LOVE the Yamas
In the section of the Introduction in Light on Yoga about “Yamas”, we embark on the first limb of the 8-limbs of Yoga. The Yamas are Universal moral precepts and disciplines that govern our behavior in society: ahimsa (nonviolence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (moderation in all things), and aparigraha (non-hoarding). These principles are the foundation for any sadhaka (practitioner) seeking knowledge of the Self through yoga.
When reading about the remedies to the obstacles (antarayas), the qualities of the sisya, and now these particular descriptions of the Yamas in the Introduction, I am struck by how BKS Iyengar identifies LOVE as a common denominator for our development and practice. What do these many “loves” mean to you – Love of Self, love of others, love of the Divine, love of life no matter what comes or goes, love of ALL creation? All of the Yamas are related through love, and like the rest of the 8-limbs, cannot necessarily be pieced apart as separate “practices”, but are there to help us discern the elements of our individual relationship to and reactions in the world.
Ahimsa (nonviolence) can only arise from a deep love of all that is in creation. “The yogi believes that every creature has as much right to live as he has. He believes that he is born to help others and he looks upon creation with eyes of love. He knows that his life is linked inextricably with others…”. To destroy anything within creation is to be an insult to our own Divinity, not to mention an obstacle to our own Self development.
BKS writes that “Reality in its fundamental nature is love and truth and expresses itself through these two aspects…”. Satya, translated as “truth”, is then the outward expression of reality. Verbal abuse, obscenity, telling lies, and ridiculing what others find sacred even if it differs from your own are examples of going against satya. But, “when the mind bears malice toward none, it is filled with charity towards all”. In loving ALL of creation, we accept the truth of our own reality in relation to all other realities in existence.
When we possess the love of ALL creation, there is no need to feel separate from anything. Therefore, stealing (steya) and hoarding (parigraha) do not cross the yogi’s mind. Single-minded devotion toward the loving union of our True Self and the Divine keep the yogi full, content, and satisfied no matter what. There is no need for wanting “more” or keeping more than is needed.
Brahmacharya is one of the more interesting of the 5 Yamas. Translated traditionally as “life of celibacy, religious study and self restraint”, there of course is great debate on how this is possible amongst modern yogis or even historical sages that were not all ascetics and renunciates. BKS Iyengar reminds us that most of the codes of living within Indian philosophies recommend marriage and procreation. “Without experiencing human love and happiness, it is not possible to know divine love.” The love of another, whether parent, child, lover, or friend offers a glimpse in the human dimension of the immense power of Divine love that can be shared with humanity.
Modern practitioners may also understand brahmacharya as managing and moderating all of our physical and mental energies, not only that of our sexual energies and desires. Where is any of our energy spent? How do we manage our mental distractions through all of yoga’s practices of awareness and focus? This conservation of energies both physical and mental set a strong foundation for the Niyamas (our personal disciplines) which make up the second limb of yoga.
Ultimately, the Divine love that BKS Iyengar identifies as a common thread through the Yamas is the endless source of energy that will sustain and support the rest of our practice of yoga no matter what we may face.
