sandeyeThe Theory: the Eight Limbs of Yoga: 2 The Yamas and Niyamas
May 19th 2008 02:03
There are five Yamas and five Niyamas. The Yoga Sutra explains the result of practicing these moral and personal values to purify oneself. The Yamas are virtues that relate to our place within the world as a whole, whilst the Niyamas cater to our personal and internal needs.
The Yamas are:
* Ahimsa - non violence - compassion, friendliness & consideration for all living beings.
* Satya(m) - truthfulness - to speak the truth when it is right to do so, and to be silent when it is harmful to speak.
* Asteya - non-stealing - do not take what is not freely given, do not take without permission.
* Brahmacharya - moderation - abstinence or responsible use of sexual activity, control of the senses, aiming at higher truth and wisdom.
* Aparigraha - non-covetousness - take in need not greed, do not hoard, let others have their share, trust in nature/a higher being to provide.
The Niyamas are:
* Saucha - purity - inner and outer, physical and mental, cleanliness and wholesomeness.
* Santos(h)a - contentment - acceptance of what comes our way, how life moves, and karma.
* Tapas - austerity - disciplined use of energy towards positive goals, paying attention to matters relating to both our inner and outer health.
* Swadhyaya - self examination - intentional self awareness and improvement.
* Ishwarapranidhana - celebration of the divine - recognition and celebration of the spiritual divinity, acceptance of spiritual directives.
The Yamas are:
* Ahimsa - non violence - compassion, friendliness & consideration for all living beings.
* Satya(m) - truthfulness - to speak the truth when it is right to do so, and to be silent when it is harmful to speak.
* Asteya - non-stealing - do not take what is not freely given, do not take without permission.
* Aparigraha - non-covetousness - take in need not greed, do not hoard, let others have their share, trust in nature/a higher being to provide.
The Niyamas are:
* Saucha - purity - inner and outer, physical and mental, cleanliness and wholesomeness.
* Santos(h)a - contentment - acceptance of what comes our way, how life moves, and karma.
* Tapas - austerity - disciplined use of energy towards positive goals, paying attention to matters relating to both our inner and outer health.
* Swadhyaya - self examination - intentional self awareness and improvement.
* Ishwarapranidhana - celebration of the divine - recognition and celebration of the spiritual divinity, acceptance of spiritual directives.
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