Tis the season for giving

Amongst the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations and wrapping up the year that has just gone is a time for giving and receiving, gratitude, reflection, and joy. We can look to the yoga teachings to guide us in these practices.

The Yoga Sutras is one of the most significant yogic texts dating back nearly 2000 years ago and consists of the ancient teachings and practical advice on the path of yoga. Amongst the 195 aphorisms or sutras within the traditional text are the Yamas and Niyamas, which are principles for living soulfully.

There are five Yamas or social attitudes that we can all reflect on at this time of year. The first is Ahimsa, which is doing no harm and showing compassion to all. Around Christmas time this can translate to the act of spreading goodwill among others, particularly those who might not have a secure roof over their head or family and friends to spend this time with.

The second is Satya, which is being truthful and considering what we say and how we say it so not to affect others. It is thinking, acting, and speaking all in alignment with your truth and without inflicting harm, as Ahimsa teaches us. This Yama may come to light when coming together around the table for Christmas celebrations and being mindful to interact with those around you with honesty and truthfulness. 

Asteya is the third of the five Yamas and relates to non stealing or taking something that has not been freely given. This Yama can relate to the act of giving at Christmas time. There are two types of giving; the act of giving with no expectation of receiving anything in return or an exchange where an expectation of equal or greater value is present. The latter can take away from the joy of Christmas and leave people feeling disappointment. This Yama reminds us that the act of giving is the gift in itself. As Nicolai Bachman says in The Path of the Yoga Sutras: “Being generous with others without expecting anything in return nurtures our heart-mind and promotes loving-kindness.”

The fourth is Brahmacarya which teaches us to do all in moderation. I’m sure we can all relate to this at Christmas time and is a reminder to not overindulge on the food and drink when celebrating, or overspend on materialistic things during this time.

The final Yama is Aparigraha which is taking only what we need and not being greedy. One aspect of this relates to material things and the possessiveness of these things that we accumulate in our lives. At Christmas time we can get caught up in the need to shop and buy things that we don’t really need. The materialistic focus at Christmas can also take away from what’s important at this time of year, that is coming together, thinking of others, showing compassion, reflecting, and celebrating the previous year and being grateful for what we have.

That brings me to the Niyamas which are five personal daily disciplines or rules. One Niyama in particular relates to this time of the year and that is Santosa. This is being content with where we are right now and grateful for what we have. This is different to the feeling of happiness when we have achieved our life goals or obtained the possessions we want. It is accepting who we are and what we have been given in this life and having complete satisfaction in our heart. It is being grateful even when life throws us curve balls, it is being grateful even for the little things in life.

So as this year comes to a close, we can take the advice from the Yoga Sutras by showing compassion to all, speaking our truth, gifting for the pure joy of giving, doing all in moderation, taking only what we need and bring grateful and content for where we are and what we have.