Patanjali and the Concept of Niyama in Yogic Philosophy

Contemporary Yogic philosophy is the more subtle and deeper contemplation of the integration of Yoga's wisdom and practices into daily life. There are many different areas of Yogic philosophy including very detailed instructions on awakening the Kundalini energy, extremely detailed nuances of Yoga asana alignment, and specialized breathing techniques to accompany meditative practices.

Teachings of Maharishi Patanjali

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras are considered to be a sacred Yogic road map on the spiritual journey through life. In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes an assortment of advanced Yogic practices that help to quell the fluctuating vrittis of the mind. In order to support an outer practice of Yoga asanas, pranayama, and moral restraints, Patanjali also details advanced, internal practices of personal awareness and responsibility.

Niyamas - The Observances

These observations include the inner practice of contentment, the willingness to engage in the fire of Tapas or sacrifice and Swadhaya or self-study. Through a diligent practice of these Niyamas, the fire of Yoga is stoked and a student is able to make great progress on the spiritual path.

The practice of Santosha (contentment) generates feelings of wellbeing, trust, and abundance in a Yoga practitioner's life. It is an advanced Yogic philosophical practice that encourages a practitioner to see all of his or her life experiences as an opportunity to reach for the light, instead of falling into darkness, despair and self-pity.

This practice goes to the very heart of our experience of being connected to God and the entire web of life. The Niyama of Ishvarapranidhana goes hand in hand with the internal adherence to Santosha. Ishvarapranidhana is the practice of being constantly aware of the sacredness of all of life, and the divine energy that pulsates through the vibrating matrix of all existence.

The advanced Yogic philosophy of implementing the Niyamas we know as "Tapas" and "Swadhyaya" into one's personal Yoga practice help to keep the fire of the awakened Kundalini Shakti very strong. The willingness to practice Tapas by sacrificing a smaller desire in order to align oneself more strongly with the divine energy is critical to advanced Yogic practices. The practice of Tapas can come in the form of the abstaining from consumption of material possessions, food, shallow relationships, alcohol, drugs, leisure, and so on.

There are also more subtle aspects of Tapas in the form of fasting from negative or self-defeating thinking patterns about oneself or others. Releasing these negative thoughts and actions is supported by the practice of Swadhyaya (self-study and the study of sacred literature). Swadhyaya is classically engaged in during writing exercises, reading, or the chanting of sacred mantras and texts. These contemplative exercises help you to see your mind much more clearly and know what sacrifices must be made if you are to continue to grow on the spiritual path.

Yogic Philosophy Applied to Life

Yogic philosophy covers a broad range of Yogic practices and disciplines. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras outlines many of these advanced Yogic philosophical points and practices. Ultimately, a disciplined and integrated adherence to advanced Yogic teachings and philosophies will support a Yoga practitioner in becoming an embodiment of divine grace.

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Yoga Meditation for Chemical Addictions

Yoga has many facets for healing. At the top of the list is meditation. Although Yoga postures help people cope with life's daily problems, the body is being adjusted to bring about states of inner calm. Yoga meditation preserves this feeling of calm by teaching the practitioner how to control the mind. Controlling one's mind is a life saving skill.

A chemical addiction is a serious medical issue with a physical and a psychological component. The body may crave a specific "mind and mood altering substance," but overcoming the physical addiction is just the first step. Ultimately, it is the mental addiction, and the difficulty in changing habits with coping mechanisms, that can lead addicts to relapse.

Accordingly, strengthening the mind is an extremely important step in chemical addiction recovery. Like a toddler learning to walk, the mind grasps for something to cling to. When drugs are removed as an option, the mind is left flailing and must be taught with other methods and new tools. Yoga, in conjunction with meditation, can be a very powerful ally to the mind, which is struggling for new footholds.

Meditation creates states of "mindful awareness." Labeling thoughts that come into the mind as one meditates, and learning to observe them without judging, or becoming attached to them, teaches the meditation practitioner to separate these feelings or cravings from the self. Prayer and meditation are specifically mentioned in step 11 of Alcoholics Anonymous' 12-step program.

Kevin Griffin, the author of "One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps," points out that "in addiction, people turn to drugs to escape from uncomfortable feelings, but in meditation, you learn to do the opposite. You sit with yourself, your thoughts, and feelings, instead of running away." Admittedly, the process can be difficult. Similar to insights in therapy, insights in meditation come at the cost of facing the feelings that addiction has been masking. Yet, only by facing these feelings can they lose their power.

Loving kindness meditation develops a systematic quality of loving acceptance towards others and the self, through regular practice. Addiction mistreats the body and the self, so increasing feelings of self-worth and self-acceptance, faults and all, can be extremely healing. Loving kindness towards those around us also makes us aware of the toll that addiction can take on our friends and loved ones.

Incorporating meditation into an existing Yoga practice can be as simple as setting aside time before or after regular mat time. Practice in a peaceful area, where disturbances are minimized. Remember that meditation alone may not be sufficient support for recovery. Therefore, it is wise to seek other assistance, such as professional counseling or therapy, as needed.

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