Yama, Niyama and the other 6 Limbs of Yoga

Acording to Maharishi Patanjalie there are 8 limbs of Yoga:

Yamas (Moral discipline- Moral Vows)

Niyama (Observances- Positive duties)

Asana (Physical - Exercise)

Pranayama (breathing techniques)

Pratyahara (sense withdrawal)

Dharana (concentration)

Dhyana (absorption or meditation)

Samadhi (enlightenment or bliss)

The Yamas

Satya — Sanskrit for Truth
Ahimsa — Sanskrit for non-harming

Asteya — Sanskrit for non-stealing

Brahmacharya — Sanskrit for wise use of sexual energy- Celibacy- When the Creative energy flows up to the top of the body. 

Aparigraha — Sanskrit for "non-possessiveness"

Ahimsa

In Pure Yoga, Ahimsha means: None Violence. It is the principle of being non-harming in thought, word, and deed. This includes not harming other people, animals, the environment, and especially yourself! This discipline also encourages non-violent speech and acts, towards anyone.

It also means kindness, friendliness, compassion, and thoughtful consideration of other people and things. Ahimsa has to do with duties and responsibilities

Satya

Meaning: Honesty & truth.  Satya is the principle of living with integrity. This refers to refraining from dishonesty and betrayal in thought, word, and deed. 

 We have to consider what we say, how we say it, and in what way it could affect others. If speaking the truth has negative consequences for another, then it is better to  be quiet. Satya should never come into conflict with our efforts to behave with ahimsa. This precept is based on the understanding that honest communication and action  always gives healthy relationship, community, or government. Deliberate deception, exaggerations, and mistruths harm others, not only others, but it bring only decay. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi always says: Speak the sweet Truth.  

Asteya

Not Stealing. Anything that doesn’t belong to us. Not taking that which is not given. Not only does this include material possessions, but also other people’s thoughts-ideas-time and energy.  It allows you to turn your awareness to what you have, rather than to what you don’t have. It also inspires you to not depend on others to provide time, energy, or possessions for yourself. Asteya  encourages self-sufficiency.

Brahmacharya

One of the more controversial yamas, brahmacharya refers to the wise use and preservation of sexual energy. Ultimately, this principle does not necessarily mean celibacy, but rather acting responsibly with your sexual energy, as a way to respect others and yourself. It also refers to controlling your energy in general, so as not to waste your spirit and vigor on superficial things. It also means responsible behavior with respect to our goal of moving toward the truth. Practicing brahmacharya means that we use our sexual energy to regenerate our connection to our spiritual self. It also means that we don’t use this energy in any way that might harm others and our selves.

Aparigraha

We humans love to collect & hoarder.

The principle of non-possessiveness, aparigraha  refers to the ability to let go. It encourages non-grasping, non-clinging, and non-attachment to possessions or even thoughts. Aparigraha teaches you not to fill your life with "stuff" (including extraneous worries!), but rather to take it easy and be happy with what you have. Not hoarding is kind of a human thing to do, important is to have things we need, and not wat we want. 

Aparigraha means to take only what is necessary, and not to take advantage of a situation or act greedy. We should only take what we have earned; if we take more, we are exploiting someone else. The yogi feels that the collection or hoarding of things implies a lack of faith in God and in himself to provide for his future. Aparigraha also implies letting go of the old, or when we are done with something of our attachments to things and an understanding that impermanence and change are the only constants. Give it away. 

       The Yoga Sutra describes what happens when these five behaviors outlined above become part of a person's daily life. Thus, the yamas are the moral virtues which, if attended to, purify human nature and contribute to health and happiness of society.

    The Niyama 

 Saucha— Sanskrit for purity

Santosha — Sanskrit for contentment

Tapas — Sanskrit for self-discipline

Svadhyaya — Sanskrit for self-study

Ishvara Pranidhana — Sanskrit for surrender to a higher source, Divine

Saucha

The first niyama is saucha, meaning purity and cleanliness. Sauca has both an inner and an outer aspect. Outer cleanliness simply means keeping ourselves clean & organized. Inner cleanliness has as much to do with the healthy, free functioning of our bodily organs as with the clarity of our mind. Practicing TM-Medidations & Sidhi programs, asanas or pranayama are essential means for attending to this inner sauca. Asanas tones the entire body and removes toxins while pranayama cleanses our lungs, oxygenates our blood and purifies our nerves. "But more important than the physical cleansing of the body is the cleansing of the mind of its disturbing emotions like hurtful topics, hatred, passion, anger, lust, greed, delusion, gossip, and pride."

This principle of cleanliness & Purity refers not only to keep a good hygiene, but also to stay away from the impurities. Keep a moderate & balanced life.

Santosha  means contentment. It is the practice of finding joy in your own life,

modesty and the feeling of being content with what we have.  But it doesn’t mean giving up your dreams or allowing yourself to be taken advantage of is not the practice of santosha! Instead, this principle refers to an acceptance of the present moment — perhaps with a generous amount of patience. By finding peace in any circumstance, you begin to learn that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. 

To be at peace within and content with one's lifestyle finding contentment even while experiencing life’s difficulties for life becomes a process of growth through all kinds of circumstances. We should accept that there is a purpose for everything - yoga calls it karma – and we cultivate contentment 'to accept what happens'. It means being happy with what we have rather than being unhappy about what we don't have. It doesn’t matter what challenges we face, but we are: Living in the now.

Tapas:

This means heat, tapas refers to self-control of your energy, through which you "burn away" impurities. It  requires restraint, austerity, and hard work. When the extraneous is gone, your true energy can come forth. On your yoga  mat tapas can mean working with your "edge" in difficult poses — but it can also mean fully committing yourself to your practice. When you are inspired, focused, and "fired up," tapas is at work. Heat burns away loads of unwanted energy.

Tapas refers to the activity of keeping the body fit or to confront and handle the inner urges without outer show. Literally it means to heat the body and, by so doing, to cleanse it. Behind the notion of tapas lies the idea we can direct our energy to enthusiastically engage life and achieve our ultimate goal of creating union with the Divine. Tapas helps us burn up all the desires that stand in our way of this goal.  Another form of tapas is paying attention to what we eat. Attention to body posture, attention to eating habits, attention, awareness,  to breathing patterns - these are all tapas.

Svadhyaya

This is self-study, svadhyaya -requires contemplation and self-reflection as you inquire into your own nature. By turning your awareness within, you begin to realize the deeper meaning of your life, your purpose, and your spiritual path. The more regular we are in Yoga/ meditation we will be guided by the Divine it Self.

Any activity that cultivates self-reflective consciousness can be considered svadhyaya. Self referral.And--> Fix your self. It means to intentionally find self-awareness in all our activities and efforts, even to the point of welcoming and accepting our limitations. It teaches us to be centered and non-reactive to the dualities, to burn out unwanted and self-destructive tendencies.

Ishvara Pranidhana

Ishvara pranidhana,  is the practice of yielding to a higher power or to your higher-self. This practice encourages modesty and humility, as it acknowledges the existence of a greater force in the universe.  Ishvara pranidhana teaches you that surrendering to the guidance of this force will bring peace and  wholeness to your life.

To lay all your actions at the feet of God= Ishvara Pranidhana. It is the contemplation on God (Isvara) in order to become attuned to God and God's will. It is the recognition that the spiritual suffuses everything and through our attention and care we can attune ourselves with our role as part of the Creator. The practice requires that we set aside some time each day to recognize that there is some omnipresent force larger than ourselves that is guiding and directing the course of our lives.

It doesn’t matter whether you refer to this power as " The Divine", "God," "Goddess," "Creator," ,  or any other name.

I love the fact how Maharishi-Jee explains here:

All the 8 limbs develops simultaneously & not in steps. Maharishi Patanjalie-jee did put Truth first... 

Samadhi is "the last step" is not understood correctly... everything is evolving constantly once we are in Samadhi, which we already experience by the technique: TM & TM Siddhi program, we develop all the qualities of the 8 limbs kind of together.