Discovering the Self: The Art of Removing and Creating Habits

Daaji continues his series on refining habits, in the light of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga and current scientific and yogic principles and practices. This month he shares his insights on the fourth Niyama, swadhyaya, which means self-study and self-awareness. It is one of the fundamental pillars of emotional intelligence.

- By Daaji

I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing toward being a champion.—Billie Jean King

Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. —Carl Jung

Yoga in action

Last month we explored the three Niyamas that make up Kriya Yoga, which means Yoga in action. In other words, how inner changes in our thoughts and feelings are expressed in our outer behavior. At the beginning of Part 2 of his Yoga Sutras, in the section on “practice,” Patanjali reminds us that:

2.1: Tapah svadhyayesvarapranidhanani kriya yogah

Austerity, self-study, and God-awareness together constitute Yoga in action (Kriya Yoga).

The second of the three Niyamas of Kriya Yoga is swadhyaya, meaning “self-study.”

Swadhyaya