Yoga and Meditation? Is It Kosher?

What’s Judaism’s perspective on Yoga and Meditation? Why is Yoga and Mediation so attractive to so many people all around the world? The following is a beautiful letter of the Rebbe that was written to Dr. Yehuda Landes O.B.M a Professor from Palo Alto California, on the subject of Yoga and Meditation. It’s an excerpt from the new Book on the Rebbe “The Rebbe Inspiring a Generation” to see more on the book visit www.inspiringageneration.org

Preface to the Letter

A familiar feature of the contemporary spiritual scene is meditation. Many people enjoy practicing meditation because it is supposed to bring considerable benefits to one’s physical and mental health. During the 1960s and 1970s meditation began to spread all over the US and become a part of our culture. One of the most famous teachers of meditation at the time was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who taught a discipline which he called TM, Transcendental Meditation. Several Jewish leaders were concerned that his methods were tainted by Hinduism, which is considered to be a form of Avodah Zarah, idol worship. A fellow from Palo- Alto California, Dr. Landes, asked the Rebbe if it was appropriate to use these methods. In a letter dated 16th of Adar 5738 (1978) the Rebbe responded to Dr. Landes concerning the practice of meditation, and in a memo appended to the letter the Rebbe outlined his view on the matter. The Rebbe’s view articulated in the memo was that, after culling the suitable elements from the improper, the benefits should be utilized.

To Be Counted Is To Count

On Friday night, the holy Baal Shem Tov would spend hours devoted to the evening prayers. His followers would finish praying in the usual manner and wait around for their Rebbe to finish.

It happened that one of the participants felt hungry. It would still be several hours before the Baal Shem Tov finished his prayers. No one would miss him if he went home, ate and came back before the Rebbe finished. Someone noticed the man sneaking out and decided to do the same. Soon, the Baal Shem Tov was left alone to his prayers.

When the group returned, with what they believed to be plenty of time left, they found, to their chagrin, the Baal Shem Tov sitting and waiting for them. He explained to them that a person’s head is only as high as the rest of his body. He, the Baal Shem Tov was like a head to the community. He could only stay “up there” if he had the support of the rest of the community.