Hinduism Today Magazine
Issues and Articles
Twenty Vedic Laws
Online Items : October 1997
INSIGHT
Twenty
Vedic Laws
In Hinduism's primary scripture we find
the keys for living Hindu Dharma in contemporary times
How often do you see a professional team
of people misbehave on the job? You're on a flight from San Francisco to
Singapore. Do the stewardesses bicker in the aisle? No way. In Singapore
you visit a classy publishing firm. Does the receptionist talk back to
the sale representative? No. Are there emotional undertones among the
group you meet with? None. And you don't expect any. You know that
people at this level of business have control of their minds and
emotions. If they didn't, they would soon be replaced. When they are on
the job, at least, they follow a code of conduct spelled out in detail
by the corporation. It's not unlike the moral code of any religion,
outlining sound ethics for respect and harmony among humans. Those
seeking to be successful in all avenues of life strive to fulfill a
moral code whether "on the job" or off. Does Hinduism have
such a code? Yes: twenty ethical guidelines called yamas and niyamas,
"restraints and observances." They are found in the 6,000 to
8,000-year-old Vedas, mankind's oldest body of scripture.
The twenty "do's" and
"don'ts" are a common-sense code recorded in the final section
of the Vedas, called Upanishads, namely the Shandilya and the Varuha.
They are also found in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Gorakshanatha, the
Tirumantiram of Tirumular and in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The yamas
and niyamas have been preserved through the centuries as the foundation,
the first and second stage, of the eight-staged practice of yoga. Yet,
they are fundamental to all beings, expected aims of everyone in
society, and assumed to be fully intact for anyone seeking life's
highest aim in the pursuit called yoga. Sage Patanjali (ca 200 bce),
raja yoga's foremost propounder, told us, "These yamas are not
limited by class, country, time (past, present or future) or situation.
Hence they are called the universal great vows." Yogic scholar
Swami Brahmananda Saraswati revealed the inner science of yama and
niyama. They are the means, he said, to control the vitarkas, the cruel
mental waves or thoughts, that when acted upon result in injury to
others, untruthfulness, hoarding, discontent, indolence or selfishness.
He stated, "For each vitarka you have, you can create its opposite
through yama and niyama, and make your life successful." The
following paragraphs, with accompanying illustrations by A. Manivel of
Chennai, (please see hard copy) especially prepared in July in honor of
the Hindu Student's Council and all similar youth movements, elucidate
the yamas and niyamas. Presented first are the ten yamas, the do not's,
which harness the instinctive nature, with its governing impulses of
fear, anger, jealousy, selfishness, greed and lust. Second are
illustrated the ten niyamas, the do's, the religious observances that
cultivate and bring forth the refined soul qualities, lifting awareness
into the consciousness of the higher chakras of love, compassion,
selflessness, intelligence and bliss.
THE 10 VEDIC RESTRAINTS, YAMA
YAMA 1
Noninjury, Ahimsa
Practice noninjury, not harming others by
thought, word or deed, even in your dreams. Live a kindly life, revering
all beings as expressions of the One Divine energy. Let go of fear and
insecurity, the sources of abuse. Knowing that harm caused to others
unfailingly returns to oneself, live peacefully with God's creation.
Never be a source of dread, pain or injury. Follow a vegetarian diet.
YAMA 2
Truthfulness, Satya
Adhere to truthfulness, refraining from
lying and betraying promises. Speak only that which is true, kind,
helpful and necessary. Knowing that deception creates distance, don't
keep secrets from family or loved ones. Be fair, accurate and frank in
discussions, a stranger to deceit. Admit your failings. Do not engage in
slander, gossip or backbiting. Do not bear false witness against
another.
YAMA 3
Nonstealing, Asteya
Uphold the virtue of nonstealing, neither
thieving, coveting nor failing to repay debt. Control your desires and
live within your means. Do not use borrowed resources for unintended
purposes or keep them past due. Do not gamble or defraud others. Do not
renege on promises. Do not use others' name, words, resources or rights
without permission and acknowledgement.
YAMA 4
Divine Conduct, Brahmacharya
Practice divine conduct, controlling lust
by remaining celibate when single and faithful in marriage. Before
marriage, use vital energies in study, and after marriage in creating
family success. Don't waste the sacred force by promiscuity in thought,
word or deed. Be restrained with the opposite sex. Seek holy company.
Dress and speak modestly. Shun pornography, sexual humor and violence.
YAMA 5
Patience, Kshama
Exercise patience, restraining
intolerance with people and impatience with circumstances. Be agreeable.
Let others behave according to their nature, without adjusting to you.
Don't argue, dominate conversations or interrupt others. Don't be in a
hurry. Be patient with children and the elderly. Minimize stress by
keeping worries at bay. Remain poised in good times and bad.
YAMA 6
Steadfastness, Dhriti
Foster steadfastness, overcoming
nonperseverance, fear, indecision and changeableness. Achieve your goals
with a prayer, purpose, plan, persistence and push. Be firm in your
decisions. Avoid sloth and procrastination. Develop willpower, courage
and industriousness. Overcome obstacles. Never carp or complain. Do not
let opposition or fear of failure result in changing strategies.
YAMA 7
Compassion, Daya
Practice compassion, conquering callous,
cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings. See God everywhere. Be
kind to people, animals, plants and the Earth itself. Forgive those who
apologize and show true remorse. Foster sympathy for others' needs and
suffering. Honor and assist those who are weak, impoverished, aged or in
pain. Oppose family abuse and other cruelties.
YAMA 8
Honesty, Arjava
Maintain honesty, renouncing deception
and wrongdoing. Act honorably even in hard times. Obey the laws of your
nation and locale. Pay your taxes. Be straightforward in business. Do an
honest day's work. Do not bribe or accept bribes. Do not cheat, deceive
or circumvent to achieve an end. Be frank with yourself. Face and accept
your faults without blaming them on others.
YAMA 9
Moderate Appetite, Mitahara
Be moderate in appetite, neither eating
too much nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs. Enjoy fresh,
wholesome vegetarian foods that vitalize the body. Avoid junk food.
Drink in moderation. Eat at regular times, only when hungry, at a
moderate pace, never between meals, in a disturbed atmosphere or when
upset. Follow a simple diet, avoiding rich or fancy fare.
YAMA 10
Purity, Saucha
Uphold the ethic of purity, avoiding
impurity in mind, body and speech. Maintain a clean, healthy body. Keep
a pure, uncluttered home and workplace. Act virtuously. Keep good
company, never mixing with adulterers, thieves or other impure people.
Keep away from pornography and violence. Never use harsh, angered or
indecent language. Worship devoutly. Meditate daily.
Allow yourself the expression of remorse,
being modest and showing shame for misdeeds. Recognize your errors,
confess and make amends. Sincerely apologize to those hurt by your words
or deeds. Resolve all contention before sleep. Seek out and correct your
faults and bad habits. Welcome correction as a means to bettering
yourself. Do not boast. Shun pride and pretension.
THE 10 VEDIC OBSERVANCES, NIYAMA
NIYAMA 1
Remorse, Hri
Allow yourself the expression of remorse,
being modest and showing shame for misdeeds. Recognize your errors,
confess and make amends. Sincerely apologize to those hurt by your words
or deeds. Resolve all contention before sleep. Seek out and correct your
faults and bad habits. Welcome correction as a means to bettering
yourself. Do not boast. Shun pride and pretension.
NIYAMA 2
Contentment, Santosha
Nurture contentment, seeking joy and
serenity in life. Be happy, smile and uplift others. Live in constant
gratitude for your health, your friends and your belongings, Don't
complain about what you don't possess. Identify with the eternal You,
rather than mind, body or emotions. Keep the mountaintop view that life
is an opportunity for spiritual progress. Live in the eternal now.
NIYAMA 3
Giving, Dana
Be generous to a fault, giving liberally
without thought of reward. Tithe, offering one-tenth of your gross
income (dashamamsha), as God's money, to temples, ashrams and spiritual
organizations. Approach the temple with offerings. Visit guru with gifts
in hand. Donate religious literature. Feed and give to those in need.
Bestow your time and talents without seeking praise. Treat guests as
God.
NIYAMA 4
Faith, Astikya
Cultivate an unshakable faith. Believe
firmly in God, Gods, guru and your path to enlightenment. Trust in the
words of the masters, the scriptures and traditions. Practice devotion
and sadhana to inspire experiences that build advanced faith. Be loyal
to your lineage, one with your satguru. Shun those who try to break your
faith by argument and accusation. Avoid doubt and despair.
NIYAMA 5
Worship, Ishvarapujana
Cultivate devotion through daily worship
and meditation. Set aside one room of your home as God's shrine. Offer
fruit, flowers or food daily. Learn a simple puja and the chants.
Meditate after each puja. Visit your shrine before and after leaving the
house. Worship in heartfelt devotion, clearing the inner channels to
God, Gods and guru so their grace flows toward you and loved ones.
NIYAMA 6
Scriptural Listening, Siddhanta Shravana
Eagerly hear the scriptures, study the
teachings and listen to the wise of your lineage. Choose a guru, follow
his path and don't waste time exploring other ways. Read, study and,
above all, listen to readings and dissertations by which wisdom flows
from knower to seeker. Avoid secondary texts that preach violence.
Revere and study the revealed scriptures, the Vedas and Agamas.
NIYAMA 7
Cognition, Mati
Develop a spiritual will and intellect
with your satguru's guidance. Strive for knowledge of God, to awaken the
light within. Discover the hidden lesson in each experience to develop a
profound understanding of life and yourself. Through meditation,
cultivate intuition by listening to the still, small voice within, by
understanding the subtle sciences, inner worlds and mystical texts.
NIYAMA 8
Sacred Vows, Vrata
Embrace religious vows, rules and
observances and never waver in fulfilling them. Honor vows as spiritual
contracts with your soul, your community, with God, Gods and guru. Take
vows to harness the instinctive nature. Fast periodically. Pilgrimage
yearly. Uphold your vows strictly, be they marriage, monasticism,
nonaddiction, tithing, loyalty to a lineage, vegetarianism or
nonsmoking.
NIYAMA 9
Recitation, Japa
Chant your holy mantra daily, reciting
the sacred sound, word or phrase given by your guru. Bathe first, quiet
the mind and concentrate fully to let japa harmonize, purify and uplift
you. Heed your instructions and chant the prescribed repetitions without
fail. Live free of anger so that japa strengthens your higher nature.
Let japa quell emotions and quiet the rivers of thought.
NIYAMA 10
Austerity, Tapas
Practice austerity, serious disciplines,
penance and sacrifice. Be ardent in worship, meditation and pilgrimage.
Atone for misdeeds through penance (prayashchitta), such as 108
prostrations or fasting. Perform self-denial, giving up cherished
possessions, money or time. Fulfill severe austerities at special times,
under a satguru's guidance, to ignite the inner fires of
self-transformation. |