Tail wagging the dog!

One of my readers recently complained to me that I give too much emphasis on ‘Yama’ and ‘Niyama’ of Yoga. The reader felt that ‘Yama’ and ‘Niyama’ are not at all necessary! And laying emphasis on them discourages people from practicing Yoga!

 

Well, he is not the only one who makes such statements.
I have heard great ‘Yoga’ Gurus also say that.

For people who may not be familiar, let me explain. ‘Yama’ and ‘Niyama’ are the first two steps of Yoga that are hardly mentioned by many Yoga Gurus. Simply put 

‘Yama’ means – be honest, avoid hurting anyone, don’t desire what does not belong to you, don’t amass more wealth than what is essential, and keep your desires under restraint. 

‘Niyama’ means – observe mental and physical cleanliness, be content with what you have, withstand vagaries in life, read things that uplift you spiritually, and have faith in God.

I don’t know why someone should be against these basic ethics which in my view are so essential for a healthy society, with or without Yoga, irrespective of your religious affinities! What is making them unacceptable, if any? This reader adds that when someone practices Yoga, automatically he/she becomes honest, ceases to hurt anyone and so on, which essentially what ‘Yama’ and ‘Niyama’ are all about.

There is some truth in what he says. But that happens only in advanced stages of Yoga when one attains the ultimate realization. Not in the beginning. So one has to at least attempt to observe these norms if not strictly adhere to them. After all, what is wrong in being honest, kind, content and so on?