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. 

Saucha is purity that operates on many levels. We aspire to cleanliness for our bodies by washing ourselves, maintaining clean and orderly homes, eating healthy food and drinking clean water. We aspire to cleanliness in our minds and speech by not polluting our minds or speech with negativity or grasping after emotionally and physically charged obsessions. In other words, we find a balance that gives us a way to feel ourselves as clean and clear. As are the other yamas and niyamas, saucha is a pre-condition for experiencing the fullness of yoga and attaining enlightenment.

In addition to the obvious advantages, there are a number of side benefits to eating unadulterated food, breathing clean air, having the ability to clean ourselves within and without and residing in clean homes and neighborhoods. Cleanliness and order lift our self-esteem, re info rce our knowledge that we are worthy of good experiences, and improve our personalities so we can experience balanced self-awareness. When we feel pure and clean, we can be clear about our intentions, unencumbered by gross and subtle imbalances.

Every day we can practice purification in a variety of ways. Different faith traditions and cultures have their own purification techniques, but there are many common themes. In addition to our culturally prescribed bathing, tooth brushing and flossing, here are some other examples: mindfulness walks in nature (yes, even in winter), singing, chanting mantras, ringing of bells, smudging with sweetgrass and incense, blessings with water, rituals with fire, anointment with oil, use of the neti pot (to cleanse the nostrils), tongue cleansing, fasting from sleep or food, mona (refraining from talking for a day), abstaining from television, clearing out clutter and excess from our lives, recycling, surrounding ourselves with a bath of white light and even laughter.

In the yoga tradition, there are several methods that are used to purify energies: mudras, such as the shanti mudra for the blessing of food; pranayama (breathing techniques) and bandhas (such as uddiyana, stomach lift). The practice of tarka (a reflection on our day’s activities and our responses) at the end of the day is another example. Or you can use your own creativity to incorporate new purification techniques into your life to bring more joy.

Physicists say that 99% of matter in the universe is energy and space, invisible to the human eye. Those who practice saucha are more attuned to these subtle energies and often can discern the need for a brief ritual cleansing after experiencing negative energies. Using simple ways to clear our energies each day helps eliminate obstacles we cannot see. Practicing saucha is a way to increase our consciousness and spiritualize our everyday lives.

The reverence we bring to our daily lives and the cleanliness we practice alone and in community re info rces our sense of sacredness. Our individual purification and the freedom it brings is possible by the combination of our independent action with our recognition of interdependence with nature, other beings and the connection to divinity.

It is not a coincidence that Gandhi worked so hard at sanitation efforts in both South Africa and India. For health, well l being, self-esteem and sustainability, cooperative efforts for cleanliness benefit the individual and the community. In our modern times, the struggle against genetically modified food, the united efforts around the planet to provide clean water and the collective action to stop pollution and reclaim the purity and beauty of our planet all contribute to individual experiences of purity.

One billion people in the world do not have access to clean water, and 6,000 children die every day from water-related illnesses. Half the world’s rivers are so polluted from industrial waste or drying up so fast that they cannot sustain life. Deforestation, dam projects, erosion, pesticides, animal waste, privatization of water supplies and oil spills all contribute to this contamination. In the U.S., we are privileged to live where clean water is still available, but these worldwide trends will affect us more and more. Our commitment to our own purification techniques is interconnected to our contributions to a cleaner environment for everyone worldwide. Perhaps every time we take a drink of clean water we can offer thanks for what we have, send a prayer to those without water and examine ways we can contribute to the sustainability of this precious resource.

Without purity in body and mind, clarity eludes us. The immensity and luminosity of our true selves and our connection to spirit and to each other becomes clouded. The transparency we cultivate in saucha enables us to reflect the divine more completely in all our relationships. It is worth the effort to find time each day to practice the observance of saucha and express gratitude for our ability to do so.