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.