The Yamas and Niyamas are a moral code of conduct: Every system and healing modality has its own moral code of conduct. If you are a doctor, nurse, Thai practitioner, Christian, Buddhist, lawyer, you have a written or verbal set of morals codes in which to follow so that you can be the very best that you can be in that field and with integrity. Yamas are actions that we are to abstain from and niyamas are actions that we are to observe in order to bring our energies into a balanced state. In Kriya Yoga we are always striving to bring our energies into a balanced state (sattva). A balanced state promotes a strong foundation, strong self- awareness and the ability to see things from a clear and honest perspective. In this teaching, we will explore the 5 yamas and how they relate to our modern everyday life and how they relate to addictions. There will also be recommendations on techniques and game changer skills that can guide you on practicing the yamas as a way of living your everyday life with ease, integrity and compassion. 

The first Yama is Ahimsa and it means non-violence. The practice of non-violence, as with all the yamas, exist on three levels; intellectual, verbal and physical and is also to be practiced with ourselves and with all life forms. Ahimsa encourages compassion and kindness on all levels with all sentient beings including animals and nature.

Intellectual Non-Violence: According to Goswami Kriyananda, ‘The main source of non-violence is within our intellects. Our intellects ascertain harmonious and inharmonious energies of the mind which eventually will play out in speech and eventually in action.’ In this same regard, Lao Tzu also has a quote: ‘Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.’ What both of these yogis are saying is that our lives are dictated by our thoughts. And if our thoughts are judgmental and harming then our words, actions and personalities will be judgmental and harmful. It is pretty easy to say that I will not harm another or myself with my fist but we often hurt others by our words and our thoughts. So therefore to master ahimsa, we begin by controlling the mind from thinking inharmonious and hurtful thoughts using intentional or volitional practices and techniques. Here are a few techniques that are Game Changer Skills which with disciplined practice will free the mind from harmful thinking:

•  When you become aware that you are thinking harmful thoughts, repeat either mentally or verbally, Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. There is an entire teaching on this practice. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantih Teaching: Free yourself from negative thinking. Free me, free them. Free them, free me. Let the hurt be healed, let the karma be dissolved.

•  The mind is plastic and it will bend the direction it is most used to and to those grooves which are the deepest. So when you notice yourself having a negative thought towards yourself or others, refresh the mind by thinking three positive attributes of the person or situation. Make new grooves in the mind! Make new grooves in the mind! Make new grooves in the mind.

• Take a few mindful breaths when you are emotional, before speaking or going out into the world. It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves when we are emotional. There is more about this in the teaching on Emotions and Emotionality.

Verbal ahimsa looks like name calling, insulting statements, sarcasm, and angry speech. Talking about someone behind their back is harmful. Verbal harming of self is a four word sentence that I hear all the time, “I cant do this”. Whether it is in a yoga class with physical postures, or when we are trying a new thing, like learning the guitar or learning how to crochet. We set ourselves up for failure. If we could just be present with ourselves when trying new things and be our own friend. If a friend were to tell us that they were going to learn something new, we would say “you go girl, you can learn the guitar. That is so cool of you!”. So in many respects we are much, much tougher on ourselves. Once we start being gentle, compassionate and harmonious in our thoughts, we will speak more softly, more kindly and more wisely. And more wisely may be not speaking at all! Listening can be a beautiful ahimsa practice and Game Changer Skill!!

Physical ahimsa is non-harming others and self through bruising, cutting, or wounding which is the most obvious of harming. But physical harming of self may also look like improper diet, over exercising, and harmful mode of living. Anything that causes harm to the body. Physical harming is going too far into a pose because of ego or we think we should be able to touch the floor or touch our toes.

Karma and ahimsa. The practice of ahimsa brings about an accumulation of good karma in this lifetime and other lifetimes. Goswami Kriyananda says “Every time you see a person happy, be happy for that person. Every time you see a person succeed, be happy for that person. In doing so you increase the happiness in the world, for we are all bound by a morphogenetic force-field. We are bound together by a mysterious attunement- positive or negative. Be positive.” What this is saying is that if we are kind, kindness will come to us. That is karma. Law of cause and effect. Practicing ahimsa not only brings about a centered and balanced state of mind, but it magnetically and mystically draws into your life non-violent people and events. When you begin to develop self worth and stability from the practice of ahimsa you open yourself to receiving kindness from others. You open yourself to new opportunities of growth, happiness and contentment (santosha). All this along with sending out peace blessings (Om Shanti) will produce the good karma you need to neutralize and soften your inharmonious tank of karma. Your life will begin to change. As you free yourself from negative thinking, you are also opening up the space for others to be kind.

Ahimsa is the most recognized and important yama discussed and practiced in Kriya Yoga. It is upon this yama that the foundation for the other yamas ore established. And it is upon this practice of ahimsa that we move through life creating a higher vibrational attitude. Do you notice when you are around a negative person, it starts to wear on you and pretty soon you are cussing too. The same thing can happen with compassion and gentleness. As you soften your voice, the room quiets, and soon others will start speaking just a bit more softly. And I guarantee you when you can hold your head high because you have mastered ahimsa, the world will step aside and support you on your path to happiness, contentedness and bliss. It is said in the Gita that to become enlightened (free of the cycle of death and rebirth), one can meditate, but if one cannot meditate, then one can learn concentration and if one cannot learn concentration then one can go about doing good deeds! Practicing ahimsa and doing good deeds alone can bring you to a state of samadhi!

What can you do to practice ahimsa? Self Awareness! Start noticing your thoughts! And then change them!!

The 2nd Yama is Satya or truthfulness. What is really important here is truthfulness should only be spoken when it is non harming to others. Words and thoughts should always be examined before speaking to ensure those words will bring good to all, and no harm to any or all. Here is a yogi story from Goswami Kriyananda’s book, The Spiritual Science of Kriya Yoga: Once upon a yogi time, a saint was meditating in a forest and a deer passed by. Shortly there after, a hunter came pursuing the deer and asked the saint, ‘Did you see the deer?’ The saint spoke saying, ‘Yes, I have seen the dear.’ Then the hunter asked, ‘Which way did it go?’ Now, if the saint tells the truth, the hunter will kill the deer. If, on the other hand, he does not tell the truth, he will violate the practice of verbal truthfulness. What should he do? It is late in the year, and if the saint does not speak truth, the hunter and family will starve. What should he do?

What is truthfulness and how do I know that my truth aligns with what is good. Truthfulness is honesty, accuracy, reality, purity, ect… In todays social media world we are constantly surrounded by comments and interactions from people we do not even know. We tend to believe the things we want to believe, that support our preferences. And then with a single touch of a finger we spread this comment and sometimes misinformation to millions of people. It is the yama of truthfulness that says it is our responsibility to check out what is being said for accuracy and even if it is accurate also making sure that what is being said does not harm another. There is enough negativity in the world. The world needs more honest and compassionate individuals and information. What can we do to promote happiness, health and prosperity.

Truthfulness begins with self. Are we being honest with ourselves? Are we able to sit with ourselves in loving awareness and become aware of our feelings, our desires, our fears and in our judgments in a loving and compassionate way. We are not perfect; we all have fear, judgment, shame. Satya or Truthfulness allows us to see these fluctuations of the mind with awareness rather than judgement and ignorance. With awareness we are able to heal and transform our lives. In every SR meeting we begin with a Loving Awareness Practice.  There is no failures in life. With self-awareness and truthful examination we can come out of any situation more mature and compassionate. 

Physical Truthfulness: As truthfulness becomes unified in mind and speech so too will it reflect in our actions. This physical truthfulness uplifts the mind and tends to balance and uplift the pranic currents which is the goal of anyone walking a spiritual path.

The 3rd yama is asteya. Asteya is non-stealing, in thoughts, words or deeds. Do not take from another, intellectually, verbally or physically without permission. Taking objects from another without permission is stealing. Also taking someone’s idea without permission is stealing. Taking someones joy from them is stealing. This one spoke to me loudly. How often, out of jealousy, do we steal people’s joy and happiness by thinking, they do not deserve to be joyful or happy? Be happy for others!! Be happy for your own successes!! Truly be happy for others and others will be happy for your success and joy!! And this will produce wonderful karma!! How do we steal from ourselves? By not appreciating our own gifts. I can hear myself say “oh it was just luck that my pottery firing went well”. Acknowledge your hard work and your gifts!

Brahmacharya, the 4th Yama is non-promiscuous or restraint from excessiveness. For someone in the monk-hood it would mean refrain from sensuality. But for householder or for modern day purposes, it means, to stay in conduct of one’s own soul and learn moderation in all facets of life. Moderation in consumption, luxuries, exercise and work. Moderation balances our energies and helps us develop a sense of well being.

Aparigraha (non-greed) is the 5th yama but second most important yama to be practiced because it is the most important element in controlling the life force currents. Greed happens when our mind craves and desires and the mind will do everything it can to have what it desires. This scatters our life force energies as we grasp for  these temporary pleasures. When the mind is craving and desiring, it may begin to feel that it never has enough and feels the need to possess. And besides scattering our life force, we have the tendency to start doing unthinkable things to possess what the mind desires. Addiction behaves similar to greed! So, what can we do when we crave? What if we could gather our life-force, draw it inward and then direct it upward to a higher state of consciousness? We do this at every meeting when we do the Kriya Rotation. We can do this through meditation, chanting, hatha yoga (physical yoga postures) or reading a really good book or some kind of art form that brings you into the very present moment. Anything that brings those scattered energies back inward and upward! The upward or higher state of consciousness doesn’t even have to be that high if you think about your state of consciousness when you are grasping at life! This does not mean that we cannot enjoy life, a beautiful hat, a good cup of coffee or comfortable driving car. But our wants should be harmonious to our spiritual advancement and sense of being. As we move to a centered being and to a place of self-awareness we can see the nature of the mind and see the grasping or the greed seeking tendencies and choose volitionally what is best for you. 

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The Dalai Lama says about greed: 'Greed robs us of our ability to appreciate the simple things in life.'

In our country of America, we have a very greedy concept; to be happy one must own land, your own overly sized home, 2-3 road vehicles, off road vehicles, vacation homes, pleasure crafts, ect. And most people are in debt to have all these things. Americans will work overtime, away from home and long hours to acquire these things that they consider "will buy them happiness". We have lost the art of living life simply and finding happiness in nature and connecting with one another. 

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Fear also drives greediness. Remember what happen when covid hit? People were afraid that they would run out of toilet paper. So everyone got greedy and bought up all the toilet paper on the shelf. Thermometers and Tylenol could not be bought by those who needed it because the same thing happened with those products; bought out by people who feared they would not have access to them if they needed. The Native Americans have a practice of always leaving enough for their relations. They honor what Great Spirit has provided and in this practice share with others their blessings. The Native Americans are resilient and strong people!

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Greed and addictions. When we are addicted, our minds are obsessed. We have the same grasping tendencies to get what we need to the fault of harming ourselves, and others as greed does. With addictions, we lose out in enjoying the simple pleasures of life. We are chained to our addiction. We have fear that our addiction will not be fed. We buy up all the toilet paper on the shelf! The mind is in a constant state of flux. It is not the objects of addiction or the objects of greed that are the problem. It is the mind that is the problem. Self-awareness again is the key to see the mind and how it clings to certain things. When we can see the mind as the mind doing what it does; thinking, grasping, fearing, then we can say "neti, neti, neti" I am not thought, thought is not me, I am not thought at all. Neti, neti, neti  is a Game Changer Skill that allows us to move away from the fluctuations of the mind, and move into the present moment of breathing and finding the inner strength to choose wisely and volitionally.

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Being overly talkative can look like verbal greediness. When someone is overly talkative, others do not get a chance to speak or share their ideas or stories. Say what needs to be said in as few words as possible and let others share. Mauna is a yogic practice of silence. Not only does Mauna help develop Good Listening Skills but quietness also brings the energies inward instead of scattering the energies “out there.”

Physical non-greed is practicing detachment and seeking only what your needs are. This is not saying you can have no pleasures. Pleasures (kama) are part of the goals of human life. Can you be volitional in choosing what pleasures help you, and especially not hinder, your spiritual advancement?

What practices help you live more inline with Aparigraha:

• Neti, neti, neti: I am not my thoughts. 

• Have a practice everyday, even if it is just a 5 minute sit! Meditate, do the Kriya rotation, discern, become self-aware, draw your life-energies inward. Vow to step back when the mind desires and craves, and see the mind as the mind doing what the mind does; desiring and following old patterns.

• Practice compassion when you do lose the battle over the mind's desires. Enjoy the indulge and move on. More time will lapse between indulging and grasping as your practice gets stronger and stronger. And as your practice gets stronger and stronger, your conscious mind will begin to communicate and see your subconscious mind. This is the ultimate goal of yoga. When your conscious mind and your subconscious mind begin to merge, those lurking hidden wants and desires and tendencies will not be able to run the show!!

• Start or renew your gratitude practice if you do not already have one. Appreciating what you have draws your energies inward and says to the mind, I have all that I need. 

• Loving Awareness Practice; Finding in yourself that you are perfect whole and complete just the way you are, right now in this moment. 

• Ask for help. Ask Ganesha to sweep clear your path so that you can make time and effort to do the practices. Do this for yourself. Do for yourself that which no other can do for you!! Do for yourself that which you cannot do for others.

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Shanti, Shanti, Shantih

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