Sat – true nature, unchangeable, unchanged and pure, ‘that which exists’
"Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind,
is it necessary, is it true, does it improve on the silence?"
- Sai Baba
Satya (one of the yamas/restraints in The Yoga Sutras, by Patanjali) refers to being truthful in one’s thoughts, speech and actions. Our emotions, beliefs and past experiences shape and influence what we see, creating a bias or filter. This invisible filter influences our perceptions of the truth. Satya is about learning to recognize this filter and consciously setting it aside in order to see and communicate clearly. Can we recognize this filter for what it is, so that we may dissolve it and see Truth more clearly?
In order to practise Satya, we must first be honest with ourselves, not an easy task. The practice of yoga is about becoming clearly self-aware. When we dissolve the filter of our perceptions and beliefs, we are then able to voice the Truth. When our truth becomes unfiltered, then what we communicate is reliable.
I grew up as the youngest of six children. When we get together and reminisce, there are as many viewpoints and memories as there are siblings. None of us is necessarily right or wrong but our imaginations, emotions, beliefs and biases have changed the story for each of us. Becoming more aware of our filters for what they are brings us closer to dissolving the filters and finding the Truth, Satya.
Try practising yoga with Satya in mind. Check in with your body and mind and try to be completely honest with what you need in the moment, rather than what you think you need or want. Every day, every practice is different. Some days we can push ourselves, other days, we can’t, or shouldn’t. When we begin to see a way past our conditioned ways of thinking, we find what we really need in that moment.
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