Whenever the term Yoga appears in this web, it will refer generically to the field of endeavor known in the West as spiritual science, a special breed of ancient discipline specifically designed to guide seekers of self-awareness. All valid systems of this type provide their guidance through a holistic approach which integrates such diverse fields as philosophy, psychology, religion and practical science.

Many Westerners mistakenly identify Yoga as an Eastern religion, equating it with Hinduism because of its similar trappings and the fact that it has its roots in Indian culture, which is traditionally Hindu. But to assume that Yoga is Hinduism just because its discoverers were Hindus is comparable to assuming that the theory of relativity is Jewish simply because Einstein was a Jew.

Though it is true that Yoga is related to the field of religion in that its concerns are primarily spiritual in nature, it is still first and foremost a science. This is attested to by the fact that it is currently being practiced by people of every religious persuasion, including ministers, priests, nuns, rabbis, and even atheists. Pure spiritual science gives each of us the space to follow the dictates of our own conscience throughout the exploration of our inner being. If, for example we happen to be Christian, Yoga’s goal is not to turn us into Hindus, hut to help us to become better Christians.

Practitioners of yogic science are provided with a meticulous philosophy which instills in them an intellectual understanding of ultimate reality, including the true nature of their own being, the true nature of the entire Creation, and the true relationship between the two. In addition, Yoga encompasses true psychology (the word literally means “soul science” in that it offers us specific techniques of self-study through which we are brought to know and experience the depth and breadth of our entire being, thereby laying claim to all our dormant capabilities and putting them to work for us. Next, Yoga contains the very essence of religion, teaching us to love and serve the highest cosmic truth, and to disregard illusion.

To support us in this exploration for absolute truth, Yoga lastly supplies us with the sturdy framework of an exacting and pragmatic science. This science does not deal in mere hypothesis or dry intellectual concepts; it is a practical, empirical discipline which offers us precise step by step methodology leading to our personal validation of its doctrines through direct experience.