Individualism in Spirituality? A Close Look at Vedanta Students and Yoga Practitioners in Rio de Janeiro

The practices of yoga and meditation are examined through a group of Vedanta students and yoga practitioners, revealing that spirituality is not inherently individualistic. Contrary to studies that separate spirituality from religion, this work shows that practitioners often submit to religious dogmas and authorities such as the guru, tradition, and cosmic order. They adapt to these principles while appearing to transcend their individuality by becoming part of holistic traditions as both transmitters and receivers, expressing their most significant values and meanings. This challenges notions of autonomy and free choice.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The practices of yoga and meditation are discussed based on the observation of a group of Vedanta students and yoga practitioners. This article offers a critical reflection of the individualism inherent to the understanding of spirituality. In contrast to most studies that differentiate spirituality from religion, this research confirms that interlocutors tend to submit to religious dogmas and to authorities, in the form of the guru, the tradition and the cosmic order. It was noticed that they adapt to these principles, at the same time that they seem to transcend their individuality when becoming part of these holistic traditions, both as transmitters and receivers, who thus express their most significant values and meanings. These as a result challenge the concepts of autonomy and free choice.