Blog 5 : Yamas

 

 

Yamas and their complement, Niyamas, represent a series of ‘right living’ or ethical rules within Hinduism and Yoga. It means ‘reining in’ or ‘control’. These are restraints for proper conduct as given in the Veda. They are a form of moral imperatives, commandments, rules or goals. The Yamas are the ‘don’t do these’ list of self-restraints, typically representing commitments that affect one’s relations with others and self. The complementary Niyamas represent the ‘do these’ list of observances, and together Yamas and Niyamas are personal obligations to live well. Maharishi Patanjali considered the Yamas the great, mighty and universal vows. He instructs us that they should be practiced on all levels (actions, words and thoughts) and that they are not confined to class, place, time or concept of duty (Yoga Sutra 2.31).

 

   The Five Yamas Of Yoga :

 

1.   Ahimsa

          The word Ahimsa is made up of the particle ‘a’ meaning ‘not’ and the noun ‘himsa’ meaning ‘killing or violence’. It is more than a negative command not to kill, for it has a wider positive meaning, love. This love embraces all creation for we are all children of the same Father - The Lord. The yogi believes that to kill or to destroy a thing or bring is to insult its Creator. The yogi believes that every creature has as much right to live as he has. The yogi opposes the evil in the wrong-doer, but not the wrong-doer. For a wrong done by others, men demands justice; while for that done by themselves they plead mercy and forgiveness. The yogi on the other hand, believes that for a wrong done by himself, there should be justice, while for that done by another there should be forgiveness.

 

2.   Satya

          Satya or truth is the highest rule of conduct or morality. Mahatma Gandhi said : ‘Truth is God and God is Truth’. If the mind thinks thoughts of truth, if the tongue speaks words of truth and if the whole life is based upon truth, then one becomes fit for union with the Infinite. When one who is established in truth prays with a pure heart, then things he really needs come to him when they are really needed, he does not have to run after them. The man firmly established in truth gets the fruit of his actions without apparently doing anything. God, the source of all truth, supplies his needs and looks after his welfare.

 

3.   Asteya

          The desire to possess and enjoy what another man has, drives a person to do evil deeds. From this desire spring the urge to steal and the urge to covet. ‘A’ meaning ‘not’ and ‘steya’ meaning ‘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. It thus includes misappropriation, breach of trust, mismanagement and misuse. The yogi reduces his physical needs to the minimum, believing that if he gathers things he does not really need, he is a thief. While other men crave for wealth, power, fame or enjoyment, the yogi has one craving and that is to adore the Lord. He who obeys the commandment Thou Shalt Not Steal, becomes a trusted repository of all treasures.

 

4.   Brahmacharya

          According to the dictationary, Brahmacharya means the life of celibacy, religious study and self-restraint. The concept of Brahmacharya is not one of negation, forced austerity and prohibition. According to Sankaracharya, a brahmachari is a man who is engrossed in the study of all sacred Vedic lore, constantly moves in Brahman and knows that all exists in Brahman. In other words, one who sees divinity in all is a brahmachari. When one is established in brahmacharya, one develops a fund of vitality and energy, a courageous mind and a powerful intellect so that one can fight any type of injustice. Brahmacharya is the battery that sparks the torch of wisdom.

 

5.   Aparigraha

          Parigraha means hoarding or collecting. To be free from hoarding is Aprigraha. It is thus but another facet of Asteya (non-stealing). Just as one should not take things one does not really need, so one should not hoard or collect things one does not require immediately. Neither one should take anything without working for it or as a favour from another, for this indicates poverty of spirit. 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. By the observance of aprigraha, the yogi makes his life as simple as possible and trains his mind not to feel the loss or the lack of anything.

         

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