The art and science of yoga
is dedicated to creating union between body, mind and spirit. Its objective
is to assist the practitioner in using the breath and body to foster an
awareness of ourselves as individualized beings intimately connected to the
unified whole of creation. In
short it is about creating balance and equanimity so as to live in peace,
good health and harmony with the greater whole.
This art of right living was perfected and practiced in
India
thousands of years ago and the foundations of yoga philosophy were written
down in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, approximately 200 AD.
This sacred text describes the inner workings of the mind and
provides a blueprint for controlling its restlessness so as to enjoying
lasting peace.
The
first two limbs of the philosophical yogic tree that Patanjali describes are
the fundamental ethical precepts called the yamas,
and the niyamas. These can also be looked at as guidelines of universal
morality and personal observances.
The Yamas and niyamas
are suggestions of how we should deal with people around us and how we
can optimally shape our attitude and behavior. The attitude we have toward
people and things outside ourselves are the yamas,
how we relate to ourselves inwardly are the niyamas
(pronounced nee yamas).
Both are mostly concerned with how we use our energy in relationship
to others and to ourselves.
Yamas
(Moral Disciplines and Restraints)
The
yamas are broken down into five
“wise characteristics.” Rather
than a list of dos and don’ts, they tell us that our fundamental nature is
compassionate, generous, honest and peaceful. They are the moral virtues
which, if attended to, purify human nature and contribute to health and
happiness of society.
Ahimsa:
Nonviolence
~ Non-harming
~ Compassion for all
living things
The word ahimsa literally mean not
to injure or show cruelty to any creature or any person in any way
whatsoever. Ahimsa is, however, more than just lack of violence as adapted
in yoga. It means kindness, friendliness, and thoughtful consideration of
other people and things. It also has to do with our duties and
responsibilities too. Ahimsa implies that in every situation we should adopt
a considerate attitude and do no harm.
Satya:
Commitment
to Truthfulness ~
Being sincere, considerate, genuine and honest ~ Commitment to
Truthfulness
Satya means "to speak the
truth," yet it is not always desirable to speak the truth on all
occasions, for it could harm someone unnecessarily. We have to consider what
we say, how we say it, and in what way it could affect others. If speaking
the truth has negative consequences for another, then it is better to say
nothing. Satya should never come into conflict with our efforts to behave
with ahimsa. This precept is based on the understanding that honest
communication and action form the bedrock of any healthy relationship,
community, or government, and that deliberate deception, exaggerations, and
mistruths harm others.
Asteya:
Non-stealing ~
Not taking anything that hasn’t been given freely ~ Honoring
other’s trust in us
Steya
means "to steal"; asteya is the opposite-to take nothing that does
not belong to us. This also means that if we are in a situation where
someone entrusts something to us or confides in us, we do not take advantage
of him or her. Non-stealing includes not only taking what belongs to another
without permission, but also using something for a different purpose to that
intended, or beyond the time permitted by its owner. The
practice of asteya implies not taking anything that has not been freely
given. This includes fostering a consciousness of how we ask for others’
time for inconsiderate behavior demanding another’s attention when not
freely given is, in effect, stealing.
Brahmacharya:
Moderation and self-control in
sex and the senses ~
Resistance to seduction ~ To be beyond reactivity
Brahmacharya
is used mostly in the sense of abstinence, particularly in relationship to
sexual activity. Brahmacharya suggests that we should form relationships
that foster our understanding of the highest truths. Brahmacharya does not
necessarily imply celibacy. Rather, it means responsible behavior with
respect to our goal of moving toward the truth. Practicing brahmacharya
means that we use our sexual energy to regenerate our connection to our
spiritual self. It also means that we don’t use this energy in any way
that might harm others.
Aparigraha:
Non-grasping ~
Not being greedy ~
Letting go of our attachments to things ~ Neutralizing the desire to
acquire and hoard wealth
Aparigraha
means to take only what is necessary, and not to take advantage of a
situation or act greedy. We should only take what we have earned; if we take
more, we are exploiting someone else. The yogi feels that the collection or
hoarding of things implies a lack of faith in God and in himself to provide
for his future. Aparigraha also
implies letting go of our attachments to things and an understanding that
impermanence and change are the only constants.
Niyamas
(Disciplines
of Self-restraint and Personal Observances)
Niyama
means “rules” or “laws”. These are the rules prescribed for personal
observance. Like the yamas, the
five niyamas are not exercises or
actions to be simply studied. They represent far more than an attitude.
Compared with the yamas, the niyamas are more intimate and personal. They refer to the attitude
we adopt toward ourselves as we create a code for living soulfully
Sauca:
Purity of body and mind
The
first niyama is sauca, meaning purity and cleanliness. Sauca has both an inner and
an outer aspect. Outer cleanliness simply means keeping ourselves clean and
our lives orderly and unclutterd. Inner cleanliness has as much to do with
the healthy, free functioning of our bodily organs as with the clarity of
our mind. Practicing asanas (yoga
postures) or pranayama (using the
breathe to strengthen the flow of life force/prana)
are essential means for attending to this inner sauca. Asanas tone the entire body and remove toxins while pranayama
cleanses our lungs, oxygenates our blood and purifies our nerves. But
more important than the physical cleansing of the body is the cleansing of
the mind of its disturbing emotions like hatred, passion, anger, lust,
greed, delusion and pride. When
we clear the clutter from our personal environment and our mind we are more
able to remain focused on the higher aspects of living consciously; we are
less distracted by outside stimulations that take us away from being
centered and grounded in our loving nature.
Santosa:
Modesty ~
Contentment with what we have ~
Acceptance that there is a purpose for everything
Santosa
is having a sense of modesty and the feeling of being content with what we
have. To be at peace within comes from fostering contentment with one's
life, even while experiencing its challenges.
When we accept that life is a process for growth all of the
circumstances and experiences we create for ourselves become valid teachers
and vehicles for expressing our highest nature. Accepting that there is a
purpose for everything - yoga calls it karma – we can cultivate contentment and compassion, for ourselves
and for others. Santosa means being
happy with what we have rather than being unhappy about what we don't have.
Tapas:
Disciplined use of our energy ~
Burning desire to reach self-realization
Tapas
refers to the burning enthusiasm to learn and understand how all facets of
our life are tools for self-realization. Literally it means to heat the body
and, by so doing, to cleanse it. Behind the notion of tapas
lies the idea we can direct our energy to enthusiastically engage life and
achieve our ultimate goal of creating union with the Divine. Tapas
helps us burn up all the desires that stand in our way of this goal.
Another form of tapas is paying attention to body posture, eating habits, breathing
patterns, and generally honoring the body as the vehicle that contains our
life force and makes our human existence possible.
Svadhyaya:
Self study and observation ~ Cultivating
self-reflective consciousness
The
fourth niyama is svadhyaya. Sva means
“self” adhyaya means
"inquiry" or "examination". Any activity that cultivates
self-reflective consciousness can be considered svadhyaya. It means to intentionally find self-awareness in all our
activities and efforts, even to the point of welcoming and accepting our
limitations. It teaches us to be centered and non-reactive to the dualities
of being both human and spirit at the same time, to burn out unwanted and
self-destructive tendencies so we can live in balance with all aspects of
our being.
Isvarapranidhana:
Celebration of the Spiritual within us and all things ~ Concentration
on and surrender to divine flow
Isvarapranidhana means "to lay all your actions at the feet of
God." It is the
contemplation on God (Isvara) in
order to become attuned to the natural expression of love and heartfulness
in all our relations. It is the recognition that spirituality suffuses
everything, that through our attention and care we can attune ourselves with
our role as part of the Creator and see the good in all things. The practice
requires that we set aside some time each day to recognize that there is
some omnipresent force larger than ourselves that is guiding and directing
the course of our lives. When we
adopt this practice we make internal space for comprehending the complex and
pervasive working of divine expression in everything around us.