“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the earth.”
~ William Faulkner
Today we look at the second practice of the “yamas” which is:
Satya / सत्य
Sutra 2.36: Satya pratisthayam kriya phala asrayatvam
“An ordinary man is said to be truthful when his words correspond to the facts of which he speaks.
But when a man becomes perfected in truthfulness, he gains control, so to speak, of the truth.
He no longer has to “obey” facts; facts obey him.
He cannot think or even dream a lie; everything he says becomes true.
If he blesses someone, that person is blessed – not matter whether the blessing was deserved or not.”
~ Christopher Isherwood; Gary Kissiah, 2011, p. 312)
Satya can be translated as reality, truth. It is the practice of cultivating truthfulness and integrity in our thoughts, speech and actions.
Satya focuses on staying true to ourselves. To check in with ourselves and choose our words wisely before we speak. Satya goes hand in hand with the first yama, ahimsa (non-violence). When we choose our thoughts, communication and deeds with compassion, our truth can be reflected in our words, and actions.
When we can let go of pretending, we allow ourselves to embrace who we are without labels. Integrity, kindness and honesty let our true self shine through.
However, next time you communicate your truth, it is worth considering if you are speaking your opinion (that has been influenced by your perceptions, preferences, and habits) or if you can stay humble enough to remain open to a bigger truth. Perception may reflect reality, but may not be necessarily the ultimate truth.
So becoming aware of our thoughts, helps us to find the distinction between our opinion and the ultimate truth. Mindfulness practices, meditation, and yoga may assist us in this process.
In my yoga teacher training I learned about a very helpful practice to shift us from our mind to our heart. So next time when you get angry, upset or irritated please keep it in mind to shift negativity to compassion and kindness.
Before you speak, ask yourself…
- Does it have to be said?
- Does it have to be said by me?
- Does it have to be said right now?
- Does it have to be said this way?
May your truthfulness bring you freedom, happiness and peace!
I would love to hear from you. What does Satya mean to you and how to do apply it in your daily life? Please leave a comment on my website, Facebook page, or email.
Have a very happy Independence Day weekend!
If you are still looking for something fun to do, you may consider going to “The World Largest Salmon BBQ” in Fort Bragg. All proceeds are used to improve salmon populations on the Northern California Coast. You will encounter my wonderful husband Doug there who has been working on restoring streams and creeks to bring the endangered Coho and all salmon back. We would love to see you there!
