sensitive medical issues, and ahimsa—

nonhurtfulness in thought, word and deed

(A council of renunciate Hindu leaders gathered to discuss current ethical

and religious issues in light of dharmic principles at the Kumbha Mela of

2004 in Ujjain at the camp of Maharishi Sarkhani Ji Maharaj )

(Twenty Keys for Spiritual Living in Contemporary Times)

How often do you see a professional team

of people misbehave on the job? You’re on a flight

from San Francisco to Singapore. Do the flight attendants

bicker in the aisle? Of course not. People

at this level of business have control of their minds and emotions.

If they didn’t, they would soon be replaced. When they

are on the job, at least, they follow a code of conduct spelled

out in detail by the corporation. It’s not unlike the moral

code of any religion, outlining sound ethics for respect and

harmony among humans. Those seeking to be successful in

life strive to fulfill a moral code whether “on the job” or off.

Does Hinduism and its scriptures on yoga have such a code?

Yes: twenty ethical guidelines called yamas and niyamas, “restraints

and observances.” These “do’s” and “don’ts” are found

in the 6,000 to 8,000-year-old Vedas, mankind’s oldest body of

scripture, and in other holy texts expounding the path of yoga.

The yamas and niyamas are a common-sense code recorded

in the final section of the Vedas, called Upanishads,

namely the Shandilya and the Varuha.

They are

also found in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika

by Gorakshanatha,

the Tirumantiram of Tirumular and in the Yoga

Sutras of Patanjali.

The yamas and niyamas have been

preserved through the centuries as the foundation, the

first and second stage, of the eight-staged practice of yoga.

Yet, they are fundamental to all beings, expected aims of

everyone in society, and assumed to be fully intact for anyone

seeking life’s highest aim in the pursuit called yoga.

Sage Patanjali (ca 200 bce), raja yoga’s foremost propounder,

told us, “These yamas are not limited by class,

country, time (past, present or future) or situation. Hence

they are called the universal great vows.” Yogic scholar

Swami Brahmananda Saraswati

revealed the inner science

of yama and niyama. They are the means, he said, to control

the vitarkas, the cruel mental waves or thoughts, that

when acted upon result in injury to others, untruthfulness,

hoarding, discontent, indolence or selfishness. He stated,

“For each vitarka you have, you can create its opposite

through yama and niyama, and make your life successful.”

The following paragraphs, with accompanying illustrations

by A. Manivel of Chennai, elucidate the yamas and niyamas.

Presented first are the ten yamas, the do not’s, which

harness the instinctive nature, with its governing impulses

of fear, anger, jealousy, selfishness, greed and lust. Second

are illustrated the ten niyamas,

the do’s, the religious observances

that cultivate and bring forth the refined soul qualities,

lifting awareness into the consciousness of the higher

chakras of love, compassion, selflessness, intelligence and

bliss. Together the yamas and niyamas provide the foundation

to support our yoga practice so that attainments in

higher consciousness can be sustained.

The Ten Vedic Restraints, Yama

1. Noninjury, Ahimsa

Practice noninjury, not harming others by thought,

word or deed, even in your dreams. Live a kindly

life, revering all beings as expressions of the One

Divine energy. Let go of fear and insecurity, the

sources of abuse. Knowing that harm caused to

others unfailingly returns to oneself, live peacefully

with God’s creation. Never be a source of

dread, pain or injury. Follow a vegetarian diet

2. Truthfulness, Satya

Adhere to truthfulness, refraining from lying and

betraying promises. Speak only that which is true,

kind, helpful and necessary. Knowing that deception

creates distance, don’t keep secrets from family or loved

ones. Be fair, accurate and frank in discussions, a

stranger to deceit. Admit your failings. Do not engage

in slander, gossip or backbiting. Do not bear false

witness against another.

3. Nonstealing, Asteya

Uphold the virtue of nonstealing, neither thieving,

coveting nor failing to repay debt. Control your

desires and live within your means. Do not use

borrowed resources for unintended purposes or

keep them past due. Do not gamble or defraud

others. Do not renege on promises. Do not use

others’ names, words, resources or rights without

permission and acknowledgement

4. Divine Conduct, Brahmacharya

Practice divine conduct, controlling lust by remaining

celibate when single and faithful in marriage.

Before marriage, use vital energies in study, and after

marriage in creating family success. Don’t waste

the sacred force by promiscuity in thought, word

or deed. Be restrained with the opposite sex. Seek

holy company. Dress and speak modestly. Shun

pornography, sexual humor and violence.

5. Patience, Kshama

Exercise patience, restraining intolerance with people

and impatience with circumstances. Be agreeable.

Let others behave according to their nature,

without adjusting to you. Don’t argue, dominate

conversations or interrupt others. Don’t be in a hurry.

Be patient with children and the elderly. Minimize

stress by keeping worries at bay. Remain poised

in good times and bad.

6. Steadfastness, Dhriti

Foster steadfastness, overcoming nonperseverance,

fear, indecision and changeableness. Achieve

your goals with a prayer, purpose, plan, persistence

and push. Be firm in your decisions. Avoid sloth and

procrastination. Develop willpower, courage and

industriousness. Overcome obstacles. Never carp or

complain. Do not let opposition or fear of failure result

in changing strategies.

7. Compassion, Daya

Practice compassion, conquering callous, cruel

and insensitive feelings toward all beings. See God

everywhere. Be kind to people, animals, plants and

the Earth itself. Forgive those who apologize and

show true remorse. Foster sympathy for others’ needs

and suffering. Honor and assist those who are weak,

impoverished, aged or in pain. Oppose family

abuse and other cruelties.

8. Honesty, Arjava

Maintain honesty, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.

Act honorably even in hard times. Obey the

laws of your nation and locale. Pay your taxes. Be

straightforward in business. Do an honest day’s

work. Do not bribe or accept bribes. Do not cheat,

deceive or circumvent to achieve an end. Be frank

with yourself. Face and accept your faults without

blaming them on others.

9. Moderate Appetite, Mitahara

neither eating too much nor consuming meat, fish,

shellfish, fowl or eggs. Enjoy fresh, wholesome

vegetarian foods that vitalize the body. Avoid junk

food. Drink in moderation. Eat at regular times, only

when hungry, at a moderate pace, never between

meals, in a disturbed atmosphere or when upset.

Follow a simple diet, avoiding rich or fancy fare.

10. Purity, Saucha

Uphold the ethic of purity, avoiding impurity in mind,

body and speech. Maintain a clean, healthy body.

Keep a pure, uncluttered home and workplace. Act

virtuously. Keep good company, never mixing

with adulterers, thieves or other impure people. Keep

away from pornography and violence. Never use

harsh, angered or indecent language. Worship

devoutly. Meditate daily.

 

(The Blog  is reverently for all the seekers of truth, lovers of wisdom and   to sharethe Hindu Dharma with others on the spiritual path and also this is purely  a non-commercial)