Questions and Answers
Q. I am a Roman Catholic who has read about the benefits of Yoga. I would like to try it but my friends tell me that the Catholic Church condemns the practice.
A. On Oct 15, 1989, The Roman Curia, through the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) issued a "Letter on Certain Aspects of Christian Meditation," cautioning Catholics about using Buddhist, Hindu and other meditation techniques that place the focus of prayer on the self rather than on God. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was then prefect of the office and later was elected Pope Benedict XVI. You are correct in expressing concern but you are also obliged to view the CDF document critically. Father Ama Samy, a Jesuit Zen Master has written a beautiful critique of the paper.
When objecting to placing the focus of prayer on self rather than God, the CDF must have had in mind Jesus’ own teaching, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
A number of clearly Roman Catholic centers sponsor Yoga classes. The Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers GA sponsored a special retreat entitled “Fundamentals of Yoga and Christianity” in 2005. The Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield, MI, sponsors ongoing Christian Yoga retreats during 2008 and publishes a schedule. The Manresa Retreat House makes the following comments for concerned Catholic Christians:
A Note on Church Teaching and Manresa's Christian Yoga
The documents of the Catholic Church contain two basic references to yoga. In October 1989 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a letter On Some Aspects of Christian Meditation. In August 2003 the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue issued a provisional report called Jesus Christ, the Bearer of the Water of Life: A Christian reflection on the "New Age." The first mentioned yoga once, in a footnote, as an example of an Eastern form of meditation; the second mentioned yoga twice in general fashion with other Eastern methods. While the documents allow that methods of prayer deriving from non-Christian religions can help Christians in their prayer, they warn that discretion needs to be exercised to avoid syncretism and to see that elements do not creep in that are contrary to the fundamental nature of Christian prayer and practice. At Manresa we are dedicated to the promotion of Christian prayer. We wish to assure any who may be concerned that we do exercise due discretion here, and that Manresa's Christian Yoga courses do not contain elements about which the Congregation and Councils are concerned.
We are like-minded. We should also point out that practitioners of traditional Yoga may scoff at the idea of a Christian version. Find more information at the website for Christians Practicing Yoga. You need to come to your own conclusions.
Q. I have heard of the benefits of Reiki and Chakra balancing but they do not seem to have the same foundations as modern medicine. How do they work?
A. Western scientific medicine is highly advanced and always should be considered a primary source for resolving all health questions. In the United States, we enjoy one of the best medical systems of all time. Diagnostic systems are highly accurate and a large variety of proven surgical interventions and medicines are available for treatment.
As is well known, for example, an individual with type I Diabetes Mellitus will die without Insulin replacement. The same is true for appendicitis or inflammations of the gall bladder. Cancers are commonly cured or controlled with combinations of surgery and chemotherapy. Childhood infections formerly resulting in debilitating adult diseases, such as rheumatic heart disease, are now virtually unknown because of antibiotic treatment of certain streptococcal bacterial infections. Serious infections such as bacterial meningitis or pneumonia are readily treated with antibiotics. Modern immunology provides preventive vaccines for a number of diseases such as smallpox, polio, pertussis, diptheria, tetanus, pneumococcal pneumonia, and influenza. The list is endless.
Despite all that Western medicine has to offer, some nagging health problems persist. Humans seek relief in a number of ways ranging from visits to Lourdes to the ingestion of a variety of tonics, vitamins, and dietary supplements. Undeniable modern miracles have occurred and probably are still occuring. Eastern techniques are sometimes used to fill the gap between definitive modern medicine and all the rest. Scientific answers to how Reiki and Chakra balancing affects health are not readily available but investigations are being made. See the National Institutes of Health web site.
In the end, not all illnesses can be cured. We are constantly reminded of the suffering experienced by progressive disease, Parkinson's, in one of the holiest men of all time, Pope John Paul II. Perhaps that kind of suffering is allowed to happen as a reminder that all human life, no matter how debilitated, is precious and that death can occur with profound grace and dignity.