The 5 Niyama Principles

Living a dignified and moral life is a condition for peace of mind and finding your inner peace. By following the principles of the first two elements of Ashtanga Yoga — yama (prohibitions) and nijama (precepts), you too can get closer to that state. These principles will help you develop through yoga practice and become calm and loving in the stressful situations of everyday life.

Jama — nijama: opens the door to a fuller world

The 5 jama and 5 nijama are the basis for self-knowledge and awareness, which frees you from your false beliefs and allows you to see everything in context instead of drifting. If you manage to accept these principles and adhere to them, you will see your life from a completely different perspective.

The 5 nijama principle (specifications)

Nijama contains rules of conduct that can be used in the individual practice of yoga:

1. Saucsam — the principle of purity: for external and internal purity, it is important to be able to clear from your mind the karma of the past, and the bad qualities, disturbing emotions and thoughts. you can also achieve your surroundings and inner purity during mantra meditation. Naturalness, purity, simplicity in the field of thought, word and deed — results in good radiance and benevolence.
2. According to the principle of Szantósa satisfaction, one should not try to accumulate as much material wealth as possible with unnecessary actions. Why spiritual happiness is not measured in money, but is satisfaction that flows from within. (However, this satisfaction, inner calm, is not the same as the “indifference” passivity!) The dissatisfied mind is an inability to concentrate. , but you become an alert observer and controller of life processes. As a result, you are characterized by inner calm, serenity, cheerfulness, and balance.
3. Patch — the principle of renunciation: in order to know the character, you have to be independent of the life dictated by the perceived — that is, you have to give up certain things. Only proper self-discipline and self-restraint can bring great spiritual results — you can control the tested and your soul.
4. Swadhya — the principle of studying the self: means self-observation, self-study — the examination and purification of your thoughts, speech, and deeds.
5. Isvara-pranidhana — surrender: love of God, devotional service of God

If you too want to experience the peace of your mind and find a irreplaceable feeling of inner peace, then live according to the principles of jama-nijama.