Parallels between Christian and Hindu spirituality

Published on Updated on Action-Faith, Bible Reading Project, Contemplative Prayer, Hindu, Interfaith Dialogue, Meditation, Prayer of Union, Scripture Memory, Spirituality

Hinduism offers four main spiritualities. They have strong parallels with Christian spirituality.

 

 

SELFLESS ACTION

“Karma Yoga”

The simplest Hindu spirituality is Karma Yoga. That means “selfless action.”

Karma Yoga is like our Christian spirituality of charitable works. We Christians say we must put our faith into action. We need to do.

Our faith needs to be Action-Faith.

Karma Yoga was the spiritual path of Mohandas K. Gandhi. By means of Karma Yoga, he led India to freedom from England.

 

SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE

“Jnana Yoga”

The next Hindu spirituality is Jnana Yoga, or spiritual knowledge.

People read texts and listen to experts. They grow in knowledge. They gain insights.

Jnana Yoga is like our Christian practices of the Bible Reading Project and Scripture Memory. And even our Systematic Theology Project.

 

MEDITATION

“Raja Yoga”

The next Hindu spirituality is Raja Yoga, or meditation.

Raja Yoga is analogous to our Christian spiritualities of:

 

DEVOTION

“Bhakti Yoga”

The next next Hindu spirituality is Bhakti Yoga, or devotion.

Bhakti Yoga is heartfelt devotion, heartfelt love for God. Hindus say this is the fastest and most reliable way to God.

We Christians give our heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are completely devoted to him.

 

SEE ALSO

Deuteronomy 6:8. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.

Wisdom 10:12. She preserved him from foes, and secured him against ambush, And she gave him the prize for his hard struggle that he might know that devotion to God is mightier than all else. (NAB translation)

 

NOTES

NOTE 1. For more on Hindu spirituality, see the Bhagavad Gita. We suggest the translation by Mohandas K. Gandhi.

It was translated into English by Gandhi’s student Mahadev Desai.

It is available for free at M. K. Gandhi.

 

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.