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Yamas

Ethical rules in Hinduism and Yoga

Summary

Ethical rules in Hinduism and Yoga

the concept in Hinduism

The sa (), and their complement, the niyamas, represent a series of "right living" or ethical rules within Yoga philosophy. The word sa means "reining in" or "control".

The earliest mention of sa is in the Rigveda. More than fifty texts of Hinduism, from its various traditions, discuss sa. Patañjali lists five sa in his Yoga Sūtras. Ten yamas are codified as "the restraints" in numerous Hindu texts, including Yajnavalkya Smriti in verse 3.313, the Śāṇḍilya and Vārāha Upanishads, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Svātmārāma, and the Tirumantiram of Tirumular.{{multiref2 isbn=978-0892818204 |page=229}}

The sa apply broadly and include self-restraints in one's actions, words, and thoughts.

Etymology and meaning

The earliest mention of sa is found in the Hindu scripture Rigveda, such as in verse 5.61.2, and later in the Jain Agamas. The word sa in the Rigveda means a "rein, curb", the act of checking or curbing, restraining such as by a charioteer or a driver. The sa were explained in detail by Patañjali in the Yoga Sūtras of Patanjali as the first step of the eight-fold path of yogic philosophy and practice for attaining enlightenment and union of the mind, body and soul.

sa means "restraint", particularly "from actions, words, or thoughts that may cause harm".

Yamas by source

The number of Yamas varies with the source:

No.5 Yamas
Yogasūtra 2.30
cf. Ethics of Jainism10 Yamas
Śāṇḍilya Upanishad,
Svātmārāma{{multiref2
last1=Lorenzenfirst1=Davidtitle=The Kāpālikas and Kālāmukhasyear=1972publisher=University of California Pressisbn=978-0520018426pages=186–190url=https://archive.org/details/kapalikaskalamuk0000lore/page/186 }}title=Merging with Śiva: Hinduism's contemporary metaphysicslast= Subramuniyapublisher=Himalayan Academy Publicationsyear=2003isbn=978-0945497998page=155url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JupkNVxfwHgC}}
1Ahiṃsā (अहिंसा): Non-violence (literally "Non-harming")
2Satya (सत्य): Truthfulness (Not lying); speech that is non-deceptive, non-distorted, and purposeful
3Asteya (अस्तेय): Not stealing
4Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): Chastity, sexual restraint,{{multiref21=first=Jeffreylast=Longyear=2009title=Jainism: An Introductionpublisher=IB Taurisisbn=978-1845116262pages=101, 109quote=The fourth vow—brahmacarya—means for laypersons, marital fidelity and pre-marital celibacy; for ascetics, it means absolute celibacy; John Cort explains, 'Brahmacharya involves having sex only with one's spouse, as well as the avoidance of ardent gazing or lewd gestures...'}}}} focus (not distracted)
5Aparigraha (अपरिग्रहः): Non-avarice, non-possessiveness
6—Kṣamā (क्षमा): Patience, forgiveness.
7—Dhrti (धृति): Fortitude, perseverance with the aim to reach the goal
8—Dayā (दया): Compassion
9—Ārjava (आर्जव): Non-hypocrisy, sincerity
10—Mitāhāra (मिताहार): Measured diet

At least sixty ancient and medieval era Indian texts are known that discuss sa. Most are in Sanskrit, but some are in regional Indian languages. Of the sixty, the lists in eleven of these texts are similar, but not the same, as that of Patanjali's. Other texts list between one and ten sa; however, ten is the most common.

The order of listed sa, the names and nature of each sa, as well as the relative emphasis vary between the texts. Some texts use the reverse of sa in other texts, as sa; for example, sa (dispassion from hedonism, somewhat reverse of the sa sa) is described in verse 33 of Trishikhi Brahmana Upanishad in its list of sa. In verse 31.21, Ahirbudhnya Samhita includes sa as the virtue of forgiveness and restraint from continued agitation from wrong others have done. lists many of the ten sa above, but explains why it is a virtue in a different way. For example, the text explains sa is an ethical precept and the restraint from too much and too little emotions. It suggests sa reflects one's inner state, is the expression of kindness towards kin, friend, stranger, and even a hostile person, and that one must remain good and kind no matter what the circumstances. This view of sa is shared in Shandilya Upanishad and Jabala Darshana Upanishad. Atri Samhita in verse 48, lists sa (आनृशंस्य) as the restraint from cruelty to any living being by one's actions, words or in thoughts. Shivayoga Dipika in verse 2.9 substitutes sa for sa, defining sa as "sweet and true speech".

References

References

  1. Lasater, Judith. (November–December 1998). "Beginning the Journey". [[Yoga Journal]].
  2. Weiss, Debra. (2006). "Ahimsa: Nonviolence from a Yoga Perspective". Fellowship.
  3. Monier-Williams, Monier. "Sanskrit English Dictionary with Etymology". Oxford University Press.
  4. (June 30, 2021). "Yama".
  5. Sanskrit: क्व वोऽश्वाः क्वाभीशवः कथं शेक कथा यय । पृष्ठे सदो नसो'''र्यमः''' ॥२॥ ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेद:_सूक्तं_५.६१ ऋग्वेद: सूक्तं ५.६१] Rigveda, Wikisource)
  6. Sturgess, Stephen. (2014). "Yoga Meditation: Still Your Mind and Awaken Your Inner Spirit". Watkins Publishing Limited.
  7. (1904). "Pātañjalayogasūtrāṇi". Ānandāśrama.
  8. Aiyar, K. N.. (1914). "Thirty Minor Upanishads". Kessinger Publishing.
  9. Svātmārāma. (1997). "The Hatha Yoga Pradipika". Forgotten Books.
  10. Mookerji, Radha Kumud. (1998). "Ancient Indian education: brahmanical and Buddhist". Motilal Banarsidass.
  11. Dhand, Arti. (2002). "The dharma of ethics, the ethics of dharma: Quizzing the ideals of Hinduism". Journal of Religious Ethics.
  12. Sovatsky, Stuart. (1998). "Words from the Soul: Time, East/West Spirituality, and Psychotherapeutic Narrative". State University of New York.
  13. Sinha, Jadunath. "Indian Psychology". Motilal Banarsidas.
  14. Bharti, S.V.. (2001). "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: With the Exposition of Vyasa". Motilal Banarsidas.
  15. Varenne, Jean. (1976). "Yoga and the Hindu Tradition". University of Chicago Press.
  16. "AnRzaMsya".
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