Yamas – right living with others

^{Do unto others as you would have them do unto you}

^{Golden Rule of Yama}

One of the first limb of yoga, directly translates to ‘Restraints‘. The don’ts of living.
Deals with one’s ethical standards and sense of integrity, focusing on one’s behavior and how one conducts oneself in life.

There are five of them:

1. Ahiṃsā (non-violence) – Read more on Ahiṃsā
2. Satya (truth)
3. Asteya (non-stealing)
4. Brahmacharya (self-control)
5. Aparigraha (non-greed)

Satya (truth)
As fire burns impurities and refines gold, so the fire of truth cleanses one and burns up the dross within.

^{If the mind thinks thoughts of truth,
tongue speaks words of truth &
if the whole life is based on truth,
then one becomes fit for
the union with the Infinite}

^{B.K.S. Iyengar}

Reality in its fundamental nature is love & truth and be able to express itself through these two aspects. Keeping in mind Ahiṃsā is always a base line. Satya presupposes truthfulness in thought, words & deeds. Truth is not limited to speech only. There are 4 parts to it:
– abuse & obscenity
– dealing in falsehood
– telling tales
– ridiculing what others hold to be sacred.

Asteya (non-stealing)
Refraining from taking anything unlawfully – may it be things or thoughts.
Some examples could be –
– desire to possess
– taking something that does not belong to you without permission
– taking credit of team work all for yourself
– using somethin for a different purpose than that intended
– Misappropriation, breach of trust, mismanagement & misuse

Freedom from craving enables one to ward off great temptations.

Brahmacharya (self-control) means celibacy
‘Brahma’ means infinity, ‘charya’ means moving in. So brahmacharya is moving in infinity, knowing one’s vast nature, thinking that one is not just the body; one’s presence is a glow of light.
One moves in the world as though one is space, infinite. This is when celibacy naturally happens. Celibacy brings one infinite strength. The example to this one would be succumbing to the cravings of the senses. Anything in moderation is good 🙂

Aparigraha (non-greed)
To be free from hoarding or accumulating thoughts or things is one aspect of it the other being contentment with what one has. Faith being the base line.

^{To the one who worships with single -minded devotion, who are in harmony with every moment, Universe will bring full security, supply all their wants and shall protect them forever.}

^{The Bhagavad Gita}

The aim of these eight limbs of yoga is to gradually bring discipline in behaviour by purifying the mind & body, an essential requisite to achieve yoga.