September-October
2008
Ethical Guidelines
Rather than having to make up our ethics as we go along, it can be helpful to have some guidelines. Yoga is more than physical exercise. Yoga means "union" - union of mind, body, and spirit. Below are some ethical guidelines of yoga, called "Yamas and Niyamas" in Sanskrit. We hope you will find them of interest.
Namaste,
Sue Redding
Elder Power
41% of American adults are over 50, the highest percentage in US history.
80% of Congress is over 50.
Half of the Americans who voted in 2006 elections were 50+
People over 55 own 77% of all financial assets in the United States.
50+ adults account for 45% of US consumer spending, or $2.1 trillion per year.
By 2011 the American 50+ population will surpass the 100 million mark.
- AARP Magazine Sept/Oct 2008
Musician Jokes
"Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves, for we shall never cease to be amused."
A child says to his mother, "Mom, when I grow up I'd like to be a musician." She replies, "Well honey, you know you can't do both."
Q: What do you call someone who hangs around with musicians?
A: A vocalist.
Q: What do you call a beautiful woman on a trombonist's arm?
A: A tattoo.
Q: What's the difference between an onion and an accordion?
A: Nobody cries when you chop up an accordion.
Q: What do you call a drummer in a three-piece suit?
A: "The Defendant"
Q: What do clarinetists use for birth control?
A: Their personalities.
Q: What do you call a guitar player without a girlfriend?
A: Homeless.
Quotations
"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent."
Victor Hugo
"When peace reigns, the bellicose man makes war with himself."
Nietzasche
"No liberal man would impute a charge of unsteadiness to another for having changed his opinion."
Cicero
"We judge other people by their actions, but we judge ourselves by our intentions."
Yoga Yama - Niyama
Ethical Guidelines in Classical Yoga
by John Friend
Yamas: (Restraints)
Ethical guidelines for the yogi pertaining to his/her relationship with others in society, the outer environment, Nature.
1. Ahimsa (Non-harming): Kindness to others-, loving kindness; not blocking or obstructing the flow of Nature; compassion, mercy; gentleness, tending toward stillness and silence. This quality of heart relates to actions, words and thoughts. Non-violence.
2. Satya (Truthfulness): Not lying; not downplaying or exaggerating. Being authentic to inner nature; integrity, honesty; being honorable; not concealing or inhibiting expression. Relates to actions, words and thoughts. Truthfulness.
3. Asteya (Non-stealing): Not taking what is not yours - money, goods or credit. Nondesire for other's possessions, qualities or position. Non-stealing.
4. Brahmacharya (Walking or having ethical conduct like God): Restraining from sexual misconduct; sexual moderation; chastity; to relate to another with love and integrity without selfishness or manipulation- not lusting. Celibacy/chi.
5. Aparigraha (Non-receiving): Voluntary simplicity; not accumulating things beyond what is necessary; non-possessiveness; non-attachment to possessions, greedlessness. Non-covetousness.
Niyamas: (Self-restraints)
Ethical guidelines for the yogi pertaining to his/her daily activities. Individual observances in actions.
1. Shauca (Purity): Cleanliness; being orderly; precision; clarity; balance. This deals with the body, thoughts, words, dress, living environment. Internal and external purification. Cleanliness.
2. Santosa (Contentment): Equanimity; peace; tranquillity; acceptance of the way things are. Contentment.
3. Tapas (Burning energy): Burning desire for reunion with God expressed through self-discipline, purification, willpower, austerity, patience. Self-mortification.
4. Svadhynya (Going into oneself): Inquiry, mindfulness; self-study; study of scriptures. Searching for the Unknown (divinity) in the Known (physical world). Scriptural Study.
5. Isvara Pranidhana (Devotion to God): Surrender to God; worship of divinity in all actions, "not my will but Thy will be done"; open-heartedness; love, faith, feeling of oneness; friendliness, forgiveness. Surrender to Divinity.
