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The Second Limb of Yoga: Niyama and the Five Personal Ethics for Inner Balance and Growth

The Second Limb of Yoga: Niyama and the Five Personal Ethics for Inner Balance and Growth

In Patanjali’s eight-limbed path of yoga, the niyamas represent the second set of ethical guidelines, focusing on personal observances and self-discipline. While the yamas guide our interactions with the external world, the niyamas turn our attention inward, offering practices that refine our inner life and foster spiritual development. These five observances—saucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya, and ishvarapranidhana—are integral to creating a balanced, purposeful life.

The Four Ashrams or Stages of Life

by Gwen BurdickAccording to Vedic tradition, a human being spends a lifetime in four stages or ashrams. The word ashram in Sanskrit literally means "place of spiritual shelter." The framework of the four stages allows for a comfort and clarity as spirituality is...

The Path of Yoga: Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Eight Limbs

The Path of Yoga: Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Eight Limbs

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, compiled by the sage Patanjali over 1,700 years ago, are considered one of the most authoritative texts on the practice and philosophy of yoga. Comprising 196 aphorisms—short, concise statements—the Yoga Sutras outline the Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga), a systematic guide for living a yogic life and achieving spiritual liberation. This text is foundational in the Raja Yoga tradition, which emphasizes self-discipline, meditation, and mental mastery as essential tools for attaining inner peace and enlightenment.

In the Midst of March 2020 Madness

In the Midst of March 2020 Madness

Earlier last summer I was confiding in Gwen, a fellow yoga teacher and friend that recently passed. I said to her, “ I feel as if I’m practicing (yoga) as though I’m preparing for something but I don’t know exactly what that is.” I had been feeling this way for months, and although I had many goals for my practice, I felt my preparation was fueled by something greater than I could even explain. In this case, by “practice,” I’m referring specifically to yoga philosophy, the study of self, and meditation….

Sankhya Philosophy

by Gwen Burdick The dualistic theory of creation or causation is called Sankhya Philosophy and it appears in texts as ancient as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. Its founder was the sage Kapila who is considered by scholars to be older than Buddha. It is also the...

The Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri mantra, the most ancient of the mantras found in the Rig Veda, is considered to be the mother of the Vedas. The sound “gai” in Sanskrit means sing and “trai” means protect. Gayatri therefore translates to “she who protects the singer.” The practice of the Gayatri mantra allowed the Rishis, or seers, to receive the revelation of all other mantras.

The Four Purusharthas: Moksha

The Fourth Aim: Moksha Our investigation of the four Purusharthas, or aims of life in the Vedic tradition, concludes with Moksha, which means release, liberation or self-realization. The harmonious interactions of the first three aims, Dharma, Artha and Kama, are the...

The Four Purusharthas: Artha

The Second Aim: Artha The second Purushartha or aim of human existence as described in the Vedic texts is Artha, which means "wealth," "means" or "goal" in Sanskrit. Artha is kept in check by Dharma. The Purursharthas are not to be considered in a stand-alone fashion....

The Four Purusharthas: Dharma

The First Aim: Dharma The regulating moral principles of the Universe are described in the ancient Vedic texts to be the four Purusharthas, ususally translated as "aims of human existence." Specifically, they are defined as Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama...

Sankalpa and the Power of Mars

By Gwen Burdick In Yogic philosophy, when the intention of the heart and intention of the mind merge with resolve and determination in search of Truth, we have what is called Sankalpa in Sanskrit, or solemn vow. “Kalpa” means vow and “san” means truth. It refers to...

The Vedic Fire Ceremony

The Vedic Fire Ceremony

Fire, or Agni in Sanskrit, is one of the five basic elements of creation. It dominates the Pitta dosha of Ayurveda. In its highest expression, Agni is the source of self-discipline, purification and transformation.

Surya

"The Moonbeams are also the rays of the Sun." - the Vedas Our Sun, Surya in Sanskrit, is the 4.5 billion year old yellow dwarf star at the center of our solar system. It is an almost perfect sphere of gas (mostly Hydrogen and Helium) 860,000 miles in diameter and...

The Vedic Trinity: Create, Sustain, Destroy

In the Vedic tradition, the ancient root of yogic philosophy, the concept of God or Supreme Reality is understood in a three-fold manner. The triple function of God, Trimurti in Sanskrit, is expressed as Brahma the creator, Vishnu the sustainer and Shiva the...

Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 3.7

Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 3.7

Our most recent exploration of the yoga sutras ends with sutra 3.7, which states, trayam antarangam purvebhyah: These three [dharana, dhyana, and samadhi] are more internal than the preceding limbs. Following last month’s sutra, also focused on the last three...

Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 3.4

Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 3.4

Yoga sutra 3.4 states: trayam ekatra samyama: The three [dharana, dhyana, and samadhi] as one is called samyama. The last three limbs of the eight limbs of yoga are considered those limbs that happen naturally, whereas the first five limbs are actively...

Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 2.46

Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 2.46

Yoga sutra 2.46 states, sthira sukham asanam: The posture for yoga meditation should be steady, stable, and comfortable. You may have heard this yoga sutra in class—at least in its English translation. The yoga postures are to be done with steadiness and ease....

The Vedic World View

"It is quite possible that India is the real world, and that the white man lives in a madhouse of abstractions." Carl Jung (after a visit to India in 1938) As our study and practice of the Yogic sciences and philosophies deepen, it becomes increasingly important to...

Exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 2.29

Exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 2.29

Yoga sutra 2.29 states, Yama niyamasana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhi astau angani: The eight limbs of yoga are: yama (self-regulation), niyama (observances), asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana...

Exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 1.14

Exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 1.14

Skipping ahead a few sutras to yoga sutra 1.14, which states, sa tu dirghakala nairantarya satkarasevito drdhabhumih: Practice that is done for a long time, without break and with sincere devotion becomes a firmly rooted, stable, and solid foundation. This is an...

Exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 1.4

Exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 1.4

Building on the first three sutras, yoga sutra 1.4 states, Vritti sarupyam itaratra: When one is not in Self-realization, the Seer takes on the identity of the fluctuations of mind (thought patterns). That is, when we are wrapped up in our thoughts, unable to stay...

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