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Yoga Vidya e.V. in the light of the facts: refuting the misleading reporting by ARD and SZ
In the last few days, the reporting by ARD and Süddeutscher Zeitung (SZ) about Yoga Vidya e.V. has caused quite a stir. The representations are not only misleading, but they also contain serious misinformation. This article will attempt to refute the various accusations and representations, while focusing on the real mission and philosophy of Yoga Vidya e.V. About Yoga Vidya e.V. Let's start with an introduction to the organization itself. Yoga Vidya is a grassroots, democratically organized life and faith community in the legal form of a non-profit, registered association. The mission of the association is to spread the integral...
Yoga Vidya e.V. in the light of the facts: refuting the misleading reporting by ARD and SZ
In the last few days, the reporting by ARD and Süddeutscher Zeitung (SZ) about Yoga Vidya e.V. has caused quite a stir. The representations are not only misleading, but they also contain serious misinformation. This article will attempt to refute the various accusations and representations, while focusing on the real mission and philosophy of Yoga Vidya e.V.
About Yoga Vidya e.V.
Let's start with an introduction to the organization itself. Yoga Vidya is a grassroots, democratically organized life and faith community in the legal form of a non-profit, registered association. The mission of the association is to spread integral yoga in the tradition of Swami Sivananda and Sri Sankaracharya. The spiritual orientation is based on the Yoga Vedānta belief within Hinduism. It is important to keep these basics in mind when understanding the allegations and accusations against Yoga Vidya e.V.
Economic goals?
One of the main allegations in the reporting is the club's alleged focus on economic goals. This is simply wrong. Yoga Vidya is non-profit and uses all income exclusively to fulfill its purpose, namely the dissemination of yoga philosophy and practice. The organization is transparent about its finances and takes its charitable commitment very seriously.
The concept of Seva
Another point that has been misinterpreted in the reporting is the concept of “seva”. In Hinduism, Seva stands for selfless service and is a central part of the philosophy and way of life in Yoga Vidya. Members who call themselves Sevakas practice Seva of their own choosing and with a complete understanding of the philosophy behind it. This concept is far removed from the idea of a working relationship in the traditional sense.
Way of life and decision-making in the ashrams
In the life of a sevaka in the ashrams of Yoga Vidya, freedom of choice and participation is great. All key decisions, even the amount of pocket money, are made democratically in the weekly Sevaka meetings. The Sevakas' complete agreement and approval of the association's goals and methods is a basic requirement for membership in the association.
Federal Labor Court and ongoing proceedings
A legal dispute that was the focus of media reporting is currently in the appeal phase at the Hamm Regional Labor Court. Yoga Vidya e.V. is sure of its legal position and will exhaust all legal options in the ongoing proceedings to protect its spiritual practices and the way of life of the Sevakas. The organization has already announced that it will appeal to the Federal Constitutional Court if necessary to ensure religious freedom.
Renovation of the Mahameru Building
The reporting also contains allegations about the allegedly unprofessional renovation of the Mahameru building. These accusations are baseless. The work was carried out by qualified construction managers who adhered to legal safety standards. All pollutants were broken down and disposed of by certified companies.
Ethics and values
Finally, it is important to emphasize the ethical foundations of Yoga Vidya e.V. The organization has a clear stance against any form of discrimination, and the members adhere to the free-democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Reports and expert opinions
To support its position, Yoga Vidya e.V. draws on various experts and reports. One of them is Prof. Dr. Martin Mittwede, religious scholar at the Goethe University Frankfurt, who classifies the organization as a neo-Hindu religious community. Another report from Professor Dr. Stefan Greiner, Director of the Institute for Labor Law and Social Security Law, University of Bonn, explains that sevakas are not employees, but members of a spiritual cooperative.
conclusion
Given the facts and evidence, it is incomprehensible how ARD and SZ could arrive at their erroneous representations. Yoga Vidya e.V. remains an open, ethically managed and transparent association whose mission is to promote the well-being of people through yoga and spirituality.
The current media narrative seems to be more focused on sensationalism than objective reporting. It is paramount that the public knows the real facts and is not misled by inaccurate reporting.