In today?s world, you are conditioned to believe in what is fashionable. One?s intellect can find thousands of ways of defending anything. Patriotism defends wars, religious interpretations validate killings, freedom of speech protects absurdity, retribution justifies aggression, and love proxies for lust. In abiding by Yama, the commandments, there is no room left for any excuse, however smart, compelling, and politically expedient it may sound.
Namaste ST,
Personally I do not see the yamas as “commandments”, but rather that they tell us that our fundamental nature is compassionate, generous, honest and peaceful. So, no matter what situation you are in, practice the yamas in that particular situation. If you are in a war zone, practice them in that situation, that is the challenge for the soul and the opportunity for growth.
I personally don’t teach or practice Yama and Niyama as “commandments” nor have I absorbed them as such from my teacher in the decade of study we’ve had together.
Rather they are looked at as a methodology for reducing suffering and they are progressive rather than absolute.
And I’d likely look at conditioning a bit differently. Rather than “I am conditioned” I would more likely assert that there is a conditioning available but it is always the choice of the person to place themselves at the feet of that conditioning or not - though it is very powerful and constantly calling, which is why diligence on the path of Yoga is so important.
Yamas is a first step to freedom, not another chains.
Differently from many social norms, it has more reasonable basis.
Sometimes i think about nature of yamas principles before meditation.
Each of them is not just a rule that says what you must do, but a stimulus to get an understanding what is better.
So, let`s discuss in a parallel what we see behind [B]ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha. [/B]
We could discuss that Sasha but not coming from a point where they are rules or something you “must do” as that is not a platform on which I stand.
Thanks friends for your views. We can discuss the 5 Yama, but I was expanding on the next sutra “the compliance with the commandments has to be absolutely total?nothing short of complete?with no exceptions whatsoever on account of race, place, time or circumstances (Sūtra II.31).”
Since we can understand sutras only through translations, there could be other terms of personal choice than “commandments”, fair enough. Same way, if one’s goal for Yoga is not enlightenment or being pure consciousness, one can dilute the essence of the sutra to suit the personal needs. And of course, yama, like other means of Yoga, are definitely progressive in that sense.
But, if these diluted versions of personal preferences make us believe that that is what Sage Patanjali has said, then it is not right. One can be at any “progressive” step, but must not forget that yama become absolute towards the end. The key here is a “shortfall in total compliance” and its defense in the form of an “excuse”. Sage Patanjali says, any shortfall will still stand between you and the goal of enlightenment and no excuse howsoever genuine would save it. That is why he is calling it [I]sarvabhauma[/I] - universal and [I]mahavrata[/I] a major/ total commitment.
InnerAthlete, thats exactly what I mean. Suhas Tambe, indeed, translation may be not accurate enough. I havent seen this one, here is another variant of 2.31:
[I]“This first aspect called Yama is unaffected by time, environment, class, and intelligence.”[/I]
So, there is a difference.
In perfect circumstances yamas can be followed almost absolutely, but as we dont live like hermits, its impossible to use these principles without exceptions.
Obviously, ahimsa is the most strict one. World reflects agression like a mirror, so behaving that way brings more and more suffering circulating among living creatures.
Satya also is important but as yogis say, it may be scorned if it affects ahimsa.