Yamas, Niyamas and Yogic Overview of the Mind

When I stepped off the plane from Bali three days ago, i felt a wonderful sense of kindness and empathy towards all other beings, and a strong sense of connectedness with everything. Not even the cold weather or impatient drivers leaving the airport could burst the serene bubble 10 days on a yoga retreat had wrapped me in. It seemed that all the anxieties and worries which pervaded my usual everyday experiences were bouncing off, leaving me unaffected. I couldn’t help but smile. . It’s incredible the clarity that comes, when ahamkara operates more from buddhi. Unfortunately, by the fourth morning, my serene bubble had sprung leak.

I intended to awake early for some asana practise. Instead I woke at 8.30 am. Frustrated, I snapped at my bewildered partner, and without listening to his reply, I leapt out of bed and straight into the shower. The peace and tranquillity evaporated with the steam. I berated myself, and my partner, for me having slept in and subsequently not doing any asana practise. Clarity was lost as I embraced manas. I began to identify more strongly with the movements of my mind (1:4, Iyengar, 1993) and ultimately forgot the rest of my yoga practise as well.

As my partner prepared breakfast I continued to stew – embracing manas completely. I grabbed the newspaper to distract myself, and soon became caught up in the dramas of the world. My partner placed my breakfast in front of me, and before I knew it the meal was gone.

Later I sat at the desk intending to write this essay. Instead I fussed around with papers, organised myself, or if I’m perfectly honest, I procrastinated. I even picked up my account book and tried to organise my finances. Looking at the book I remembered I had just spent all my money on a holiday. The all too familiar worry and anxiety began to set in. I cannot stand being in debt. I felt my stomach flip flop, and the furrow I’d spent the two weeks away trying to remove, resurfaced in my brow. I don’t know why I’ve always disliked being in debt. Maybe it’s the fear that I might not have enough money to live? I needed a distraction… I wanted to study, I needed to study, I had an assignment to write. I wanted to sleep. I was becoming very tired all of a sudden. I wanted to laugh. I wanted to be back in Bali, back on the retreat. I needed… I wanted… Flustered and overwhelmed I decided I needed chocolate – that always helps. But was 10am too early for chocolate? I was no longer sure what I needed or wanted. How had my mind become so overwhelmed so quickly? The more I thought, the more immersed I became in manas. I needed to just settle. I needed clarity.

The klesas were in full swing as my mind jumped around like a wild monkey (kshipta). Avidya muddied my perception of “my true self”, of what really mattered. I became caught up with asmita, believing I needed to be in control, that my plans needed to come to fruition. I was completely attached (raga) to these plans, to my asana practise, and sought to escape (dvesa) my frustration by eating chocolate, reading the newspaper, and ultimately avoid writing this essay by procrastinating. Even my attachment to life could be demonstrated by my attachment to the things of life; ie to money, to plans. The klesas operate at many levels within each of us, and they create an imbalance between our mind and body and disconnect us from the divine, or from our higher selves, or however we might see this (Iyenga, 1993). For me, beginning to understand how the klesas disturb the balance in my life is incredibly powerful. Whilst I admit it’s rather challenging to maintain this mindfulness all the time, it creates the freedom to begin to stop, or at the very least change, the many repetitive cycles I experience in my thoughts and actions.

YAMAS

Ahimsa
Satya
Asteya
Brahmacarya
Aparigraha

NIYAMAS

Sauca
Samtosa
Tapas
Svadhyaya
Ishvara pranidhana


Written by: Rachael Freeland

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