The Zen principle of 'clean house, clean mind' has always resonated with me. In the bathroom... - I know what you're thinking! 'Does she always have these lightbulb moments in the bathroom?' - well yes, it turns out sometimes, I do! I was reminded of Patanjali's Yamas & Niyamas.
I had spent the majority of the day in a cleansing, cleaning spree [saucha or cleanliness for the home], settled into a hot bath [cleanliness for me], had the satisfaction of [santosha] contentment, wondered if I would have the tapas [will-power or discipline] to finish the cleaning the next morning, did a little swadhyaya [self-study] & then Ishwara Pranidhana [surrender] I simply ‘let go.’
I relaxed in the tub & watched the steam rise up past the white candle, & float away. This is a simple, practical example of how the niyamas can work.
Raja Yoga is one of the five main classical paths of yoga.
Raja Yoga is a comprehensive yoga system that deals with the refinement of human behaviour and personality through the practices of the following;
· Yamas; (restraint) and Niyamas (disciplines)
· Asanas (postures) and Pranayamas (pranic breathing techniques). Initially, around ten thousand years ago, there were 4 yoga asanas. These were meditation (seated) asanas designed to align the chakras & allow the yogi to reach enlightenment. 6,000 years into yoga the saints, rishis & seers wanted to create a system of postures to increase the longevity of practitioners who were all dying at around 40 years of age, an age that only few had reached self-realisation. This is when the majority of asanas we know today were invented.
· Pratyahara (sensory withdrawal) and Dharana (concentration) management of mental and emotional conflicts and development of awareness and concentration.
· Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (absorption in the universal identity/enlightenment/self-realisation) and developing the creative aspect of consciousness for transcendental awareness.
For each yama & niyama we can employ a variety of yoga techniques.
Satya (truth) truthfulness in every living breathe ie. thought, word & deed. The entire universe runs on this basic principle. We need to closely observe our thoughts to see if they reflect what we say & then what we do. An overwhelming sense of peace can dawn over us when we practice satya.
Ahimsa (non-violence) non-violence towards others animals, the earth, and ourselves. It encompasses not just physical non-violence but also emotional non-violence. It means love, harmlessness, and non-killing. It is the absence of enmity, harm & hostility.
Asteya (honesty) the absence of self-deceit. One is able to see the self, circumstances & environment for what it really is. What is needed here is the ability to see situations, yourself etc from a variety of angles. Take care when making decisions. When the spiritual aspirant is established in the yogic virtue of honesty, she develops within herself a power of cognition like clairvoyance or intuitive awareness.
Brahmacharaya (control) control over the mind & therefore body. It is said that physical energy is closely linked with spiritual energy. If you decide to make an improvement on yourself & this is difficult & challenging to stick with it is considered a form of bramacharaya.
Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) these encompass material objects & also mind objects. To be able to detach & not rely or need these objects is to practise aparigraha. One can still have these objects but the point is that as long as they do not rely on them being there for satisfaction it is okay.
Saucha (cleanliness) includes the state of the physical, mental & spiritual bodies. There are five levels of the body or koshas. These start with the gross level of the physical body (annamaya & pranamaya) & lead to the bliss body (anandamaya kosha). For complete cleanliness all the koshas need to be purified. By the practice of mental purity one acquires cheerfulness, one-pointedness, sense control & vision of the true self.
Santosha (contentment) under any circumstance one should feel easy. One needs to understand that everything happens for a reason. Having faith in God, the greater good, cosmic will (whatever you want to call it) is practising contentment. Santosha is a form of surrender. Unexcelled happiness comes from the practice of contentment.
Tapas (austerity) are the use of willpower & discipline. Tapas burns away impurities. In order for one to practise true meditation we need to be free from all impurities, body & mind.
Swadhyaya (self-study) through self-observation we can begin to realise our imperfections & accept ourselves for these. We can be gentle on ourselves & start to purify & peel away the layers to reveal our true selves. When this occurs we can then become more clearly focused.
Ishwara Pranidhana (surrender) is when we simply ‘let go.’ We may have had glimpses of this, especially as mothers & parents, things appear chaotic & then we sit back & watch. This is a state of mind when we understand that we are merely instruments in the hands of God or the cosmic will. A state where we are totally unaware of the body & the mind is able to develop awareness & remain in a state of tranquillity & peace.
For spiritual development - think about these virtues & practices. Consider the ones that you use strongly. The ones that need a bit more love, care & tenderness write in your spiritual journal & practise for the following few months. Keep track of your progress. Remember to be honest with yourself.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati (2000). Four Chapters on Freedom. Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India.
Four Chapters on Freedom contains the full Sanskrit text of Rishi Patanjali's Yoga sutras as well as transliteration,translation and an extensive commentary. For me, this is a desert island book.
The children's area rearranged, encouraging new energy & transformation into the area. I also included a warm, snug little reading corner, perfect for the chillier weather.
Sunset over the back deck. A peaceful end to a wonderfilled day.
