What Does It Really Mean To Be A Yogi?
It's reasonable to assume that the term "yogi" is a buzzword in today's society. However, this is not the case in Indian culture. Yogis practice a specific way of life and emanate certain characteristics; their lives serve as models for others to emulate and get inspiration from yogi on this site.
But what are these features that so many people find appealing?
Yogis don't merely exemplify "Hindu" traits. They're genuinely universal.
The Yogi's Universal Qualities
Yogis are not bound by any laws or ideas that would limit their ideals; instead, they live in an unabashedly open and accessible manner. Krishna defines what it means to be a Yogi in the Bhagavad Gita:
"Fearlessness, holiness of heart, determination in acquiring knowledge and practicing yoga, charity, mastery of the senses, the performance of holy rites, a study of the scriptures, self-discipline, straightforwardness; non-injury, truthfulness, freedom from wrath, renunciation, quiet, non-slanderousness, tenderness for all beasts, absence of greed, gentleness, modesty, lack of restlessness; the radiance of character, forgiveness, patience
As a result, one may argue that Yogis don't belong to anyone's "religion." They are, instead, beyond it. Many members of other faiths and those with nonsectarian spiritual practices might be classified as Yogis.
Yogis Who Aren't Yogis
Many individuals fulfill the description of a Yogi, even if they have never heard of yoga or Hinduism. Martin Luther King Jr. had a life that might readily be compared to a Yogi. Raphael Waldo Emerson, Mother Teresa, Leo Tolstoy, The Dalai Lama, Henry David Thoreau, George Washington, and Nelson Mandela shared this sentiment. And, although it may come as a surprise, Christ embodied the attributes of a Yogi. As you can see, many folks aren't Yogis yet meet the definition based only on their lifestyle.
It's not about what you believe in the end.
It's all about how you live.
