Do not proceed without be established in Yama and Niyama: why?

[orlando]

Namaste all.

In a commentary of an italian advaitin philosopher to Yoga-sutra I read that if one is not yet established in Yama and Niyama,it would be better to not proceed "for so many reasons"

My question is: what are these reasons?

Pranama,
Orlando.

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namast�

Namaste all.

In a commentary of an italian advaitin philosopher to Yoga-sutra I read that if one is not yet established in Yama and Niyama,it would be better to not proceed "for so many reasons"

My question is: what are these reasons?

Pranama,
Orlando.

Proceed where? Not on the path of yoga ? This would be a blunder. Yama and niyama are brought to maturity by sattva. And where does this sattva come from ? From one's practice that instills samādhi. And how is this samādhi groomed ? This HDF Post may lend a hand: http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=10680

iti śivaṁ

[Sahasranama]

I don't think that ashtanga yoga is an entirely linear step by step approach, the various angas can be mutually supportive, but the earliest angas are foundational for going deeper into the later meditative states of yoga. You cannot skip steps and go straight to the most advanced meditative states. In the west, because yoga has become so far removed from Hinduism, people tend to cling very strongly to yamas and niyamas to prove to themselves that they are doing "real" yoga. Western yogis who have convinced themselves that they are practising "real yoga" can be the most snobbiest of people. What makes yoga really yoga is Hinduism, using scriptural commandments as a crutch is no substitute for actually being a Hindu.

Yoga, including the yamas and niyamas, is ingrained in Hinduism. The yamas and niyamas are also nuanced in Hinduism. We can learn about them from our ancient itihasas like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. In the Bhagavad Gita for example, we can see how Arjuna is struggling to apply morality in real life situations outside of the flower power lovey dovey fantasy world. In Jainism however the yamas and niyamas have become senseless dogmas. One world famous son of a Jaina has instructed people to voluntarily enter the gas chambers or to get willingly assaulted by an oppressor as a form of ahimsa and tapas. This is why Yoga outside of the context of Hinduism is even more dangerous than Islam.

[orlando]

In the west, because yoga has become so far removed from Hinduism, people tend to cling very strongly to yamas and niyamas to prove to themselves that they are doing "real" yoga. Western yogis who have convinced themselves that they are practising "real yoga" can be the most snobbiest of people. What makes yoga really yoga is Hinduism, using scriptural commandments as a crutch is no substitute for actually being a Hindu.

Furthermore these western "yogis" don't always follow or even know what some yamas and niyamas really are:for example Brahmacharya

This is why Yoga outside of the context of Hinduism is even more dangerous than Islam.

I am afraid also that such "Yoga" is almost a "new age stuff".

May Lord Krishna save us western hindus from such distortions of true yoga!

[orlando]

Namaste all.

I found the following verse in a scripture that should be the Vyasa's commentary to Yoga-sutra:

"When a yogin becomes qualified by practicing Yama and Niyama, then the yogin can proceed to asana and the other means." (Yoga Bhashya Vivarana II.29)

[Jainarayan]

Furthermore these western "yogis" don't always follow or even know what some yamas and niyamas really are:for example Brahmacharya



I am afraid also that such "Yoga" is almost a "new age stuff".

May Lord Krishna save us western hindus from such distortions of true yoga!

Namaste.

Reading Georg Feuerstein's Tantra The Path to Ecstacy, it becomes clear why western yoga is nothing more than fitness with some affectations (chanting om & opening & closing sessions with "namaste"). One can see from just a few lines of 1 chapter why "yoga" in the west is totally devoid of the true goal of union with the Divine.

[G.S. Iyer]

Dear Mr. Orlando,

Your question: “Do not proceed without be(ing) established in Yama and Niyama: why?” is not very difficult to answer.

All of yoga is the de-conditioning of our mind and thinking as it stands today and re-conditioning it to a completely altered state such as one would find in a true yogi.

The process is long and arduous; it is also quite slippery and demands of us an almost inexhaustible stamina and patience that will sustain us during our journey and help us get up when we slip. We can make life easier for ourselves by practising the yamas and niyamas, because these inherently condition us for our new life.

The wording of your question does not amount to an injunction but to abundant caution. It is mostly misunderstood to mean an injunction.