Satya

In my yoga classes recently we’ve been exploring yogic observances or restraints, referred to as the yamas.  These recommended behaviors are the first of the 8 limbs in the yogic path.  Ahimsa, non – violence, is the first yama. The second is truthfulness, Satya. 

“What’s so dangerous about the truth,” Carl Jung wrote, “a lie would make no sense unless the truth was felt to be dangerous.”

We all know that lying is bad. Our mama’s taught us to tell the truth when we were little.  But what about when we want to appear nice.  When we say yes to something when we really want to say no, what generally happens?  We become resentful because we’re stuck doing the thing that we didn’t really want to do.  That resentment stews inside and comes out in self sabotage.  Perhaps we over eat, over drink, over shop. Maybe we yell at our kids or stubbornly refuse to respond to a spousal request.  The resentment itself a form of violence. Once we’re resentful we’ve stopped practicing the first yama, Ahimsa.

All of this simply because we want to appear “nice”. In the words of Stephen Sondheim, “Nice is different than good.” In order to be good humans, we need to be like Pinocchio, we need to become a “real boy”.

Truthfulness asks us to be authentic, calling on us to think and behave from our unique core of experiences.

It’s difficult to articulate what it means to be authentic, and yet I can feel when my behaviors are out of alignment with my true self.  What does that look like? For me it’s ego and manipulation.  My ego puffs up to explain why my dishonesty is, in fact, truth.  My manipulation masquerades as graciousness.  Being even nicer and more generous to get what I want. When in reality, it’s me. I’m the problem. I’m not coming from my grounded center.  

What are we willing to risk for the truth? If we’re committed to the yogic path, then we need to stay committed to truth, and face the dangerous feeling that the truth may bring.  Authenticity comes from trust.  Trust in Something Greater than ourselves.  If I’m truly surrendered to my Creator, then I can trust the truth. 

What is so dangerous about the truth?  And what makes us say yes, when we mean no?  These are questions to ponder when practicing Satya.