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273. Choose your śauca – purity, cleanliness, or clarity!?

My Daily Thread

Release Date: 05/14/2025

285.  Liar Liar ... show art 285. Liar Liar ...

My Daily Thread

Today we’re taking another pass at satya, the second yama from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The sutra we’re focusing on is YS 2.36: satya-pratiṣṭhāyāṁ kriyā-phala-āśrayatvam—when one is firmly established in truth, their actions bear fruit. This is a powerful idea. It suggests that when we are rooted in truth, what we say comes to life. Something here touches on the modern idea of manifestation but is grounded in yogic ethics—truth as a force, not just a concept. But Satya isn’t just “don’t lie.” That’s only the surface level. The deeper understanding is about...

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284.  Established in Truth! show art 284. Established in Truth!

My Daily Thread

YS 2.36 says: satya-pratiṣṭhāyām kriyā-phala-āśrayatvam — “When one is firmly established in truthfulness, then their words become so powerful that the result of action rests upon them.” We’re back in the section of the Yoga Sutras that deals with pratiṣṭhā, being deeply and firmly established in a state of being. This time, the quality is satya, truthfulness. Patanjali says that when truth becomes our natural state—when we’re rooted in it, consistent with it—then even our words start to carry the power of truth. It’s not that we control outcomes like magic. But...

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283. A mercy that starts inside... show art 283. A mercy that starts inside...

My Daily Thread

Yoga Sūtra 2.35 – ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhāyām tat-sannidhau vaira-tyāgaḥ When one is firmly established in non-violence, all hostility ceases in their presence. Today, we return to ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhām—being established in non-violence—as taught in Yoga Sūtra 2.35. We’ve already explored how the yamas and niyamas are not just rules, but deeply personal practices—moral and ethical disciplines that offer a framework for living. Simple? Yes. But easy? Not always. They are practices for managing our lives skillfully, for creating relationships rooted in integrity, peace, and...

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282.  Ahimsa and our modern Matriarchs. show art 282. Ahimsa and our modern Matriarchs.

My Daily Thread

Yoga Sūtra 2.35 – ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhāyām tat-sannidhau vaira-tyāgaḥ When one is firmly established in non-violence, then all hostility ceases in their presence. Today, we reflect again on ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhām—being firmly established in non-harming. Patanjali teaches that this is not a casual virtue but a transformative power: when someone has deeply integrated non-violence into their being, conflict and aggression fall away in their presence. We see examples of this principle embodied in historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Fred Rogers,...

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281.  A Non-violent default setting ... show art 281. A Non-violent default setting ...

My Daily Thread

Today, we return to our study of aṣṭāṅga yoga, the eight-limbed path outlined by Patañjali. As a reminder, the eight limbs are: Yama – ethical restraints Niyama – personal observances Āsana – posture Prāṇāyāma – breath regulation Pratyāhāra – withdrawal of the senses Dhāraṇā – concentration Dhyāna – meditation Samādhi – absorption or union The first four limbs are external practices—disciplines that we can actively cultivate through behavior and intention. The final four, the internal limbs, arise naturally from the consistent and...

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280.  Desire to anger, huh? show art 280. Desire to anger, huh?

My Daily Thread

Today we continue our deep dive into Yoga Sūtra 2.34, staying with the powerful teaching of pratipakṣa bhāvanam—the deliberate cultivation of opposite, positive thoughts to replace those that are harmful or negative. This is no abstract philosophy; it's a daily practice for those on the yogic path. We begin by revisiting YS 2.33: "vitarkāḥ hiṃsādayaḥ kṛta-kārita-anumoditāḥ lobha-krodha-moha-pūrvakāḥ mṛdu-madhya-adhimātrāḥ duḥkha-ajñāna-ananta-phalāḥ iti pratipakṣa-bhāvanam" Negative thoughts such as violence, whether done by oneself, instigated in...

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279.  Desire to disillusionment... show art 279. Desire to disillusionment...

My Daily Thread

Today, we continue our deep dive into Yoga Sūtra 2.34, staying with the powerful teaching of pratipakṣa bhāvanam—the deliberate cultivation of opposite, positive thoughts to replace harmful or negative ones. This is no abstract philosophy; it's a daily practice for those on the yogic path. We begin by revisiting YS 2.33: "vitarkāḥ hiṃsādayaḥ kṛta-kārita-anumoditāḥ lobha-krodha-moha-pūrvakāḥ mṛdu-madhya-adhimātrāḥ duḥkha-ajñāna-ananta-phalāḥ iti pratipakṣa-bhāvanam" Negative thoughts, such as violence, whether done by oneself, instigated in...

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278.  Don't be a greedy thief! show art 278. Don't be a greedy thief!

My Daily Thread

We continue our journey with Yoga Sūtra 2.33, and now deepen into the next verse — 2.34. If 2.33 gave us the prescription — pratipakṣa-bhāvanam — then 2.34 shows us the diagnosis, the depth of the problem. Let’s start by recalling the previous sutra: vitarka-bādhane pratipakṣa-bhāvanam वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम्॥२.३३॥ “When disturbed by negative thoughts, cultivate their opposites.” Vitarka refers to thoughts that are harmful, unwholesome, or negative — especially those rooted in violence, attachment, or...

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277.  277. "Stop it!" Bob Newhart, and thought replacement therapy.

My Daily Thread

We continue our exploration through the Sādhana Pāda, arriving again at Yoga Sūtra 2.33 — a powerful and practical teaching that has everything to do with the life we’re living today. vitarka-bādhane pratipakṣa-bhāvanam वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम्॥२.३३॥ “When disturbed by negative thoughts, cultivate the opposite.” It’s deceptively simple yet deeply profound. This teaching lives not in theory but in everyday experience. It’s all too easy to be swept up in negative thoughts or drawn into negative...

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276. Don't fight it.  Redirect .. show art 276. Don't fight it. Redirect ..

My Daily Thread

Let's review Yoga Sūtra 2.32, which lists the five niyamas, or personal observances — and in reviewing this sūtra, what strikes me most is the elegant simplicity of the path it offers. These teachings, though ancient, are profoundly relevant today — perhaps even more so in our overstimulated, fast-paced world. Let’s revisit the niyamas through a simple lens of choice: Śauca (शौच) – Choose simplicity over excess. Santoṣa (सन्तोष) – Choose gratitude over striving. Tapaḥ (तपः) – Choose effort over escape. Svādhyāya (स्वाध्याय)...

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More Episodes

Yesterday, we explored YS 2.31, and today we continue by honoring a beautiful insight from scholar Edwin Bryant. He draws particular attention to the importance of this sutra, emphasizing the universality of the mahāvratam—the great vows. When we hear the terms mahāvratam (great vow) and sārvabhauma (universal or applicable to all people, places, and times), we begin to grasp just how expansive and vital this teaching is to anyone walking the yogic path. It reminds us that these vows are not negotiable—they’re not only for monks, ascetics, or spiritual aspirants in India. They are for everyone, everywhere.

This universality gives the yamas and niyamas their enduring power. They're not bound by religion or culture. They are human truths, vibrational laws that lead to inner peace and outer harmony.

(And before we go further—a quick invitation: Join Jeff and Andrea in San Pancho, Mexico for the 2026 Yoga Retreats. Dive into these teachings in real time, through breath, movement, and deep reflection. Find all the details at www.jefflichty.com/events.)

Now, moving into YS 2.32, Patanjali introduces the second limb of aṣṭāṅga yoga: the niyamas.

YS 2.32
शौचसंतोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः
śauca-santoṣa-tapaḥ-svādhyāya-īśvara-praṇidhānāni niyamāḥ
Cleanliness, contentment, disciplined effort, self-study, and surrender to a higher power are the observances.

If you’ve been following the podcast closely, some of these words might sound familiar. The last three niyamastapaḥ (discipline or burning effort), svādhyāya (self-study), and īśvara-praṇidhāna (surrender to the divine)—were introduced back in YS 2.1 as part of kriyā yoga. These are the internal practices that help us reduce suffering and prepare the mind for samādhi.

So now we have all five niyamas:

  1. śauca – purity, cleanliness, or clarity

  2. santoṣa – contentment

  3. tapaḥ – disciplined effort

  4. svādhyāya – self-study or study of sacred texts

  5. īśvara-praṇidhāna – surrender to a higher power or letting go into the divine

Of these, śauca is considered the chief niyama, just as ahiṁsā is the cornerstone of the yamas. Purity—both inner and outer—is the ground from which the rest of the niyamas can flourish. And santoṣa, or contentment, is the subtle practice of being fully present with what is, not in resignation but in peace.

We’ll dive deeper into these in the coming days. But for now, reflect on this: What does purity look like in your own life? Where does contentment live in your heart? And can these quiet virtues become the source of strength and peace for your practice?

Until tomorrow—Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.