Yoga sutras - Iyamam
The first step in Yoga is Iyamam.
What is Iyamam?
Iyamam means avoiding bad things. Why we have to avoid bad things and what are bad things?
Before we answer these questions, let us look into our Purnas and Idhihasas and other folklores. In those, there are lot of Asuras who pray to god and get lot of boons. After getting those boons, what did they do? They indulge in bad things, harm the good people etc.
Why? Praying to god for years together is not an easy job. Gods appear before them appreciating their penance. It is such a feat. After reaching that level of penance, even after seeing god, those asuras do bad things.
That is because they have not trained their mind properly before getting into those penances. Their mind is still behind those worldly aspirations. It is not able to rise above the mundane things.
When you do yoga, you will get some power. What do you do with those powers depends on your mindset? If your mind is on wealth, you will use those powers to get more wealth.
So, the body and mind have to be prepared for a higher level.
To achieve that, first, we get to get rid of bad habits.
What are bad habits?
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Difficult to answer.
There are various lists of bad things like non-violence, not telling untruth, alcoholism etc. I am not getting into those lists because once we open the list, the arguments will start. What is wrong in eating meat or drinking alcohol etc.
You decide what is good and bad for you.
If you think over-eating, non-exercising, cheating others, killing others, laziness, procrastination etc are all good for you, so be it. It is up to you.
Books can only guide up to a certain level. If we keep arguing with the books for everything, there will be no end.
Second, we cannot achieve anything good without getting rid of bad things first. We cannot think of achieving a healthy body with over-eating habit. First junk food, unhealthy food, excessive food, harmful foods are to be eliminated. Then good food has to come.
Make a Not-To-Do-List first. What are all things you want to get rid of. Make that list first. Unless you find time to do good things, you cannot do it.
Many people complain that they do not have time for reading, exercise etc. Sure. Unless they cut down their time from Whatsapp, Netflix, Facebook, Youtube etc, they will not find time for good things.
Don't worry about Aasanam, Pranaayayam etc. They will come later.
First, make a list of things you want to get rid of.
Procrastination, laziness, oversleep/eat, unorganized way of doing things, sharp tongue, anger, jealousy, gossiping, wasteful reading, over screen time etc.
Clean the house first. Then we can bring new things.
In this new year, make a resolution to get rid of bad old habits.
That is Iyamam.
Next, we will see what is Niyamam.
