1.1. The Code of Conduct

The Yogic Code of conduct (Yama & Niyama)

Correct behavior is so important because the sum of all the movements in mind, emotions, words, and actions creates the future. Everything you send out today will come back to you 'tomorrow' (=in the future) (=karma, resp. the principle of cause and effect).

However, people do not usually recognize this, as on this plane of existence, on which we find ourselves here, cause and effect typically take place at different times. For example: I help an elderly lady across the road today, and two months later a stranger gives me an apple for no apparent reason. The connection between the original action and the temporally shifted energetic compensation further is difficult to recognize because it does not normally manifest itself as exactly the same action. In other words... after two months, someone doesn't help me cross the road (because I might not need it), but the energy generated at that time is neutralized by a corresponding energy – in our example: I receive an apple as a gift. This is a very simplified explanation, but it should illustrate this principle.

There are three types of karma:

1. Prarabdha Karma: The present experience as the fruit of past actions.

2. Agami Karma: The karma that is now being created through our actions.

3. Sanchita Karma: The storehouse of all karma from all past lives.

The level at which karma is stored in our being is therefore not dissolved after each incarnation – i.e., we take old karma with us into every new incarnation until it is dissolved again.

Patanjali discusses the topic of 'karma' in the Sutras 2.12-14:

Sutra 2.12.: “The basis of suffering is the stock of consequences of actions experienced in the present or future life.”

Sutra 2.13: “As long as karmic roots remain, they manifest as different living conditions, life expectancy, and types of experiences.”

Sutra 2.14: “Pleasure or pain is reaped as fruit, depending on whether the seed was virtue or vice.”

If you manage to abide by the following rules in everyday life, you will create a more beautiful, more relaxed, more fulfilling life, which forms the basis for being able to penetrate ever deeper in meditation, and thus... to come ever closer to your Higher Self.

With the first two limbs of Ashtanga Yoga – with Yama and Niyama – the Yoga Sutras give us a guide to correct behavior in Sutras 2.30-45:

Yama

(Don'ts, the abstentions)

1. Don't be violent (in Sanskrit: Ahimsa)

Violence starts in the mind – thinking negative thoughts towards oneself and others leads to corresponding emotions, words, and, in extreme cases, even violent actions. It is very helpful here to open yourself up to higher perspectives on the true nature of things with the help of meditation and the 'study of the scriptures' (=spiritual teachings, but also, e.g., YouTube videos by spiritual teachers) and thereby become able to transform negative thoughts into positive or at least neutral ones.

2. Don't lie; truthfulness; telling and living the truth (Satya)

3. Don't steal (asteya)

4. Focusing on the essential; not wasting time and energy (Brahmacharya)

As soon as we realize that the most important thing in the life of a person (who strives for liberation) is self-knowledge, we can consciously decide to use more of our time to live a corresponding way of life.

'Brahmacharya' literally means 'wandering in God', 'living in accordance with the Absolute', or 'behavior that leads to Brahman (God)', and is interpreted differently by different translators and commentators of the Yoga Sutras.

These are other interpretations of Brahmacharya that can be found that also make sense to me:

  • Moderation; abstinence; celibacy;

  • Seeing God in everything (not focusing on the surface of things)

This also means, for example, that one should not focus on human faults but learn to see the soul beyond them instead. This is a very powerful practice that can completely change your relationship with yourself and the world for the better.

5. Not wanting to own (Aparigraha)

Aparigraha can be translated as 'not grasping' and is a general attitude towards the material world. All forms of the material world go by sooner or later – clinging to them only results in suffering.

Niyama

(Dos, the recommendations for your life)

1. Purity; cleanliness (Saucha)

Purity inside and out – this also means the purity of thoughts, food, etc.

2. Contentment (with what is) (Santosha)

This refers to a state in which you are satisfied only with yourself – as you/everything is right now – without needing anything else (people, material goods, etc.). But... that doesn't mean that you shouldn't strive for certain things.

3. Discipline (Tapas)

It is very important to practice (spiritual) exercises regularly with discipline and perseverance in order to progress on the path of healing and self-knowledge.

In addition, discipline is also needed to avoid doing certain things that you know are not beneficial for you.

4. Study of (spiritual) scriptures and self-reflection (Swadhyaya)

Study of scriptures:

Spiritual scriptures can open us up to higher perspectives and help us to understand ourselves and the world in which we live. Here are some of the spiritual teachers that I have found to be very coherent and that I can recommend:

• Louise Kay
• Lincoln Gergar
• Bentinho Massaro
• Eckhart Tolle

I can also particularly recommend two classical spiritual texts:

• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
• The Ashtavakra Gita

Self-reflection:

This means reflecting on your own thoughts, feelings, and actions. Self-reflection is an essential means of making progress on the path to healing and self-knowledge.

5. Trust in God; devotion to God (Ishvara Pranidhana)

The trust that all the experiences you have are FOR YOU (=an important treasure trove of experience for your soul) and not against you.

Devotion/surrender to God is also an important step that the soul has to take in the final stage of its journey back home to itself. It is necessary to completely let go of the illusory ego self created by the mind and to open up to one's own, higher, divine self – through surrender: 'Thy will be done.'

So, that's it for the Code of Conduct, let's move on to... 1.2. Meditation - THE Tool