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Ten Commandments For Harmonious Human Life


Yama and Niyama are the do's and don'ts, or ethical disciplines, which have existed in the human race since the beginning of civilizations. Patanjanli, the father of yoga has very clearly specified these 10 commandments of Sanatana  dharma  or  Hindu  religion for  harmonious human life but they have nothing to do with the ideas of sin and virtue or good and evil as dictated by some cosmic potentate. They are the first two level of his eight fold yoga system known as Ashtang yoga. The first two levels  are known as Yama (precepts of social discipline) and Niyama (precepts of individual discipline). Yama and Niyama are practical whether one is from the civilizations of the East of the West. By following these practical and relevant precepts, we can create a harmonious human society and  can work toward individual development of the body, mind and soul. They are the foundation of our practice without which no spiritual progress along the path of yoga can be made. Many people come to yoga initially as a physical exercise and only later begin to understand the profound spiritual effect it has on our lives. But to establish these spiritual effects firmly upon our mindstream, to embed them within our consciousness, they must be grounded on the bedrock of ethical behavior. In Santana Dharma (Hindu Religion), any spiritual advancement begins with Yama and Niyama and in other words ten commandments.

Yama:   Precepts of Social Discipline 

1. Ahimsa (अहिंसा): Non-violence. Not harming other people or other sentient beings. Not harming onesself.   Not harming the environment.   Tolerance even for that which we dislike. Not speaking that which, even though truthful, would injure others.

2. Satya  (सत्य) : Truthfulness. Note that sometimes we may know our words are literally true, but do not convey what we know to be truthful. This is a child's game. Satya means not intending to deceive others in our thoughts, as well as our words and actions.

3. Asteya (अस्तेय): Non-stealing. Not taking that which is not given.

4. Brahmacarya (ब्रह्मचार्य): Sexual responsibility.   Regarding others as human beings rather than as male and female bodies.   The spirit of this precept is conservation of energy for the purpose of spiritual practice.   This includes not only sexual restraint, but protecting our energy for instance by avoiding endless chattering with no clear purpose.

5. Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह): Abstention from greed. Not coveting that which is not ours. Avoidance of unnecessary acquisition of objects not essential to maintaining life or spiritual study.

Niyama:   Precepts of Invididual Discipline

1. Shauch (शौच): Cleanliness. Not only external cleanliness of the body, but attending to internal cleanliness such as avoiding the impurities of anger and egoism. Moderation in diet.

2. Santosha  (संतोष): Contentment. Not spiritual complacency, but acceptance of the external situation we are allotted in this life.

3. Tapas  (तपस): Austerity. Deep commitment to our yoga practice. "Blazing practice with religious fervor."

4. Svadhyaya  (स्वाध्याय): Self-study. Spiritual self-education. Contemplation and application of the scriptures or sacred texts of our chosen path.

5. Isvara pranidhana  (इश्वर  प्रणिधान): Surrender of the self to God. Acknowledgement that there is a higher principle in the universe than one's own small self.   Modesty.  Humility.

All  Glory to Gurudev !
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