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Tuesday, June 1, 2021

YAMA NIYAMA - SWAMI SIVANANDA


YAMA NIYAMA SWAMI SIVANANDA

Eight Accessories of Yoga

Restraint, religious observances, posture, control of breath, abstraction of Indriyas, concentration, meditation, superconscious state or trance, are the eight accessories of Yoga.

Benefits of the Accessories

On the destruction of the impurities through the practice of the (eight) accessories of Yoga, arises the light of wisdom, leading to the discriminative knowledge.

Yama is the practice of Ahimsa, Satyam, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha. Niyama is the observance of the five canons, viz., Saucha, Santosha, Tapas, Svadhyaya and Ishvarapranidhana. By practising Yama and Niyama, the Yogic student purifies his mind. By practising Asana, he gets steadiness and firmness of body. By practising Pranayama, he removes the tossing of mind and destroys Rajas and Tamas. By practising Pratyahara, he gets mental strength, peace of mind and inner life. By the practice of Dharana, he gets Ekagrata (one-pointed) state of mind. By practising Dhyana, he fills the mind with divine thoughts. By practising Samadhi, he destroys the seeds of births and deaths, and gets immortality and Kaivalya, the final beatitude, the highest end of human life.

By the practice of the eight Angas of Yoga, dirt of the mind - Explained in the chapter on 'MIND', (five Klesas) is removed and discrimination of Prakriti-Purusha comes by itself. Then the Yogi attains Kaivalya.

What Is Yama

(Among these accessories) abstinence from injury and killing, truthfulness, abstinence from theft or falsehood, continence, abstinence from avariciousness or greed, are the restraints.

NOTES

Yama is the very foundation of Yoga, without which the superstructure of Yoga cannot be built. Practice of Yama is really the practice of Sadachara (right conduct). The noble eightfold path of

Patanjali Maharshi mentions the above five chief items for practice in Yama. According to Sandilya Rishi, the practice of Saucha, Daya, Arjava, Dhriti and Mitahara is included in Yama. Saucha is external and internal purity. Washing the hands, taking baths, etc., are for external purity. Filling the mind with pure divine thoughts is internal purity. Daya is mercy or compassion, in all places, for all creatures. Arjava is the keeping up of balance of mind while doing actions. Dhriti is fortitude or mental power of endurance. Mitahara is moderation in eating.

 Universal Vows

The restraints are Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha.

1. Ahimsa

Abstinence from injuring and killing, being established, all hostilities are given up in the presence of the practitioner.

2. Satya

Speaking truth, when established, leads (the Yogi) to the bestowal of fruits for actions.

NOTES

Speaking truth is the most important qualification of a Yogi.

God is truth. He can be realised by speaking truth and observing truth in thought, word and deed.

3. Asteya

Non-stealing or abstinence from theft, when established, all kinds of wealth approach (the Yogi).

4. Brahmacharya

By the establishment of celibacy, vigour is gained.

5. Aparigraha

Aparigraha is freedom from greed or covetousness. One should not try to keep or try to get in possession anything beyond the very necessaries of life When abstinence from greed is established, the knowledge of the how of existence or births comes.


1. What is Niyama

The observances are (the practice of) internal and external purity, contentment, mortification, study of scriptures and worship of God or self-surrender

NOTES

Niyama is the second accessory of Yoga. It is the practice of purity, contentment, mortification, study and worship.

Mortification, study of scriptures, self-surrender are the Yoga of purificatory action.

Benefits of Purification

(Kriya Yoga is practised) for acquiring Samadhi and for attenuating the afflictions.

1. Benefits of External Purification

By the purification, comes disgust for one's own body and cessation of contact with others.

. Benefits of Internal Purification

On the purity of Sattva, arise cheerfulness of mind, conquest of the senses or organs, and fitness for the realisation of the Atman.

2. Santosha

Supreme happiness is obtained through contentment.

3. Tapas

Through Tapas, mortification, due to the destruction of impurities, arise psychic powers in the body and senses.

4. Svadhyaya

By study of scriptures comes the communion with the tutelary deity. Svadhyaya includes also Japa, the repetition of Mantras. By constant study and its practice in daily life will lead one to have communion with God.

5. Ishvarapranidhana

By self-surrender comes attainment of Samadhi, superconscious state.