| Fequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it necessary to adopt Indian dress and Hindu food restrictions to be a Vedantist?
A: No. Habits of dressing and eating are cultural things, not spiritual things. The Vedanta philosophy is universal, it can be adapted to any culture and time.
Q: Do you do yoga exercises?
A: Hatha yoga exercises can be very good in promoting health, relaxation, and concentration. In this way hatha yoga can be beneficial to spiritual life. However, the Ramakrishna Order in general has not taken on the teaching of this type of yoga as part of its work. It is not essential to spiritual life. Many people in the West mistakenly think that being able to do hatha yoga will automatically make them spiritual. There is also the danger that a person's focus will be too much on the body and longevity rather than on spiritual development.
Q: What about Pranayama or breathing exercises?
A: In general, we do not recommend doing breathing exercise without the advice of a qualified teacher (guru). There have been cases where people have developed symptoms of severe mental illness from doing extreme forms of breathing exercises without supervision. Generally this occurs when someone thinks that if a little is good, more is better. This is not the case with pranayama. It can be extremely dangerous. All the benefits of pranayama can cultivated safely by doing japam (repeating a name of God or a sacred phrase called a mantra) and meditation. However, Swami Vivekananda outlines some very simple breathing exercises in his Raja Yoga. Check with your spiritual teacher before starting these exercises.
Q: Why is there an age limit of 35 years for joining the monastic community?
A: The rigors of community life necessitate a younger person who is more likely to be able to adjust physically and psychologically.
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