Yoga and Religion

This definitely is deserving of a discussion: is yoga a religion, and does it violate the first amendment in practice, in public schools? By suing the Encinitas School district, does the National Center for Law and Policy bring an important debate up for discussion, or does it make itself look ridiculous?
Then, there are Hindus themselves, some who want to keep yoga for Indians and Hindus only, who take offense at strip malls signs advertising Yoga, who launched a "Take Back Yoga" campaign, who also stir the pot. What's a person to do/think?

This debate comes up periodically, so lets talk this through.
Yes, many people who live in India are familiar with yoga, and many of whom are Hindu, practice yoga. And yes, it originate on the Indian subcontinent. Do all Hindus practice yoga? Hardly. Do Hindus forbid any non-Hindus from practicing yoga? No. Did yoga originate in India? Yes. Is there a Book of Yoga that outlines practices? Yes. Do practitioners in the US use this? Hardly.

Yoga is more than physical asanas, as we know this in India, and it is also simultaneously less than asanas, as we know it in the US. Yoga is the science of controlling your breathing, of gaining focus, and being physically comfortable, and yes, even healthy. It can alleviate panic attacks, attain calmness, which can make students do better at exams, etc. Is it any wonder that teachers want to use it in their classrooms?

Does a teacher, who believes in Yoga Ed, who uses this practice in her classroom to teach exercise, focus and concentration (that she likely learned in a non-religious class), violate the first amendment? Hardly. Are public schools in the US indoctrinating young minds by teaching them yoga? No. So why do people treat it as such a forbidden topic, or is it an Us v. Them issue, time and time again, in the US?

And that is exactly what it is, at its heart: it is the fears of many coming to the surface, that change is here, and they do not want it. It is a case of learning to live with differences. A society coming to grips with multiculturalism. It is society coming to terms with globalization.

Did/do we have such passionate debates about why did Europeans went/ go on voyages to other land...? (Going abroad, whether five hundred years ago, or now, is an excellent way to learn/study.) But can we restrict the exchange of ideas to only one way...? Do we believe that we in the West can establish evangelical churches in countries we go to over there, but we will not pick up some of their ideas and practices and bring them back...? This cannot be. Travel is a two-way process, and helps alleviate such fears. Our debates, legal or on a blog, embody our collective human history coming to grips with our post-colonial, global reality. It is the theory of Functionalism in action.

What's next? Should Caucasian Americans be barred from eating basmati rice? Should every American using 'cotton' pay a trademark/patent fee to India...? Should Starbucks should be sued next for serving "chai"?

Such a discussion about differences (including this debate) is what is so beautiful about the 'American experiment', that we can be so secure in who we are, that we do not fear others. In fact, we should celebrate our diversity. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantiha.

For a humorous piece on this topic by Mark Morford in the San Francisco Chronicle, see http://blog.sfgate.com/morford/2013/06/11/jesus-loves-your-downward-dog/
For a serious tone, from the legal perspective by a noted scholar, see http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/battling-over-yoga-in-public-schools

Teaching About India, Made Simple

By

Rashmi Sharma Singh

Why

For many, India is a difficult topic to teach. It contains too many contradictions and it’s diversity in its geography, its people, its economic disparity, its multi-religious traditions, and long history are staggering. This part of the Vidya (two vowels, pronounced with a short I, Vid as in Bid, plus ya) Books website is meant to make this task easier. Taking one issue, and often, one story at a time, this can be made more comprehensible, and even fun.

Who

I write from the perspective of one who has Indian heritage, and was born and raised in North India. The blood of teachers and historians, for over two thousand years, at least, is part of who I am; I have done countless workshops about India to teachers at professional groups[1]. Additionally, as an immigrant to the US, I humbly bring my heritage, experience and expertise (based solely in student reviews at Sonoma State University[2]) as a University lecturer to this task. The California State University, where I have taught for eleven years, trains more teachers than the UC system. I am also the founder of, and a part of the nonprofit EduSA-Vidya.org. For a complete bio/cv, see About the Founder.

What

India is famous for its oral tradition. From the guru-shishya tradition come these anecdotes about ‘thinking outside the box’:

Example 1: The three sons of a King were lazy, and did not want to attend school. Their father, the king, despaired of leaving his kingdom to them. He asked a guru for help. This guru told the princes that all they had to do was listen to stories for a short time each day. Before they knew it, many of the lessons they needed as future rulers had been learned. (From the Punchtuntra stories, the basis of many Aesop stories. See background to The Blue Jackal.

Example 2: A thirsty man gets to a fast- flowing river. He complains that there is too much water, and from a distance, he despairs, asking how can he get a just one drink? He hears this response: By simply going to the edge of the river, and if he has nothing else, by cupping his hands, drinking a couple of sips at a time.

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[1] Including multiple presentations at the California Council for the Social Studies, and the National Council for the Social Studies and at some school districts. (vidyabooks.com/about-the-founder)

[2] From student reviews: “Excellent”, “Need more of this kind of a class for all students,” ‘gives meaning to my four years at the university,’ …