Niyama
Niyama is
a set of behaviors codified
as "the observances"
in numerous scriptures including
the Shandilya and Varuha
Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika
by Gorakshanatha, the Tirumantiram
of Tirumular and the Yoga
Sutras of Patanjali. All
the above texts list ten
Niyamas, with the exception
of Patanjali's work, which
lists only five. They comprise
the "shall-do"
in our dealings with the
inner world, and Swami Vivekananda
describes them as the second
step of Raja yoga
|
| The
ten traditional Niyamas are: |
|
1 |
Hri: remorse, being modest
and showing shame for
misdeeds; |
| 2 |
Santosha:
contentment; being satisfied
with the resources at
hand - therefore not desiring
more |
| 3 |
Dana:
giving, without thought
of reward |
| 4 |
Astikya:
faith, believing firmly
in the teacher, the teachings
and the path to enlightenment |
| 5 |
Ishvarapujana:
worship of the Lord, the
cultivation of devotion
through daily worship
and meditation, the return
to the source |
| 6 |
Siddhanta
shravana: scriptural listening,
studying the teachings
and listening to the wise
of one's lineage |
| 7 |
Mati:
cognition, developing
a spiritual will and intellect
with the guru's guidance |
| 8 |
Vrata:
sacred vows, fulfilling
religious vows, rules
and observances faithfully |
| 9 |
Japa:
recitation, chanting mantras
daily |
| 10 |
Tapas:
the endurance of the opposites;
hunger and thirst, heat
and cold, standing and
sitting etc |
|
In Patanjali's
Yoga Sutras, the Niyamas are
the second limb of the eight
limbs of Raja Yoga.
They are found in the Sadhana
Pada Verse 32 as |
|
1 |
Shaucha:
in the traditional codification,
this item is listed under
Yamas; this word means
purity |
| 2 |
Santosha:
contentment |
| 3 |
Tapas:
austerity |
| 4 |
Svadhyaya:
self-study or study of
spiritual scriptures |
| 5 |
Ishvarapranidhana:
self-surrender |
|
The
Benefits of Practicing Yamas
and Niyamas: |
| The
yamas and niyamas help in
managing our energy in an
integrative manner, complementing
our outer life to our inner
development. They help us
view ourselves with compassion
and awareness. They help in
respecting the values of this
life, in balancing our inner
growth with outer restraint.
In short they help us to lead
a conscious life.
Yamas
and niyamas are not about
right and wrong. They are
about being honest with the
true Self. Living according
to these principles are about
living our lives in a better
way, about moving towards
an understanding, about making
it possible to 'connect' with
the Divine. |
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