YAMA [SOCIAL ETHICS] AND NIYAMA [PERSONAL ETHICS] : ETHICAL PRACTICE FOR ENLIGHTENED LIVING

2015-35  Yama [Social Ethics] and Niyama [Personal Ethics] :
Ethical Practice for Enlightened Living

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Yama and Niyama are the basic rules of conduct [social and personal] for enlightened living. They are the first two limbs of the Ashtanga [eight-limbed] Yoga according to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras [2.30 and 2.32]*. 

Yama [abstinences or external discipline] include non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, non-excess and non-covetousness. 

Niyama [observances or internal discipline] include purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and surrender to indwelling omnipresence.

Yoga is rooted in the notion of developing a positive personality. Therefore ethical discipline or the practice of correct conduct is necessary for success in yoga. This is the basis of yama and niyama, the two moral backbones of yoga. They define the attributes to be practised in everyday life by a spiritual aspirant.

* Patanjali's Yoga Sutras Chapter 2: Sadana Pada

अहिंसा  सत्य अस्तेय  ब्रह्मचर्य अपरिग्रहा  यमाः  [2.30]

ahiṁsā satyā 'asteya brahmacaryā 'aparigrahā yamāḥ 

शौच सन्तोष तपः स्वाध्याय एस्वर प्रणिधानानि नियमाः [2.32]

śauca santoṣa tapaḥ svādhyāyā e'śvara praṇidhānāni niyamāḥ 

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Yama and Niyama: The Ethical Principles [Social and Personal]:
[Click Here]

Yama and Niyama: Conscious Relationship with the World and Yourself:
[Click Here]

10 Yama and 10 Niyama of Hinduism: [Click Here]

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Enlightened Living by Swami Venkatesananda:
[Commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali] pdf:[Click Here]

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Patanjali Yoga Sutras Commentary by Swami Vivekananda: [Click Here]

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