Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras describe an eight-step path to achieve samadhi, the state the place physique, thoughts and soul grow to be one. Niyama is the second limb of this path. It consists of 5 internal guidelines that assist a practitioner develop self-discipline, readability, and purity in day by day life.
Niyama is derived from Sanskrit and means “observance” or “constructive rule.” Whereas the Yamas information how we behave with others, the Niyamas train us how one can work with ourselves – our habits, ideas, and way of life.
Patanjali positioned Niyama early within the eight limbs as a result of it creates the appropriate mindset for non secular development. Practising Niyama builds internal energy, maintaining us regular when challenges come on the yogic journey.
Practising Niyama is like getting ready the boat and oars earlier than moving into the deep waters of non secular apply.
The aim of Niyama is to cleanse the internal setting – physique, thoughts, and spirit. When this internal steadiness is achieved, the true nature of the self begins to unfold.
Yama vs Niyama (easy distinction)
- Yama: how we act with others (social ethics); principally “don’ts.”
- Niyama: how we act with ourselves (private self-discipline); principally “dos.”
Yama and Niyama collectively kind the muse of yoga. With out the primary, the second can’t be actually practised.
Additionally Learn: What Are the 5 Yamas in Yoga?
5 Niyamas of Yoga
The 5 Niyamas are private observances that put together you for non secular development. They allow you to construct self-discipline, enhance internal qualities, and stay a balanced life.
- Shaucha – Purity of physique and thoughts
- Santosha – Internal contentment
- Tapas – Self-discipline that burns impurities
- Svadhyaya – Research of the self
- Ishvar Pranidhan – Give up to the Divine
Let’s perceive every Niyama.
1. Shaucha (Purity)
Saucha means cleanliness or holistic purity of each the physique and thoughts. It’s thought-about some of the vital elements for sustaining well being, happiness, and basic well-being.
Bodily purity could be achieved via day by day ablutions, whereas internal or psychological purity could be cultivated via the aware apply of Asana (bodily postures), Pranayama (respiration workout routines), and Dhyana (meditation). Together with day by day cleaning of the physique, the precept of Saucha additionally encourages sustaining a clear setting. Saucha consists of purity of ideas in addition to speech.
Easy methods to purify the thoughts (easy approach)
The thoughts turns into clear via self-awareness – noticing ideas, feelings, and causes behind actions.
That is referred to as Adhyatma Vidya (data of the internal self).
Common yoga apply makes mindfulness stronger, identical to muscular tissues develop when exercised.
Sensible methods to purify thoughts and mind
Listed here are easy Shaucha-based habits you possibly can apply day by day:
- Eat contemporary, pure meals: Clear meals makes the thoughts energetic and alert. Very spicy, oily, salty or stale meals disturb readability.
- Observe day by day kindness: Serving to others naturally clears ego and opens the guts.
- Communicate gently: Calm phrases carry peace inside and concord with folks round you.
- Keep engaged in significant work: An idle thoughts will get stressed and adverse.
- Continue to learn: Research books, knowledge texts, and observe your self — this hyperlinks with Swadhyaya.
- Reside morally and worship what you consider in: Practising values retains the guts clear and humble.
Shaucha in Patanjali’s Personal Phrases
By way of cleanliness and purity of physique and thoughts comes a purification of the essence, a goodness(energetic) and gladness(peaceable) of feeling, a way of focus with intentness, the mastery and union of the senses(the self-realized state), and a health, preparation and functionality for self-realization.”
~ Patanjali, Yoga sutras 2.41
2. Santosha (Contentment)
Santosha means being blissful and peaceable with no matter you’ve gotten. It’s the internal pleasure that is still regular even when life turns into difficult.
When contentment is current, we cease chasing issues with a way of lack. As a substitute, we act from completeness, steadiness, and readability. This shift brings confidence, stability, and deep internal happiness.
Santosha is commonly ignored, however Patanjali locations it on the coronary heart of non secular development. With out contentment, it’s troublesome to expertise the peace that meditation guarantees.
Saucha makes us able to do issues, Santosh is an artwork of determining what we now have and what we really wish to obtain.
Observe of Santosha
The second we realise that we’re respiration, and have eyes to see, a nostril to odor, pores and skin to really feel, tongue to style, and life to expertise, we naturally really feel peaceable and contented. Nonetheless, there’s at all times room for enchancment.
Human beings can actually really feel happy solely when the fundamental parts of life are fulfilled. Maslow’s hierarchy of wants explains the important parts that should be met for an individual to really feel genuinely blissful and peaceable.
Right here is the mountain we have to climb:
Once we observe folks’s steady efforts of their day-to-day lives and replicate on the aim behind these efforts, we realise that every thing is pushed by the will for satisfaction and peace. We attempt to derive contentment from exterior objects, and this isn’t fallacious so long as no one is harmed by our actions and our want to acquire issues is just not influenced by greed or jealousy. The need to get one thing ought to come up from real want, not from greed.
Patanjali says in Sutra 2.42 about Santosha (Contentment):
One who consistently practises contentment weakens the extreme thirst for extra, and the sattva (purity) will increase. Such an individual experiences nice happiness and enjoys heavenly pleasures.
The fascinating half is that we run all day to get the issues we wish, however we don’t achieve this with a peaceable, clear thoughts. The state during which we’re aware, clear, and deeply happy whereas performing actions is named self-realisation.
Easy methods to obtain contentment
Contentment can solely be achieved when there’s much less disturbance and extra readability in ideas. A peaceful thoughts is the last word objective of yoga, which is why eliminating psychological modifications (vrittis) is yoga.
A targeted thoughts could be developed via steady and aware apply of bodily postures, respiration methods, and meditation.
Yoga apply doesn’t finish inside an hour on the mat; it should be practised past the mat. The best way you sit, work, sort, stroll — when each motion is completed with full consciousness — that’s yoga.
Nothing comes simple, not even contentment. It should be acquired via fixed apply. That’s the reason Tapas (Perseverance) is the following Niyama.
3. Tapas (Austerity / Perseverance)
Tapas means bearing discomfort or hardship with the intention of non-public development. Even when there’s bodily or psychological problem, one continues the apply with consciousness and willpower. That is referred to as Tapas.
When studying yogic philosophy, performing asanas, or doing all of your day by day work, some discomfort might come up. One ought to stay aware of it and look at these hardships from a constructive perspective. That is the true apply of Tapas.
Tapas is often known as perseverance, and perseverance is among the important keys to success.
Each vital activity goes via many challenges earlier than attaining outcomes. Those that practise perseverance finally see progress – ultimately.
You will need to perceive that Tapas doesn’t imply being overly severe or inflexible. Relatively, it’s the internal fireplace that will get the guts pumping, awakens hope, and strengthens the will for private development..
4. Svadhyaya (Self-Research & Internal Consciousness)
Svadhyaya means self-inquiry, and it is among the strongest methods to grow to be self-realised.
It includes being conscious of what the thoughts is considering, what the physique is feeling, and what feelings are rising at any second.
Most individuals are unaware of how their physique reacts after consuming sure meals. When an individual observes how they really feel after a specific meal, they’ll change their habits if the meals doesn’t make them really feel good. This consciousness of what’s taking place within the physique and thoughts is the start of transformation. When an individual turns into conscious of their ideas and actions, introspection naturally follows, and self-knowledge grows.
Western thinkers explored and understood the exterior world, which led to the creation of innovations like gentle bulbs, automobiles, computer systems, and machines. Indian sages – the rishis and yogis – explored the internal world of ideas, emotions, and consciousness, and this is the reason they have been in a position to attain self-realisation.
Sage Patanjali himself used Swadhyaya to grasp vrittis (psychological fluctuations), kleshas (afflictions), and the last word state of peace.
The phrase “spirituality” actually means “internal.” In Sanskrit, the phrase adhyatmik refers to consciousness of 1’s physique and thoughts. Practising yoga asanas makes us conscious of the physique, pranayama builds consciousness of the breath, and meditation deepens consciousness of ideas.
In essence, Swadhyaya is about how effectively your self. As Lao Tzu fantastically mentioned:
One who is aware of others is sensible and one who is aware of himself is self-realized.
5. Ishvara Pranidhan (Devotion)
The final Niyama, Ishvara Pranidhana, is the apply of surrendering or dedicating the outcomes of your actions to a better Self or increased function. This perspective prevents the ego of “I” from getting into into your actions, and your work naturally turns into a part of karma yoga.
Patanjali describes Ishwara as “Purusha Vishesha,” a particular sort of pure consciousness — one who by no means was embodied, is just not embodied, and can by no means be embodied.
The core instructing of yoga revolves across the actuality that each one consciousness has one supply. By way of the apply of Ishwara Pranidhana, we realise this reality as we permit our consciousness to maneuver from thought to thought with mindfulness.
This Niyama additionally turns into a robust answer to human struggling.
Maharshi Patanjali thought-about OM (AUM) because the treatment for all struggling. Many sages skilled supreme energy and peace just by chanting the syllable AUM.
Chanting AUM is among the best methods to focus the thoughts and hold the physique relaxed. You’ll be able to chant it whereas driving, sitting, travelling, strolling or working. Attempt it your self and expertise the way it calms the thoughts.
Conclusion
The 5 Niyamas information the internal self-discipline of a yoga practitioner and assist purify the thoughts and physique. Saucha brings cleanliness and readability, Santosha develops internal contentment, Tapas strengthens perseverance, Swadhyaya builds self-awareness, and Ishwara Pranidhana teaches give up. Collectively, these observances kind the muse of yoga, getting ready the practitioner for peace, focus, and non secular development.