Self Improvement Through Yoga Sutra: Yama Satya (Truth)

The Yoga Sutras, recorded over 2000 years ago by the sage Patanjali, includes the second Yama in the eight limbed path of yoga, Satya.

By following this path, I have been able to grow personally and professionally, and so can you. It is so wonderful to feel the freedom the truth brings! Sometimes, to be truthful will be easy simple. At other times it will be difficult, and temptation will be there. You'll need to develop a lot of inner strength to be able to answer with "I cannot say," rather than a "little white lie."

Some of the challenge is in that while Satya means we must tell the truth, it does not mean to the extent that it causes pain. This balance is the most challenging part of all to manage in our western culture in the United States. It goes back to that simple wisdom from our childhood of "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

The wisdom of Patanjali, that ancient yoga sage, explains that when you always truthful, the and in time no lies come from your mouth, a time will come when all that you say will be true. The more we lead a life of honesty, the more we will see the results.

When trying to observe Satya, ask yourself the 3 questions before speaking: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it non-harming?

Once we are honest, we become fearless. We no longer have to be afraid or anyone or anything- we can lead an open life. Once the life becomes an open book, we are set free.

To truly find this place of honesty, w must only speak the truth, or if we cannot say something that will cause pain, we must say nothing. White lies still count: they tarnish the shine of our truth.

The openness needed to find our own truth is discovered through the mind, breath and body. All that does not serve us needs to be emptied from the vessel of ourselves to make room for what is true and beautiful.

Some of our personal truths may be obscure to us, some painful. It is a journey to find our own truth, and we should approach it as such, not expecting to ever reach a static state of "ahah! This is the true me!" because this changes every day. Rather our own personal journeys allow us to begin each day with joy and wonder. We have removed what is dark and negative, and made room for new and positive feelings.

Rather we seek to peel away all the parts that cover our true selves. The true self is indeed the most beautiful person, the divine light. If that true self is flawed, it only means that we are human. Those flaws become our path to enlightenment, our way to seek the truth. Recognition of our flaws opens the way to our true selves.