Before Moses descended Mount Sinai carrying the Ten Commandments, yogis were practicing their own version: 5 things we should never to (“abstentions”), and 5 things we should always do (“observances”):
“Never” – Abstentions (i.e., in thought, word and deed refrain from):
- Violence
- Dishonesty
- Stealing
- Lusting
- Coveting
“Always” – Observances (i.e., in thought, word and deed practice):
- Purity
- Serenity
- Courage
- Wisdom
- Faith
The goal of classical Indian yoga or meditation, including these directives, is to reduce suffering. That’s accomplished by adherence to a largely mental discipline which ultimately results in the realization that our own Consciousness is essentially divine. That realization triggers absolute faith in the existence of “God[1]”, which gives rise to deep, lasting serenity, courage and wisdom.
How do these ten rules of conduct contribute to that realization? By fostering a more discerning, peaceful mind, to wit: enhancing our capacity for meditation and understanding. Patanjali previously pointed out the significance of karma (i.e., the perpetual consequences of every action or event). These ten precursors to the Ten Commandments are intended to guide our behavior to mitigate suffering and foster peace.
The Abstentions come first and are the most important. They address our “grossest” actions (i.e., how we interact with others) and thus have the most profound consequences and corresponding effect on our subsequent thoughts and actions. The Observances are more internal in nature.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, lines 2.30 – 2.45 loosely translated:
2.30 Abstain from harming, lying, stealing, lust and greed
2.31 There are no exceptions to this most important rule
2.32 Observe purity [of mind & body], serenity, courage, wisdom and faith
2.33 When negative thoughts make this difficult, foster positive thoughts
2.34 Negative, interfering thoughts arise from varying degrees of anger, greed and/or delusion and lead toward suffering; opposite, positive thoughts lead away from suffering
2.35 Hostilities cease in the presence of one who abstains from harm
2.36 To abstain from lying, focus on your thoughts since words are preceded by thoughts
2.37 One who abstains from stealing becomes rich in more meaningful ways
2.38 Restraining lust produces vigor
2.39 One who abstains from greed [i.e., avoids attachment] attains ultimate knowledge
2.40 Purity of mind & body relieve desire…
2.41 …and enhance contentedness, focus, and sensory control, facilitating enlightenment
2.42 Serenity is the source of bliss
2.43 Courage brings out the best in us
2.44 Wisdom deepens one’s faith
2.45 Faith, surrendering to something greater than oneself, makes bliss possible
Per SwamiJ.com, “The reason for practicing the eight rungs or limbs of Yoga [of which these ten rules of conduct are the foundation] is to develop attention as the tool for discriminative knowledge, which is the means to liberation or enlightenment.” In other words, the purpose of classical Indian yoga or meditation is to hone our perception so we may recognize the subtle yet vast difference between our tangible thoughts (i.e., our mind) and our intangible awareness of them (i.e., our Consciousness)!
For info about private lessons or workshops in self-discovery and peace of mind see the ‘Contact Us’ page of this site.
God bless, Skip
#patanjali #consciousness #meditation
[1] In yoga-speak, “God” refers to the non-denominational divine source of our intangible, immutable, eternal Consciousness.
