commenting on yoga: the 5 Niyamas … (02/08/12)
I received a video link the other day to a remarkable man speaking on the “5 Niyamas” … Here are some of my thoughts on what he had to share.
The yogi’s first Niyama related to “Purity” (Saucha), and focuses on “cleaning up our body, cleaning up our speech & cleaning up our mind” in order to limit our suffering & enhance our happiness. I would simply note that a truly Enlightened Goal cannot focus on diminishing personal suffering or enhancing personal happiness. Rather, Enlightenment comes to those who shift their desires to diminishing the suffering &/or enhancing the Joy of OTHERS.
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The 2nd Niyama is “Contentment” (Santosh), and relates to “being happy with yourself as you already are”. I would simply note that we cannot ever be truly Happy with ourselves until we dedicate our lives to enhancing the Joy & Peace of OTHERS.
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The 3rd Niyama relates to “austerity” (Tapas), and seems to require “following a daily routine for healthy body & clear mind”. Here, I would simply note that any routine devoted to one’s self ultimately damages one’s body & inherently clouds one’s mind, while all routines devoted to enhancing the Peace of others immediately enhances one’s own Health & instantly clarifies one’s knowledge of True Self.
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The 4th Niyama is “Study/Self-Study” (Swadhyaya), and encourages the “self-study of the true nature of ourselves, which is a mystery”. In response, I would simply note that it is impossible to immerse ourselves into The One while pondering the dualistic delusion of a separate self. We can only truly have “coherence of the world at large” when we set aside our thoughts of “self” & “other”, and soak instead in actions that are so radically Caring that this delusion dissipates into the scintillating brilliance that is pure, unconditional Love.
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The 5th & final Niyama is “surrender” (Ishvar Pranidhana), which seems to advocate the necessity of “following a teacher”. Here, I would simply note that the only Master worth following already resides within you, and that it is impossible to hear its Wisdom while you are adhering to the advice of another person’s inner Master. We are not here to “listen to our ancestors” – we are to transcend them & their lessons; we are here to go beyond the limits they knew; we are to max LOVE all the way IN by giving its purest form OUT!
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