Yama |
A
yama (Sanskrit), literally
a "restraint", is
a rule or code of conduct
for living virtuously. The
yamas comprise the "shall-nots"
in our dealings with the external
world.
Ten
Yamas are codified as "the
restraints" in numerous
scriptures including the Shandilya
and Varaha Upanishads, the
Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Gorakshanatha,
and the Tirumantiram of Tirumular.
Patañjali lists only
five yamas in his Yoga Sutras.
|
| Ten Traditional
yamas |
|
1 |
Ahimsa:
abstinence from injury,
harmlessness, the not
causing of pain to any
living creature in thought,
word, or deed at any time.
This is the "main"
yama. The other nine are
there in support of its
accomplishment. |
| 2 |
Satya:
truthfulness, word and
thought in conformity
with the facts |
| 3 |
Asteya:
non-stealing, non-coveting,
non-entering into debt. |
| 4 |
Brahmacharya:
divine conduct, continence,
celibate when single,
faithful when married. |
| 5 |
Kshama:
patience, releasing time,
functioning in the now. |
| 6 |
Dhriti:
steadfastness, overcoming
non-perseverance, fear,
and indecision; seeing
each task through to completion |
| 7 |
Daya:
compassion; conquering
callous, cruel and insensitive
feelings toward all beings. |
| 8 |
Arjava:
honesty, straightforwardness,
renouncing deception and
wrongdoing |
| 9 |
Mitahara:
moderate appetite, neither
eating too much nor to
little; nor consuming
meat, fish, shellfish,
fowl or eggs |
| 10 |
Shaucha:
purity, avoidance of impurity
in body, mind and speech.
(Note: Patanjali's Yoga
Sutras list Shaucha as
the first of the Niyamas.) |
|
| Five yamas
of Patañjali |
| 1 |
Ahimsa |
4 |
Brahmacharya |
| 2 |
Satya |
5 |
Aparigraha |
| 3 |
Asteya |
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Ahimsa |
Ahimsa
is a religious concept which
advocates non-violence and
a respect for all life. Ahimsa
(?????? ahi?sa) is Sanskrit
for avoidance of himsa, or
injury. It is most often interpreted
as meaning peace and reverence
toward all sentient beings.
Ahimsa is an important doctrine
of Hinduism, Jainism, and
Buddhism. Its first mention
in Indian philosophy is found
in the Hindu scriptures called
the Upanishads, the oldest
of which date to about 800
BCE
Ahimsa
was introduced to the West
by the Mahatma Gandhi. Inspired
by his actions, Western civil
rights movements, led by such
people as Martin Luther King
Jr., engaged in non-violent
protests. The more recent
popularity of yoga and meditation
in the West has also served
to introduce many westerners
to ahimsa and other Indian
philosophical concepts. Nonviolent
Communication, developed by
Dr. Marshall Rosenberg and
practiced and taught around
the world, is inspired by
Gandhi's example .top |
Satya |
Satya
is a Sanskrit word that loosely
translates into English as
"truth" or "correct."
It is a term of power due
to its purity and meaning
and has become the emblem
of many peaceful social movements,
particularly those centered
on social justice, environmentalism
and vegetarianism
.top |
Asteya |
| Asteya is a
Sanskrit word meaning "avoidance
of stealing" or "non-stealing".
In Jainism, it is one of the
five vows that all sravakas
and shravikas as well as sadhus
and sadhvis must take. .top |
Brahmacharya |
Brahmacharya
is a Sanskrit word. "Brahma"
signifies Brahman —
The Ultimate Reality or The
Unified Whole. The root "Char"
means To follow or practice.
Thus the word Brahmacharya
signifies a life that is led
in quest of the personal realisation
of Brahman. Traditionally,
such a life involved going
to live with a spiritual teacher
under whom the brahmacari
or chela (student) practised
strict celibacy, a life of
moral restraint and devotion
to meditation. Though part
of the Hindu scheme of life
it is also central to the
sramanic traditions of Buddhism
and Jainism. .top |
Daya
|
| Daya or Compassion
is a fundamental teaching of
the Sikh religion. The other
four qualities in the arsenal
are: Truth (Sat), Contentment
(Santokh), Humility (Nimrata)
and Love (Pyare). These five
qualities are essential to a
Sikh and it is their duty to
meditate and recite the Gurbani
so that these virtues become
a part of their mind. .top |
| 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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