Outlines of Indian Philosophy c19.104

c19.104

(1) The preliminary moral training is included under the first two heads, which we had occasion to mention already (p. 263), of yama and niyama of the eight-fold means (aṣṭāṅga) of yoga.³ Yama is negative—consisting of non-injury (ahiṃsā), truth-speaking (satya), abstinence from stealing or misappropriation of other’s property (asteya), celibacy (brahma-carya) and disowning of possessions (aparigraha).⁴ Niyama, which signifies the cultivation of positive virtues, comprises purity (śauca), contentment (saṃtoṣa), fortitude (tapas), study (svādhyāya) and devotion to God (Īśvara-praṇidhāna).¹ These are so to speak the ten commandments of the Yoga, and their general tendency is ascetic. Of the first group, non-injury is the most important and is stated to be the end and beginning of yama.² The remaining four virtues must not only be rooted in it, but also help to perfect it so that it may finally come to be practised irrespective of time, place and circumstance.