Is Yoga Political?
There are many ways to answer this question, and I think it depends for each practitioner. I’ll start my process with the Yamas.
Ahimsa is non-harm. It’s also standing against harm and supporting those being harmed.
Satya is truthfulness. It’s also living through the ultimate truth which is collective consciousness and liberation.
Asteya non-stealing. It’s also acknowledging what’s been stolen and seeking justice.
Brahmacharya is moderation. It’s also using energy in dedication to brahman - the universal thread that ties us all together.
Aparigraha is non-attachment from possessions. It’s also non-attachment from the ego-self (the separate + selfish self).
Yoga Sutra 2.31: These great vows (Yamas) are universal, not bound by class, place, time, or circumstance.
So yeah, end all genocides. Period.
End all wars? This one’s hard. Per the Bhagavad Gita: End the wars worth ending and fight the wars worth fighting. In my opinion: End as many wars as humanly possible.
Should we all become activists and march in the streets? That’s for each of us to decide. Remember, we must leave space to go inward so we can go outward with intention and purpose.
I used to be an activist, attending many protests and posting frequently about social justice. I was depressed as hell. It was a never ending battle and I struggled to take care of myself, which impacted my words and actions for the worse.
Now, I don’t post about politics on my social media accounts very much, but y’all know where I stand. I like to talk about it every now and then just so the new people know the vibes. F*ck hatred, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and billionaires too - that’s a lotta money and possessions to be attached to. Sounds stressful.
Can a yogi be in support of Genocide or harmful politicians? I’m not the authority on this, but it certainly feels like a contradictory space to exist in.
Yoga is political and it’s our choice how we want that to express through our practice. Activism can look a million different ways and we can often make a bigger impact focusing on what’s in front of us than on what’s across the world.
