If you read my first post from The Yoga Drop you already know that the eight limbs of yoga are: yama (ethics), niyama (inner morals), asana (seated poses), pranayama (extension of prana), pratyahara (withdrawal), dharana (holding something), dhyana (meditation), samadhi (bliss).
Where does this knowledge come from?
It’s first outlined in the ‘Yoga Sutras’ by the sage Patanjali. Patanjali probably lived sometime between the years 200 BCE and 500 CE, and there is a lot we don’t know about him. There are other texts authored by a Patanjali in a similar region over a thousand-year period of time, and so it’s also possible that Patanjali could be a pseudonym used by multiple people working together or unrelated people over a large period of time. In modern scholarship, it’s largely accepted that the Yoga Sutras were compiled by Patanjali, and that the information they contain has existed for perhaps hundreds or thousands of years. Regardless of who Patanjali was, those on the yogic path are forever grateful for his sharing of this ancient wisdom.
A sutra is a thread of knowledge, a concise aphorism that presents ancient wisdom. The yoga sutras have a tradition of being sung in a specific way, similar to a plainchant style using the Vedic scale of three primary notes. I can memorize lyrics so much easier than text alone, so I can see how in ancient times, singing the sutras would have made them easier to remember and share with others before books became accessible.
Because I am not a Sanskrit scholar, and very much a student when it comes to this language, I will not be breaking down the sutras from the beginning. However, I will be citing various English translations of the sutras to help in our understanding of yogic values and practices.
The first yama is ahimsa.
Ahimsa means non-harming or non-violence.
If we think back to the eight limbs of yoga, each limb builds upon the one before, with our final practice realizing samadhi or bliss. If we are violent to ourselves and others, this is a barrier to experiencing true bliss. We need to live peacefully in order to feel embodied and access deeper levels of meditation.
Unfortunately, there are violent people in this world who live with no remorse for their actions and perhaps feel joy in what they are doing. This is not samadhi, but an illusion of reality that they are experiencing. Yoga teaches that these people may be powerless over the thoughts and emotions they experience.
Ahimsa is not a practice of inaction; rather, it involves doing what is necessary to achieve the most non-harming or non-violence possible.
Ahimsa is living with compassion for ourselves and others.
Many yoga practitioners look to this yama as a reason to become vegans or vegetarians. Yoga teaches us that our personal beliefs and external morals should be the same, and so if you can be vegan or vegetarian without causing harm to yourself or others, that is wonderful. In a capitalist society, there will always be some amount of community or self-harm, and so we do the best we can.
In an asana practice (physical movement), without the foundation of ahimsa, we might strive to achieve each yoga pose in a very harmful way to the body and mind. It might be more important to us in the moment to attempt the ‘full expression’ of the pose rather than listen to our bodies.
According to Patanjali, ahimsa is also a practice of being non-violent with our thoughts.
Yoga Sutra II.33 vitarkabādhane pratiprakṣabhāvanam
वितर्कबाधने प्रतिप्रक्षभावनम् ॥३३॥
(Like I said, I’m very much a student when it comes to Sanskrit, but I’ll be sharing where I’m at with chanting some of these sutras so you can get a taste for what it sounds like. Btw, if you are familiar with these chants I am always welcome feedback!)
Here is a translation of this sutra by Sri Swami Satchidananda:
“When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite [positive] ones should be thought of.”
The following sutra elaborates on this idea.
Yoga Sutra II.34 vitarkā hiṃsādayaḥ kṛtakāritānumoditā lobhakrodhamohāpūrvakā mṛdumadhya adhimātrā duḥkhājñānānantaphalā iti pratiprakṣabhāvanam
वितर्का हिंसादयः कृतकारितानुमोदिता लोभक्रोधमोहापूर्वका मृदुमध्य अधिमात्रा दुःखाज्ञानानन्तफला इति प्रतिप्रक्षभावनम् ॥३४॥
Here is a translation of this sutra by Edwin F. Bryant from his book, ‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’:
“Negative thoughts are violence. They may be [personally] performed, performed on one’s behalf by another, or authorized by oneself; they may be triggered by greed, anger, or delusion; and they may be slight, moderate, or extreme in intensity. One should cultivate counteracting thoughts, namely, that the end results [of negative thoughts] are ongoing suffering and ignorance.”
Ahimsa is a practice.
Notice when you are speaking negatively to yourself. Take a breath. Choose to say something positive to yourself instead.
It’s such a simple idea, but I want to acknowledge how incredibly difficult this can be in practice. Yoga has helped me become more aware and present with my thoughts, like “you’re not good enough at this” or “you’re not good enough” or “you’re not enough”. But counteracting these thoughts in the moment, especially if it’s an emotional moment, can feel like an overwhelming task. If you’re someone who has experienced trauma this might feel impossible. I want to invite you to start small.
The next time you are met with a negative thought (let’s use the one “I’m not enough” as an example) instead of jumping to an opposite statement that can be emotionally charged and unbelievable, try telling yourself an opposite thought that you can believe and accept, like “I am choosing to believe right now that I am enough.”
It might be a good idea to track the negative thoughts that come into your mind over a few days or weeks. I’ve done this before, and it was amazing how many times it happened with a similar message. Whatever you find, it might be helpful to work through with the support of a therapist.
In a couple weeks, I’ll share an asana and pranayama practice that uses ahimsa as a theme.