When
we put the spiritual principles that have been set forth through the Ten
Commandments, Yama NiYama or the 12 Steps (adapted from the 12 Steps of
Alcoholics Anonymous) first in our lives, we are setting the stage for living a
life that will create harmony and balance in the world.
In the
12 Steps, the first three steps are about restoring and/or building a
relationship with the God of your understanding. The next three steps are about
developing a healthy relationship with yourself. The following three steps are
about repairing and developing a healthy relationship with others. The last
three steps are maintenance steps to help maintain and further develop those
relationships with God, yourself and others.
To
review the actual 12 Steps, go to http://www.aa.org/en_pdfs/smf-121_en.pdf
Yama
NiYama are the Do’s and Don’ts for living a balanced life.
The
first five principles of Yama NiYama are the Yamas. They are about Social
discipline and self-restraint. Yama tells us what to avoid doing because it
will cause harm to ourselves, others and society. These are considered the Don’ts.
Niyama
is telling us the very things to Do to bring harmony into our
lives and therefore have a balanced life. These are our spiritual practices,
our individual practices of self-discipline.
For
more on these principles, go to http://www.anahatabalance.com/yogalifestyle_yama_niyama.html
If you
look at the Ten Commandments, they are about honoring God, ourselves and
others, thus creating balance and harmony for society.
To
review these commandments, go to http://biblescripture.net/Commandments.htm
Rules
and regulations are needed to help prevent chaos in society. When these
regulations are watered down or not followed, we can see the pain it causes on
so many levels.
By
each of us practicing whatever guidelines that feels best for us, we can help
bring peace and harmony to ourselves, our friends and our neighbors.
Peace
& Love.
Namaste,
Michael
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