Hindu Commandments

Discussion in 'Eastern Philosophy' started by rcscwc, Apr 30, 2011.

  1. rcscwc Registered Senior Member

    Commandments of the other kind

    The following are the Commandments listed by Patanjali, Manu, Bhagwad Gita and Bhagvat Purana. They are a way of life-a rich philosophical path. And the yamas (restraints) and niyamas (observances) are good common-sense guidelines for leading a healthier, happier life for bringing spiritual awareness into a social context as well as material well being. They are for you to think about and ponder over with a rational mind. , because Hinduism is not about mindlessly accepting externally imposed rules-it is about finding the truth for yourself-and 'connecting' with it.
    The Yamas are the ethical restraints; the Niyamas are the religious practices. Because it is brief, the entire code can be easily memorized and reviewed daily by the spiritual aspirant. Here are the ten traditional yamas and ten niyamas.
    The traditional Yamas are:
    1. Ahimsa:
    Ahimsa or non-violence is the awareness and practice of non-violence in thought, speech and action. It advocates the practices of compassion, love, understanding, patience, self-love, and worthiness. Ahimsa should practised in thought, speech and action.

    2. Satya:
    truthfulness, word and thought in conformity with the facts. Patanjali describes truthfulness as: "To be in harmony with mind, word and action, to conduct speech and mind according to truth, to express through speech and to retain it in the intellect what has been seen, understood or heard." Should be practised in thought, speech and action.

    3. Asteya:
    non-stealing, non-coveting, non-entering into debt. It upholds forgoing the unauthorized possession of thought, speech and action. Asteya stands against covetousness and envy and un-authorised possession of material wealth. It is the cultivation of a sense of completeness and self-sufficiency in order to progress beyond base cravings. Should be practised in thought, speech and action.

    4. Brahmacharya:
    divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithful when married. It is a behavior, which brings man nearer to the Divine. This yama believes in controlling and regulating, but not suppression, of all sensual pleasures, whether mental, vocal or physical.

    5. Aparigraha (non-covetousness):
    non-accumulation of worldly wealth beyond reasonable needs, caused by covetousness and attachment. The commentator Vyasa says that this last state of yama is attained when one remains totally detached from sensual pleasures of all kinds and so effectively refrains from committing himsa or violence of any sort.

    6. Kshama:
    forgiveness, patience, releasing time, functioning in the now. forgiveness, patience, releasing time, functioning in the now. This a big virtue. This is a reactive merit. It should be complete, physical, mental and oral. Should be practised in thought, speech and action.

    7. Dhriti:
    steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing each task through to completion. It involves inculcation of courage and standing for principles of morality.

    8. Daya:
    compassion; conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings. While kshama is a reaction on any action, daya is not a reaction but a positive action itself. To assist someone with sympathy is daya. Like ahimsa, daya is also physical, oral and mental.

    9. Arjava:
    honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing. To behave humbly with everyone after casting aside the ego is aarjav. Casting aside of one's ego is important.

    10. Mitahara:
    moderate eating, neither eating too much nor to little; nor consuming impure or unhealthy food.

    11. Shaucha:
    purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech. In the words of sage Manu, water purifies the body; truthfulness the mind; true knowledge the intellect and the soul is purified by knowledge and austerity. It advocates the practices of intellectual purity, purity of speech and of the body.

    Some thinkers have said that No. 5 is a part of No. 3, so there are Ten Yamas. The following are Ten Niyamas:

    1. Remorse, Hri
    Expression of remorse, being modest and showing shame for misdeeds. Recognize your errors, confess and make amends. Sincerely apologize to those hurt by your words or deeds. Resolve all contention before sleep. Seek out and correct your faults and bad habits. Welcome correction as a means to bettering yourself. Do not boast. Shun pride and pretension.

    2. Contentment, Santosha
    Nurture contentment, seeking joy and serenity in life. Be happy, smile and uplift others. Live in constant gratitude for your health, your friends and your belongings, Don't complain about what you don't possess. Identify with the eternal You, rather than mind, body or emotions. Keep the mountaintop view that life is an opportunity for spiritual progress. Live in the eternal now.

    3. Giving in selfless charity, Dana
    Be generous to a fault, giving liberally without thought of reward. Tithe, offering one-tenth of your gross income (dashamamsha), as God's money, to temples, ashrams and spiritual organizations. Approach the temple with offerings. Visit guru with gifts in hand. Donate religious literature. Feed and give to those in need. Bestow your time and talents without seeking praise. Treat guests as God.

    4. Faith, Astikya

    5. Worship, Ishvarapujana

    6. Scriptural Listening, Siddhanta Shravana

    7. Cognition, Mati

    8. Sacred Vows, Vrata
    Embrace religious vows, rules and observances and never waver in fulfilling them. Honor vows as spiritual contracts with your soul, your community, with God, Gods and guru. Take vows to harness the instinctive nature. Fast periodically. Pilgrimage yearly. Uphold your vows strictly, be they marriage, monasticism, nonaddiction, tithing, loyalty to a lineage, vegetarianism or nonsmoking.

    9. Recitation, Japa

    10. Austerity, Tapas
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  3. Mind Over Matter Registered Senior Member

    I would contend that the things you listed above are also summarized in the Two great commandments.
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  5. UltiTruth In pursuit... Registered Senior Member

    Which two do you refer to?
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  7. Mind Over Matter Registered Senior Member

    The two great commandments I was referring that contain the whole law of God are:

    2.Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
  8. wynn ˙ Valued Senior Member

    These two are so vague that anything can be claimed to fit into them - or nothing.
  9. Mind Over Matter Registered Senior Member

    Actually I don't find them to be vague at all. What could possibly be vague about "Love (Agape) your neighbor as yourself"? What can be vague, about "Love (Agape) God above all else. With all your heart, mind and strength?

    This is not to say that the application of these commands is always clear cut, but that does nto make them vague to me...

    And as to what can be "claimed" by individuals... :shrug:
  10. wynn ˙ Valued Senior Member

    If the application is vague, so is the commandment.
  11. rcscwc Registered Senior Member

    Which god, which law.
  12. Mind Over Matter Registered Senior Member

    Why are you are making my statement out to be more general than I wrote it.
    I said, "This is not to say that the application of these commands is always clear cut.

    In the vast majority of instances the commands are quite clear cut, but there are some times where the proper application can be difficult to determine. This is true with ALL general principles and commands.

    The Two great commandments are not vague at all.
  13. rcscwc Registered Senior Member

    Which are these please? Ref?
  14. Mind Over Matter Registered Senior Member

  15. rcscwc Registered Senior Member

    Not clear. Please mention the book, chapter etc.

    Do you mean Ten Commandments?
  16. Mind Over Matter Registered Senior Member

  17. murdoch Simply Psychic! Registered Senior Member

    Hindu commandments are quite tough with ethical values, clear and yet precise to don't let anyone make-out meaning that suits them. Anyone not following such guiding principles can easily be identified by the society for his/her being a true saint or religious person of high value and stature. Since it asks for all of the evils that rot a human soul to be kept away which is not possible to be followed by anyone with evil spirit. It's main stress is on purity of soul and mind...
  18. kx000 Valued Senior Member

    Man uses religion as a form of control. Religion is a gift, thats why I don't practice it, because mankind doesn't deserve it.

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