AHIMSA & SATYA // non-harming and Truth
From the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali comes the "8 Limb" path of yoga... meaning, 8 "branches" that we are to learn from and tussle with, to embody and be our whole, yoked, fully integrated and evolved, selves - according to this classical yogic text. There is a curve-ball though, because the first 2 branches have 5 subdivisions each.
nevertheless!! here are the 8 limbs:
Yamas // practices and contemplations that honor community and interconnection
Niyamas // practices and contemplations that honor the divine within ourselves
Asana // physical practice technology that harmonizes and purifies the bodymind
Pranayama // practices of breath and energy
Pratyahara // connecting our sensory organs and experience to our heart, and chakra body
Dharana // practices of one-pointed concentration on the objects of our devotion (mantra, devata, etc)
Dhyana // practicing sustained meditative focus
Samadhi // blissful union and absorption in Supreme Consciousness
โ
from here, the first two YAMAS are:
(i) Ahimsa = non-harming or non-violence (made noteworthy by Mahatma Ghandi as this was his primary spiritual practice)
(ii) Satya = Truthfullness or sincerity
Ahimsa is the perfected embodiment of Love.
AHIMSA //
non-harming in thought, word or deed.
or a deep cellular inner-peace and goodwill that permeates your every word, thought and deed.
โโ๐๐บ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ช๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ฏ-๐ท๐ช๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ,
๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆโ๐ด ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ข๐ต๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ช๐ค๐ฉ ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฆ๐ดโ โฃ
- Yoga Sutra 2.35โฃ .
SATYA // Truthfulness, sincerity.
C O H E R E N C E
a complete integration in all parts of our being that expresses itself as Truth in all that we speak or do.โ
โAs Truthfulness is achieved, the fruits of actions naturally result according to the will of the yoginโ โฃ โฃ
- Yoga Sutra 2.36
SATYA has to do with unveiling our own layers of self-deception,
as well as our fractured, compartamentalized or shadow self.
"it is not our minds but the inner voice of our very cells,
which has the power to implement our intentions"
- BKS Iyengar.
AHIMSA AND SATYA IN PRACTICE
The Yamas and Niyamas are both cause and consequence of themselves, and of sadhana, spiritual practice.
It is through our intentional, diligent, earnest and regular efforts on our mat, on our meditation cushion, and in the ways we show up to our lives, that we begin to truly tussle with and understand what these practices mean to us - and how we are to embody them.
What Iโm trying to say is that your understanding and adherence to non-violence or loving-kindness, for example, will be different than it is for someone else. For if there is anything we know about this life for certain is that there is no certainty, and much less any โblack and whiteโ.
In fact more than โgray zonesโ we have in our word the whole magnificent rainbow!
and that is a glorious and wonderful thing.
It is also important to note, that we are invited to tussle with being Loving AND Truthful SIMULTANEOUSLY.
OR, interpreted differently, we are challenged to contemplate if a particular thought, word or deed
that is non-loving, is actually in alignment with ultimate Truth.
The 8 limbs of yoga in the classical understanding are meant to be practiced progressively, continuously, AND simultaneously.
There is a magic to sadhana. Something about quieting your mind, and moving with even, aware breathing, purifies the bodymind, and reveals to us the places where we are fractured or in self-deception, and shows us how to re-integrate and evolve from these past patterns, karmas, and samskaras.
We will be contemplating Ahimsa and Satya โ- (and the rest of the Yamas and Niyamas in due time) in my coming classes. I would be so delighted if you chose to join us anytime!
Please see my class schedule for details and do not hesitate to email me if you have any question or need help getting signed up for class.
from love,
Natasha
FOOT NOTE:
I do send out extended versions of these study notes and much more to my newsletter recipients (you can sign up in the homepage) AND even more comprehensive and varied notes to the students enrolled in the YOGA STUDIES program.
