Ten universal virtues to live by: From Patanjali Yogasutra

According to Hinduism,  spirituality is not a mere intellectual exercise but a major personal journey of internal transformation that involves significant change of attitudes, outlooks, beliefs etc. Just as a farmer prepares a field before planting crops, there is a need to prepare one's own self before engaging in spiritual studies. What kind of virtues should one cultivate in preparation for receiving spiritual knowledge? There are many answers to this question that are spread across multiple scriptural texts. Sage Patanjali in Yoga sutra provides a very comprehensive and concise list that appears to trump the rest in its simplicity and directness. Below is a quick overview of these virtues as described in Yoga Sutra.

Patanjali defines these virtues under two separate groups that he calls as the first two 'limbs' (anga) of  the 'eight-limbed' (ashtaanga) Yoga path. These two groups are called Yama and Niyama. Yama are virtues that are of more importance from a social conduct perspective and Niyama are the same from a personal conduct perspective. And, Patanajali reaffirms the universality of these virtues by saying that they are relevant to any one and every one, at all points of time, irrespective of what part of the world or society they belong to.

First the Yama virtues:
1. Ahimsa: Generally translated as 'non-violence'. This virtue is about having an attitude of not causing intentional harm or injury with the intent of personal gain or pleasure.
2. Satyam: 'Truthfulness'.  Keeping one's conscience clear and not engaging in duplicity when dealing with the world.
3. Asteyam: 'Not stealing'. Not being conceit about what one receives or takes from the world and ensuring to give back as much or more than one takes from the world.
4. Aparigraham: 'Non possessiveness'.  Not seeking self-fulfillment or developing enhanced self-images from possession of worldly goods.
5. Brahmacharyam: Generally translated as 'celibacy', this actually means living a spiritual life that is focused on realizing ultimate truth and not being distracted by sensual pleasures.

Next the Niyama virtues:
6. Saucham: Cleanliness. Maintaining both external (bodily) and internal (mental)  cleanliness and having a sense or order in all aspects of life.
7. Santhosham: Contentment. Keeping a happy demeanor, positive outlook and not engaging in negative thinking. Watch this TED talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M by Shawn Achor on 'Happiness Advantage' to know more about 'Santhosham' and how it can help even with everyday living.
8. Thapah: Generally translated as maintaining a religious austerity in life, this also means leading a contemplative life. Thapah literally means to generate heat; the internal 'heat' generated from intense thinking that brings about a transformation of character.
9. Swadhyaya: Regular self-education. Relentless engagement in developing one's spiritual knowledge and assimilating that knowledge. This is an extremely important virtue given the vastness of spiritual studies.
10. Iswarapranidhana: Having an attitude of surrender to God. This is a foundational virtue for a spiritual seeker. Sage Patanjali also offers a very interesting definition of 'God' as a supreme being who is unaffected by the divisions of the world, free of expectations of cause and effect and free of all afflictions like ignorance, ego, attachment, hatred and self-preservation. The fully stretched prostration that devotees do in Hindu temples called the 'sashtanga pranama' or prostration involving eight limbs is a great demonstration of Iswarapranidhana. The eight limbs involved in the prostration is indicative of total surrender to God These are:
a. Urasaa - by the torso, meaning all bodily functions
b. Sirasaa - by the head, meaning intellectually
c. Vachasaa - by speech, meaning everything spoken
d. Drishtyaa - by sight, meaning everything seen
e. Manasaa - by mind, meaning emotionally
f. Karnayo - by hearing, meaning everything heard
g. Hastayo - by the hands, meaning all deeds performed
h. Padayo - by the feet, meaning all the travels undertaken

(Special thanks to Sree Aswath for his enlightening teaching that has enabled and inspired me to compile the above information)