The second Yama is SATYA: truthfulness in thought, speech and action. SATYA is a logical follow from AHIMSA: non-harming. Truthfulness has a fluidity about it: it can show up boldly with courage, or it can come alongside in a gentle way.
The compassion of non-harming keeps truthfulness from becoming a personal weapon!
Truthfulness also has a certain substance and is an outcome of integrity. I remember a One Month Character Strength challenge I did about 6 years ago. My focus was on Integrity, which I initially embraced as showing up on time, protecting trust, being honest, etc. During that month, I had a fender bender. In the accident report, I stated it was my fault as I bumped into the car in front (altho the driver didn’t signal and stopped short to turn). Later the insurance agent called to check up on me, and exclaimed ‘You’re the one who said you did it?!!’. (Apparently most people don’t own up to whatever happened.) She asked ‘Who are you?’ and I said, ‘I’m a yoga teacher on a one month challenge on Integrity.’
It can be surprising what shifts in your life with a little focus on intention!
When we approach life with compassion and clarity, we ‘show up’ with our thoughts, words and actions, congruent and unified. We can fully meet the ordinariness of life (doing the dishes) as well as the challenges (navigating an argument).
“One of the things that amazed me when I first read Gandhi’s autobiography was his statement about his life being an experiment with truth. He didn’t say non-violence, he said truth.” Deborah Adele
Mahatma Gandhi developed a philosophy of truth-focused, non-violent, non-cooperation called Satyagraha. He provided the leadership that convinced the people of India that peaceful non-cooperation was the key to independence from the British, who had dominated India for 250 years.
We may not be leading a revolution, however if we can flavour our thoughts, words, actions, habits, values and destiny with the Positive, we can make a shift to a more congruent, grounded life!
Next week, we’ll explore ASTEYA, non-stealing.
*Deborah Adele, ‘The Yamas and Niyamas, Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice’
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