Joga dla Polki i Polaka. Rzut oka na recepcję indyjskiej duchowości w Polsce

Abstract

Yoga for Poles: a glance at the reception of Indian spirituality in Poland: The article starts
 with a review of data on the religious afliations and involvement of contemporary Poles, with
 special focus on religious traditions originating in India. Then, outlined briefy is the Polish
 reception of the Hindu and Buddhist religio-philosophical ideas, regarding the period between
 the mid-nineteenth century, through the 1990s and on to the present day. Both the oriental
 religions and psychophysical exercises associated with yoga have various connotations for Poles,
 who mostly identif themselves as Christians. Along with the gradually growing popularity of
 modern postural yoga, one can observe increasing fears and prejudices developing, ones which
 are usually based on ignorance or confusion. In the following part of the article the term “yoga”
 is elucidated. The author also discusses the origin and the signifcance of yoga as a phenomenon within the context of Hindu culture. Finally, she considers the question as to whether
 yoga, as it has been adopted in Polish society, should be rather associated with physical culture
 and a method of relaxation or with a religious movement and a spiritual path. In conclusion,
 the author addresses the issue of the alleged incompatibility and discrepancy between the non-
 -western ideas implied by yoga and the Roman Catholic worldview predominating in Poland.