‘What might be an intelligent approach to the yama-s?’ (lecture) – François Lorin

In the chapter of the yoga sûtra entitled sâdhana Patanjali presents the eight limbs of yoga as what leads to the beginning of discernment (viveka). Given that, it is tempting to interpret this invitation as necessarily leading to the practical application of the concepts he sets out. To start with the first limb: the yama-s or controls involve putting into practice the absence of a desire to harm (ahimsâ); sticking strictly to what is true (satya); not taking what does not belong to us (asteya); conserving energy in order to achieve the state of yoga (brahmacharya) and finally not possessing what life offers us (aparigrahâ).

But is such an approach possible and intelligent and does it not fuel repression and frustration? If that is the case, what might be an appropriate approach to the first limb of yoga and consequently to the seven others? That also calls into question the relationship between the yoga of action, set out at the beginning of the same chapter and the eight limbs, only five of which are presented in the sâdhana pâda, the three others being in the third chapter (vibhûti pâda).

François Lorin is a facilitator of personal development and transpersonal approach courses, a speaker, translator and writer. He has taught Yoga since 1969 and been a Yoga teacher trainer since 1972.