Niyama #4 Svadyaya
By Lisa Longton
The fourth niyama (a.k.a. personal practices/spiritual discipline) focuses on Svadyaya, and the sutra is translated as “From study of scripture, a connection with one’s deity of choice is established”.
The word Svadyaya literally means self-study, but more commonly refers to the study of sacred texts or scripture. This word can be further translated as inquiry, introspection, Self awareness, and Self reflection, and the practice of this niyama encourages an honest assessment of how well we are putting into practice the yamas and niyamas.
The word ista-devata in the sutra translates as, "the desired or preferred deity”. The Yoga Sutras do not dictate any beliefs, religion, or faith. There is no dogma in yoga, but yoga provides us with the foundational support to improve our connection with the beliefs we each do have, whatever they be.
If someone were to ask you who you are, you would most likely respond with a list of labels. “A mom”, “a dad”, “a worker at company X”, “the owner of Y”, a woman, a man, a daughter, a son, etc. We can attach our identity to a goal, or to our possessions. But we are not those labels. Attaching too much gravity to those labels can cause disillusionment. What happens if we change jobs? What happens when your kids are grown? What happens if that car is destroyed, or if your beauty fades? Instead, be connected to the deeper, eternal and internal self. Ask yourself, “who am I, really?”
Why is it important to be connected to who we really are? Because life is short. Living life on autopilot would be a shame and a waste. We want to live with full awareness and presence. Be present! Don’t miss it! Be so present that you notice when different situations pull you out of presence! Lack of sleep? Hungry? Certain topics of conversation?
Yoga asks us to pay attention. There is an expression that says, “yoga is not about touching your toes, it's about what you learn on the way down”.