Yama and NiYama – Practical application 3

This blog tries to delve into the depths of NiYama (Internal Control). The elements of NiYama are;

Soucham is cleanliness. 

External Cleanliness: Whilst we are reasonably aware and follow the basic rules of hygiene such as brushing, bathing etc., a more sensitive and difficult area is food hygiene. We often eat from the same plate, share the same food item or mix cooking and eating utensils. This can be dangerous because it enables the transmission of contagious virus through sharing of liquids and food. A good habit to acquire would be avoiding sharing food with others and keeping cooking and eating utensils separate. In fact, there is a law in the US whereby, a person who takes food out of a restaurant buffet cannot put it back even if he has a fresh plate and has just started the buffet. The food taken but not used should be destroyed. This is to avoid propagation of virus and germs.

Internal cleanliness is a process. All stimuli result in stress, either eustress which motivates or distress which induces a fight or flight response. Unfortunately in many situations, fight, flight or enthusiasm are not possible, so the stress builds up as anxiety and fear increases. This needs to be purged. One way is exercise, but if that is not available as an option or not possible in the circumstances, then one needs to use auto-suggestive techniques to calm down and regain clarity of thinking. This can be split into 3 elements – Physical – where auto-suggestive relaxation techniques is used to calm the muscles; Emotional – where breathing is used to calm frayed emotions; Intellectual – where rationalization is used to generate alternatives which are not escapist or to generate an intellectual picture which contrasts the stressor.

Santosham (contentment) is actually expectation management. This ability requires understanding of the stimulus; breaking it down into its constituent elements, analysing the data, understanding the response required, preparing the response and responding. The opportunity for contentment comes when we tone our expectations to more realistic outcomes or accept the outcome presented to us. This does not mean sacrificing of ambition; it means reducing resistance to tactical outcomes such that one is able to refocus on the goal, therefore a feeling of achievement and contentment. In some cases, it may mean recalibration of goals and expectations or acceptance that certain goals cannot be reached or accepting the solution available, which is a form of expectation management.

Svadhyayam (self-learning) – In a changing world, developing new skills is the price of staying ahead. This means studying or getting exposed to new products, practices or technologies. While we willingly do this for material gain or ambition, we often sacrifice efforts required to comprehend our internal decision making process, tools and skills… our conditioning and our identity. This change can come only when we accept the need for change because it is we that need to change. This often means dealing with uncomfortable elements of our personality and taking the steps necessary to address those issues which need solutions in the manner required, not in the manner convenient. 

This is done using 2 tools –Mimamsa or introspection which is reflecting on the impact of stimulus on our sense of identity and conditioning, confronting our fears and deciding the course of change and Svikruta which is acceptance of current state, and its impact on our conditioning and identity.

Sahana (patience) and shraddha (commitment) – Once we have decided that we need to change, we expect it to be instantaneous. It doesn’t happen that way… some changes are easy, but those which are ingrained deep in our psyche as conditioning or as part of our identity are very difficult to change. Also, we expect that just because we have changed, others should appreciate and change with us. That doesn’t happen either and this can be very frustrating. Here our ability to be patient, stay committed to the course of change, keep cleaning ourselves, having clarity of expectations ensure that we are able to manage change effectively.

Sharana (Surrender) – is the ability to subsume one’s identity into a higher one. Surrender is always the surrender of one’s identity and it is always to a higher ideal or power, which in itself is manifestation of an identity. One never surrender’s to one’s car or laptop. It’s always to a higher ideal such as a favourite deity, master, concept or ability. Surrender of one’s identity comes after years of practice of the above NiYama steps.

Dana (giving) and tapas (austerity) – ability to change is an exercise of self-improvement. Dana of giving helps one give up baggage. First, it is always things one does not need, then slowly it is stuff which has value, no matter how small and finally, it is material associated with precious things – it metamorphoses from an expression of one’s identity to one of altruism and finally to a situation where there is no judgement or expectation of return. Tapasis the practice of disciplining the sense of identity to isolating those aspects which need to be purged.

Surrender and Tapas are both advanced level NiYamas and come after years of practice, introspection and sustained effort.