As many of you may or may not know, the roots of yoga practice and philosophy are a code of ethics or ways of being called the Yamas and the Niyamas.

The Yamas

Yoga Sutra 2-30 अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः I

ahiṁsā-satya-asteya-brahmacarya-aparigrahāḥ yamāḥ

The five yamas or controls are: non-violence; truthfulness; non-stealing,sexual restraint; non-accumulation of possessions.

The sage Patanjali teaches:

Yoga Sutra 2 - 31. जातिदेशकालसमयानवच्छिन्नाः सार्वभौमा महाव्रतम् I

jāti-deśa-kāla-samaya-anavacchinnāḥ sārva-bhaumāḥ mahā-vratam

These five (ahimsa and the other four yamas, should be practiced (all the time and toward everything) without exception to species, please, time, occasion and at all levels.

THIS IS THE GREAT VOW.

First and Foremost is Ahimsa अहिंसा (Non Harmfullness / Reverence for Life)

Here is a story of what is important in life to a yogi:

Stemming from nonharmfulness are the great virtues of charity and compassion. In 1977, on the day of Guru Purnima (a celebration of the birth of the sage Vyasa, considered one of the foremost gurus in the Vedic tradition), Krishnamacharya delivered a lecture on the day’s significance. He narrated a well-known story:

‘One day when Vyasa was returning from the Ganges after bathing, his disciples gathered around him and asked, “Master, please tell us, in brief, what is most important in life?” Vyasa smiled and replied, “Da, da, da,” and then moved on to his meditation. Puzzled, the disciples mulled over Vyasa’s response. Every student had a different idea of what each da meant. Finally, the group returned to ask him again, respectfully, “Master, we are unable to understand the secret of your words. Please enlighten us further.” Vyasa replied, “Daya, dana, dama” -compassion, charity, control over the senses.’ (AG Mohan; Krishnamacharya His Life and Teachings)