Asteya, the third yama of Patanjali’s Yoga, is non-stealing. It is more than not taking somebody else’s stuff. Behind the principle of asteya) is the notion of abundance, the idea that there is enough for everyone and everything is connected. In an ideal world, we would all share resources. Everyone would contribute to the community, … [Read more…]
Every moral code includes truthfulness. Truth in yoga is the second yama, satya in Sanskrit. It is not a simple matter of not telling a lie. Satya requires authenticity. Why is truth so important, and what exactly does it mean to be truthful? Healthy relationships are based on authenticity. We cannot be authentic unless we are … [Read more…]
The very first step on Patanjali’s eight-limbed path of yoga is the first yama: ahimsa. The word means nonviolence or non-harming. It can also be thought of as kindness. Understanding the First Yama Practicing ahimsa means doing no harm. We act with kindness toward other people, other beings, and the universe itself. Most of us … [Read more…]
Recently, I was discussing life after death with a friend. I’d mentioned something about the concept of reincarnation in Buddhism. My friend pointed out that Jesus described heaven as a house with many mansions (or rooms). Later that day, I found a new way of understanding the Jesus the yogi when I thought more about … [Read more…]
Most of us in the West have heard of the Ten Commandments. If you’re a yogi, you probably also know about the five yamas and the five niyamas. If you don’t, they are the principles the yogic sage Patanjali gave yogis as a guide for right living; think of them as the ten commandments for … [Read more…]
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are full of wisdom. The goal of Patanjali’s yoga is Self-realization, but we can use the wisdom of the sutras in everyday life. While we’d love to be enlightened beings all the time, we’re human. One way the sutras help us is by teaching us how to deal with people. … [Read more…]
If you’ve practiced yoga for a while, you may have begun to notice how yoga affects the emotional brain. By yoga, I don’t mean just the physical postures, but the whole practice. As one my teachers used to say often, we are always practicing yoga. The Emotional Brain and Yoga There are different ways to define yoga, … [Read more…]
Is yoga a religion? You may already have an answer to this question, but your answer probably depends on how you define religion. Whether you think of yoga as a religion or not, it’s hard to deny that yoga practiced with deep devotion has a lot in common with religion. If you practice classical yoga, … [Read more…]
Recently, I had the opportunity to learn the basics of Buddhism at the beautiful Dharmakaya Center For Wellbeing in Cragsmoor, New York. Like any good yogi, I’ve explored Buddhism before, but what I knew about it was mostly some vocabulary words (like Nirvana, liberation, Noble Truths, and Eightfold Path) and meditation practices and philosophical ideas … [Read more…]
In an early-morning yoga class one day, our teacher asked which poses we love to do. This seamlessly led to a discussion of which poses we hate. (For the record, I love warrior poses and twists.) The consensus: among the more dreaded poses was utkatasana, or “awkward chair.” You probably know the pose. (If not, check … [Read more…]