YAMA AND NIYAMA
Basic Tenets for a Spiritual Life

 

YAMA - Avoidances in Spiritual Life

 

AHIMSA - Non-violence

 

Ahimsa is the principle of non-injury to others. The spirit of Ahimsa is one in which a person will not intentionally inflict pain or suffering upon another. All of the practices of Yama and Niyama very much rely, not only on the actions of a person, but on the intent of a person. To truly practice these principles, one must practice from the intent.

 

SATYA - Benevolent Truthfulness

 

Satya means to think and speak for the welfare of all living beings. It is the right use and meaning of words. It is to use words in such a way that they enhance the welfare of living beings. So, if one is following Satya, once again, the mind is directed towards loving thoughts for all beings and words are used with the intent of love and compassion. In this way, some insight is gained into the nature of truth.

 

ASTEYA - Non-stealing

 

Asteya is non-stealing. Not in thought, not in word, not in deed may one steal from another. Also, not only the act of stealing, or the thought of stealing, but the thought of depriving another of what is due to them by not doing an act is also stealing.

 

BRAHMACARYA - Divine Perception

 

This means to see everything in this universe as the manifestation of the Divine. It is to see everything as the Infinite and to not become involved in passions which direct the mind away from the Infinite Entity. All the passions of the mind should be directed towards the Infinite Being.

 

APARIGRAHA - Simplicity

 

The final practice of Yama is Aparigraha. That is, not to accumulate beyond ones' needs. Simply have what you need, do not accumulate, accumulate, accumulate material objects. If this is done, the mind becomes engrossed in material objects. Have what you need, take what you need for your own self, for your own family, for your basic wants, but do not accumulate beyond your needs. It only leaves the mind cluttered.

 

NIYAMA - Essential Practices of Spiritual Life

 

SHAOCA - Purity

 

In the practice of Shaoca, purity of mind is the goal. It is to clean the mind of all dirt which may clutter the mind so that perception of the Infinite is possible. In this purification of mind, like the cleaning of the window, there are specific actions which may be taken to make the mind pure. First of all, mind has many layers. The outermost layer of the mind is the physical body that resides in the physical world. Therefore you must purify the body as well as the conscious mind and the subconscious mind.

 

SANTOS'A - Equanimity

 

Now, this peace of mind, this equanimity of mind, this contentment is developed by concentration upon the Great. If the mind surges in this desire and in that desire, then all contentment, all equanimity, all peace is lost.

 

TAPAS - Actions based on Selfless Love

 

Tapas is selfless service to others. If one is to do Tapas, one must serve another with a pure heart, with no motive whatsoever for oneself. You merely seek to improve the life of another, to aid the welfare of the society, to give to others what is their due and what is their need so that they may have a better life, so that they may be happy, so that they may know infinite love. You give selflessly, and when you do this something happens over time. There comes a purity of mind, a contentment and a feeling of compassion, of infinite love for all beings. Tapas is both the tool to develop this compassion and also the expression of this compassion. It is both.

 

SVA'DHYA'YA - Knowledge of Reality

 

Sva'dhya'ya is to gain knowledge of reality, knowledge of the underlying consciousness which is quiescent in all of existence. It is to comprehend the nature of consciousness, the nature of one's own existence, and the nature of this manifest universe.

 

IISHVARA PRAN'IDHA'NA - Remembrance of God

 

Iishvara Pran'idha'na means that you are focusing all of your concentration upon the controlling point of this entire universe. It is through the practice of Iishvara Pran'idha'na that Sva'dhya'ya comes in the mind and that all of the practices of Yama and Niyama become possible. Without the practice of Iishvara Pran'idha'na, none of the other practices will be possible to do properly.

 

Copyright 2009 Ananda Seva Mission