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kalikshama -> RE: Can we be "good" without god? (9/30/2011 6:49:44 AM)
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I was raised Catholic. What sticks out in my mind is my grandmother telling me to be a "good citizen."
My yoga studies introduced me to the Yamas and Niyamas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamas
Every religion has a code of conduct, or series of "do's and don'ts", and the Yamas represent one of the "don't" lists within...Raja Yoga.
The yamas comprise the "shall-not" in our dealings with the external world as the Niyamas comprise the "shall-do" in our dealings with the inner world.
In Raja Yoga, observance of the abstinences, or yamas, help attain a healthy mind and body. As Hatha Yoga is the yoga for attaining control over the mortal body, the yamas (together with the niyamas) are its essential first two steps. Further, the Patanjali states that it is not enough to observe them for their individual ends (i.e. eradication of hostility, conquering self, etc.); one must follow them without a desire for any end goals. The secret to attainment of these is to harness the mind into thinking of the opposite of the element one needs to overcome.
The ten traditional yamas are:
Ahimsa (अहिंसा): Nonviolence. Abstinence from injury; harmlessness, the not causing of pain to any living creature in thought, word, or deed at any time. This and Satya (सत्य) are the "main" yama. The other eight are there in support of its accomplishment.
Satya (सत्य): truthfulness, word and thought in conformity with the facts.
Asteya (अस्तेय): non-stealing, non-coveting, non-entering into debt.
Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithful when married.
Kshama (क्षमा): patience, releasing time, functioning in the now.
Dhriti (धृति): steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing each task through to completion.
Daya (दया): compassion; conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.
Arjava (अर्जव): honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.
Mitahara (मितहार): moderate appetite, neither eating too much nor too little; nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs.
Shaucha (शौच): purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech. (Note: Patanjali's Yoga Sutras list Shaucha as the first of the Niyamas.)
The ten traditional Niyamas are:
Hri: remorse, being modest and showing shame for misdeeds;
Santosha: contentment; being satisfied with the resources at hand - therefore not desiring more;
Dana: giving, without thought of reward;
Astikya: faith, believing firmly in the teacher, the teachings and the path to enlightenment;
Ishvarapujana: worship of the Lord, the cultivation of devotion through daily worship and meditation, the return to the source;
Siddhanta shravana: scriptural listening, studying the teachings and listening to the wise of one's lineage;
Mati: cognition, developing a spiritual will and intellect with the guru's guidance;
Vrata: sacred vows, fulfilling religious vows, rules and observances faithfully;
Japa: recitation, chanting mantras daily;
Tapas: the endurance of the opposites; hunger and thirst, heat and cold, standing and sitting etc.
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