Stepping of the Eight-Limbed Path
Over the next several weeks I will be delving into my studious roots in order to flesh out an accessible yet thoughtful discussion of the Yama/Niyama basis of Raja Yoga. Please don’t be put off already, no unnecessary Sanskrit terminology will bypass my watchful gaze. There is much that is in plain sight, yet somewhat hidden to the mass of people. The Yoga I have studied for the past several years is referred to as Ashtanga, traditionally, which means Eight-Limbed. It is a life philosophy pertaining to each and every aspect of our earthly life as realized being. The two limbs, or principles if you wish, revolve around the moral and ethical recommendations for a life, which frees us of the animalistic in us. There is, purely physiologically speaking, a reptilian part of our brains, evolved millions of years ago, which we still carry. We have all heard of fight or flight and survival as traits we sometimes still share with our animal friends. The Yamas, five moral principles, were put in place thousands of years ago, in order to teach humanity how to overcome the animal instincts we all carry; the Niyama were put in place to show us a path of cultivating characteristics that our animal friends don’t possess. The simple reality behind this is, Yoga is a way of life. The philosophy of Yoga need not be shrouded in vaguely colonialist mysticism. It may not have always been available to a wide public, but it has been devised to help people along a spiritual evolution. Whether we choose the Eight-Limbed path is up to us. I have already dedicated myself to teaching it. So let us begin with the very first Yama. Ahimsa has been broadly translated as non-violence. Read my next piece to discover why it might not be all black and white as that.
Peace, Love and Yoga to you all!
