Yama (Moderation)

"Yama" literally means “discipline or control" In the present context it means "self-control, patience or any great rule or duty." It can also be interpreted as "attitude" or "behaviour." Of course a certain attitude can be expressed as discipline, which then affects your behaviour. Patanjali's Yoga Sutra mentions five Yamas, that is, the relationship or behaviour between the individual and the world.

The prescribed rules are:

Ahinsa or Ahimsa (Non Violence)

The word ahimsa literally means that no animal or any person should be hurt or brutalized in any way. Non-violence is more than mere lack of violence in pursuit of yoga. It means kindness, friendship, and careful consideration of other people and things. It is also related to your duties and responsibilities. This may mean that if our lives are in danger, we must fight. Non-violence suggests that in every situation we should adopt the considered attitude.

Satya (Truth)

Satya means "speaking the truth," but it is not always desirable to speak the truth on all occasions, as it can cause unnecessary harm to someone. We need to think about what we say, how we say it, and how it can affect others. If speaking the truth results in negative consequences for someone, then it is best to say nothing. When we speak the truth it should not lead to a conflict with ahimsa. In the Mahabharata, the great Indian epic it is said: "Speak the truth that is pleasing. Do not speak unpleasant truths. Do not lie, even though false pleases the ears, it is the eternal rule." Please note that this does not mean lying. Silence and lying are two different things.

Asteya (Non stealing)

Asteya is the third Yama. Steya means "to steal"; Asteya is about not taking anything that is not yours. This means that if we are in a situation where someone entrusts or trusts us, we do not take advantage of him or her. We should refrain from taking what is not ours, considering the right of consciousness and karma.

Brahmacharya (Control on Senses)

Brahmacharya is a movement towards essential truths. It is mostly used in the sense of restraint, especially in relation to sexual activity. Brahmacharya suggests that we should create relationships that increase our understanding of higher truths. If sexual pleasure is part of the relationship, we need to be careful that we maintain our direction and not lose it. Avoid situations that distract you from seeking eternal truth. There are ways to control the sexual desires and perceptual senses. Brahmacharya does not actually imply celibacy. Instead, it implies to our responsible behaviour in the context of our intention to move towards the truth.

Aparigraha (Neutralizing the desire to acquire and hold wealth)

The last Yama is Aparigraha, which means "hands off" or "not getting a chance". Parigraha means "to seize or "to take." Insubordination is not just taking what is necessary and taking advantage of a situation or committing greed. We must take what we actually need; if we take too much we are exploiting another. In addition, unearned rewards can bring with them responsibilities that can then lead to problems.

The Yoga Sutra tells us what happens when all these five behaviours described above become part of a person's daily life. For example, as we develop nonviolence, our presence creates a pleasant and friendly feeling in the people around us. And if we stay true to the idea of ​​truth, then everything we say will be true. We'll be reliable. In India, one's word is considered as the greatest asset. The Yoga Sutra also states that a person who anchors firmly will get all the jewels of this world. Such a person may not be interested in material possessions, but he or she will have access to the good things in life.

The more we know and discover the meaning of the essential truth, the more we will be distracted from other things. It definitely needs a lot of power to go this route. The Yoga sutra teaches that the more we trust, the more energy we have. At the same time, you have more power to pursue your goals. So the more we seek the truth in the sense of celibacy, the more power we have to gain.

Parigraha is a growing trend toward material things. If we reduce the circumference and develop the upper one, we make ourselves more introverted. The less time we spend on our physical objects, the more we have to spend on everything that is called yoga. We will learn to enjoy what we have rather than constantly searching for what we do not have and never being satisfied in life. It is a scientific fact that the more money and material possessions we have, the more stressful we are.