Yoga Yama as Social Discipline

The word ‘yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’ (meaning to bind the yoke. It is the true union of our will with the will of God.

Our ancient sages have suggested eight stages of ‘yoga’ to secure purity of body, mind and soul. They are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. The brief explanation to these eight stages has been given below

Yama (Social Discipline)

Yama means restraint or abstention. It contains five moral practices. They are
Non-violence (Ahimsa), Truthfulness (Satya), Non-stealing (Asteya), Celibacy (Brahmacharya) and Non-acquisitiveness (Aparigraha).

Non-violence (Ahimsa) means not to hurt any creature mentally or physically through mind, speech or action. Truthfulness (Satya) is the presentation of a matter as perceived with the help of sense organs.

Non-stealing (Asteya) means not to covet and acquire physically, mentally or by speech others’ possessions.

Celibacy -Moderation in sex (Brahmacharya): Brahmacharya does not mean lifelong celibacy, but moderation in sex between married couples.

Non-acquisitiveness (Aparigraha) means abandoning wealth and means of sensual pleasures.

Yoga Helps in Mental Tension and Stress

Longing for material wealth has hardened our heart. Human values are declining. Work to time, competition and commotion have made us suffer from stress and strain. Mental tension or strain produces undesirable consequences. Stress and strain are the causes of physical as well as psychological diseases such as diabetes, cancer, acidity, ulcer, migraine and hypertension.

How can we prevent ourselves from being strained and degenerated? Should we discard science and scientific inventions? Should we return to the care-life and live as the aborigines lived?

As a matter of fact, to do so is neither practical nor necessary. Yoga has the surest remedies for man’s physical as well as psychological ailments. Yoga makes the organs of the body active in their functioning and has good effect on internal functioning of the human body. Yoga changes for good man’s views on and attitude to, life.