EXAMPLE   Lesson One

UOCA YOGA STUDIES 101



What are Patanjali's Yamas



Let's take a step back from the ultimate goal and whether it is dualist or not. And not consider the subtle nuances of what is Kaivalya.

Let's go back to the BASICS.

 

An ancient sage in India codified the yoga practice - his name was Patanjali.



What are the first steps on the path of yoga? The promises you make of how you will restrain yourself in living your life to still your mind. Patanjali's sutras outline these in the second chapter.



Yamas –

Ahimsa –

 

no harm – but much more than this - to positively heal and be compassionate and caring. 'Let us be mindful and practice ahimsa; whenever you hear that voice of negativity, of hatred and the violence that comes with it, make the conscious choice to silence it and replace it with something kind. Ahimsa in action is the practice of gentleness, compassion, understanding, patience, and love… Let me be patient today. Let me be understanding of a difficult situation, to actually be compassionate in a given circumstance and not react or retaliate. See insult as a blessing – Jesus. It truly is a chance to grow. Take Ahimsa into asanas by relaxing kindly and breathing into a pose rather than forcing causing harm or excessive pain.'



Satya – 

 

At the highest level, satya is to be with what is right now, to be connected with something that is not changing—your true nature. We have a tendency to identify or label ourselves with things that are unreal— our thoughts, feelings, moods, actions, experiences, judgements, opinions—all temporary and constantly changing modalities. Moving beyond this tendency and knowing that something deep in you is not changing-—something that is real— is the practice of satya. Satya is having constant awareness of this highest reality or truth - Purusha. Truth is often relative to the doer so intelligence has to be used to know truth for YOU. Not to be misguided by others. This is SELF REALISATION. Truth has to be mediated by Ahimsa – not to harm others. Truth should not be compromised even if it appears we might lose something we think we want. Always come back to the higher picture that unites us all together as one and decide your truth on truth for ALL. It is important to be truthful in our yoga practice to not diminish ourselves or boost ourself otherwise harm can arise or injury by doing the postures below or above our ability. A large mirror can help in this honesty while doing asanas. Or find a studio with mirrors. View others as a mirror of yourself as well. When talking to someone imagine you are simply talking to yourself in another incarnation.



Asteya –

Do not steal or misappropriate from others. This means not only not taking what doesn’t belong to us, but also not taking energy that doesn’t belong to us. Like wasting people’s time with pointless conversation. That is stealing from them and also yourself. So this concept applies to physical objects and also thoughts, words and actions. Even if something is given to you, it can be stealing to take it. If it really should go to another then it is stealing. If it will harm you then it is stealing from yourself. So before you take anything ask if it is offered to your divine being unconditionally. Even if the answer is yes, then ask does another own it or need it more than myself. If yes, then give it to them. And even then check the laws of where you are to make sure it can be given to you or them legally. Marijuana currently is illegal in Australia even if it has been used by Sadhus in India for millennia - we must also be honest according to current social standards. A thousand years ago in India having group sex in the temple was praised, nowadays try doing it in the local church.



Brahmacharya -

Brahma – creative energy – sexual Kundalini, Charya – move or flow. Channelling of the Pranic energy from the Nadis up the spine to the third eye. Not wasting it by sexual arousal so often monks are celibate. However tantric sex can be used to elevate the Kundalini by using the senses to heighten and more subtly engage the Nadis to create love and harmony in your partner and self. Controlling the senses and sexual arousal allows the Vayus to be channelled upwards as Prana. With the other Yamas sex can elevate the consciousness rather than causing harm, being abusive or becoming a slave to it. By expansion and not repression. The notion that the body and sex is disgusting is stated by Patanjali in his Sutras and some Indians still self righteously cherish this old school suppressed angry and hateful view of physical intimate love. They are the losers and Tantra incorporated later into the Yoga rejects this self hatred of the body. Psychologically this negative view is not in harmony with nature and can cause harm and illness. And harm others.  That said it is extremely important to not abuse sex and to use it to increase subtle awareness in the body. Looking down on sex or repressing it for sure leads then to sexual abuse as we see in some Catholic priests. Unfortunately in the last thousand years Hinduism has been repressed sexually by Western invaders and their primitive religions. Modern India is probably at its lowest state spiritually now.



Aparigraha

Non attachment, but this is a tricky promise a yogi has to make with a subtle meaning. Similar to Asteya BUT the focus is on 'self', not taking from others, on having no attachment to the material world and its outcome or result. Be in the moment. Only accept what is offered to our higher self rather than the temptation of the material gain that may result. It often translates as ‘non-greed’, ‘non-possessiveness’, and ‘non-attachment’. The word ‘graha’ means to take, to seize, or to grab, ‘pari’ means ‘on all sides’, and the prefix ‘a’ negates the word itself  – basically, it means ‘non’. This important yama teaches us to take only what we need, keep only what serves us in the moment, and to let go when the time is right.



Let your concern be with the action alone, and never with the fruits of action. Do not let the results of your action be your motive, and do not be attached to inaction – Krishna

It’s not the destination, it’s the journey….



Aparigraha is actually one of the central teachings in the Yogic text the Bhagavad Gita, in which Krishna shares one of the teachings that could perhaps be the most important lesson of all to learn: What Krishna is essentially saying here, is that we should never concern ourselves with BEING ATTACHED TO NEEDING the outcome of a situation, we should only concern ourselves with what we’re actually doing right now as we work towards that outcome. The outcome may be important, but not the attachment to it.



It is often interpreted as living with the minimum possessions - only having what YOU NEED and no more. Do not take what is not offered to your higher self - “restraining from making ourselves smaller or bigger than we are, or from trying to be something we are not or hiding from what we are. It is often hard to know where to draw the line in just where “too much” lies. Gather all the resources you need to support your particular service in the world. No more; no less. In other words, we are asked to walk a fine line between my needs and others. If we take more than we need, in any area of our lives, we are taking from others. If we deny ourselves the resources we need to reach our full potential, we are taking from ourselves.” Ask your higher spirit self if what you are doing or want is truly offered to you or not. If it feels like you are taking from others and not offered to your soul, it usually is.

In choosing an asana pose ask yourself if this is offered to you and to help your body. It may be you need to change teachers or classes to attain that harmony in the moment that should arise from doing yoga.



A teacher you are not aligned with can cause harm to your body so ask your higher soul if this teacher is right for you. If not find another.



In general, get rid of as much material possessions as possible. Live simply, clean and organised. Go through your place and give away or throw out as much stuff as possible - and feel the weight lift. A yogi is free of things!



(taken from online articles on Yamas and amended)



QUESTIONS HOMEWORK – 20 minutes



  1.  What do you think?
  2.  Do you do this anyway?
  3.  Is it just good common sense?
  4.  Or do you think something is missing? What?
  5.  Is a skill in life managing many things including possessions while still being detached?
  6.  Is jealousy, lies and greed a good thing, and Patanjali is out of date?