Most of us in the West have heard of the Ten Commandments. If you’re a yogi, you probably also know about the five yamas and the five niyamas. If you don’t, they are the principles the yogic sage Patanjali gave yogis as a guide for right living; think of them as the ten commandments for … [Read more…]
Of all the yogic principles, the fifth yama — aparigraha (non-possessiveness)—is often the most challenging for me. It’s also the most powerful. When I’m able to practice it, my life improves dramatically! If you’re familiar with the yamas and niyamas, you know they are guidelines for yogic living. I sometimes think of them as the … [Read more…]
As we tap into the fire of tapas and learn more about ourselves through the practice of self-study, we begin to strip away layers of ego. Eventually, we reach a point beyond our intellect. At that point, we need faith in a higher power to go further. Faith in a higher power is the fifth … [Read more…]