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Is it allowed to participate a yoga class while a Buddha idol is placed in the room owned by the yoga studio? Even if one has no intention of praying to the idol?

Liam Anderson
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  • More generally: https://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/8713 – msh210 Jun 25 '17 at 18:29
  • By the way, the state of NY registers yoga gyms as a Buddhist religious center even if the business is not related to the religion at all. Interesting, huh? – ezra Jun 25 '17 at 19:01
  • Perhaps you should edit in why specifically yoga? Is that a way of serving the idol? If so, I can quote you a Gemara in AZ offhand that would forbid it. – DonielF Jun 25 '17 at 19:21
  • @DonielF I can do you one better, I can quote you one of the Big 10 that would say it's forbidden ;) – Salmononius2 Jun 25 '17 at 19:51
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    Yoga is based on Hindu practices, although what we see is really an American invention. Hinduism is generally 'avodah zara though. – Noach MiFrankfurt Jun 25 '17 at 20:02
  • Whose idol is it? – Avrohom Yitzchok Jun 25 '17 at 20:07
  • @Salmononius2 Of course if it's Avodah Zarah it would fall under at least one of the Big 10. The Gemara I'm referring to (AZ 50b-51a) discusses what counts as such; namely, ways normally used to serve them or to serve HaShem. If yoga is a way of serving this deity, that Gemara clearly states that it is Avodah Zarah. – DonielF Jun 25 '17 at 22:07
  • @NoachMiFrankfurt There is a difference between Hinduism and Buddhism. Should the OP be edited to discuss a Hindu idol? – DonielF Jun 25 '17 at 22:08
  • @DonielF, possibly, although I'm not sure whether it would impact the halacha per se. – Noach MiFrankfurt Jun 25 '17 at 22:48
  • @NoachMiFrankfurt Based on the Gemara I quoted above it would. It's a way of serving Hindu gods, not Buddhist ones. Thus, not AZ. No different than defecating on any idol besides Pe'or. – DonielF Jun 25 '17 at 22:53
  • @DonielF, if the studio leader believes that yoga serves Buddhism, then it would be 'a"z. – Noach MiFrankfurt Jun 25 '17 at 22:57
  • @NoachMiFrankfurt - I agree one hundred percent. That would change things a lot if the instructor actually thought this way. – ezra Jun 25 '17 at 23:00
  • @NoachMiFrankfurt I'll have to check the mefarshim to that Gemara, but I'm not sure that intent is enough. – DonielF Jun 25 '17 at 23:06
  • Yoga itself is avoda zara and is from hinduism – Laser123 Oct 01 '17 at 09:41

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