transcending the ego and achieving the ultimate goal of union with the Divine.
The Experience of Divine Union
The culmination of the spiritual journey in both Christian mysticism and yoga is the experience of divine union, often described as a state of profound peace, love, and oneness with the Divine.
In Christian mysticism, this experience of union with God is often described in terms of mystical marriage or spiritual union. St. Teresa of Avila, in her book “The Interior Castle,” describes the soul’s journey through various stages of prayer and contemplation, leading to the final stage of mystical marriage, where the soul is fully united with God.
This experience is characterized by a deep sense of peace, joy, and the complete surrender of the self to God’s will. The mystic experiences God’s presence in a way that transcends ordinary perception, often described as an “infusion of divine love.”
Similarly, in yoga, the experience of divine union is referred to as samadhi or self-realization. In this state, the practitioner experiences the dissolution of the individual self and the realization of oneness with the Absolute.
This experience is described as a state of bliss, peace, and transcendence, where the practitioner recognizes the divine nature of all reality. The ego is completely transcended, and the practitioner abides in the awareness of their true nature as one with the Divine.
While the language and symbols used to describe these experiences may differ between Christian mysticism and yoga, the underlying experience is remarkably similar. Both traditions describe this union with the Divine as the highest state of consciousness, where the soul realizes its true nature and experiences the fullness of divine love and peace.
Living in the World: The Role of Service and Compassion
After experiencing union with the Divine, both Christian mystics and yogis emphasize the importance of living a life of service and compassion in the world. The experience of divine union is not an end in itself but serves as a foundation for a life of love and service to others.
In Christian mysticism, the experience of union with God leads to a deepened sense of compassion and a commitment to serving others. The mystic’s love for God naturally extends to love for all of God’s creation.
This is evident in the lives of Christian saints who, after experiencing profound mystical union, dedicated themselves to works of charity, social justice, and the care of the poor and marginalized. St. Francis of Assisi, for example, is known for his profound love for all of creation, which arose from his deep mystical experiences.
Similarly, in yoga, the realization of oneness with the Divine leads to a life of selfless service, known as Karma Yoga. The yogi, having realized the divine nature of all beings, naturally extends love and compassion to all. This is not limited to specific acts of service but is a way of living where every action is performed with the awareness of the divine presence in all things.
The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes the importance of performing one’s duties without attachment to the results, seeing all actions as offerings to the Divine.
Both traditions, therefore, recognize that the experience of divine union compels the practitioner to live a life of love, service, and compassion. The mystic or yogi becomes a channel of divine love in the world, serving others with humility and selflessness.
Conclusion
Christian mysticism and yoga, though emerging from different cultural and religious contexts, share profound similarities in their spiritual goals, practices, and transformative experiences.
Both traditions seek to transcend the ego, experience union with the Divine, and live a life of love and service to others. The parallels between these two paths suggest a universal truth that transcends religious boundaries: the journey toward the Divine is a journey of love, selflessness, and the realization of our true nature as one with the Divine.
In a world often divided by religious and cultural differences, the commonalities between Christian mysticism and yoga offer a powerful reminder of the shared spiritual heritage of humanity. Both paths invite us to look beyond the external differences and to recognize the underlying unity that connects all spiritual seekers on the journey toward union with the Divine.
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