Issues in Christian Encounters with Yoga: Exploring 3HO/Kundalini Yoga

Critics of Hindu postural yoga in Western Christian contexts raise issues of cultural misappropriation, commodification, lack of moral prerequisites, narcissistic attachment to bodily effects, occult influences, and doctrinal differences. The paper examines 3HO/Kundalini Yoga, showing that its grounding in Sikhism allows it to sidestep most of these criticisms. However, substantial concerns remain about doctrinal compatibility and religious syncretism, criticisms also leveled by some Sikhs against 3HO/Kundalini Yoga itself.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The paper begins by drawing out current issues that have been raised by critics concerning the contemporary practice of Hindu postural types of yoga in western and specifically western Christian contexts, with some illustrative reference to contemporary movements and schools, especially to Bikram Yoga. These are: cultural misappropriation; commodification; lack of moral pre-requisites; narcissistic attachment to bodily effects; occult influences; and doctrinal differences. The paper then explores specific aspects of the theory and practice of 3HO/Kundalini Yoga (3HO/KY) by Christians in light of these possible issues, showing how this tradition of Kundalini Yoga seems to skirt or side-step most of them, simply by the way that it locates and grounds itself in Sikhism. The substantial concerns for Christians practicing 3H0/KY seem related to issues surrounding doctrinal compatibility and religious syncretism—criticisms that have been raised also by some Sikhs against 3HO/KY itself.