Yama

The first system of Patanjali’s eight-fold system is Yama, which means restraint or control. The yama is mainly control in our dealings with the external world.

While Patanjali lists only five yamas in his Yoga Sutras, the other literature / scriptures including the Shandilya and Varaha Upanishads, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Gorakshanatha, and the Tirumantiram of Tirumular lists a total of ten Yamas.

Five yamas of Patanjali

In the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali, the yamas are the first limb of the eight limbs of Raja Yoga. They are found in the Sadhana Pada Verse 30 as: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya & Aparigraha. 

Ahimsa (Non Violence)

Ahimsa or non-violence means not to kill anyone because it generates pain. Yoga demands ahimsa in totality. That means, himsa does not mean only killing or hitting anyone, but to hurt someone mentally is also a himsa. That is oral himsa.

Yoga also states further that even thinking ill of someone is also a himsa, which is a mental himsa. Hence, ahimsa covers all aspects such as physical, oral, mental. This indicates the greatness of the depth of the science of yoga.  

Satya (Truthfulness)

Satya does not only cover speaking the truth. Proper understanding of the talk and the mind is the truth. Proper meaning is exactly what is seen, understood or heard, the same thing should be followed by our tendency to talk and also by the mind.

When we try to explain something to others, the conversation if it generates doubts or if it is not understood correctly by others, or if it is of no use to others, then that is not truth, even if it is true. In addition, God has created our tongue for the benefit of all and not for destruction. Therefore, the truth, which results in the destruction of someone or something, is also not the truth. 

Asteya (Honesty)

Asteya means not stealing. Asteya has a comprehensive meaning and is not limited to not stealing something from the other and keeping it in possession. It means not keeping anything with self, which does not belong to the self.  

Brahmacharya (Sexual Continence)

Brahmacharya means sexual continence, but it does not mean that someone should renounce family life and become a monk; such an action is not expected in Yoga science. When a sadhaka progresses on the path of Yoga, he feels that he should relinquish the worldly activities and he will be free from all desires and hence can easily study dhyana and dharana.

Controlled enjoyment of desires, staying within the limit of dharma and science can be termed as continence. If we understand this meaning and behave accordingly, we will be able to progress in Yoga. If it is observing that continence seems difficult initially, when we think deeply about it, it is not so difficult as it seems. However, one has to make an effort. One should deliberately avoid consumption of items, which increase the desire or reading material, which excites the feelings

Aparigrah (Non possessiveness)

Aparigrah means not storing things, which are not required by us. For example, if we are thirsty, we can quench the thirst after drinking a glass of water. Even if one brings a pot full of water, the thirst gets quenched with a glass only. However, this gives rise to other problems.

First, to bring pot full of water, one has to search for so much water as well as for a pot. One has to run around to get these things. To bring water also, one has to put in some efforts. Even after the thirst is quenched, there remains a question as to what is to be done of the remaining water? Where it should be kept? How long the water will remain pure? What efforts are required to keep it safely?

All these problems arise thereby increasing the mental and physical strain. If one quenches his thirst by drinking water using his hands, then all these problems do not arise at all.

Yoga aims at not giving rise to such circles at all. We should enjoy only what is necessary and that too in a controlled manner. Not to store or hoard the things is aparigrah.