The Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University within the Ecumenical Formation Program in cooperation with the UGCC Patriarchal Commission on Interconfessional and Interreligious Relations and the Commission for Promoting Christian Unity of the Pereyaslav-Vyshnevska Eparchy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine held an interreligious seminar entitled “Yoga, tantra, mantras: what is important for the pastor to know about the Eastern religions”. The keynote speaker was Deacon Mykhailo Justyn Sheludko, who has studied Eastern religions and spirituality for many years and is a UCU licentiate in the field of comparative religion and theology of religions. The respondent was Dr. Pavlo Smytsnyuk, IES Director, an expert in comparative and political theology. Moderated by Fr. Dr. Roman Fihas, IES Researcher.
Deacon Justin first explained the etymology and meaning of the basic concepts such as: yoga, tantra, and mantras, around which there was a discussion. He told how these terms were used in the beginning and how these words and their meaning have been transformed and are presented today. The most important thing the speaker emphasized was the ability of Christianity not to reject the heritage of other religions but the ability to express the Gospel in a new way. According to some scholars, it was Christianity's ability to “translate” its main messages into Greek philosophy that made it possible to Christianize the Greek culture. Conversely, the inability of Christianity to tell the Good News in a Hindu worldview laid the groundwork for the less successful evangelization of this culture.
Deacon Sheludko stressed that although there is a danger of syncretism or misunderstanding/application of Eastern practices by modern Christians, the prudent practice of the Indian system may rediscover from the Christian heritage what has long been forgotten or has become the property of academic theologians themselves. Originally, the word “meditation” is generally Christian: it was first used by the Catholic monk Hugo II (second half of the XII century) - the head of the Cartesian Order, author of a treatise on contemplative life.
The event ended with a fruitful discussion.
The seminar was supported by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Video and discussion of the seminar here: