Yama has different meanings in different contexts. It
may mean "rein, curb, or bridle, discipline or restraints" In
the present context, it is used to mean "self-control, forbearance,
or any great rule or duty". It can also be interpreted as "attitude"
or "behavior". Certainly a particular attitude can be
expressed as discipline, which then influences our behavior. Patanjali's
Yoga Sutra mentions five different Yama, that is, behavior patterns or
relationships between the individual and the outside world.
Ahimsa (Harmlessness)
The word ahimsa literally mean not to injure or show cruelty to any
creature or any person in any way whatsoever. Ahimsa is, however, more
than just lack of violence as adapted in yoga. It means kindness,
friendliness, and thoughtful consideration of other people and things.
It also has to do with our duties and responsibilities too. It could
even mean that we must fight if our life is in danger. Ahimsa implies
that in every situation we should adopt a considered attitude.
Satya (Truthfulness)
Satya means "to speak the truth," yet it is not always
desirable to speak the truth on all occasions, for it could harm someone
unnecessarily. We have to consider what we say, how we say it, and in
what way it could affect others. If speaking the truth has negative
consequences for another, then it is better to say nothing. Satya should
never come into conflict with our efforts to behave with ahimsa. The
Mahabharata, the great Indian epic, says: "Speak the truth which is
pleasant. Do not speak unpleasant truths. Do not lie, even if the lies
are pleasing to the ear. That is the eternal law, the dharma."
Please note that this does not mean speak lie. Keeping quiet and saying
lies are two different things.
Asteya (Non-stealing)
Asteya is the third Yama. Asteya means "to steal"; Asteya is
the opposite-to take nothing that does not belong to us. This also means
that if we are in a situation where someone entrusts something to us or
confides in us, we do not take advantage of him or her. We are to
refrain from taking that which is not ours by right of consciousness and
karma.
Brahmacharya (Sense-control)
Brahmacharya is a movement toward the essential truth. It is used
mostly in the sense of abstinence, particularly in relationship to
sexual activity. Brahmacharya suggests that we should form relationships
that foster our understanding of the highest truths. If sensual
pleasures are part of those relationships, we must take care that we
keep our direction and do not get lost. Avoid relationships that make us
deviate from finding the eternal truth. On the path of serious, constant
searching for truth, there are certain ways of controlling the
perceptual senses and sexual desires. Brahmacharya does not necessarily
imply celibacy. Rather, it means responsible behavior with respect to
our goal of moving toward the truth.
Aparigraha (Neutralizing the desire to acquire and hoard wealth)
The last yama is aparigraha, a word that means something like "hands
off" or "not seizing opportunity." Aparigraha means to
take only what is necessary, and not to take advantage of a situation or
act greedy. We should only take what we have earned; if we take more, we
are exploiting someone else. In addition, unearned rewards can bring
with them obligations that might later cause problems.
The Yoga Sutra describes what happens when these five behaviors
outlined above become part of a person's daily life. For example, if we
become kind and considerate, our presence will create pleasant and
friendly feelings in people around us. And if we remain true to the idea
of satya, everything we say will be truthful. We will become
trustworthy. In India, one's word is considered one's biggest asset. The
Yoga Sutra also states that a person who is firmly anchored in asteya
will receive all the jewels of this world. Such a person may not be
interested in material wealth, but he or she will have access to the
finest things in life.
The more we recognize and search for the meaning of the essential
truth, the less will we be distracted by other things. Certainly it
requires great strength to take this path. The Yoga Sutra teaches that
the more faith we have, the more energy we have. At the same time we
also have more strength to pursue our goals. So the more we seek the
truth in the sense of brahmacharya, the more vitality we will have to do
so.
Parigraha is the increasing orientation toward material things. If we
reduce parigraha and develop aparigraha, we are orienting ourselves more
inwardly. The less time we spend on our material possessions, the more
we have to spend on investigating all that we call yoga. We will learn
to enjoy what we have rather than constantly seeking things we don't
have and never getting satisfied in life. It is a scientific fact that
the more money and material possessions we have, the more stressful we
become.
