The Codes of Joy

Today I am taking the time to discuss the Codes of Joy.

The yoga sutras is one of the classic writings of yoga and covers the philosophy of Raja Yoga. In Raja yoga one learns how to rule the mind. To govern the emotions. 

It is a path whereby we can achieve Self-realization but for most of us it is managing the mind! There are eight limbs to Raja yoga and today we will be discussing the first 2, the yamas and niyamas. These are often referred to as codes of conduct for social interactions and personal codes for interactions with oneself. Tune in to find out how the Codes OF JOY move us in the direction of being more aware of who we are and how we live our lives now, so that we can act more in line with our higher self and create a life filled with harmony and joy.

They may sound a bit like the 10 commandments, but they are not meant to be used for moral positioning.

Purpose is not to tell you what to believe and how to be “good” vs. “evil”.

• Equip you to meet situations with flexibility, wisdom and understanding

• Will help you to live life more simply with less disturbance due to situations you face

• Overcome the negative traits of personality

YAMAS – there are 5

• Social codes of conduct

• Focus on intentions rather than the action

• Virtues that strengthen and purify the mind

• To be understood as principles to prepare one for actions in life

• Value the spirit of each principle without rigidity

• Bring clarity, focus and objectivity to our situations

AHIMSA=NONHARMING

• Refrain from harm in thought, word and deed

• Violence is a reaction to fear

• Motivation vs. Action

• Others as well as self

• Gross level

  • War and terrorism 

  • Killing and Abuse 

  • Polluting and taxing natural resources 

• Subtle level

  • Inability to accept and love ourselves

  • Thinking we know what’s better for others

How do we start practicing? With all of these we must start small with achievable goals.

• To change the world we have to change ourselves

• Be aware of fear and what you do to feel secure

• Learn how to practice self-acceptance

• Show love – nurture yourself so you can love others

• Practice acts of kindness – first step toward compassion

SATYA-TRUTHFULNESS

• Measure truthfulness against nonviolence – go hand in hand – no need to mow someone down with your idea of truth

• Ask yourself if what you say is for the benefit of all or is there a motive behind “telling it like it is”

• Truth can be fluid

  • Tough intervention with a loved one experiencing alcoholism

  • Heaping praise on a small child’s artwork

• Putting on a front is a form of a lie

• When we keep saying “should” we are abiding from sets of rules that we have been indoctrinated with from our families, culture, religion, employment, etc.  

• We may be suppressing our authentic nature and this results in a dullness because our energy is used to numb our authentic nature

How do we start practicing then?

• Be authentic rather than nice

• Be willing to grow rather than “belong”

  • This requires you to learn to see what isn’t there

  • Tap into your most heartfelt needs

• Show up to every moment 

ASTEYA-NONSTEALING

• Not robbing a bank, but stealing in little ways?

• Taking a few office supplies, checking email and Facebook on company time, taking credit for other’s ideas

• Stealing from others

  • One upmanship

  • Turning the conversation to be about us rather than being present with others

• Stealing from future

• Stealing from ourselves

Hard work is fine, but we often work without knowing what is our heartfelt need 

• We often have exactly what we need or more than we need, but we aren’t aware enough to see it

How do we start practicing?

• Be fully present with others by supporting and uplifting

• Be aware of our excesses – need vs want

• Be grateful for what we have rather focusing on what we don’t have

• Quit placing demands and expectations on ourselves that steal our enthusiasm and prevent us from living fully

• Build your competency of life

BRAHMACHARYA-BE WITH ONE’S HIGHER SELF

• Avoidance of nonproductive expenditures of energy

• Sometimes defined as celibacy but so much more

• Entering you day with a sense of sacred rather than indulgence

• What the Buddhists call the middle path

• How many ways do you expend energy that takes you away from your higher purpose?

How do we start practicing?

• Truly learn the meaning of “ENOUGH”

• Look at our needs rather than wants

• Cultivate a sense of wonder

• Ask yourself, “What makes me feel alive?”

APARIGRAHA-NOPOSSESSIVENESS

• Can also be nonattachment, nonclinging, nongrasping, noncoveting

• Simply it is being able to “let go”

• Not letting our possessions possess us

• Story of the monkey catchers

• the things we cling to require maintenance and energy

How do we start practicing?

• Practice nonattachment – clean out our closet and life

• The fewer attachments we have the lighter and freer we become

• Give generously with unfailing trust

• Remember a bird cannot fly holding onto its perch

NIYAMAS – THERE ARE ALSO 5

• Personal codes of conduct

• Principles that guide spiritual growth

SAUCHA-PURIFY

• To clean the body, mind and actions

• Simple, easy to digest diet yields strong physical energy

• Asanas, Pranayamas, Shatkarmas

• Purifying unresolved mental patterns

• Whatever form purification takes, we become “lighter”

How do we start practicing?

• What “loads” weigh you down?  

• What areas of life feel toxic?

• Clean up your life, your relationships, your body, your spaces.

• Purify your mind by accepting all the pieces of yourself.

• Slow down, be present and pure in the moment

SANTOSHA-CONTENTMENT

• There is a Chinese proverb that says, “People in the West are always getting ready to live.”

• Santosha can only be achieved by being in the present moment

• Contentment cannot exist alongside craving and seeking more

• Contentment will never come by reliving the past

How do we start practicing?

• Yogis say everything is neutral but we spend most of our energy seeking what we like and avoiding what we dislike

• Take responsibility for your emotional state – no one “caused” it

• Remember to practice gratitude

• Be content in boredom, sadness, impatience, loss, etc.

• It’s all positive, even the negative

• Perform your duty with right action

TAPAS-AUSTERITIES, SELF-DISCIPLINE

• Literally means “heat” – cook in the fire of discipline

• Accepting the pains of life as opportunities to learn

• A place where we are used up, all of our “props” have been taken away and we have exhausted who we are to become who we can be

 

How do we start practicing?

• Sadhana – daily disciplined practice

• Develop the ability to stay in the unknown or unpleasantness – give up fear 

• Don’t waste a crisis – see it as an opportunity to become stronger and see the important things in life

• Take right action

SWADHYAYA-SELF-STUDY

• To discover and know your true Self.

• To study the great writings, lives of sages, nature and the ways of life

• Mantra repetition is also swadhyaya – transcends the intellect to find a deeper realization

What we believe is “right” may simply be a pattern created in childhood example if you yell, you don’t love someone

How do we start practicing?

• See others as a mirror of ourselves

• Become aware of our patterns and conditionings

• Be open to our shadow side 

• Each of us has a lamb and lion inside – choose to feed the lamb, but stay aware of the lion

• Practice witnessing

ISHWARA PRANIDHANA-SURRENDER TO A HIGHER POWER OR TO YOUR HIGHER SELF

• Surrendering to a greater force

• Sometimes referred to worship or prayer and ritual

• Think of it as “being in the flow”

• Self-surrender is willingly giving the time and energy to become better

How do we start to practice?

• Release rigidity and need to control

• Accept challenges

• Become aware of feelings of constriction and expansion

• Path of karma yoga = actions for the welfare of others without selfish expectations

• Cultivate devotion

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