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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: yama niyama asana pranayama pratyahara dharana
dhyana samadhi. 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."
These terms are translated as effort and relaxation or exertion and
rest. This stage consists in mastering fundamental ethic and psychohygienic rules of a spiritual seekers life.
"When a yogin becomes qualified by practicing Yama and
Niyama, then the yogin can proceed to asana and the other
means."
Yoga Bhashya Vivarana (II.29)
Table of Contents
The Ten Yamas and Ten Niyamas
YAMAS The 10 Vedic Restraints
YAMA 1 Ahimsa, Non-harming
YAMA 2 Satya, Truthfulness
YAMA 3 Asteya, Nonstealing
YAMA 4 Brahmacharya, Divine Conduct
YAMA 5 Kshama, Patience
YAMA 6 Dhriti, Steadfastness
YAMA 7 Daya, Compassion
YAMA 8 Arjava, Honesty
YAMA 9 Mitahara, Moderate Appetite
YAMA 10 Shauca, Purity
NIYAMAS The 10 Vedic Observances
NIYAMA 1 Hri, Remorse
NIYAMA 2 Santosha, Contentment
NIYAMA 3 Dana, Giving
NIYAMA 4 Astikya, Faith
NIYAMA 5 Ishvarapujana, Worship
NIYAMA 6 Siddhanta Shravana, Scriptural Listening
NIYAMA 7 Mati, Cognition
NIYAMA 8 Vrata, Sacred Vows
NIYAMA 9 Japa, Recitation
NIYAMA 10 Tapas, Austerity
Description
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 Pra dipika by
Gorakshanatha, the Tirumantiram of Tirumular and in the Yoga Sutras
of |Sage Patanjali.
Traditionally, ten yamas and ten niyamas are found mentioned in texts
such as Trishikhibrahmanopanishad (Mantra part), Darshanopanishad,
and Yoga Yajnyavalkya. In other authoritative texts like the Yoga Sutra,
Vishnu Purana only five yamas and five niyamas have been mentioned.
On the whole, the yamas may be said to have greater importance. As
explained in the Manusmriti:
"one must always follow the yamas without any exception; one
gets ruined if he follows the niyamas alone, ignoring the
yamas."
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.
Patanjali does not suggest that we live according to the yamas and
niyamas in order to be good people or to obey God. His moral code
describes the qualities we need in order to reach the goal of yoga: to still
the fluctuations of the mind and rest in our true nature. A mind filled
with love, truth and generosity is a mind that can become quiet: no
fights, no guilt and no neediness.
To live the yamas and niyamas also demands a radical deepening of
commitment. The focus moves from our actions to our thoughts, which,
after all, generate actions.
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