Saucha: (First Niyama) Purity/Clarity

Purity of body, cleanliness, good health habits, a clear and orderly environment. 

Saucha (purity) means both bodily and moral purification.  Purification is much in evidence in Yogic practice.  The breath controls, postures, hygienic processes, and dietary rules described in Yoga of Breathing all contribute to psychophysical purity, whereby body and mind are prepared for the progressive refinement of consciousness that is the Yoga of Meditation.  Yogins are instructed to change the quality of their body cells by eating sattvic (purity) foods , and sattva is the guna which predominates in pure consciousness.  Internal (ethical) purity is obtained by obeying the abstinences and observances.

Practice: evenness of mind, thoughts, speech and discrimination.  Keep the environment clean and clear. Orderliness surrounding the self and our thoughts. Orderliness of environment. Clearing of energy.

Saucha/not Judgmental

When studying the Yoga Sutra, this first Niyama (saucha) purity may sound judgmental especially when Patanjali’s teachings are interpreted in very rigid ways. Some foods, thoughts, activities, and people were impure—and our task is simply to avoid them. When the concept of purity is rigid, there is an unspoken implication that the world is a profane place that threatens to contaminate us unless we follow a strict set of moral rules.

This is obviously a very limited and narrow vision of a much big concept. Within a richer, fuller and more complete understanding, Saucha represents commonsense and the practical insight that if we embrace impurity in thought, word, or deed, we will eventually suffer.

A more enlightened view of Saucha does not measure action by outcome, but rather sees the practice of Saucha as a continual reminder to examine the intention at the root of our actions. A pure intention is the seed of pure actions.

Rather than questioning “what should I do, ask what is the seed of my intention, is it based on love or fear,” and then act accordingly with the most love possible.