Hold Your Horses

In addition to the concepts of self-discipline linked to the five aspects of Yama in the Astangayoga philosophy of Patañjali, there are likewise five precepts of Niyama, which further prepare the sadhaka, or aspiring student for the path of Yoga. The pairing of Yama and Niyama is the dual aspect of restraint and action. This involves the development of discernment between what one should not do and what one ought to do in order to attain a level of physical, mental, and spiritual equilibrium that is necessary to obtain so that one may proceed with your practice with clarity of body and mind.

In my life, I have always strove for a symbiotic relationship between my mind and body, and when one is out of synch the other seems to also follow suit, and conversely, when one is in good condition, the other is likely to be so as well. Ultimately, I have come to realize that it is a quasi-chicken and the egg koan that is not likely to be resolved with mere cogitation, so I have likewise stopped asking that question as such as to which drives the other, and instead have been focusing on bringing the two into balance.

Yoga is the past participle, verbal noun of the Sanskrit verb YUJ, which means to join, or, like the English that comes from it, to yoke as in a pair of oxen, or perhaps horses. In the Phaedrus of Plato, there is a well-known allegory of the soul as a charioteer with a team of yoked horses, one light, one dark, which pull in opposite directions, causing the chariot to careen off course if the charioteer cannot bring them into harmony. The lightness of the soul is countered by the weight of the body, the former seeking non-material sustenance, the latter material. Though made up of three apparently discreet entities, when working in harmony, they become one.

Likewise, when the aspirant of Yoga has been able to bring the forces of the mind in harmony with the body’s physical needs, the resulting process then is the successful action of yoking them together to work as one. Yama and Niyama are the preparatory measures that need to be taken in order to bring this harmony into focus.

Speaking from experience, I know how crucial it is to keep the body and mind in balance, and for me, Yoga has been an excellent avenue for me to pursue this equanimity and poise to bring back that balance at times when I have otherwise lost it. Though I have neglected to act upon this at times in my life, it has once again become an integral part of living my life in balance. However, it has also been a continuous struggle and ongoing effort to keep the allegorical horses in check. We are constantly being met with the obstacles of uncertainty and inertia and the resulting lethargy thus can be our own worst enemy. As such, the two sides of yama and niyama are required for us to be vigilant against complacency, both about ourselves and how we further operate in society as a conscientious, considerate, and compassionate participant.

shauca-santosha-tapah-svãdhyãya-Ishvarapranidhãnãni niyamãh

vitarkabãdhane pratipakshabhãvanam

Cleanliness (shauca), contentment (santosha), austerity in praxis (tapah), self-analysis (svãdhyãya), and surrender to divinity are the active precepts of discipline (niyamãh).

Obstacles of uncertainty are countered by the creative process (by the union of yama and niyama).