Learning yamas and niyamas under KPJ

[Guest guest]

In the interview with KPJ on the Himalayan

Institute website, KPJ says the following regarding yamas

and niyamas:<br><br>"If you have a weak mind and a

weak body, you have weak principles. The yamas have

five limbs: ahimsa [nonviolence], satya

[truthfulness], asteya [non-stealing], brahmacharya [continence],

and aparigraha [non-possessiveness]. Ahimsa is

impossible; also telling the truth is very difficult. The

scriptures say speak that truth which is sweet; don't speak

truth which hurts. But don't lie, no matter how sweet

it sounds. Very difficult. You tell only the sweet

truth because he who speaks the unpleasant truth is a

dead man."<br><br>"So, a weak mind means a weak body.

That's why you build a good foundation with asana and

pranayama, so your body and mind and nervous system are all

working; then you work on ahimsa, satya, and the other

yamas and niyamas."<br><br>So when studying under KPJ,

do you not start practicing the yamas and niyamas at

all until after you've demonstarted competency in the

first three series and pranayama? Or does KPJ have you

start trying to observe them from the beginning, but

just not expect real competency in the them until

after asana and pranayama?<br><br>(In other words, as a

beginner working on Primary series, do I have a license to

ignore the yamas and niyamas, or if I do am I "just

bending?" (according to KJP.))

[Guest guest]

Do you really need a scripture or a guru to practice said yamas and niyamas? I

don't mean to be rude or anything, but isn't it all just common sense?

[Guest guest]

"Do you really need a scripture or a guru to

practice said yamas and niyamas?"<br><br>No, I don't; my

own principles are not dependent on any guru or

system. I should have been more clear: I'm just trying to

get a better understanding of the place of yamas and

niyamas in this system, that is, Ashtanga Yoga as taught

by K. Patthabi Jois. <br><br>Take satya for

instance: just as I think of asana as yoga of the body

(primarily), I think of satya as yoga of communication. Thus I

am always suprised when I see a complete disregard

of ahimsa and satya (in my humble opinion) in posts

by members who claim to be totally devoted to guru

and system. So I wonder why this is, and if KPJ

doesn't emphasize working on yamas and niyamas until

after pranayama (as the quote in my previous message

might imply) that would explain a lot. But again, I am

looking for neither justification nor excuses (Ashtanga

Indulgences?) for my own principles.

[Guest guest]

gotcha; ahora yo comprendo.<br><br>sun