flox

something i thought worth copying out of my book on meditation. these are the first two steps (or folds?) of the yogic eightfold path (as opposed to the buddist eightfold path). i paraphrased a bit:

1. Yamas: things that are helpful to avoid
1) ahimsa (do no harm/ nonviolence): avoid violence in your words, actions, and even your thoughts. That includes controlling your temper and not physically harming people, but it can also include avoiding negative thoughts about others or even yourself. Not eating meat is a component of this yama for many yogis because to eat meat is to be complicit in the killing of an animal.
2) satya (do not lie/truthfulness): This involves more than avoiding the big lies; it also means being truthful about the little things like not telling a secret you promised to keep. Truthfulness builds character and personal integrity.
3) asteya (do not steal): The third yama is about refusing to steal whether that means a candy bar, a million dollars, or somebody else's great idea.
4) brahmacharya (chastity/nonlust): This yama is about holding the opposite sex (*ahem* or same sex!) in high esteem and only joining physically with your partner when you can do so virtuously, in a committed and loving relationship of mutual respect. It also means rejecting casual sex and sex solely for physical pleasure.
5) aparigraha (nongreed): Reject a materialistic way of thinking and living. It's about simplicity and learning to live only on what you need. Greed can manifest itself in other ways too: monopolizing conversations, jealousy, and dissatisfaction with your place in the world (<--doesn't mean you can't have aspirations, means cultivate satisfaction with unchangeable aspects of your life.)

2. Niyamas: things that are helpful to do
1) shauca (purity): maintain a study of the sacred texts to inspire and teach you.
2) santosha (contentment): Find happiness with what you have and who you are. This doesn't mean you can't improve yourself, but it does mean re-evaluating the obstacles in your path as opportunities and taking full responsibility for your own life.
3) tapas (discipline): Doing anything on a daily basis to improve your health is disciplined.  Like practicing yoga, doing aerobics, controlling your temper, and doing daily chores. Dicipline isn't easy, but the more you cultivate it, the easier all the other yamas and niyamas will become.
4) svadhyaya (self-study): Pay attention to who you are, what you do, how you feel and think, and what you believe. Do you act according to your beliefs? If not, are they really your beliefs, or do you have others you hadn't realized? Self-study can also involve shauca (studying the sacred texts to inspire and guide you).
5) ishvara-pranidhana (devotion): Focus on the divine, whatever that means to you. It doesn't mean you have to be religious or even believe in a God (or Goddess), although that could be one meaning. It can also mean letting go of your ego and self-focus and looking outward to the highest ideal, or having a devotion to life itself.