Was Jesus Teaching Yoga?

The Middle Path of Jesus

What it Meant to Walk by Grace

The middle area of Jesus' life is something of a mystery. Where did he go? Why did he disappear only to return when he was 32? Could these offer answers to why the teachings are so different in the New Testament? There are clues, very obvious ones I might add, but ultimately the decision of whether you believe it is up to you. Here's what is known:

Madhyamāpratipad is the Sanskrit name for the middle path of yoga. This is the first teachings delivered by the Buddha upon his awakening into enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama was the person often associated with the middle path of the Buddha, and his life has many parallels with that of Jesus, but that is another matter all together. This alone is simply to lay a minimal foundation for the purpose of the reader to understand the importance of this information. When he awoke, he had just come out of the most profound experience of this Prince's life, and he wanted all to have this sense of freedom. The greatest discovery of his time and the first and most important for everyone that was around was the Middle Path.

Jesus was the son of Mary and Joseph,  and they belonged to a very specific group of semi nomadic Jews known as the Essene. This group is also where we get the idea of full submersion when it comes to baptism, it being required as an emblem of purity in their culture. The simple sprinkle of a christening was sufficient everywhere else. This knowledge gives the answers many search for when it comes to the Immaculate Conception myth (tale/story; not meaning false) and the reason Jesus was so knowledgeable about other Jewish and Gnostic wisdom, both being required study in the Essene. This also means that Jesus was intimately familiar with the study and use of Kabbalah, a system of spirituality which predates Judaism as a religion. 

Why the mention of the Kabbalah? Any person who has done research into the Kabbalah knows that The Tree of Life has many "paths' to spiritual enlightenment. This is why it is fundamental to understand this before understanding what was meant to "Walk by Grace." First, let's look at the three main pillars/paths of the Tree of Life:

The center pillar/path has many names, but one of them is where we draw our immediate attention; Grace. Tiphareth is the center Sephiroth, most commonly known in English as Beauty, but also known as Grace, too. The two opposing pillars are the extremes of existence; perfect Mercy and perfect Justice. These can be seen as the ascetics and the Priesthood as ways of spiritual enlightenment. Jesus wanted all to have that freedom of spirit and soul, much like Siddhartha, and taught on the mount (parallels with the Tree of Buddha) the ways of peace and detachment from the world of things and desires. This path is the Middle Path of Grace depicted on the Tree of Life. Surely, though, something so important should have been said plainly, right? After all, Jesus was pretty direct unless he specified his parables, right? Well, he was, it is just missed by many because of cultural dialect, meaning the words meant something else depending on the culture. In this case, Jesus used the word that defines Yoga as the word itself, something Alan Watts picked up on as well. 

 

In the Book of Mathew, we have our most evident hint (if not scream) at the use of Yoga. it reads: "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden light." MAT 11:29-30. What is one of the many definitions associated with the word Yoga? You guessed it, Yoke! Jesus was not only saying the name of the Middle Path of the Tree of Life, something the Essene would have been very familiar with, but he even referred to it as Yoga! This changes so many things when it comes to a practical use of spirituality for those who practice the Christian faith. 

 

Something so simple and yet it is missed by so many. Yoga, regardless of your religion, is beneficial. It is also not just the Hatha form (poses) that I'm speaking about, either. At its essence, it is the divine union of the spirit and body, between man and his god, and between life and the universe. It transcends the body and confines of this world, allowing for a deeper spiritual oneness with everything. This is where one makes the steps towards being a spiritual person rather than just a religious one. 

 

Taking this in your mind, what sort of things does this answer in regards to other parts of Christianity? Does it begin to allow you to see through the fallacies perpetuated by those who wish to control their flock instead of liberate them?  Hopefully you begin to question more...