Learning from the Yoga Sutras

Springtime brings with it a new awakening, leaving the dark days of Winter behind us. Especially since we can now enjoy meeting friends and family again.

The long, lonely walks and endless television are now behind us. We can look forward to enjoying once more, our normal routines, such as going to the gym or Yoga classes. We can feel a wonderful sense of joy and freedom, with a taste of what our future holds for us.

With a new knowledge that we have gained throughout lockdown we may start to live our lives differently, taking wisdom from Patanjali as a new way forward.

The life history of Patanjali is full of legends and contradictions regarding his birth. He wrote the Yoga Sutra believed to be about 2000 years ago.

So what are the Yoga Sutras?

The Yoga Sutras are a manual of 195 aphorisms, simply translated as words of wisdom. These sutras have been passed through the centuries and are still relevant today.

Yoga is an art, a science and a philosophy that touches our lives at every level, physically, spiritually and intellectually. All Yoga practiced today is based on the Yoga Sutras.

The self-awareness you gain by practicing the five Yamas can help you transform negative energy and cultivate a deep, abiding sense of peace.

Ahimsa- Kindness

The word Ahimsa means not to injure or show cruelty to any living creature or person, to show kindness, friendliness and thoughtful consideration of other people and things. It has to do with our duties and responsibilities too. Ahimsa means that in every situation we should adopt a considerate attitude. In daily life, practice being more kind, accepting, and forgiving of yourself and others. According to the sages, when Ahimsa is fully embraced, an inner confidence emerges, that is deep seated and surprisingly powerful.

Reflection:

• What happens when you are on your Yoga mat, are you considerate of yourself being in the moment and not pushing yourself to a point where you may harm yourself?
• In daily life are we kind to the planet in the way we live our life, just throwing away a plastic bag could do harm to an innocent animal who may choke on it.
• Look in more detail, do I bring damage to my family by cross words or bad moods?
• What about violence to yourself, do you chastise yourself, criticise yourself?
• Do you get angry, irritated or agitated which can result in violence to others in the workplace or in the service industry?
• Once we become aware of our own violence, we can then start to offer kindness which is the opposite of violence.

Satya - Truthfulness

Satya means to speak the truth, however, it is not always desirable to speak the truth on all occasions for it could harm someone unnecessarily.

Be aware always of how we speak to others, ensuring that what you say has many consequences and once spoken can never be taken back.

Learn to recognize the cascade of fears and other negative emotions that prompt you to twist reality. Outwardly, speak with kindness, compassion, and clarity. Satya requires that you consider both the spoken and unspoken aspects of your words. You do not want to mislead through omission, neither do you have to say everything that is on your mind , especially if it is hurtful.

Reflection:

• Do you gossip? Do you exaggerate a situation making it more of a drama for effect?
• Do you sometimes say you will do something and then must go back and say another untruth to get out of it?
• Can you trust yourself?
• Can you risk telling yourself the truth?
• Can you keep promises you make to yourself?

Asteya - Non-Stealing

Asteya, 'I do not steal' is not as simple as it seems. To take nothing that does not belong to us. But this also means that if we are in a situation where someone entrusts to us or confides in us, we do not take advantage of him or her.

Reflection:

• Are you late for appointments? Try not to steal time of others by thinking your time is more important, never be late for an appointment.
• Do you keep your friend’s confidences always?
• In your Yoga practice, are you aware that you are not stealing the moment by drifting off and thinking of other things and therefore, not being aware of the Yoga posture itself by stealing the energy that is required to enable you to do the posture?
• Do you give time to others, allow them to tell you their story, without interrupting and telling them all about your story?

Aparigraha - Neutralising the Desire to Acquire and Hoard Wealth

Aparigraha means to take only what is necessary and not to take advantage of a situation or act greedily. We should only take what we have earned. If we take more, we are exploiting someone else. In addition, unearned rewards can bring with them obligations that might cause problems.

Reflection:

• To you take pleasure from giving to others, rather than wanting things for yourself?
• Can you examine your own tendencies toward possessiveness?
• Do you acquire more of something than you can use, or are you just accumulating things out fear and greed? There is an old expression 'much wants more'. Once you get so much stuff, you have to take care of and defend it and it becomes an attachment that you cannot do without.
• Are you clinging to relationships, careers or old beliefs that no longer serve you?
• Can you allow room for freshness and change to enable you move in another direction?
• Are you aware that you are grateful and feeling fulfilled with what you have in the moment?
• Aparigraha invites us to let go and pack lightly through our journey through life.

Brahmacarya - Self Control

The literal translation of brahmacharya is ‘walking in God-consciousness‘. In simple Hindu terms, it would mean staying away from anything that could harm you. Drugs, alcohol, dangerous behaviour etc. It means self-control. Making wise choices about the books and magazines you read, the movies you see, and the company you keep will help you conserve energy and keep your mind focused and dynamic.

Reflection:

• How often have you over indulged?
• Are you able to exercise control?
• Do you make time for self-study and improving your mind?
• Do you allow toxic and unhealthy relationships to enter your life?
• Are you over eating, over working, over sleeping?
• Being aware of this Yama, it is hard, but start by keeping a journal to see what you might be overdoing.

Written by Daphne Bath and published on Monday 5th April 2021 at 20:21