Who are WE to condemn Kanye West? A Yogic perspective

When I first published this blog, some people found it offensive to the Jewish community. They believed I was condoning Kanye West’s controversial statements about Jewish people. My initial reaction was disbelief—clearly, they hadn’t actually read the blog and had instead leapt to conclusions. Ironically, this reaction encapsulates the entire theme of the blog: how often we judge, condemn, and alienate those who disagree with us without truly understanding them.

To clarify, this blog was never about agreeing with Kanye West or defending his remarks. It’s not anti-Jewish, nor does it condone hatred of any kind. One of my dearest friends is Jewish, and he appreciated the message of the blog. The subject isn’t Kanye West or anyone specific; it’s about us. From a yogic perspective, I pose a simple yet profound question: Who are we to condemn anyone?

Here is the previous blog in its entirety -

During the last yoga teacher training, a surprising theme emerged: Kanye West. It started lightheartedly—perhaps with my mentioning my favorite pair of sneakers (Adidas Yeezys) or "the world’s most comfortable hoodie" (Gap x Yeezy). At some point, the conversation deepened. While discussing introspection—examining our own thoughts and feelings—I asked the class, "Who are we to condemn Kanye West?"

It wasn’t really about Kanye; his name was interchangeable. Someone even suggested Donald Trump. The exercise aimed to make us ponder: do we merely echo cancel culture, blindly agreeing with narratives that call for condemnation? Or can we, as spiritual seekers, take the time to understand before we judge? By understanding others—be they Kanye or anyone else—we learn about ourselves.

This doesn’t mean agreeing with everything someone says or does. It means evolving as individuals by seeking to understand the humanity behind the headlines.

On another note, our modern cancel culture doesn't foster healthy human development. It is absolutely toxic, as it induces us to suppress our views and authenticity out of fear of backlash. However, that's a rant for another blog.

The Yogic Perspective: What Is the Mind?

In yoga, the goal is to still the mind, as Patanjali defines in the Yoga Sutras. But what is the mind? Carl Jung famously said, “Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”

The mind is like a restless traveler, swinging between past memories and future imaginings. Rarely is it present. Yoga teaches us to transcend this restless state and center ourselves. However, trying to “still” the mind directly is nearly impossible. The mind is too elusive. Instead, we outsmart it by embarking on a journey of self-discovery—seeking to understand our behaviors, judgments, and moral compass.

Judgment and Forgiveness

Understanding others often begins with examining our own judgments. I shared a personal story about being bullied as a child. For years, I believed I’d never forgive the person who hurt me. Decades later, I found myself on good terms with them—not because I consciously forgave them, but because I sought to understand their behavior. What drives someone to become a bully? Through understanding, I moved past resentment. I realized forgiveness wasn’t necessary because I no longer needed it.

Similarly, when we claim to forgive others, it’s often more about feeding our egos. True spiritual growth transcends forgiveness. When we truly understand someone, compassion arises naturally, and the need for forgiveness fades.

"Try to understand men. If you understand each other, you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and almost always leads to love." - John Steinbeck

Applying This to Kanye West

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: Kanye West. Someone once told me, "I could never forgive Kanye West." Their parents were Jewish, and they couldn’t accept his comments. I empathized but asked them, "Who are we to forgive Kanye West—or anyone, for that matter?"

Condemnation is easy; understanding takes effort. Kanye’s rants may be abrasive, but beneath them lies a man grappling with loss, control, and family struggles. His story offers lessons—not about excusing behavior but about cultivating empathy. By striving to understand him, we learn about ourselves: our biases, our capacity for compassion, and our spiritual potential.

Einstein once said, “Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” 

Self-Understanding and Growth

This journey of understanding others often mirrors our journey to understand ourselves. For instance, I know someone who continually repeats toxic patterns, unable to forgive themselves or move forward. They make choices that seem like subconscious self-punishment. Through introspection, we can break these cycles—cultivating self-compassion and, by extension, compassion for others.

Kindness toward ourselves and others is intertwined. By committing to understanding others, even those we dislike, we uncover shared humanity and foster growth.

Final Thoughts

When someone says, "I could never forgive Kanye West," I understand. But as a fellow work-in-progress, I ask: Who are we to forgive—or condemn—anyone? Choosing understanding over judgment teaches us not only about others but about ourselves. As Kanye West once said, “Everything I’m not, made me everything I am.”

In yoga, this is perhaps the most transformative lesson: understanding leads to compassion, which leads to growth. And personal growth is the essence of yoga.

Zahir Akram – Eternal Seeker

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