The Stages of Yoga
Patanjali enumerates the means to the quest for the soul as the eight limbs of YOGA. These stages are:
1. YAMA
(Universal Moral Commandments or ethical disciplines)
Ahimsa (Non-violence)
The word ahimsa means "not" and "killing or violence". It has a wider meaning than just the negative command not to kill. This wider meaning is love. Love that embraces all creation. The yogi believes that to kill or destroy a thing or being is an insult to its Creator.
Violence arises out of fear, weakness, ignorance or restlessness. To curb it, what is most needed is freedom from fear. To gain this freedom, one must change the outlook upon life and a reorientation of the mind.
The yogi believes that every creature has as much right to live as he has. He believes that he is born to help others and he looks upon creation with eyes of love. He knows that his life is linked inextricably with that of others and he rejoices if he can help them. For wrong done by a yogi, he demands justice, while for wrongs done by others, he applies forgiveness. The yogi opposes the evil in the wrong-doer, but not the wrong-doer. The yogi knows that to love a person whilst fighting the evil in him is the right course to follow.
Satya (Truth)
Satya or Truth "is the highest rule of conduct or morality". Mahatma Gandhi said :"Truth is God and God is Truth". Yoga philosophy states that in order to become one with the Infinite, we are to be truthful in thought, in speech and in our lives. Reality is love and truth and expresses itself in through these two aspects. The yogi's life must conform to strictly to these two facets of Reality.
The four sins of speech are: abuse and obscenity, lies, calumny and ridiculing what others hold sacred. The control of speech leads to the rooting out of malice. When the mind bears malice towards none, it is filled with charity for all.
The yogi firmly established in truth, receives the fruit of of actions.
Asetya (Non-stealing)
Asetya includes not only taking things without permission, but also using something for a purpose different than what it was intended or beyond the time permitted by his owner. It includes misappropriation, breach of trust, mismanagement and misuse. The yogi reduces his physical needs to a minumum, believing that if he gathers things, he is a thief.
Brahmacharya (Continence)
Brahmacharya means the life of celibacy, religious study and self-restraint.
Aparigraha (Non-coveting)
Aparigraha is to be free from hoarding. Is is another facet of Asetya. One should not hoard things that he does not require immediately. The yogi feels that hoarding implies a lack of faith in God and in himself to provide for the future. By the observance of Aparigraha, the yogi makes his life as simple as possible and trains his mind not to feel loss or lack.
The next stage of Yoga is NIYAMA.
Patanjali enumerates the means to the quest for the soul as the eight limbs of YOGA. These stages are:
1. YAMA
(Universal Moral Commandments or ethical disciplines)
Ahimsa (Non-violence)
The word ahimsa means "not" and "killing or violence". It has a wider meaning than just the negative command not to kill. This wider meaning is love. Love that embraces all creation. The yogi believes that to kill or destroy a thing or being is an insult to its Creator.
Violence arises out of fear, weakness, ignorance or restlessness. To curb it, what is most needed is freedom from fear. To gain this freedom, one must change the outlook upon life and a reorientation of the mind.
The yogi believes that every creature has as much right to live as he has. He believes that he is born to help others and he looks upon creation with eyes of love. He knows that his life is linked inextricably with that of others and he rejoices if he can help them. For wrong done by a yogi, he demands justice, while for wrongs done by others, he applies forgiveness. The yogi opposes the evil in the wrong-doer, but not the wrong-doer. The yogi knows that to love a person whilst fighting the evil in him is the right course to follow.
Satya (Truth)
Satya or Truth "is the highest rule of conduct or morality". Mahatma Gandhi said :"Truth is God and God is Truth". Yoga philosophy states that in order to become one with the Infinite, we are to be truthful in thought, in speech and in our lives. Reality is love and truth and expresses itself in through these two aspects. The yogi's life must conform to strictly to these two facets of Reality.
The four sins of speech are: abuse and obscenity, lies, calumny and ridiculing what others hold sacred. The control of speech leads to the rooting out of malice. When the mind bears malice towards none, it is filled with charity for all.
The yogi firmly established in truth, receives the fruit of of actions.
Asetya (Non-stealing)
Asetya includes not only taking things without permission, but also using something for a purpose different than what it was intended or beyond the time permitted by his owner. It includes misappropriation, breach of trust, mismanagement and misuse. The yogi reduces his physical needs to a minumum, believing that if he gathers things, he is a thief.
Brahmacharya (Continence)
Brahmacharya means the life of celibacy, religious study and self-restraint.
Aparigraha (Non-coveting)
Aparigraha is to be free from hoarding. Is is another facet of Asetya. One should not hoard things that he does not require immediately. The yogi feels that hoarding implies a lack of faith in God and in himself to provide for the future. By the observance of Aparigraha, the yogi makes his life as simple as possible and trains his mind not to feel loss or lack.
The next stage of Yoga is NIYAMA.