CHRIST THE SUPREME YOGI
When an Indian reads the gospels for the first time, one is impressed by the energy that radiates from the person of Jesus. William Johnston in his Mystical Theology says that it is a reminder of the ‘ki’ the ‘chi’, the prana, the energy that forms the very basis of Asian Culture and religion. Energy goes out of Jesus when he heals the sick and casts out demons. Light, blinding light radiates from his body and clothing when he is transfigured on Mt. Tabor. In these days when we recall his last days on earth, as he says, “I am” in response to those who came to arrest him, the crowd falls to the ground overpowered by his magnetic presence. And finally with a burst of energy he dies as recorded by the evangelists, “crying out with a loud voice he yielded up the Spirit”(Mk 15, 37)
Those Christians who practice Iyengar Yoga as a path way to God and as contemplative prayer, do consider Jesus as a supreme example of a Yogi who claims that the “Father and I are One” and prays that we may be one as he and the Father. This journey is absolutely yogic. For his call to discipleship is,”if you wish to be my disciple, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” It is a life long process like the grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies to bear much fruit. When Bill W. the Co-founder of A.A described addiction as “self will running riot” he was referring to the third step of the Twelve Step programme which suggests, “to make one’s will and life over to the God of one’s understanding”. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the prayer of Jesus was,” Father if it is possible let this chalice of suffering pass away but not my will but thine be done” The Supreme Sadhana is a way of the Cross. Iyengar always repeats his own journey of Yoga as “Pain being my Master”. It is by dying to oneself that one is born to eternal life.
This energy is at work in the world even today. In the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, it is said that,”Christ is now at work in the hearts of men and women through the energy of the Spirit. But the greatest energy and the greatest gift is love. For “ greater love than this no one has than to lay down one’s life for one’s loved ones.” And again “ If I speak in the language of mortals and angels but donot have love, I am a nosy gong and clanging cymbal (I Cor, 13,1) For as St John tells us “God is love”. In the process of dying to oneself is a pathway of forgiveness. In the world of growing individualism and self-righteousness, the path of forgiveness demands a supreme act of surrender. To extend this love and understanding even to one’s enemies by finding an alternative to “a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye” demands a unique sense of transcendence into the realm of the ‘Purusha’. It is only from that realm can one interpret the words of the Crucified Jesus “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing” Only an act of total “Ishvara-pranidhana”, the final “Niyama” can generate the energy to utter such words of love at the height of agony. Paradoxically as a supreme Yogi Christ had entered into the final state of “Anandamaya-kosha” (the blissful body) for his cry of forgiveness itself was a cry of Joy and Resurrection at the victory over sin and death. As Tony Dmello, who often spoke like a Sufi Mystic would say, “if you ‘look’ at the serene countenance of the crucified Saviour, you may see a ‘laughing Buddha’!”
Fr.Joe H. Pereira
www.kripafoundation.org
When an Indian reads the gospels for the first time, one is impressed by the energy that radiates from the person of Jesus. William Johnston in his Mystical Theology says that it is a reminder of the ‘ki’ the ‘chi’, the prana, the energy that forms the very basis of Asian Culture and religion. Energy goes out of Jesus when he heals the sick and casts out demons. Light, blinding light radiates from his body and clothing when he is transfigured on Mt. Tabor. In these days when we recall his last days on earth, as he says, “I am” in response to those who came to arrest him, the crowd falls to the ground overpowered by his magnetic presence. And finally with a burst of energy he dies as recorded by the evangelists, “crying out with a loud voice he yielded up the Spirit”(Mk 15, 37)
Those Christians who practice Iyengar Yoga as a path way to God and as contemplative prayer, do consider Jesus as a supreme example of a Yogi who claims that the “Father and I are One” and prays that we may be one as he and the Father. This journey is absolutely yogic. For his call to discipleship is,”if you wish to be my disciple, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” It is a life long process like the grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies to bear much fruit. When Bill W. the Co-founder of A.A described addiction as “self will running riot” he was referring to the third step of the Twelve Step programme which suggests, “to make one’s will and life over to the God of one’s understanding”. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the prayer of Jesus was,” Father if it is possible let this chalice of suffering pass away but not my will but thine be done” The Supreme Sadhana is a way of the Cross. Iyengar always repeats his own journey of Yoga as “Pain being my Master”. It is by dying to oneself that one is born to eternal life.
This energy is at work in the world even today. In the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, it is said that,”Christ is now at work in the hearts of men and women through the energy of the Spirit. But the greatest energy and the greatest gift is love. For “ greater love than this no one has than to lay down one’s life for one’s loved ones.” And again “ If I speak in the language of mortals and angels but donot have love, I am a nosy gong and clanging cymbal (I Cor, 13,1) For as St John tells us “God is love”. In the process of dying to oneself is a pathway of forgiveness. In the world of growing individualism and self-righteousness, the path of forgiveness demands a supreme act of surrender. To extend this love and understanding even to one’s enemies by finding an alternative to “a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye” demands a unique sense of transcendence into the realm of the ‘Purusha’. It is only from that realm can one interpret the words of the Crucified Jesus “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing” Only an act of total “Ishvara-pranidhana”, the final “Niyama” can generate the energy to utter such words of love at the height of agony. Paradoxically as a supreme Yogi Christ had entered into the final state of “Anandamaya-kosha” (the blissful body) for his cry of forgiveness itself was a cry of Joy and Resurrection at the victory over sin and death. As Tony Dmello, who often spoke like a Sufi Mystic would say, “if you ‘look’ at the serene countenance of the crucified Saviour, you may see a ‘laughing Buddha’!”
Fr.Joe H. Pereira
www.kripafoundation.org
