The words Shista (Discipline) and Shiksha (Punishment) have originated from the root word Shikshan (Education). Discipline means bringing good?behaviour?into practice by means of?education. That is why, it is very essential that while punishing a child, we make him understand the reason for which he is being punished.The disciplines include five political goals called Yamas or Great Vows, and five personal goals called Niyamas.?The 5 Great Vows (Yamas) are shared by many Indian philosophies. The Yamas are political goals, in that they are broad-based social and universal virtues in the form of moral restraints or social obligations.??
- Satya (Truth)?is the principle that equates God with soul. It is the mainstay of the basic moral law of Hinduism: people are rooted in Satya, the greatest truth, unity of all life. One should be truthful; not act fraudulently, be dishonest or a liar in life. Further, a true person does not regret or brood over losses caused by speaking truth.?
- Ahimsa (Non-violence)?is a positive and dynamic force, that means benevolence or love or goodwill or tolerance (or all of the above) of all living creatures, including the objects of knowledge and various perspectives.?
- Brahmacharya (Celibacy, non-adultery)?is one of the four great ashrams of Hinduism. The beginning student is to spend the first 25 years of one's life practicing abstinence from the sensual pleasures of life, and instead concentrate on selfless work and study to prepare for life beyond. Brahmacharya means stringent respect of personal boundaries, and the preservation of vital life force; abstinence from wine, sexual congress, meat-eating, consumption of tobacco, drugs, and narcotics. The student instead applies the mind to studies, avoids things that ignite passions, practice silence,?
- Asteya (No desire to steal)?refers not just to the theft of objects but to refrain from exploitation. Do not deprive others of what is theirs, whether it is things, rights, or perspectives. An upright person earns his or her own way, by dint of hard work, honesty, and fair means.??
- Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)?warns the student to live simply, keep only those material things that are required to sustain the demands of daily life.?
The five Niyamas provide the Hindu practitioner with rules to develop the personal discipline essential to follow the spiritual path
- Shaucha or Shuddhata (Cleanliness)?refers to the internal and external purification of both body and mind.?
- Santosh (Contentment)?is the conscious reduction of desires, the limiting of attainments and possessions, narrowing down the area and scope of one's desire.
- Swadhyaya (Reading of scriptures)?refers not just to the reading of the scriptures but the use them to create a neutral, unbiased and pure mind ready to conduct the self-introspection required to create a balance sheet of one's omissions and commissions, overt and covert deeds, successes and failures.?
- Tapas/Tapah (Austerity, perseverance, penance)?is the performance of physical and mental discipline throughout a life of asceticism. Ascetic practices include observing silence for long periods of time, begging for food, remaining awake at night, sleeping on the ground, being isolated in the forest, standing for a prolonged time, practicing chastity. The practice generates heat, a natural power built into the structure of reality, the essential link between the structure of reality, and the force behind creation.?
- Ishwar pradihan (Regular prayers)?requires the student to surrender to the will of God, perform every act in a selfless, dispassionate and natural way, accept the good or bad results, and leave the result of one's deeds (one's?karma) to God.?
