Second Stage of the Eight Limbs of Yoga – Niyama
As Yama is the way you treat others and the World around you, Niyama on the other hand can be thought of as how you treat yourself or your attitude towards yourself. Niyama are the rules of conduct that apply to individual discipline, while Yama are Universal in their application.
Just like Yama, there are Five Niyamas:
1) Saucha (purity):
Saucha basically involves the cleanliness and purity of the body both internally and externally. External or outer cleanliness means keeping the body externally clean and also keeping a clean environment or surroundings. Internal purity involves cleansing the body of toxins and impurities. The practice of Asana tones the entire body and removes toxins and impurities. Pranayama cleanses and aerates the lungs, oxygenates the blood and purifies the nerves.
But more important than the physical cleansing of the body internally and externally, is the cleansing of the mind of its disturbing emotions like hatred, lust, anger, greed, delusion and pride. and still more important is the cleansing of the intellect (buddhi) of impure thoughts. the impurities of the intellect or reason are burned off in the fire of svadhyaya (study of Self).
Apart from purity of thought, word, deed and the physical body, pure food is also necessary in terms of the cleanliness in the preparation of the food and also the purity in the means by which the food is obtained. Food should be taken to promote health, strength, energy and life, should be simple, nourishing and soothing. Avoid foods that are sour, bitter, salty, pungent, burning, stale, tasteless, heavy and unclean.
All this cleansing and purification of the mind, emotions and body, makes the yogi ready to enter the temple of his own body and see his or her real self in the mirror of the mind.
2) Santosa (contentment):
Santosa or contentment has to be cultivated. A mind that is not content cannot concentrate. When a yogi feels the lack of nothing, he is naturally content. A contented man feels complete for he has known the Love of the Divine and has done his duty. Contentment and serenity are states of mind. Only through states of contentment and serenity can the mind become focused and one-pointed (ekagra).
3) Tapas (austerity):
Tapas is derived from the root word ‘tap’ meaning to blaze, to burn, shine, suffer pain or consume by heat. Tapas therefore means a burning of effort under all circumstances to achieve a definite goal in life. It involves purification, self-discipline and austerity. The whole science of character building or personal growth may be regarded as a practice of Tapas. A worthy aim or goal makes life illumined, pure and divine. Without such an aim or goal, action and prayer have no value. Life without Tapas is like a heart without Love.
There are three types of Tapas. Continence (Brahmacharya) and non-violence (ahimsa) are Tapas of the body. Using words which do not offend, speaking truth and not speaking ill of others are Tapas of speech. Development of mental attitude where one remains in a state of serenity, balanced in joy and sorrow and retains self-control are Tapas of the mind.
4) Svadhyaya (study of sacred texts or of one’s self):
‘Sva’ means ‘self’ and ‘adhyaya’ means ‘study’ or ‘education’. Education is the drawing out the best within a person. Svadhyaya is therefore the study of the Self. A person practising Svadhyaya reads the book of his own life, at the same time writing and revising it. There is a change in the outlook of life. He begins to realize that all life is meant for service (bhakti) rather than for enjoyment (bhoga), that all of creation is divine and that there is divinity within himself and that the energy that moves him is the same that moves the Universe.
Svadhyaya also involves the study of sacred texts of the World which will enable the practitioner to concentrate upon and solve the difficult problems of life when they arise. Knowledge puts an end to ignorance. There is a beginning to knowledge but no end, the process of study is ongoing.
Yoga is not a religion by itself, instead, it is the science of religions. The study of Yoga, the science of religions will help a person better appreciate his own faith.
5) Isvara pranidhana (dedication to or living with the awareness All That Is):
This Niyama is about releasing the our delusion and need for control and to connect to the Divine, to Spirit, to the Source of all that is, and live from that place of connectedness and wholeness. It is about the releasing of the “I” and “mine” and becoming one without Spirit. It is about dedicating one’s self to a life of service (bhakti), truth and Love and in that, the feeling of “I” and “mine” shall disappear. Actions mirror a man’s personality better than words. Actions speak louder than words, so the saying goes. The Yogi who dedicates all his actions to Spirit, the the union between Spirit and him or herself, and to a life of service, will see the actions he or she takes reflect the divinity within him or herself.