Yamas

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras describe the 8-Limbed path of what we now know as Astanga Yoga -
Yama - self-restraints, controls
Niyama - observances
Asana - postures
Pranayama - regulation of breath
Pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses
Dharana - concentration
Dhyana - meditation
Samadhi - bliss (the collection, compositon of the others, superconsciousness)

The Yamas are one part of what, for many, is the greatest challenge and the largest focused of yoga beyond asana. Here in the west, we refer to these as the ethics of the philosophy.

Each of the Yamas ties in to each of the other Yamas with great complexity. I won't go into detail about that here - I think it is fairly obvious, for one thing, and it is a broad discussion best had in a group of people with many perspectives - I just want to show what Patanjali says about them, since I mentioned them twice in my last post.

In Sutra II.30, it says "ahimsa satya asteya bramacharya aparigraha yamah"
or, "non-violence, truth, abstention from stealing, continence, and absence of greed for posessions beyond one's need are the five pillars of yama."

Ahimsa is the most common an well-known Yama; some view it as the core Yama, and the central principle of yoga, and the idea is that you should not cause harm (through intention, thoughts, words, actions, or even energy) to any other being. This goes beyond just our superficial definition of 'violence'. Sure, don't squash that little spider on your floor. That's Ahimsa. But noticing you are in a bad mood, and working to alter your state so that you don't subsequently influence others negatively is also Ahimsa.

Satya is truth (or, not lying). I think this one is pretty straightforward, and the only addition is to remember the connection to Ahimsa - if telling the truth will hurt someone unnecessarily, then you should use your ability to discriminate positive from negative to decide against saying something (like walking up to a random person on the street to tell them their outfit is ugly..might be the truth, but it isn't necessary and it IS harmful)

Asteya is non-stealing, or not misappropriating. Don't take what isn't yours - this includes time, energy, physical objects, money, etc. Don't take credit from someone else's work. Don't bring someone else down because you are having a bad day.

Bramacharya is continence. Some also translate it as chastity, but this is hugely debateable. The idea is to value your energy and prana, and to respect your limited opportunity and resource as a human on the earth. Sure, you shouldn't sleep around wrecklessly, but Bramacharya is more than just talking about your sexual endeavors. It is about focusing your time and valuable energy, of all varieties, into what is most beneficial and important. Family, friends, self study, religiosity (if it suits you), and of course Yoga.

Aparigraha is not coveting, non-greed. This is probably the most important and underplayed Yama. Our society has us constantly seeking to have what others have, to be in some competition for the greatest aquisition or accomplishment or title. But each of us has our own path, and what is right and timely for one person is probably not right and timely for you. We so often think there is something missing in us be default, that we must be seeking or searching for something. So we look to what others have, what we perceive as the things that give them the happiness or satisfaction we are looking for ourselves. We become so focused on achieving something that was right for someone else that we forego our own path, getting off track from progressing in the very way that would lead us to our own satisfaction. A viscious cycle! Learning to value yourself where you are is a huge asset, and a difficult thing to accomplish. Fortunately part of the study of yoga is learning how to have an intention and be on a path, without being goal-oriented.