The practice of Astanga Yoga has been a challenging one for the modern yogis, especially the practice of Yamaa and Niyamaa. The moral standards have changed, in fact depreciated a lot over the years and centuries. What was a lie to our grand-parents is an acceptable, ‘functional truth’ to us. Our worlds have changed, We live in a ‘fair enough’ world. We find it justified to be truthful to the extent it is largely accepted, It need not be the complete or the whole truth.
The five Yamaas: are observances to mend our social interactions, for a harmonious coexistence. Yamaas are largely observances in our interactions with the external world; it applies equally to our internal world.
The best way–perhaps the only true way–to teach the Yamaas and Niyamaas is to live them. Sharing one of the
The word Ahimsa means non-violent coexistence, and at all levels. Kaya, vachaa and manasaa. A Practitioners starts by being non-violent towards one’ self. The Yoga mat is a great place to explore our understanding of Ahimsa, not hurting our physical body, knowing our limits, and not pushing our limits to impress others or our own egos.
According to chapter 2 verse 35 of Yoga sutras “when a practitioner is firmly established in Ahimsa people abandon hostility in his presence”. Our encounters with aggressive behaviors from others are simply reflections of our own deep seated aggressions and fears. On the Yoga mat, Ahimsa is not about being aggressive, its about being progressive
How does one become aware of aggression and anger? Well when you are aggressive you cannot be Aware and when you are AWARE you cannot be aggressive. Ahimsa is not mere absence of violence, it’s COMPASSION.
So ahimsa is AWARENESS and COMPASSION