As, I wrote earlier aparigraha is one of my favourite yamas lately. Aparigraha is linked with santosa, logically I consider santosa as one of my favourite niyamas. Santosa can be translated into contentment of life the way it is. It involves a state of self-acceptance and understanding that wherever you are that is where you […]
Aparigraha or abstention from greed is one of my favourite yamas lately. You can translate it into avoidance of unnecessary acquisition of objects not essential to maintaining life or spiritual study. The following quote summarizes this yama for me: “living simple so that others can live simple”. You can relate not practising this yama with
Brachmacharya can be translated into restraint, control of the senses or celibacy. Although, the literally definition is ‘being established in divine consciousness’. That sounds like a challenge to me. So what does brachmacharya mean for your daily life? The translation ‘control of the senses’ appeals to me the most. Originally celibacy was considered an important
The third yama asteya means non-stealing. Like the first two yama’s, this yama seems pretty self-explanatory at first sight. However, again you can incorporate this yama into your daily life at a much deeper level. Have you ever thought of hoarding as a form of stealing? Or the desire to have more material stuff, since
Google satya and you will find lots of Indian restaurants and a movie. If you include truthfullness in your search, you will come closer to the meaning of the second yama. Satya is the sanskrit word for truth. The practise of satya goes way beyond not lying. It includes being truthful and honest with ourselves,
The first yama ahimsa, is usually translated as ‘non-violence’. It refers not only to physical violence, but also to the violence of words or thoughts. For me, the violence of words or thoughts is not as obvious and clear as physical violence. It makes me think; which of my thoughts or words are harmful? I
The Yamas & Niyamas are the the do’s and don’ts or the ethical disciplines and comprise the first two limbs of Yoga’s eight-fold path. They are the foundation of skilful living. Yama tells us what to avoid doing because it would do harm to the individual and that of society. ‘Yama’ is usually translated as
