What is Satya?
What is Satya?
In English, the Sanskrit word Satya is translated to mean “truth.” Satya is one of the Yamas from the Yamas and Niyamas that Patanjali passed down in Yoga Sutras (arguably the most important yogic text).
The Yamas and Niyamas are the first two limbs of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The Yamas and Niyamas can be best simplified as ten guidelines to purifying life and becoming a better person.
What does truth or Satya mean in the context of the Yamas and Niyamas?
Satya and Truth
Satya is honesty in all facets of your life. Honest behavior with honest thoughts and honest intentions. Satya will help guide us to true speech.
Thanks to Francisco Bjuan for the drawing!
Satya and Ego
Satya is an ego reducer. When you are living by the Yama of Satya you will not lie for social gain or social kudos.
While using Satya, we have to be mindful of the first Yama, Ahimsa, or non-violence. Ahimsa tells us that it is not always desirable to speak the truth on all occasions, for it could harm someone unnecessarily. We consider what we say, how we say it, and in what way it could affect others. If speaking the truth has negative consequences for another, then it is better to say nothing.
Why Do People Lie?
Rory taught us that if we lie, we are lying because we cannot be true with ourselves. We want ourselves to look better, feel better, and create our own virtual reality. Satya tells us that we need to ask ourselves why we are we lying. Do we have an ego that wants to be amassed with crap and be congratulated or do we want to be free and truthful? Rory said if we lie, we are lying straight to God. Our karma would be affected.
Conclusion
Satya, the Yamas and Niyamas, and yoga guide us to freedom…. to mental emancipation.
The reality is the truth is not always easy to face. Sometimes, the truths that we most need to recognize are the very same terrifying and painful truths that we are subconsciously working to ignore.
Acting in truth can require incredible courage and faith, but, from practicing Satya, I know that it can change our lives. Family will trust you, friends will trust you, and strangers will trust you. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali it is written, “When one is firmly established in speaking truth, the fruits of action become subservient to him.”