SECTION SIX

A code of conduct, vegetarianism,

sensitive medical issues, and ahimsa—
nonhurtfulness in thought, word and deed
t h o m a s k e l ly

t h o m a s k e l ly

t h o m a s k e l ly
A council of renunciate Hindu leaders gathered to discuss current ethical
and religious issues in light of dharmic principles at the Kumbha Mela of
2004 in Ujjain at the camp of Maharishi Sarkhani Ji Maharaj (center left).
CHAPTER 42 3. Nonstealing, Asteya
Uphold the virtue of non-
stealing, neither thieving,
coveting nor failing to
repay debt. Control your
desires and live within
Twenty Keys for Spiritual Living in Contemporary Times your means. Do not use
borrowed resources for
unintended purposes or
4. Divine Conduct, Brahmacharya
Practice divine conduct,
Ç—™‰æ controlling lust by remain- ∏˘“˜òæ@
ing celibate when single
and faithful in marriage.
Before marriage, use vital
energies in study, and after
marriage in creating fam-
ily success. Don’t waste

H
ow often do you see a professional team everyone in society, and assumed to be fully intact for any- keep them past due. Do the sacred force by pro-
of people misbehave on the job? You’re on a flight one seeking life’s highest aim in the pursuit called yoga. not gamble or defraud miscuity in thought, word
from San Francisco to Singapore. Do the flight at- Sage Patanjali (ca 200 bce), raja yoga’s foremost pro- others. Do not renege or deed. Be restrained
tendants bicker in the aisle? Of course not. People pounder, told us, “These yamas are not limited by class, on promises. Do not use with the opposite sex. Seek
at this level of business have control of their minds and emo- country, time (past, present or future) or situation. Hence others’ names, words, holy company. Dress and
tions. If they didn’t, they would soon be replaced. When they they are called the universal great vows.” Yogic scholar resources or rights with- speak modestly. Shun
are on the job, at least, they follow a code of conduct spelled Swami Brahmananda Saraswati revealed the inner science out permission and pornography, sexual
acknowledgement. humor and violence.
out in detail by the corporation. It’s not unlike the moral of yama and niyama. They are the means, he said, to con-
code of any religion, outlining sound ethics for respect and trol the vitarkas, the cruel mental waves or thoughts, that
harmony among humans. Those seeking to be successful in when acted upon result in injury to others, untruthfulness,
life strive to fulfill a moral code whether “on the job” or off. hoarding, discontent, indolence or selfishness. He stated, 5. Patience, Kshama 6. Steadfastness, Dhriti
Does Hinduism and its scriptures on yoga have such a code? “For each vitarka you have, you can create its opposite
Exercise patience, restrain- Foster steadfastness,
Yes: twenty ethical guidelines called yamas and niyamas, “re- through yama and niyama, and make your life successful.” ing intolerance with people overcoming nonpersever-
straints and observances.” These “do’s” and “don’ts” are found The following paragraphs, with accompanying illustra- and impatience with
ռ٠ance, fear, indecision and
∞‡⁄™
in the 6,000 to 8,000-year-old Vedas, mankind’s oldest body of tions by A. Manivel of Chennai, elucidate the yamas and ni- circumstances. Be agree- changeableness. Achieve
scripture, and in other holy texts expounding the path of yoga. yamas. Presented first are the ten yamas, the do not’s, which able. Let others behave your goals with a prayer,
The yamas and niyamas are a common-sense code re- harness the instinctive nature, with its governing impulses according to their nature, purpose, plan, persistence
corded in the final section of the Vedas, called Upani- of fear, anger, jealousy, selfishness, greed and lust. Second without adjusting to you. and push. Be firm in your
shads, namely the Shandilya and the Varuha. They are are illustrated the ten niyamas, the do’s, the religious obser- Don’t argue, dominate decisions. Avoid sloth and
also found in the Hatha Yoga Pra dipika by Gorakshan- vances that cultivate and bring forth the refined soul quali- conversations or interrupt procrastination. Develop
atha, the Tirumantiram of Tirumular and in the Yoga ties, lifting awareness into the consciousness of the higher others. Don’t be in a hurry. willpower, courage and
Sutras of Patanjali. The yamas and niyamas have been chakras of love, compassion, selflessness, intelligence and Be patient with children industriousness. Overcome
and the elderly. Minimize obstacles. Never carp or
preserved through the centuries as the foundation, the bliss. Together the yamas and niyamas provide the foun-
stress by keeping worries complain. Do not let opposi-
first and second stage, of the eight-staged practice of yoga. dation to support our yoga practice so that attainments in at bay. Remain poised tion or fear of failure result
Yet, they are fundamental to all beings, expected aims of higher consciousness can be sustained. in good times and bad. in changing strategies.

The Ten Vedic Restraints, Yama æº

1. Noninjury, Ahimsa 2. Truthfulness, Satya 7. Compassion, Daya 8. Honesty, Arjava
Practice noninjury, not Adhere to truthfulness, Practice compassion, Maintain honesty, renounc-
harming others by thought, Ç⁄“Ä–Ÿ refraining from lying and –´æ conquering callous, cruel ÆæŸ ing deception and wrong- ÇŸú@Δ
word or deed, even in your betraying promises. Speak and insensitive feelings doing. Act honorably even
dreams. Live a kindly only that which is true, toward all beings. See God in hard times. Obey the
life, revering all beings kind, helpful and necessary. everywhere. Be kind to laws of your nation and
as expressions of the One Knowing that deception people, animals, plants and locale. Pay your taxes. Be
Divine energy. Let go of creates distance, don’t keep the Earth itself. Forgive straightforward in busi-
fear and insecurity, the secrets from family or loved those who apologize and ness. Do an honest day’s
sources of abuse. Know- ones. Be fair, accurate show true remorse. Foster work. Do not bribe or
ing that harm caused to and frank in discussions, a sympathy for others’ needs accept bribes. Do not cheat,
art by a. manivel

others unfailingly returns stranger to deceit. Admit and suffering. Honor and deceive or circumvent to
to oneself, live peace- your failings. Do not engage assist those who are weak, achieve an end. Be frank
fully with God’s creation. in slander, gossip or back- impoverished, aged or with yourself. Face and
Never be a source of biting. Do not bear false in pain. Oppose family accept your faults without
dread, pain or injury. Fol- witness against another. abuse and other cruelties. blaming them on others.
low a vegetarian diet.

338 w h at i s h i n d u i s m? c h a p t e r 4 2 : h i n d u i s m ’s c o d e of c o n d u c t 339
9. Moderate Appetite, Mitahara 10. Purity, Saucha
Be moderate in appetite, Uphold the ethic of purity,
neither eating too much ⁄º™Ÿ“Ÿ¿ avoiding impurity in mind,
nor consuming meat, fish, body and speech. Main-
shellfish, fowl or eggs. tain a clean, healthy body.
Enjoy fresh, wholesome Keep a pure, uncluttered
vegetarian foods that vital- home and workplace. Act
ize the body. Avoid junk virtuously. Keep good
food. Drink in moderation. company, never mixing
Eat at regular times, only with adulterers, thieves or
when hungry, at a moder- other impure people. Keep
ate pace, never between away from pornography
meals, in a disturbed and violence. Never use
atmosphere or when upset. harsh, angered or inde-
Follow a simple diet, avoid- cent language. Worship
ing rich or fancy fare. devoutly. Meditate daily.
5. Worship, Ishvara-Pujana
Cultivate devotion through
–Êò daily worship and medita-
tion. Set aside one room of
your home as God’s shrine.
Offer fruit, flowers or food
daily. Learn a simple puja
and the chants. Meditate
after each puja. Visit your
shrine before and after
leaving the house. Wor-
ship in heartfelt devotion,
clearing the inner chan-
nels to God, Gods and
guru so their grace flows
toward you and loved ones.
6. Scriptural Listening, Siddhanta Shravana
Eagerly hear the scriptures,
Ñ@ÕΔ¿¥›ú≤ study the teachings and ⁄–ØÛŸ≥™Ã˘Δ®
listen to the wise of your
lineage. Choose a guru, fol-
low his path and don’t waste
time exploring other ways.
Read, study and, above all,
listen to readings and dis-
sertations by which wisdom
flows from knower to seeker.
Avoid secondary texts that
preach violence. Revere and
study the revealed scriptures,
the Vedas and Agamas.

The Ten Vedic Practices, Niyama ⁄≤æº

1. Remorse, Hri 2. Contentment, Santosha
Allow yourself the expres- Nurture contentment,
sion of remorse, being seeking joy and serenity
modest and showing shame
⁄„ in life. Be happy, smile
–≥™ËŒ
for misdeeds. Recognize and uplift others. Live
your errors, confess and in constant gratitude for
make amends. Sincerely your health, your friends
apologize to those hurt and your belongings, Don’t
by your words or deeds. complain about what you
Resolve all contention don’t possess. Identify
before sleep. Seek out and with the eternal You,
correct your faults and bad rather than mind, body
habits. Welcome correc- or emotions. Keep the
tion as a means to better- mountaintop view that
ing yourself. Do not boast. life is an opportunity for
Shun pride and pretension. spiritual progress. Live
in the eternal now.
7. Cognition, Mati
Develop a spiritual will
and intellect with your
satguru’s guidance. Strive
for knowledge of God, to
awaken the light within.
Discover the hidden les-
son in each experience
to develop a profound
understanding of life and
yourself. Through medita-
tion, cultivate intuition
by listening to the still,
small voice within, by
understanding the subtle
sciences, inner worlds
and mystical texts.
8. Sacred Vows, Vrata
Embrace religious vows,
º⁄™ rules and observances Δ˘™
and never waver in fulfill-
ing them. Honor vows as
spiritual contracts with
your soul, your community,
with God, Gods and guru.
Take vows to harness the
instinctive nature. Fast
periodically. Pilgrimage
yearly. Uphold your vows
strictly, be they marriage,
monasticism, nonaddic-
tion, tithing, loyalty to
a lineage, vegetarian-
ism or nonsmoking.

3. Giving, Dana 4. Faith, Astikya 9. Recitation, Japa 10. Austerity, Tapas

Be generous to a fault, Cultivate an unshakable Chant your holy mantra Practice austerity, seri-
giving liberally without ÆŸ≤ faith. Believe firmly in God, ÇŸ⁄—™èæ daily, reciting the sacred ú¥ ous disciplines, penance ™¥–Î
thought of reward. Tithe, Gods, guru and your path sound, word or phrase and sacrifice. Be ardent
offering one-tenth of your to enlightenment. Trust in given by your guru. Bathe in worship, meditation
gross income (dashama- the words of the masters, first, quiet the mind and and pilgrimage. Atone for
msha), as God’s money, the scriptures and tradi- concentrate fully to let misdeeds through penance
to temples, ashrams and tions. Practice devotion japa harmonize, purify (prayashchitta), such as
spiritual organizations. and sadhana to inspire and uplift you. Heed your 108 prostrations or fast-
Approach the temple with experiences that build instructions and chant ing. Perform self-denial,
all art by a. manivel

offerings. Visit gurus with advanced faith. Be loyal to the prescribed repetitions giving up cherished pos-
gifts in hand. Donate your lineage, one with your without fail. Live free of sessions, money or time.
religious literature. Feed satguru. Shun those who anger so that japa strength- Fulfill severe austerities
and give to those in need. try to break your faith by ens your higher nature. Let at special times, under
Bestow your time and argument and accusation. japa quell emotions and a satguru’s guidance, to
talents without seeking Avoid doubt and despair. quiet the rivers of thought. ignite the inner fires of
praise. Treat guests as God. self-transformation.

For a full elucidation of the yamas and niyamas, see Yoga’s

340 w h at i s h i n d u i s m?
Forgotten Foundation, available at www.himalayanacademy.com/books.
c h a p t e r 4 2 : h i n d u i s m ’s c o d e of c o n d u c t 341