We continue our exploration of the yamas in Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras with the fourth principle: brahmacarya. This yama is often misunderstood, yet it carries profound wisdom for how we direct our energy in modern life.

The sūtra is Yoga Sūtra II.38:

brahmacarya-pratiṣṭhāyāṃ vīrya-lābhaḥ “When one is firmly established in brahmacarya, vitality is gained.”

• brahmacarya — literally “moving in Brahman,” the creative spiritual essence. Traditionally translated as celibacy, but more broadly pointing to moderation, self-mastery, and alignment with higher purpose.

• pratiṣṭhāyām — when firmly established, rooted.

• vīrya — strength, vitality, vigor, courage.

• lābhaḥ — attainment, gain.

In the past, brahmacarya was often reduced to celibacy. But its true meaning is much wider. It is not about denial, but about conscious choice — living in a way that honors energy rather than scattering it. It points to integrity in how we use life force, whether in sexuality, speech, thought, or action.

Quite literally, brahmacarya means “to move in Brahman” — to live aligned with the deepest creative spirit energy. It’s less about repression, and more about redirection.

The sutra reminds us that vitality (vīrya) is lost when we scatter our energy through excess, distraction, or compulsion. Where does energy leak out of our lives?

• Overcommitment and busyness.

• Constant stimulation from social media, gossip, and noise.

• Addictive habits or compulsive desires.

These patterns drain vitality, leaving us depleted. Brahmacarya calls us to become aware of where we’re leaking energy and to redirect it toward what truly matters.

• Relationships: approaching intimacy with respect, honesty, and presence — not compulsion or exploitation.

• Lifestyle: practicing moderation in food, media, consumption, and stimulation.

• Spiritual practice: sustaining discipline in meditation, āsana, or study without burnout, through steady rather than excessive effort.

The promise of this sūtra is vitality. Energy that was once wasted becomes available for creativity, clarity, and growth. When impulse and distraction no longer rule us, a deep reservoir of strength emerges.

This vitality doesn’t just improve health and well-being — it fuels the other limbs of yoga, supporting meditation, concentration, and ultimately liberation.

In a culture of overstimulation and instant gratification, brahmacarya offers balance. It’s not repression, but a path to true freedom. By moderating our desires and choosing where to place our energy, we discover strength that allows us to live in alignment with our deepest values.

“Brahmacarya is not about what we give up, but about what we gain — the strength and vitality to live fully, with energy directed toward what matters most.”

Continuing the theme...

Yoga Sūtra II.37, which speaks to the practice of asteya, or non-stealing.

The sūtra reads:

asteya-pratiṣṭhāyāṃ sarva-ratnopasthānam “When one is firmly established in non-stealing, all jewels present themselves.” — Edwin Bryant

Let’s pause on this idea of pratiṣṭhām — being firmly established. When asteya becomes the foundation of how we live, “all the jewels” (sarva-ratna) naturally manifest. Things flow toward us — and isn’t that what we want? Who wouldn’t love a few more jewels?

But here’s the key: these jewels don’t arrive through grasping or taking. They flow when we live with full authenticity and integrity, when we set up the energy field and vibration we want to attract into our lives. It’s about becoming the kind of person who naturally earns the respect of colleagues, family, and friends.

What kind of abundance do we really seek? It’s not just about material abundance — bigger portfolios, a nicer car, or better stock performance. Sarva-ratna points to something richer: an abundance of love, meaningful connections, deep relationships, and vibrant health.

Sometimes the question isn’t whether we’re stealing from others, but whether we’re stealing from ourselves. Are we robbing our own health by neglecting sleep, eating poorly, or pushing too hard?

Levels of pratiṣṭhām — where non-stealing plays out:

• Relationships: Am I demanding time or energy that isn’t freely given? Am I respecting others’ boundaries and autonomy? Or am I trying to take away their freedom to face their own fears and challenges in their own time? Asteya in relationships means giving people the space to grow, without stealing their process.

• Work: Do I acknowledge sources? Avoid taking credit that isn’t mine? Show up on time? Do I overpromise, or do I consistently deliver more than I take?

• Social Media: Do I borrow or repost content without giving credit?

To be “firmly established” in asteya means living in such a way that nothing needs to be taken, because life flows with sufficiency. At its root, pratiṣṭhāyām is grounded in the absence of fear — the fear that there isn’t enough, or that we ourselves aren’t enough.

And maybe we can close with this simple thought: when we let go of stealing, grasping, and taking, we discover that abundance was already waiting to flow toward us.

287-Asteya – don’t steal my primary series poster

In this episode of My Daily Thread, we continue our exploration of the Yoga Sūtras, searching for practical wisdom we can apply every day.

We’ve already covered ahiṃsā (non-harming) and satya (truthfulness). Now, we turn to the third yama: asteya — non-stealing, “not taking that which is not freely given.”

Yoga Sūtra II.37 says:

asteya-pratiṣṭhāyāṃ sarva-ratnopasthānam Translation: “When one is firmly established in non-stealing, all jewels present themselves.” — Edwin Bryant: “All jewels manifest.”

Sanskrit breakdown:

• asteya — non-stealing (a = not, steya = stealing)
• pratiṣṭhāyām — when firmly established, rooted
• sarva — all
• ratna — jewel, treasure
• upasthānam — appear, present themselves

Commentary with Jeff Lichty: On the surface, asteya is obvious: don’t shoplift, don’t rob a bank, don’t sneak a candy bar (yes, I did that as a kid). But the deeper layers are more subtle — and more powerful.

Non-stealing isn’t just about possessions; it’s about energy and integrity. When you live without taking what’s not freely offered, things naturally flow toward you.

Examples:

• Time theft: showing up late, interrupting, or monopolizing conversations.
• Idea theft: taking credit for someone else’s work.
• Energy drain: being an “emotional vampire,” taking more than you give in relationships.
• Intellectual property theft: In one of my teacher trainings, a student brought in an old manual from a previous course. It contained a plagiarized copy of my Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga PDF — headers and footers cut off, no credit, no permission. The teacher training company had inserted it into their own manual as if it were theirs. This is asteya in action at a blatant, unethical level.

Practicing asteya on these deeper levels clears space for abundance — the “jewels” of peace, trust, and connection — to manifest in your life.

It’s been a minute — I took some time to get out to the mountains, visit friends, and reset. Now we’re back, continuing our journey through the Yoga Sūtras.

If you want your own “sunset and reset,” check out the NOW is the time to check out the San Pancho retreats with Ziggy and me in Feb 2026.

For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been exploring satya-pratiṣṭhām — being firmly established in truthfulness. I connected this with Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements and his call to “be impeccable with your word,” a modern echo of what Patañjali was pointing to.

We need to be mindful of what we manifest with our words — not letting them draw to us what we don’t want. Words are not just sounds; they are seeds.

The sūtra we focus on is Yoga Sūtra II.36:

satya-pratiṣṭhāyām kriyā-phalāśrayatvam “When one is firmly established in truthfulness, one’s actions result in their intended effect.” — Edwin Bryant.

Think about the weight of that statement — that the alignment of your words with truth can give them real power in the world.

Practical ways to live satya:

• Say what you mean and follow through.
• Take responsibility for your commitments.
• Avoid embellishments and half-truths.
• Communicate kindly, without distortion.

It’s also important to remember that in yoga, satya is not “brutal honesty” — truthfulness is always balanced with ahiṃsā (non-harming). We aim to add value to our relationships, speak the truth “with honey,” and honour compassion alongside honesty.

When we become established in both ahiṃsā and satya, our words carry the energy to create change, and our actions naturally bring their intended results.

In this special episode we are happy to have Dr. Paul Bramadat back to chat about his book Yogalands.

Paul Bramadat received his BA in religious studies from the University of Winnipeg (1990), his MA in religion and culture from McGill University (1993) and his PhD in religious studies from McMaster University (1998).

He taught in the Religious Studies Department at the University of Winnipeg from 1998 until 2008. In addition to directing the CSRS since 2008, Paul holds teaching appointments in the Department of History and the Religious Studies Program at the University of Victoria.

Enjoy.

Today we’re taking another pass at satya, the second yama from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The sutra we’re focusing on is YS 2.36: satya-pratiṣṭhāyāṁ kriyā-phala-āśrayatvam—when one is firmly established in truth, their actions bear fruit.

This is a powerful idea. It suggests that when we are rooted in truth, what we say comes to life. Something here touches on the modern idea of manifestation but is grounded in yogic ethics—truth as a force, not just a concept.

But Satya isn’t just “don’t lie.” That’s only the surface level. The deeper understanding is about alignment—about not cultivating dishonesty at all, because the energy it takes to maintain a lie, remember what we said to whom, and live split in ourselves, is exhausting. Living satya means living in full alignment. It’s about integrity. When we say what we mean and mean what we say, there's a sense of inner coherence.

The word pratiṣṭhā means firmly rooted. Picture a tree, stable, deep in the earth—truth planted deep within us like that. When we’re established in truth, our words carry weight. They matter. They shape the world around us. We become trustworthy, not just to others but to ourselves. Life gets simpler. Our energy flows where it’s needed. We don’t waste time in contradiction. We become more effective.

On a personal level, I often ask myself: Are there places in my life where I say one thing and do another? Because this yama is really about energetics—aligning our speech, thoughts, and actions to our deeper nature. For some people, this kind of congruence comes easily. For others, myself included, it’s a daily practice. Sometimes the truth is simply saying “I don’t know,” instead of pretending I do. Or telling someone close to me something hard—with kindness. Or admitting I’m scared instead of pretending I’m confident. Being vulnerable, honest, and grounded.

It reminds me of the Jim Carrey movie Liar, Liar. It’s a comedy, yes, but it paints a surprisingly profound picture of what life might look like if we could only tell the truth. And there’s something freeing about that. We don’t need to manipulate or hustle or perform. We just speak the truth and let the universe work out the details. We say what’s true, and we let go.

Because truth, when lived fully, doesn’t just help us navigate life more cleanly—it transforms the very way life shows up for us.

YS 2.36 says: satya-pratiṣṭhāyām kriyā-phala-āśrayatvam — “When one is firmly established in truthfulness, then their words become so powerful that the result of action rests upon them.”

We’re back in the section of the Yoga Sutras that deals with pratiṣṭhā, being deeply and firmly established in a state of being. This time, the quality is satya, truthfulness. Patanjali says that when truth becomes our natural state—when we’re rooted in it, consistent with it—then even our words start to carry the power of truth. It’s not that we control outcomes like magic. But our speech and actions become aligned, trustworthy, resonant. People believe us. We believe in ourselves. And the world reflects that back.

Let’s look at the Sanskrit closely. Satya is truthfulness, not just about being honest, but being in harmony with reality—what’s authentic, what’s sincere. Kriyā means action. Phala means the result or the fruit. And āśrayatvam means that those results depend upon, or are supported by, the truth we live in. So when truth is your foundation, your actions bear fruit.

It’s not just about saying the right things. It’s about living in a way where your speech, your actions, your values, and your intentions all line up. The speech of someone like that has weight. Their words matter. Their life becomes a living truth.

This isn’t just a yogic idea. Don Miguel Ruiz, in The Four Agreements, begins with the first agreement: “Be impeccable with your word.” He writes, “Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.” This is a very clear expression of satya-pratiṣṭhāyām. When we speak from a place of love and truth, we align ourselves with something more powerful than the ego. Something that uplifts, that heals, that brings clarity.

But to do that, we have to slow down and pay attention. Are our words reactionary? Are they defensive? Are they driven by fear, or by truth? And not just spoken words—but what we write, what we post, what we say to ourselves. When truth becomes the ground we stand on, our words stop being tools of manipulation or noise. They become instruments of transformation.

This practice takes vigilance. It’s so easy to exaggerate, to flatter, to downplay, to hide. But Patanjali’s teaching is that the yogi’s path is one of alignment—where speech and heart match. Where truth is not a tool but a way of being. And when we get there—or even get close to that—our presence begins to shift things. Our words start to create change. People feel it.

So maybe today we ask: are my words aligned with my heart? Can I be impeccable with them? Can I use them as a force for clarity, healing, and connection?

This is the path of satya-pratiṣṭhāyām. Truth as a lived state. Words as action. And a life built on integrity.

Yoga Sūtra 2.35 – ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhāyām tat-sannidhau vaira-tyāgaḥ When one is firmly established in non-violence, all hostility ceases in their presence.

Today, we return to ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhām—being established in non-violence—as taught in Yoga Sūtra 2.35. We’ve already explored how the yamas and niyamas are not just rules, but deeply personal practices—moral and ethical disciplines that offer a framework for living. Simple? Yes. But easy? Not always.

They are practices for managing our lives skillfully, for creating relationships rooted in integrity, peace, and love. They are the ground upon which we walk the yogic path.

We've talked about famous individuals—Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Thich Nhat Hanh, Mr. Rogers—who embodied this principle. But let’s bring it closer to home.

Maybe it’s your grandmother—who listens fully, without interrupting. Maybe it’s a friend—who stays calm, even when you’re upset. Maybe it’s a teacher—who creates a peaceful classroom without ever raising their voice.

These people don’t need a stage or a spotlight. They are quietly holding themselves steady. And in doing so, they embody what Patanjali describes in Yoga Sūtra 1.3: tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe’vasthānam – Then the Seer abides in their Own true nature.

That’s the heart of it. This isn’t about having a good day. It’s not about performance or temporary calm. It’s a state of being—an embodiment. A settledness that radiates safety.

Because the truth is, all the hustle, all the striving, all the accomplishments… mean little if we don’t have peace and contentment inside.

Everyday ahiṁsā is simple and profound: being the person in whose presence others feel safe.

And yet, here’s something essential—you can’t give what you don’t have. Non-violence must apply to yourself first. The way you speak to yourself, how you treat yourself, the space you give yourself to be imperfect and still whole.

So in closing the ahiṁsā circuit today, If you don't believe in Ahimsa as a worthy practice, believe in the karma that will be played out at a later time.  I leave you with some writing by Rudy Francisco:

“She asks me to kill the spider. Instead, I get the most peaceful weapons I can find. I take a cup and a napkin, I catch the spider, put it outside, and allow it to walk away.

If I am ever caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, just being alive and not bothering anyone, I hope I am greeted with the same kind of mercy.”

And that’s the essence of ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhām—a mercy that starts inside and ripples outward.

Yoga Sūtra 2.35 – ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhāyām tat-sannidhau vaira-tyāgaḥ When one is firmly established in non-violence, then all hostility ceases in their presence.

Today, we reflect again on ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhām—being firmly established in non-harming. Patanjali teaches that this is not a casual virtue but a transformative power: when someone has deeply integrated non-violence into their being, conflict and aggression fall away in their presence.

We see examples of this principle embodied in historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Fred Rogers, and Thich Nhat Hanh. Their gentle yet unwavering commitment to peace created fields of harmony around them. But we must also honor the matriarchs of ahiṁsā pratiṣṭhām, whose compassion and moral clarity disarmed hostility and invited collective healing.

St. Teresa of Calcutta radiated a love so palpable that even a brief encounter could leave an imprint of peace. Jeff recalls feeling this light firsthand. Her words remind us: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten we belong to each other.”

Maya Angelou, American poet, civil rights activist, and towering voice for justice and dignity, gave us this stark truth: “Hate—it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not yet solved one.”

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and champion for gender equality, once said: “Acting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.” Her restraint and reason were forms of silent, disarming strength.

Pema Chödrön, an American Buddhist nun and teacher, has created a body of work that encourages gentleness amid difficulty. In When Things Fall Apart, she writes: “You are the sky. Everything else—it’s just the weather.” This stillness in the storm is a lived ahiṁsā.

These women, like their male counterparts, cultivated a presence so grounded, so free of confrontation, that aggression could not take root around them. Their lives are examples of the inner discipline Patanjali is pointing to—a practice of becoming unshakable, non-reactive, and deeply compassionate.

And so, today’s question for contemplation is this: “Can you become a sanctuary of peace? Can you let non-violence be your default setting and radiate that into the world?”

Today, we return to our study of aṣṭāṅga yoga, the eight-limbed path outlined by Patañjali. As a reminder, the eight limbs are:

1. Yama – ethical restraints

2. Niyama – personal observances

3. Āsana – posture

4. Prāṇāyāma – breath regulation

5. Pratyāhāra – withdrawal of the senses

6. Dhāraṇā – concentration

7. Dhyāna – meditation

8. Samādhi – absorption or union

The first four limbs are external practices—disciplines that we can actively cultivate through behavior and intention. The final four, the internal limbs, arise naturally from the consistent and sincere application of the first four. It's like laying a foundation before building a temple.

Let’s recall the five yamas, the ethical guidelines that form the cornerstone of the path:

1. Ahiṃsā – non-violence

2. Satya – truthfulness

3. Asteya – non-stealing

4. Brahmacarya – right use of energy

5. Aparigraha – non-possessiveness

Today, we focus on the first of these: ahiṃsā, as presented in Yoga Sūtra 2.35:

"ahiṃsā-pratiṣṭhāyām tat-sannidhau vaira-tyāgaḥ" When one is firmly established in non-violence, all hostility ceases in their presence.

This verse carries a profound and poetic vision—just imagine: to be so committed to non-harming that even the presence of your being dissolves conflict in others. This is the power of spiritual presence. Stories of saints like St. Francis of Assisi, who reportedly sat peacefully with wolves and birds, illustrate this reality. And in our own age, we can look to people like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, The Dalai Lama, Fred Rogers (“I like you just the way you are”), and Thích Nhất Hạnh (“We must speak for peace, not victory”). These are living embodiments of ahiṃsā, radiating a field of calm wherever they go.

But let’s be honest—it’s hard to imagine ourselves at that level. Thankfully, Patañjali is not asking for perfection. He’s asking us to practice toward perfection. To aim for non-violence as our default setting.

What does that look like in daily life? It means we bring non-harming into every layer of interaction: – In thought (releasing judgments), – In word (choosing kindness over criticism), – And in action (refusing to cause harm, even subtly).

It’s not passive. It’s courageous and intentional. And it makes a difference.

So here is today’s inquiry: What do you stand for? Who are you becoming? Can you let ahiṃsā be your baseline—your default—and allow that energy to ripple outward?

More tomorrow as we continue exploring the transformative power of the yamas.