Yamas: Ethical principles that guide our behavior towards the world around us.
These 5 external restraints or “don’ts” focus on how you treat others and the world around you, acting as abstinences to avoid causing suffering.
Overall, these 5 rules remind you how to interact with the world and others.
1. Nonviolence (Ahimsa)
࿔Perfection of nonviolence brings an aura of peace that protects self and other.࿔
Ahimsa asks us to find courage, create balance, develop inward & outward self love, trust others’ journey, and develop compassion.
This principle turns us from harming self and others to kindness and compassion for self and others.
Tips for practicing nonviolence:
๛Say no when you mean no. Say yes when you mean yes.
๛Let go of thoughts such as anger, jealousy, resentment, and judgement.
๛Stop clinging to certain outcomes.
๛Pretend you are complete. Do not expect, change, or judge anything about yourself. Do not compete with others.
๛If you are overly interested in other people’s lives, notice what you might be avoiding in your own life.
2. Truthfulness (Satya)
࿔Perfection of truth brings spoken words that will always come true.࿔
Truth isn’t safe, but it is good. Living the life that cries to be lived from the depth of our being frees up our energy and vitality.
Truthfulness turns us from lies and half-truths to expressing our uniqueness and authenticity.
Tips for practicing truthfulness:
๛Notice when you are acting from your “niceness” versus your “realness.”
๛Act on life-giving opportunities, despite the consequences.
๛Do it right the first time. Don’t avoid or run, otherwise you will have to back track. Face each moment with clarity and courage.
๛Truth is fluid and ever-changing. Honor the ideas and beliefs that once serves you, but do not hold onto things you no longer need.
3. Non-stealing (Asteya)
࿔Perfection of non-stealing brings abundance.࿔
Imagine what would happen is each time we took something, we gave something back.
This principle turns us from theft to cultivating new skills and abilities.
Tips for practicing non-stealing:
๛Notice if you steal from others through time, attention, one-up-manship, etc. Practice being a forklift, instead.
๛Do not attempt to own anything. Instead, live as a visitor to this world.
๛Notice where you might be stealing from the Earth and from the future. Live from reciprocity instead.
4. Non-excess (Brahmacharya)
࿔Perfection of non-excess brings great vitality.࿔
“Walking with God.”
Leave greed and excess behind and attend to each moment as holy.
Non-excess turns us from greed to appreciation and pleasure without excess.
Tips for practicing non-excess:
๛Eat, work, and sleep to the point of increased energy and before the lethargy of excess.
๛Examine your own beliefs around sexuality. Examine society’s beliefs around sexuality. Ask yourself: Am I acting on outside authority or my own beliefs?
๛See the sacred in the ordinary. See God in all.
5. Non-possessiveness (Aparigraha)
࿔Perfection of non-possessiveness brings knowledge of experience.࿔
Live fully in the experience of life without the burden of attachment or the need to possess.
This principle turns us from attachment to intimacy without possession.
Tips for practicing non-possessiveness:
๛Look at your material attachments and ask yourself: Do these things make me feel free and light, or do they have a hold on me and make me feel heavy? (What you cling to, clings to you).
๛Trust life like we trust the breath. Let the inhalation and exhalation teach you about the fullness of breathing in life without the need to hold onto it.
๛Notice where you impose your expectations on people and things. Do not demand that they give you the same fulfillment and comfort each time. These expectations could keep you limited.
๛Practice letting fo of experiences, emotions, thoughts, habits, and beliefs.
I hope that this message finds those who need to hear it. Let us all practice nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, non-excess, and non-possessiveness.
May our own inner work ripple outwards to the community, the mountains and rivers, to make our planet a peaceful place to be.
In love.
Enlightened Escape 