From the beginning I’ve valued the cause and effect principles in yoga philosophy and yogic world view. A refreshing difference from an emphasis on belief, cause and effect principles simply explain the mechanics of the world. Do x and reap y.
Recently heard a lecture by Carrie Meyer on Subtle Anatomy.
Her simple statement was striking, and rings true: “To go against the yamas and niyamas creates impurities in the body-mind.”
My paraphrase: Trying to act as if the yamas and niyamas don’t apply to you, baby? You're just making your life difficult.
Worth pondering.
From Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the yamas
| Ahiṃsā | nonviolence, non-harming other living beings |
Satya
|
truthfulness, non-falsehood
|
Asteya
|
non-stealing, integrity
|
Brahmacārya
|
celibacy, loyalty to one's partner
|
Aparigraha
|
non-avarice, non-possessiveness, non-attachment |
The niyamas
Śauca
|
simplicity, clarity of mind, speech and body |
Santoṣa
|
contentment, acceptance of others, acceptance of one's circumstances as they are in order to get past or change them, optimism for self |
Tapas
|
persistence and perseverance in search of the goal
|
Svādhyāya
|
study of collected wisdom, study of self, self-reflection, introspection of one's own thoughts, speech and actions |
Īśvarapraṇidhāna
|
contemplation of and surrender to the Ishvara (God, Supreme Being, Brahman, True Self, Unchanging Reality) |
• • • • •
As far as I know, which isn't much, all spiritual traditions have some kind of code of ethics or commandments to live a virtuous life. And all claim some kind of belief in a higher power, which is just another way of saying the same thing - that you, as an individual, are not the center of the world. Big families can also teach us that. :)
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