(Image source from: Yoga does not interfere in religious freedom})
Yoga taught in a San Diego County school system is not a gateway to Hinduism and doesn't violate the religious rights of students or their parents, a California appeals court ruled. "While the practice of yoga may be religious in some contexts, yoga classes as taught in the district are, as the trial court determined, 'devoid of any religious, mystical, or spiritual trappings,'" the court wrote in a 3-0 opinion.
"No other court in the past 50 years has allowed public school officials to lead children in formal religious rituals like the Hindu liturgy of praying to, bowing to and worshipping the sun god," attorney Dean Broyles said in a statement.
Stephen and Jennifer Sedlock and their two children had brought the lawsuit claiming yoga promoted Hinduism and inhibited Christianity.
Paul V. Carelli IV, a lawyer for the district, said there were no rituals occurring in the classroom and no one was worshipping the sun or leading Hindu rites. The district said the practice is taught in a secular way to promote strength, flexibility and balance.
A three-year grant from the K.P. Jois Foundation, a nonprofit group that promotes Ashtanga yoga, provides twice-weekly, 30-minute classes to the district's 5,600 students.
It is the narrow mindset of the missionaries who are using false propaganda of miracle curing to lure people to the Christianity. They are afraid if the people get better and healthy by practicing yoga, they may be deprived of their income through miracle curing. Moreover Hinduism is gaining popularity and confidence among the younger generation. This is because the teachings of Hinduism are having logic and it gives solution for all problems. The different branches of Hinduism, such as Yoga, Ayurveda, etc are improving the physical and mental strength of the people who practices it. Not only that, these does not have any side effects.
The Semitic religions are always afraid of the teaching and practices of Hinduism. This is because they do not have any credibility or is able to answer the queries of the believers. This has prompted many to not attend the church and many churches are put for sale due to the inability to maintain them. Many churches are being purchased by Hindu organizations and made over as temples and the people have started visiting these temples and learn about Hinduism. The awareness of Hinduism has given solace to these people. Unlike the conversions made by these semitic religions by the way of luring, coercing, threat or by force, people got converted to Hinduism due to the knowledge it gives to the people.
The Semitic religious heads, which does not have anything to offer to the people, always raised their voice for whatever is related to Hinduism, fearing people may accept Hinduism and these so called faith healers may lose their market. Instead of raising their voice against Yoga, they should have accepted yoga as an exercise, which makes the body and soul more relaxed and perfect. They have to learn and mature to accept everything s good without the colour of Caste, Creed, Race and Religion.
By Premji
