A guide to human conduct

Ananda Marga Ethics

In order to provide a practical guide for human behaviour, in Ananda Marga ten ethical principles called Yama and Niyama are observed. These principles are drawn from the ancient tradition of yoga and were refined and adapted by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti so every person can put them into practice, beyond time and place.
Yama literally means “control”, comprises five points related to society and the objective world. Yama emphasizes the commitment to others and expresses the idea that every living being is part of the same infinite consciousness; all entities are part of the same family. Harming other being is harming oneself.

Niyama meaning “self-regulation”, also consists of five parts and refers to maintain mental balance and personal harmony. For the spiritual aspirant Yama and Niyama are essential for the practice of meditation. Whoever violates moral principles (Yama-Niyama), should not have the opportunity to represent the people. If the power is given to a disabled person, is equivalent to running the in society cold-blooded way.
Shrii P. R. Sarkar

YAMA

  1. AHIMSA: NOT TO HARM INTENTIONALLY, either with action or with the spoken word or thought. This principle does not contradict the self-defense or the eventual use of force to protect others. The important thing is to realize that all our actions should be directed to the collective well-being and should never be motivated by selfish feelings or the desire to harm.

  1. SATYA: RESPECT THE TRUTH, considering how and when to express it and using the words in a benevolent and considerate manner. The key is to consider others’ welfare and not it’s own.

  1. Asteya: NOT TO TAKE OUT OTHERS BELONGINGS, or to think about doing so. It should also be avoided being a hindrance for everyone to have what rightfully belongs to him.

  1. Aparigraha: NOt TO BUILD UP EXCESSIVE O UNNECESARY MATERIAL GOODS for a dignified life. In addition to being a burden on our mind, often what we have most others have less. This is because material goods are limited.

  1. Brahmacharya: STAYING CONNECTED WITH THE UNIVERSAL ENTITY (Brahma). This is accomplished by reminding ourselves and everything around us, that we are different expressions of the one Universal Consciousness. We should not only remember IT, but must also relate to everything and everyone in a respectful and spiritual way.

NIYAMA

  1. Shaoca: MAINTAIN THE PURITY AND CLEANLINESS OF THE MIND, body and environment. Most important is mental health, which is maintained by cultivating noble and altruistic thoughts, doing community service and helping all to the best of our abilities. The feeling that most pollutes our mind and our heart is selfishness.

  1. Santosa: MAINTAIN MENTAL SERENITY AND DELIGHT. To achieve this we must remember at all times that we are spiritual beings with a goal of transcendent life; material reality is constantly changing, but our mind should remain fixed and stable, always observing the spiritual goal, like a beacon in a storm.

  1. Tapah: RELIEVE THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS THROUGH PERSONAL SACRIFICE. There are many ways to help and service, but this service is specifically made with real effort and giving of oneself. This has a strong positive effect on our mind, so is considered an internal, personal practice, beyond the constructive external effect our service had.

  1. Sva’dhya’ya: STUDY AND UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL MATTER. It is the effort to deeply understand the issues related to our spiritual development, making a habit to the mind to meditate on this fundamental aspect of our lives. This is usually done by reading and offsets the negative effects the continued focus on material issues has, to which we devote much of our life.

  1. Ishvara Pranidhana: ACCEPT THE SUPREME ENTITY as shelter and goal of life. It means to set oneself in a Cosmic ideation and take the Supreme Being as one ideal and goal of our life. The final destination of our existence is to merge with the Absolute, back to our true origin. It also refers to the first lesson of meditation taught in Ananda Marga, precisely because its goal is to reach that state of spiritual union with the Infinite.

Ananda Marga Arg ©