The Dark Roots of Eastern Mysticism

The Dark Roots of Eastern Mysticism and Why It Opposes the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Eastern Mysticism Exposed: A Christian Warning Against Deceptive Spiritual Practices

What Is Eastern Mysticism?

Eastern mysticism is a broad term used to describe spiritual and religious practices originating from the East, particularly India, China, and other parts of Asia. This includes Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Zen, and related esoteric teachings. These systems emphasize achieving enlightenment, divine union, or spiritual power through meditation, yoga, energy manipulation, reincarnation beliefs, and consciousness expansion.

Today, Eastern mysticism is often rebranded under New Age terminology—think of yoga studios, mindfulness apps, kundalini awakenings, and chakra balancing. Though they are marketed as tools for peace and personal growth, the spiritual roots are anything but harmless.

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Who Founded This Modality?

Unlike Western religions with a single identifiable founder, Eastern mysticism emerged over centuries. Two of its most influential figures include:

• Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) – The founder of Buddhism (circa 5th century BC), who rejected the concept of a personal Creator God. He taught that enlightenment comes through personal effort and detachment.

• Sages of the Vedas and Upanishads – Hinduism’s foundational texts were compiled over time by Indian priests and mystics who claimed to receive divine knowledge through meditation and spirit contact.

These founders were spiritual figures who encountered “divine beings” during mystical experiences, but these beings were not the God of the Bible. Their spirituality was centered on impersonal energy forces, reincarnation, karma, and the pursuit of godhood within.

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Cultural Roots and Core Beliefs

Eastern mysticism came out of pagan and polytheistic cultures—specifically Hindu India, Buddhist Tibet, and Taoist China. These systems share overlapping themes:

• Pantheism – God is everything and everything is god.

• Reincarnation – Souls are reborn endlessly to atone for karma.

• Meditation for enlightenment – Emptying the mind to connect with cosmic consciousness.

• Gods and goddesses – Hinduism alone has millions of deities, including Shiva (the destroyer), Kali (goddess of death), and Vishnu.

• Occult practices – Chanting mantras, third-eye activation, astrology, and energy healing.

Though cloaked in serenity and balance, these beliefs replace the biblical God with spiritual counterfeits.

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Who Are Their Gods?

The gods of Eastern mysticism are not symbolic—they are spiritual entities. Scripture calls them “devils” or “demons” masquerading as gods (1 Corinthians 10:20). These include:

• Shiva – The Hindu “destroyer god” often worshipped in yoga.

• Kali – The bloodthirsty goddess of death and power.

• Buddha – Revered not as a mere teacher but as an enlightened being, whose followers venerate him in temples.

These gods receive offerings, chants, incense, and worship. In God’s eyes, this is idolatry—the worship of created beings or spirits instead of the Creator.

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Why Eastern Mysticism Opposes Christianity

1. It Denies Jesus Christ
   Eastern mysticism teaches self-realization, not salvation through Jesus. It promotes a works-based path to enlightenment, not grace through faith.

2. It Embraces Idolatry
   Worshiping or invoking any other god or spiritual entity violates the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3–5). Yoga, mantras, and meditation rituals often call on these false gods.

3. It Opens Doors to Demonic Spirits
   Engaging in Eastern practices often leads to spiritual manifestations—tingling, visions, voices, or paralysis. These are signs of demonic intrusion masquerading as “spiritual awakening.”

4. It Promotes Doctrines of Demons
   Paul warned that in the last days, people would follow “doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1), turning away from biblical truth to seductive philosophies.

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What the Bible Says

Old Testament Warnings:

• “There shall not be found among you any one that… useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch…” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

• “They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods… They sacrificed unto devils, not to God…” (Deuteronomy 32:16–17)

New Testament Truths:

• “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

• “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2) — not through mystical mind-emptying but through God’s Word.

• “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)

We are not to borrow other modalities and make it Christian. Otherwise, you are mixing.

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Real Consequences: Demonic Torment and Deception

Many ex-New Age believers report horrifying experiences after practicing yoga, kundalini awakening, or Eastern-style meditation:

• Sleep paralysis and night terrors

• Hearing voices or seeing entities

• Panic attacks, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts

• Feeling energy surges or uncontrollable movements

These are not psychological phenomena—they are signs of demonic activity. By engaging in spiritual practices rooted in idolatry and occultism, people unknowingly invite torment and bondage.

Deliverance is possible through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ—but it’s far better not to open those doors in the first place.

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Why Christians Must Stay Away

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to worship the one true God and have no fellowship with darkness. Engaging in Eastern mysticism is not just a harmless hobby—it is spiritual adultery. It opens the door for deception, oppression, and destruction.

The enemy is subtle. He packages ancient sorcery and idolatry into trendy self-help tools, yoga classes, and peaceful mantras. But Christians must stay rooted in Scripture and recognize that not every spiritual practice is of God.

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Final Warning and Encouragement

Dear Christian, guard your heart. Do not be deceived by the peaceful exterior of Eastern mysticism. Underneath is a spiritual system hostile to Christ, empowered by demonic forces, and crafted to lead souls into darkness.

If you've participated in these practices, repentance is your first step. Renounce all involvement, ask Jesus to cleanse you, and seek deliverance through prayer and spiritual support.

Only in Jesus is there true peace, truth, and eternal life.

By Teresa Morin, President of Touch of God Int'l Ministries of Healing and Deliverance.

See list of occult practices. 

If you've been involved in a new age, occult, or cult, it can invite demonic spirits to torment you. If you feel tormented, you may need deliverance.

Free Group Deliverance Online, two times a month. Learn more about the webinar and sign up quickly.

 Another Gospel? The Baha’i Faith vs. the Truth of Jesus Christ

The Baha’i Faith is a universal religion that promotes unity and peace among all people. At first glance, its message may appear noble and inclusive. However, when examined through the lens of biblical Christianity, its teachings reveal deep contradictions with the core message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

One concerning claim of the Baha’i Faith is that a person can remain a Christian while becoming a Baha’i. This idea of religious fusion appeals to those who value harmony over truth. Yet Scripture clarifies that salvation is found in Christ alone, not in a blend of spiritual philosophies. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). To dilute this truth is to reject it.

False Unity Without True Redemption

Baha'u'llah, the prophet of the Baha’i Faith, claimed to unite all humanity by gradually awakening human consciousness. But biblical Christianity teaches that only Jesus can truly unite mankind by transforming hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit and redeeming us through His death and resurrection. Real unity comes not from shared ideals, but from being born again into the Kingdom of God.

Colossians 1:13–14 states, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” This is not something that evolves in human consciousness, but a supernatural act of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

A False View of God’s Messengers

The Baha’i Faith teaches that there have been nine major "manifestations of God," including Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha'u'llah. These figures are described as sinless and equal reflections of the divine. But Scripture insists that Jesus Christ alone is sinless and uniquely God in human flesh.

“There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). To equate Jesus with other religious leaders is not honoring Him—it is blaspheming Him. Revelation 1:8 declares Jesus as Almighty God, not merely one of many spiritual guides.

A Corrupted View of Scripture

The Baha’i Faith teaches that religious texts, including the Bible, undergo a process of decay and must be replaced by new revelations from new messengers. This directly undermines the authority and eternal nature of God's Word. Psalm 119:89 affirms, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” The Bible does not need to be updated or corrected; it stands forever as the final authority.

A Misleading Afterlife and Salvation Message

Baha’is teach that the soul progresses after death based on earthly efforts, portraying Heaven and Hell as symbolic states of nearness or distance from God. This reflects Eastern mysticism and a works-based salvation.

But the Bible is clear: salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. Ephesians 2:8–9 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Christians don’t strive to earn closeness to God—they are reconciled to Him through Christ's finished work. Heaven and Hell are literal destinations, not philosophical conditions.

Is the Baha’i Faith Truly Accepting?

While Baha’is preach inclusion, their sacred writings condemn those who reject their beliefs. This contradiction reveals the true nature of the faith: it is not as open-minded or all-loving as it claims. According to Baha’i texts, those who turn away from their “Divine Love” are to be seen as degraded and doomed.

Conclusion: The Choice Is Eternal

We agree that the Baha’i Faith invites seekers to evaluate its claims for themselves. Christians should test every spirit and compare every doctrine with the unchanging Word of God. After examining the Baha’i Faith from a biblical perspective, it is evident that its teachings are incompatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You cannot be both a Baha’i and a Christian. Jesus is not one of many options; He is the only way to eternal life. Choose wisely. Your eternity depends on it.

Methods of discernment:

• Who was the founder of this modality?

• What was his/her spirituality?

• What culture did it come out of?

• What were their beliefs?

• Who is their God or gods?

Many occult practices in Christianity need to be discerned.  Another method of discernment is the Word of God. The word of God is our measuring stick. The more we read the word, know the word, and have a relationship with the Lord, the more we discern right and wrong. We perish from a lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6 declares, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.”

By Teresa Morin, President of Touch of God Int'l Ministries of Healing and Deliverance. 

See list of occult practices. 

If you've been involved in a new age, occult, or cult, it can invite demonic spirits to torment you. If you feel tormented, you may need deliverance.

Free Group Deliverance Online, two times a month. Learn more about the webinar and sign up quickly.