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What is Satya?


What is Satya? Here’s everything you need to know about the second yama: Truthfulness.

Satya or 'truthfulness' is the second of the Yamas of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. All aspects of our life can benefit from applying the teachings of Satya, and as we'll learn – it means a whole lot more than 'not telling lies'. The word 'sat' literally translates as 'true essence' or 'true nature'.

Satya is a Sanskrit word that means "truth" or "essence". It is also a virtue in Indian religions that refers to being truthful in one's thoughts, speech, and actions. In Yoga, satya is one of five yamas, or virtuous restraints, that prevent falsehood and distortion of reality in one's expressions and actions.

Satya is the second of the five yamas in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and it translates to "truthfulness". The word "sat" translates to "true essence" or "true nature". Satya means seeing and communicating things as they actually are, not as we wish them to be. It follows ahimsa (non-violence), the highest-ranking yama, which means that we need to honor the principle of non-harming first and should tell the truth only if it doesn't cause harm, or in such a way that causes the least harm. 

In Jainism, satya demands total honesty in behavior. This means not stealing things, and not acquiring things other than by totally honest means. In the modern context, this is also taken to mean being totally honest in paying taxes or not cheating in an exam. 

Gandhi chose satya (“truth”) and ahimsa (nonviolence, or love) as the polar stars of his political movement. 

Yama is a Sanskrit word that means "restraint", "moral discipline", or "moral vow". It's also known as "twin", "binder", "moral rule or duty", "self-control", "forbearance", and "cessation". In the Yoga system of Indian philosophy, Yama is the first of eight stages that lead to samādhi, or the state of perfect concentration.

Yama is also a list of "don't"s that represent commitments that affect one's relations with others and self. The five Yamas are:

  • Ahimsa: Non-violence
  • Satya: Truthfulness
  • Asteya: Non-stealing
  • Brahmacharya: Right use of energy 

Yama is also universal, meaning that these vows apply to everyone, regardless of their current situation or where they are heading.

 

 

 

 

 

  

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