Satya— Be Truth

Yoga Philosophy Week 5 Satya/Truth

Yoga Philosophy

Limb or Principle 1, part 2 of 10 Yama/Niyama (Ethics for Life)

"As truthfulness (satya) is established, each action (Kriya) will result or bear fruit (phala) as one’s foundation or support (asrayatvam)."  

Yoga Sutra 2.36

"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic."

John F. Kennedy

"Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness. "

Khalil Gibran

The Truth is more than not tell Lies

Un-truths are a bit different than lies.  Lies are blatant and meant to deceive.

An un-truth is more of a thought based on a misconception.  These also deceive us and others. 

What un-truths do we tell to ourselves?  during our daily lives,  during our yoga practice?  

One of the first lines in the Yoga Sutras, (the book on Yoga Philosophy written by Patanjali prior to 400 BCE) was that Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. And that when this happens we know our true self.  Then the 8 limb system for knowing the true self is laid out.   

1-2  Following certain Ethics
3.  Physical Practice
4. Breath Practice
5. Sense Withdrawal
6. Concentration
7.Mediation
8. Bliss

The second Principle in the Ethics of Yoga is to be truthful or rather to be truth.  When we are truthful it is said we will have a great support and foundation.

A little bit about the word Sat 

1. Satya means to be truth.  Sat — truth and Ya—- to be.  

2. Sat Nam.  One of my yoga teachers taught the Sat Nam Mantra which means I am Truth or Truth, I am.  

3. Sattva as a quality of life.  There are three qualities of life:  Rajas, Tamas and Sattva.  Sattva is our true state in yoga. It represents our natural state to which yoga seeks to bring us.

Sattva

Sattva is a state of mind that is balanced and tranquil. It is the root of the word Sattvavajaya which is the use of ayurveda (Yoga lifestyle) and Yoga to draw the mind to its natural state of balance, tranquility, and clarity.  The goal is healing and transforming the mind.

Rajas

Rajas is a state of mind that is full of movement, simulation, impulse, and feels imbalanced.  This may be labeled as ADD, lack of focus, shatter brained, hyper, monkey mind. This is often the fight in fight, flight or freeze response.  Rajas is also passion and energy. Rajas gets us going and keeps us going.

Tamas

Tamas is a state of Mind that feels stuck, heavy, and, immobilized.  It is characterized by the freeze or flight in the flight, flight, or freeze response and feelings of overwhelm.  Tamas is also steady, Tamas makes us take a break and rest.

When we think about lies, we may think about the lies we tell other people. What lies do we tell?   According to a UMass Study 60% of us lie everyday. Mostly to other people to seem likable and impress people.  (See article below.)   It is important to reflect on the lies we tell ourselves as well. For example, when we lie to others to impress them we are also telling lies to ourselves that the real us isn't good enough.  We tell different lies to ourselves and our close family members and friends. 

How might Rajas or Tamas impact our lies we tell other people and ourselves?  

Rajas Un-Truths: If we are over stimulated and lacking self-control we might not see people or ourselves as they/we truly are and lash out in anger.  This example includes un-truths we might tell based on not seeing the truth about other people or ourself.  For example the often used phrases: "You always ... "  and  "You never ..."  

In Yoga poses we may get mad at certain body parts.  For example, I used to call my wrist stupid because I broke them and they couldn't do arm balances.  I decided if that were true I would accept it, but just in case it wasn't I would gently stretch my wrist and work on it and see what happened. It turned out my wrists are not, in fact, stupid and they can support me.  

Meditation/ Relaxation we may get angry at our minds and emotions and berate ourselves "My mind is overactive, I am no good at this."  

What types of angry things do you say about your body or mind? 

Tamas Un-Truths:  If we are feeling that flight or freeze response or feeling of overwhelm we might tell the un-truth of "I Can't."  Or tell others that they can't.  For example, "You/I can't change, You/ I can't do it that way, You / I can't accomplish this or that. "  In Yoga poses we might say things like "I'll never be able to balance in tree pose."  or "I can't do yoga because I am not flexible enough". I can't relax, I can't meditate .. "  What types of things do you say? 



Speaking the truth in love.  Sometimes there are hard truths.  Things we may need to face and admit to ourselves or things we may feel called to help a loved one see about his or herself.  Blending speaking the truth with some of the other Yoga Principles like Ahimsa (Non-harming/ Loving Kindness),  Aparigraha (Non-Grasping / Letting Go), Asetya (Non-Stealing, Being Giving a Grateful) can help us speak the truth in love to others and to ourselves.  

The Truth.  The Truth with a big "T"  could take a lifetime to study. There are centuries of philosophy about Truth.  Religions have their ideas about Truth.  Poems are written about Truth.. . "Beauty is truth, truth beauty" (Keats).  In Yoga, there is the idea that we have a natural state (Sattva) that is revealed to use or we being to understand and see when we strip away all the un-truths, myths, and stories we tell ourselves, or beleive that we are told, when we strip away the labels.  When we take a moment to be still and be in the moment and just be.  This is our foundation and support which when it governs our thoughts and actions leads us to feeling balanced and peaceful.  

"As truthfulness (satya) is established, each action (Kriya) will result or bear fruit (phala) as one’s foundation or support (asrayatvam)."  



Some article

WHAT IS SATYA? HOW TO LIVE YOUR TRUTH  https://www.gaia.com/article/what-is-satya

Article about the amount of un-truths we tell everyday.

https://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/umass-amherst-researcher-finds-most-people-lie-everyday-conversation

Some other artciles

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-lies-we-tell-ourselves_b_11056142

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-14800/the-15-most-damaging-lies-we-tell-ourselves.html

Do Hatha Yoga to Prepare for Raja Yoga

 Hatha Yoga Pradipika Chapter 1 Conclusion

Do Hatha Yoga to Prepare for Raja Yoga

Verse/Sloka 1.67 

"The various types of Kumbhakas (breath retentions), the many Karanas (actions like the Asanas), and other various means of illumination should all be practiced in the Hatha Yoga System until the fruit of Raja Yoga is attained.

In Sanskrit: 

"Pithani Kumbhakas chitra divyani karanani cha Sarvanyapi hathabhyase rajayoga phalavadhi"

Breakdown:

Kumbhaka -- Breath Renetion -- 8 kinds

Chitra -- many ways

Divyani -- Other Divine Means or Light. 

Karana -- actions, like Asana, Pranayama, Purfications, Mudras....

Sarvanap -- different 

Raja Yoga -- Royal Path -- Sutras. 

Phalavat/Phalavaf -- Fruits, profit, advantage 

Commentary

Swami Muktibodhananda says, in his commentary at the end of this First Chapter of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, that this verse reiterates that the purpose of Hatha Yoga is to prepare for Raja Yoga. He goes on to assert that Hatha Yoga is less concerned about the practices of Yama and Niyama than Raja Yoga is.  However, earlier we learned that the Hatha Yoga Pradipika says the greatest Yama and Niyama are a Mithira (a Moderate Way of Eating) and Ahimsa (Do the Opposite of Harming.)

He does highlight that "Until one reaches realization in raja yoga one has not achieved perfection in hatha yoga."

What is Raja Yoga?

Raja Yoga, is the Royal Path, codified by Patanjali. Patanjali is thought to have lived between 500 and 200 B.C.  The Yoga Sutras are much older than the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, circa 13th century

. 

There are 196 Sutras/Threads, aphorisms, or maxims about the practice of Yoga and 4 Books.

The 4 Books are: 

Samadhi pada: Defines yoga

Sadhana pada: Describes the Eight Limb Path of Yoga

Vibhuta pada: Describes and also warns against the temptations of the eight siddhis 

Kaivalya pada: Describes how to live in the world  beyond the influences of the three Gunas
(Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas).  We' ve seen that this is a large part of Hatha Yoga, the balancing of the Gunas.

Often when people think of Raja Yoga or the Yoga of the Yoga Sutras, they think of the 8 Limb path.  

The 8 Limb Path 

1. Yama -- Ways of Living -- (I like this translation over ethics or morals. "Yama (यम, “forbearance”) is a Sanskrit word referring to “respect for others”" 1

• Ahimsa: the opposite of violence. 
• Satya: Be truth. 
• Asteya: the opposite of stealing. 
• Brahmacharya: walking in the way of the divine. 
• Aparigraha: the opposite of hoarding. 

There are more Yama and Niyama in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika in chapter 1.16a. 

"Ahimsa satyam asteyam brahmacharyam kshama dhrtih dayarjavam mitaharah saucham chaiva yama dasa"

There are 10:

1. Non-violence, Ahimsa 
2. truth, satyam 
3. non-stealing, asteyam 
4. continence (being absorbed in a pure state of consciousness),brahmacharyam
5. forgiveness, kshama
6. endurance, dhrtih
7. compassion, daya
8. humility, arjavam
9. moderate/ pleasant diet  mitaharah
10. and cleanliness saucham 

are the ten rules of conduct (yama)

2. Niyama -- Self-care-- Niyama means Niyama (नियम, “religious restraint”) is a Sanskrit word referring to “respect for yourself”.1

Hatha Yoga Pradipika in chapter 1.16b.

 "Tapah santosha astikyam danamisvarapujanam siddhantavakyasravanam hrimati cha tapo hutam niyama dasa samprokta yogasastravisaradaih"

• Saucha: Cleanliness. 
• Santosha: Contentment. 
• Tapas: Self-discipline. 
• Svadhyaya: Self-study. 
• Ishvara pranidhana: Surrender to the Divine. 

In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika it is:

1. Self-discipline, Penance, Austerity, Tapah
2. contentment, santosha 
3. belief (faith) in the Supreme (God), astikyam
4. charity, dana
5. worship of God, isvarapujanam 
6. listening to the recitations of sacred scriptures, siddhantavakyasravanam
7. modesty, hri
8. a discerning intellect, mati 
9. (mantra repetition) japa  [connected to tapo (ascetic)?]
10. and sacrifice -- Hutam 

are the ten observances (niyama) --  These words are also included: Dasa (servant),  Samprokta (well spoken),  Astravisaradaih (Sun's charioteer).

So, which is it? 5 or 10.  The 5 is older and the 10 is later.  According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Hatha Yoga is in preparation for Raja which only lists the 5.  Perhaps, over time it was seen that people needed more advice on Ways to Live.  At the least, we, and others, could benefit from starting with 5 Yama and Niyama in the Yoga Sutras/Raja Yoga,  remembering the 10 Yama and Niyama are part of the Hatha Yoga system which is presented as the preparation for Raja Yoga.  Which ones speak to you?  Which ones do you already practice?  Which ones can you see would be a benefit to you and others? 

3. Asana

Asana is the physical practice of Yoga. Patanjali only devotes 3 versus to this.  Hatha Yoga delineates 15 poses. We covered these in our recent previous posts. 

4. Pranayama

Breath Expansion.  Often translated as Breath Work. It means Pra+na+ Ayama (Life Force+ the opposite of restraint.  Iyengar defined it as Breath Expansion).  We will cover the Hatha Yoga Pradipika versions of Pranayama soon.  According to Hatha Yoga Pradipika, before Pranayama, Purifications or Shatkarma is practiced if necessary (more of that next)

5. Pratyahara

Pratyahara is the practice of sensory withdrawal.

6. Dharana

Dharana means concentration. 

7. Dhyana

Dhyana is meditation.

8. Samadhi

Samadhi comes through sustained meditation or absorption and is the goal of Yoga.

Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga are meant to go hand in hand, according to Hatha Yoga Pradipika. 

In fact, the very first verse/sloka says

"Salutations to the glorious primal (original) guru, Sri Adinath, who instructed the knowledge of Hatha Yoga which shines forth as a stairway for those who wish to ascend to the Highest stage of Yoga, Raja Yoga."

So, in order to practice the full system of Yoga and attain its benefits, its fruits, we are called to learn both the preparation, the Hatha Yoga of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and have knowledge of the Raja Yoga of the Yoga Sutras.

What benefits have you found in Yoga? What benefits do you seek?

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Resources:

1.https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/yama 

 https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/niyama

https://archive.org/details/HathaYogaPradipika-SanskritTextWithEnglishTranslatlionAndNotes/page/n23/mode/2up

https://terebess.hu/english/Hatha-Yoga-Pradipika-Muktibodhananda.pdf

4 Most Important Hatha Yoga Poses part 2

The Last 2 of the 4 Most Important Hatha Yoga Poses

Simhasana and Bhadrasana

3.

Simhasana

Simhagarjanasana (roaring lion pose)

How to

From the Hatha Yoga Pradipika:

1.50 Place the ankles below the scrotum, right ankle on the left side, left ankle on the right side of the perineum. 

1.51 Place the palms on the knees, fingers spread apart, keep the mouth open and gaze at the nose tip with a concentrated mind.

1.52 This is Simhasana, held in great esteem by the highest yogis. This most excellent asana facilitates the three bandhas.

Swami Muktibodhananda describes a second variation: 

Simhagarjanasana (roaring lion pose)

Raise the chin two or three inches, practice shambhavi mudra, extend the tongue as far as is comfortable. Inhale deeply through the nose and exhale making a roaring sound like a lion – ‘aaahhhh.’

The sound should not be forceful, nor should it irritate the throat.

To stimulate the throat more, move the tongue from side to side.2

The Story

The story to explore here is about Narasimha.  Nara (person/man) and Simha (Lion).  Narasimha is a destroyer of obstacles/ evil/ demons/ injustice/ duality.  Here are spinets of the story from the Padma Prana and the Vishnu Purana which has the story of Parhlada, the son of Hiranyakasipu .  

Hiranyakasipu is the father of Prahlada.  He is not happy with Prahlada studying the philosophy of Yoga.   Prahlada means "joyful excitement, delight, refreshing."  Prahalda is an example of Bhakti Yoga, Devotional Yoga.  Hiranyakasipu means "one who is wrapped in gold.  He becomes haughty because of the grant of a boon from he gods and represents Ego.  He looks for the external world to validate him while all along he has the Lotus in his heart.  See previous post on the Lotus Pose. 

I Love this quote from the Bhagvata Purana.  Perfect for today's world as well: 

Text 9:Prahlāda Mahārāja continued: My dear father, please give up your demoniac mentality. Do not discriminate in your heart between enemies and friends; make your mind equipoised toward everyone. Except for the uncontrolled and misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world. When one sees everyone on the platform of equality, one then comes to the position of worshiping the Lord perfectly .5

This last line translates more directly to "the position of of respecting the infinite/unlimited perfectly."  

"anantasya (respect, strength, endless roaring -- lion connection, infinite, unlimited ) mahat (great, large) samarhaṇam (respect, reverence, honor)

What Narasimha looks like

Half Man/ Half Lion and ...

The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)

Chapter 140 - Hiraṇyāsaṅgama-tīrtha < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]

Chapter 45 - The Manifesṭation of Narasiṃha 

92-93. With us you are surrounded by the hosts of demons. O king, this your assembly crowded with hundreds of splendid rooms, also all the three worlds, the eternal dharma of the worlds, and this entire world are seen in Narasiṃha.

94-95. Here (i.e. in Narasiṃha’s body are seen) the creator, the great-souled Manu, planets and (their) conjunctions, the earth and the sky, the time of portents, and Dhṛti (courage), Mati (intellect), Rati (pleasure), Satya (truth), Tapas (penance) and Dama (restraint), Sanatkumāra of great prowess, Viśvedeva^[6], and all sages, Krodha (anger), Kāma (desire), Harṣa (joy), Darpa (pride), Moha (delusion) and all the dead ancestors.3

The Story of Prahlada 3 and 4

The Vishnu Purana (abridged)

The Story of Prahlada < [First Section]

25.1 Hiranyakasipu--- who tried to kill his son many ways.  He got angry when he said the divine was in everything and started wielding his sword at everything and hit a tower. Narasimha came out of the tower and roared.  The simha garjanai (roar of the lion) of Narasimha was very fearsome and terrible indeed!

He saw this frightening and mysterious form with a lion’s head and human body and wondered what this form was and his mind was totally agitated.

Hiranyakasipu tries to attack Narashimba and, Narashimba kills him/destorys him and drinks his blood out of his chest where the Lotus was.. 4

Narashimba also killed many of his followers, other personifications of obstacles.

9.6 By the touch of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva’s hand on Prahlāda Mahārāja’s head, Prahlāda was completely freed of all material contaminations and desires, as if he had been thoroughly cleansed. Therefore he at once became transcendentally situated, and all the symptoms of ecstasy became manifest in his body. His heart filled with love, and his eyes with tears, and thus he was able to completely capture the lotus feet of the Lord within the core of his heart.

9.9 Prahlāda Mahārāja continued: One may possess wealth, an aristocratic family, beauty, austerity, education, sensory expertise, luster, influence, physical strength, diligence, intelligence and mystic yogic power, but I think that even by all these qualifications one cannot satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, one can satisfy the Lord simply by devotional service. Gajendra did this, and thus the Lord was satisfied with him.

Benefits

Swami Muktibodhananda says:

Simhasana is useful for

• alleviating numerous throat, mouth, nose and even ear diseases. 
• Technique 2 is particularly good for toning the throat and eradicating stammering. 
• It also helps to externalize introverted people. 
• This asana is more effective when performed outside in front of the rising sun.

There are also various benefit of engaging the three major Bandhas which we will cover in a operate post. 

1. Hatha Yoga Pradipika Light on Hatha Yoga Including the original Sanskrit text of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika with translation in English Commentary by Swami Muktibodhananda Under the Guidance of Swami Satyananda Saraswati Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India © Bihar School of Yoga 1985, 1993, 1998

2.Hatha Yoga Pradipika Introduction by B K S Iyengar Commentary by Hans Ulrich Rieker Translated by Elsy Becherer This edition published by The Aquarian Press 1992 13579108642 English translation © Herder and Herder, Inc., an imprint of Crossroad/Continuum, Inc. Illustrations by Stephen Sturgess

3. https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364168.html

4. https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/7/8/  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) » Canto 7: chapter 8 Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Slays the King of the Demons

5.https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/7/8/9/

Aparigraha— Non-Grasping/ Letting Go

Yoga Philosophy Week 4 Aparigraha/Letting Go

Yoga Philosophy

Limb or Principle 1, part 5 of 10 Yama/Niyama (Ethics for Life)

 ‘Let your concern be with action alone, and never with the fruits of action. Do not let the results of action be your motive, and do not be attached to inaction’. Krishna

When one is steadfast in non-possessiveness or non-grasping(aparigraha), there arises knowledge of the why and what of life. 

 Yoga  Sutra 2.39 

We are doing the Yama part of Yoga Philosophy somewhat out of the traditional order. Three of the 5 Yamas start with the letter “a” which means “the opposite of.” So it is interesting to explore all the yamas that start with the concept of doing the opposite of.

Here is the traditional order:

1. Ahiṃsa — non-harming.  The opposite of harming, in other words loving kindness 
2. Satya — truthfulness
3. Asteya — non-stealing.  The opposite of stealing, in other words giving 
4. Brahmacharya — moderation
5. Aparigraha. - non-grasping.  The opposite of grasping, in otherwords, letting go.  

The Yamas actually have an interesting pattern: do the -opposite of this ... practice this... do the opposite of this... practice this... do the opposite of this... 

What is a Yama?  In the 8 limbs of Yoga there are three Yamas.  The Yamas, often translated as Ethics and the Niyamas, often translated as morals, are both part of the first limb. Then there is Pranayama, often translated as breath control which is the second limb.  Asana/poses are the third limb, and we will cover the rest in the future which lead to meditation and bliss. 

Iyengar in his book Light on Life defines pranayama as Breath Extension and that Yama means extension. Our Yamas then are ways to extend ourselves into the world and into relation with others as well as our relation with ourself.  We will get into this concept more when we cover Niyama and Pranayama.

Back to Aparigraha.  "Pari" means "All sides" and "graha" means "grasping."  So aparigraha often gets translated as non-grasping.  In other words, "letting go."  

There are many ways we can let go in our practice and in our life.  

Asana 

In our physical practice, we can let go into our poses instead of trying to push into poses.  We can let go of some ideal of what we think is the perfect version of a pose.  We can let go of even our attempts to relax or quiet the mind, letting go the judgements that come up when we do or do not accomplish what we think we are "supposed" to be doing.  Often in Yoga this is called non-attachment.  It doesn't mean we don't care.  It means we are not attached to the outcome. 

We can practice letting go in our breath practice and meditation practice as well.

Pranayama 

In Breath Practice, we literally let go of the breath as we exhale.  Often this release can feel metaphorical for other things in life we seek to let go. 

Meditation

In Meditation Practice, we may seek to let go of thoughts.  However, that can turn into grasping.  I find it helpful to be an observer of the mind and just notice when the mind becomes very active, jumping to the future or dwelling in the past and bring it, gently, back to the present by paying attention to my breath or a mantra. 

Daily Life

Daily life, we can let go of our attachments.  For example, we can clean out the house of things we no longer need. Perhaps, not acquiring things we do not need in the first place.  This is a good time of the year to consider what we really need.   A wonderful resource for this is The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. And my other favorite, Declutter at the Speed of Life. I combine these two techniques for myself and as part of the Wellness Coaching I offer. contact me kim@lifefullyoga.com for more info.

We have other types of attachments too.  Attachments to our opinions, our concepts of who we are, attachments to routine.  There are so many things we hold on to or cling to. 

What are you holding on to that you'd like to let go?  

Here is a nice article with some tips for letting go from Yoga International:

 7 Ways to Practice Aparigraha

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