Monday, November 12, 2012

Indian priest: Yoga is good, even for Christianity

Yoga is a discipline that is "beyond religion" and is "truly universal".

The speaker is not a Hindu holy man, nor a new age fanatic, but Fr. John Ferreira. 

The Indian priest, who heads St. Peter's College, Agra, has published the book "Health, wealth and happiness through yoga," which presents the practice, some exercises and the philosophy behind it. 

The book contains also several testimonies of other priests, who have experienced the positions illustrated by Fr. Ferreira.

For Mgr. Albert D'Souza, Archbishop of the Diocese of Agra who presented the book at the end of October, "modern society, with its baggage full of stress and physical and spiritual pain, is in desperate need of Indian yogic knowledge." 

In this sense, he explained, "introducing yoga into the school curriculum will give a holistic approach to education, as a science that not only prepares students for life, but also teaches the art of living well."

At the presentation, the author read a message sent by Card. Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Catholic Bishops: "Through the prescribed postures and exercises one improves one's all round sense of well being and is able to enter into oneself so as to commune better with God".