Yoga - Vidyashankar

Now that Yoga Day is over, can we go to step 1 - the yamas. Yogasana is the thirst step only, after Yama and Niyama.
(Yes, its much much harder. But fundamentals always are.)

The 5 yamas-
Ahiṃsā (अहिंसा): Non-violence, non-harming other living beings
Satya (सत्य): truthfulness, non-falsehood
Asteya (अस्तेय): non-stealing
Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): celibacy
Aparigraha (अपरिग्रहः): non-possessiveness

Raghunandan Tr Never did, and can't make sense of celibacy, though. Sex is a natural function and I just cannot understand the whole need to eschew it in order to go to a higher level of consciousness.

Vidyasankar Sundaresan Yoga does not call for unnecessary denial of anything. It is a call for moderation, avoiding extremes. In fact, true yoga actively advises against extreme denial. "There is no yoga in overeating, nor in extreme fasting" is one of the yoga teachings in the gita. You can replace eating with any other pleasurable human activity and extend the message to other goals as well. Has little to do with reincarnation one way or the other, at this level.

Aparna Krishnan But what about the yamas then , Vidyasankar Sundaresan. There there are clear instructions.

Vidyasankar Sundaresan Of course. That is why nobody likes to talk of yama and niyama. When yoga is nothing more than a fad for some people, talking about yama/niyama is a sure way to send the fad to meet Yama!

Aparna Krishnan In which chapter does Geeta have the rigour of the yamas.

Vidyasankar Sundaresan Thirteenth chapter verses from amAnitvam adambhitvam onwards can be seen as a long list of yama and niyama.