10 STEPS TOWARDS COMPLETE FREEDOM

[Pravin Kumar]

As per the ancient Indian scriptures the Vedas, one cannot achieve stable happiness or peace until he has become completely free from his likes, dislikes, habits, ideas, fears, insecurities and desires. So how does one get free? The answer lies in the principles of Yamas and Niyamas in the ancient philosophy of Ashtanga Yoga.
Yamas
These are the traits which one should make part of his character. Classical texts describe 10 yamas, but Sage Patanjali chose only five yamas as the important ones:
1. Ahimsa (Non violence): There are four kinds of violence which one can do to himself or to others; Physical: hurting physically; for example; hitting someone on head. Verbal: hurting with words for example; shouting at someone. Mental: hurting by giving mental stress or pressure; showing gestures of insult or anger.
2. Satya (Truthfulness): This practice includes seeking, believing, following and speaking the universal truth. It is also explained that personal truth is not necessarily the real truth, so one needs to seek the universal truth or truth which is always true in every condition and all the time.
3. Asteya (Non stealing): This practice involves not only not stealing but also not taking or accepting anything which one has not actually earned. The receipt of gifts which are given with a motive are also considered stealing.
4. Brahmacharya (Divine conduct): This practice includes non indulgence in the lower nature or animalistic activities, which are collection due to insecurity, over stimulation or indulgence in sexual pleasures, overeating or eating for taste or pleasure.
5. Aparigraha (Non collection): this practice includes not collecting or accumulating more than one truly needs, e.g. not buying 10 pairs of shoes if one actually needs only two. Now one must be following Satya in order to honestly decide what he really needs and how much he needs. Aparigraha is not only about materialistic things but also for emotional collection.
Niyamas
These are the practices which one should make part of his daily routine. Classical texts describe 10 niyamas but Sage Patanjali chose only five as the most important ones:
1. Shaucha (Purity): this practice includes keeping physical body, verbal words, mental thoughts and intentions pure, clean and healthy.
2. Santosh (Contentment): this practice includes being satisfied and grateful for what you have while working towards what you want.
3. Tapas (Austerity): this is the practice of mastering the five senses through discipline and thinning out the indulgence in the senses.
4. Swadhyaya (Self study): this practice includes improving ones awareness by self study of scriptures, available valid source of true knowledge and self reflection.
5. Ishwarparinidhana (Surrender to divine): Ishwar means one’s idea of god, and this practice includes the surrender of ego and all the activities to your god so doing all activities as service to the good, without expecting the credit or reward for it.
Practice all 10 of the above mentioned Yamas and Niyamas to purify your thoughts, actions, habits and character; leading to clarity, humility and awareness.