Yamas deals with ethical standards and integrity by restraining harmful thoughts and impulses. Yama in Sanskrit means restraint, the act of checking. They are like moral rules and codes of conduct. The word Yama has been mentioned in many texts of Hinduism, especially Rigveda, Upanishads, and dharmasutras. Maharshi Patanjali in his yoga sutras mentions five Yamas as a foundation to attain the highest spiritual realization.

Sage Patanjali says, by practicing various moral and ethical disciplines, one will attain strong willpower and self-control. It is the first requirement to gain mastery over the senses. Therefore, it is necessary to restrain physical urges and corrupt thoughts and impulses. Otherwise, we get trapped by the temptation of physical urges and move away from the God-vision.

These rules are universal laws and can be applied everywhere irrespective of people, place, and time. These rules will help us to be with the universe. It is like respecting the universe as it is.

Yama consists of the following five practices for restraining harmful physical urges to develop intense willpower. Patanjali in Yoga sutra says: “Tatra Ahimsa Satya Asteya Brahmacharya Aparigraha Yamaha” That means Non-violence, Truthfulness, Non-stealing, Celibacy, and Non-greed are the five Yamas.

1. Ahimsa (Non-Violence)

It is mentioned in scriptures that “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma”, which means non-violence is the utmost duty. Violence committed even in the utmost secrecy will not go unpunished.

We have to understand the context in which the word ahimsa is used. For a spiritual aspirant, ahimsa should be the highest goal. Satisfying the physical urges should not be the priority for a spiritual aspirant. Ahimsa should not be viewed as a weakness. It is the greatest strength for a yogi. A person who indulges in violence is the weakest person. He does either because of insecurities or fear. Killing or harming others comes due to extreme selfishness, uncontrollable urges, or animal impulses.

Now the question comes, is it really possible for anyone to live with absolute non-violence? In order to live on this planet, consciously or unconsciously we are involved in killing or harming other life forms. For basic survival, we need food. While walking, many ants or small creatures dye under your feet. Even while breathing, we kill microscopic life forms. To protect the country, soldiers kill their enemies. Hence, more than the act itself, it is the intention behind that act is more important. No work in itself is either good or bad. It is the intention or attitude in which that work is performed. It is the “Viveka” or the power of discrimination, one should employ before taking any decision.

The goal of yoga is to develop divine potential by transcending from human and animal nature. A mind with violent tendencies and animal instincts are not suitable for meditation. Otherwise, you will meditate on those negative qualities. It is said that, with the positive vibrations of a yogi, a violent person also in the vicinity of him will drop all the negativity.

2. Satya (Truthfulness)

Satya means truthfulness in thought, speech, and action. Satya is the total commitment towards truth and integrity. On a deeper level, Satya is the one that is not changing. In Sanskrit, ‘Sat’ means ‘one that is not changeable’ or ‘that which has no distortion’. Satya means being true and consistent with reality in thought, speech, and action.

There is a lot of effort that goes into falsity. Maintaining a lie for a long time requires a lot of effort. You need to remember that lie all the time. When you dwell on lies, anxiety, and unhappiness grows within you. However, on the other hand, the truth doesn't require any effort. Once a truth will always remain the truth.

It is easy to practice truthfulness as long as it is convenient. But when it becomes inconvenient, then it is hard to follow. Truthfulness has to be absolute truth under all circumstances. However, we should have ‘Viveka’ or ‘power of discrimination’ to differentiate between pleasant and unpleasant truths.

Maharshi Patanjali says, when you get established in absolute truth, the result of the action will be fruitful. The practice of truthfulness generates great mental strength.

3. Asteya (Non-stealing)

Patanjali in yoga sutra says, when non-stealing is established, all the jewels or treasures are available to the Yogi. There is a deeper meaning in this statement. Stealing means taking something that rightfully belongs to others. It also means taking more than we need. Stealing is prompted by a sense of craving. Driven by this craving, a person may commit violence or covets the wealth of others. These cravings will create jealousy and hatred. Also, there will be a transfer of Karma. However, on the other hand, when you are satisfied with what you have, you will have happiness and satisfaction. That happiness itself is like a treasure.

It is not only about wealth, but it is about not taking anything from anyone which does not rightfully belong to you. Using anything more than required from nature is also not good. Hoarding too much is also against the principle of Asteya. Even not paying taxes to the Government or using unauthorized means to save the taxes comes under this.

4. Brahmacharya (Celibacy)

Brahmacharya has been referred to in the Hindu scriptures both in the context of lifestyle and stage of one’s life. ‘Brahma’ means absolute reality or infinity and ‘Charya’ means going after. Brahmacharya literally means to walk with the Brahman. It is like walking in awareness with the highest reality.

Maharshi Patanjali says, when you are established in celibacy, vigor is gained. When you are not caught in seeking sensual pleasures, the mind will become vast and powerful. Celibacy means conservation of energy. There is a limited amount of physical energy available. If this energy is wasted through unchecked sexual activity or too much talking, too much thinking, or other similar activities, then it will be difficult to practice spirituality. However, the same energy, which otherwise would have been abused, can be used for spiritual activities like kundalini awakening.

But abstaining from sexual activities should come as natural as breathing. Suppressing any kind of feeling is very dangerous. Therefore, when one is truly in Brahmacharya, he will become vast and powerful.

Therefore, in the Vedic tradition, life is divided into four stages. Brahmacharya is the first stage (Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sanyasa are the other 3 stages), where life is dedicated only to acquiring knowledge. After the Brahmacharya stage, the students are either allowed to start the grihastha (householder) stage or be in brahmacharya for a further learning process.

When the mind goes after the sensual pleasures, awareness of the self is not possible. When you are identified with the body and senses, you cannot acquire wisdom.

5. Aparigraha (Non-greed, Non-possessiveness, Non-attachment)

Aparigraha is one of the very important yamas prescribed by Sage Patanjali and in many of the scriptures. Aparigraha means not getting identified with the possessions. Aparigraha is a sense of renouncing the ownership of physical and intellectual possessions. Patanjali writes, being established in Aparigraha, you gain knowledge and understanding of your birth.

Possessions are like baggage, which will hinder one’s spiritual path. One should avoid taking more than what is needed. One’s possessions should include only what is necessary at a particular stage. This applies to emotional baggage as well. If you hold on to the past emotions or experiences, those emotions would also hinder the path.

To maintain the body, one should take as much food as required. An excess amount of food can create health issues. Uncontrolled sense organs desire for more than what is needed. Feeding to these sense organs will create many other problems. Likewise, the excess amount of love for anything creates a sense of attachment. The attachment towards anything will create a wall in the path of Yoga. One should not be identified or attached to the body and the mind as well. Body is like a vehicle gifted by God used for a long drive and the mind is the accumulated past.

Therefore, Patanjali states, until you are identified with the possessions (including body, sense organs, and its complex structure), you cannot understand the meaning of life. Once you become non-attached, you will come closer to understanding birth and life.

In the fire rituals of Hindu tradition, there is a mantra chanted ‘Idam na mama” during offerings, which means nothing is mine. Everything is yours, I am just offering it back as a token of thanks. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, “do your duty without getting attached to the fruits of the action”.