What is Saucha? The Yogic lens on Purity

Have you ever woken up and felt groggy? Your mind won’t clear, your body is lethargic, the morning grumpiness just won’t shift? You walk through your house and notice the fine layer of dust collecting on the shelves, the scattered shoes and miscellany, the dishes drying in the rack or piled in the sink. The small ways in which life tends to accumulate detritus. The messiness accumulated when the daily effort to maintain the clarity and cleanliness of space is missing. The brain fog won’t lift until the morning caffeine-dunk helps shake us from the fog. Even after that first hit of morning brew, the grumpiness persists, our emotional residue sticking to us like unwashed socks. And we move through our lives, trying to stay ahead of tasks both unfinished and unstarted. The gunk slowly piles up, clogging the corners of the home, filling in the space between our joints, blocking the mind from feeling free. Forgotten tasks in the lost space of our mind, unwashed laundry, unrealised dreams.

One day, we wake and look around and see the residue all around us and feel the need to clean. Spring cleaning! But what if we were to move through life with the intention of conducting a spiritual cleansing of all the layers of your being every day? A clarity of space, emotion and thought so that everything had the capacity to shine and flow? This is what the yoga tradition calls “saucha”.

"Move through life with the intention of conducting a spiritual cleansing of all the layers of your being every day."

What is Saucha?

Saucha is a sanskrit term that translates to purity, cleanliness, and clarity and is one of the niyamas or observances that are used to support the spiritual path. First, the niyamas are principles to live by - tips to leading a yogic life. They are also foundations of yogic thinking so that there is internal clarity as you move forward on the journey and avoid the pitfalls of spiritual evolution. Without them, it is easy to become confused or experience dissonance later on the journey. Additionally, they are choices that help make your path easier. They also build on each other in profound ways…

So, back to saucha. Like all things in yoga, saucha is a concept with many layers that are supportive at different times of life and help the practitioner navigate the depths of purity in our own lives. We begin always with the gross external layer, in this case a clean space to live and work. From the outside space, we shift to the physical form of the body. With a tended physical form, (proper food, exercise, care) our body serves us on the path of yoga limiting the physical barriers to our success and keeping us healthy.

From the physical, we shift to the subtle body. With purity in our subtle body (breath, emotions, thoughts, energy, etc), we do not become overwhelmed by emotions, our desires are kept in check, and our mind is clear helping us stay focused and grounded on the path of yoga. From the subtle, we can focus on the spiritual. When we have purity in our spirit, we no longer identify with the ego, and instead dedicate our lives, our actions, our thoughts toward the highest - the divine. When we are pure in all the layers of our being, we are clear to receive the light of consciousness. It is this clarity that shines out of sages throughout the world. As one of my teachers says, “Sages, having created a vessel that can receive light, shine brightly, guiding lights for all.”

"When we are pure in all the layers of our being, we are clear to receive the light of consciousness."

This idea that we practice saucha across the various layers of our body helps us understand that depths of saucha in our experience. It is only the beginning to keep your space clear. But once clear, our physical form feels lighter. It takes effort to maintain your physical fitness, but after your daily routine, your mind is clearer. With a clear mind, you can more easily retain your focus on your intention constantly building toward your highest self.

Saucha in the external world

With a clean external space, we reduce distractions surrounding us. There is ample content written about how clean, uncluttered space to live and work helps maintain a quiet, clear mind and ordered thinking. Reducing the number of things that call our attention, that distract us from our goals, or that take up space in our lives, we are better able to focus on the things that matter.

"The clean up process becomes an inspirational practice of determining what comes next."

So how do we go about living saucha in our external world? Well, the easiest way is to sweep daily. I don’t just mean pick up a broom and tend the floor, but take the time to ensure that all decisions are taken with consideration, not just mindless cluttering. Tasks are brought to full completion. When you decide to do something, you have to get all the materials, prep the space, execute, and conclude. This includes the clean up. If we become lazy in our habits, we may finish the task but fail to finish the project by not cleaning up after ourselves. In the same way we spend time excitedly preparing for a task, we must also honor the process by cleaning up after we are done.

The interesting thing is despite having been told this, we may not have associated the cleaning up as part of the process. The process isn’t finished, the art project not complete until the clean up is done. It would not be surprising if you had a parent’s voice in the back of your head saying to ‘clean up after yourself.’ This isn’t intended to be an antagonistic process. It is an honoring of the effort and energy given to a project. The clean up is also an honoring of what comes next. Rather than habituating life with the left over remnants of previous projects, we carefully discern what is still potent, what needs some hibernation and what can be let go. The clean up process becomes an inspirational practice of determining what comes next.

The yoga tradition sees the cleansing of the space as a final way to honor, bless and purify the energy of the task by taking it to full completion. When we do this with all tasks in our life, we move in the world with cleaner energy. We also refrain from leaking or diminishing our power and potency by letting somethings go without intention. We are pure containers for light. Whether it is putting the shopping cart away before driving away or making the bed in the morning, it is wise to learn to use these moments as a way of honoring the task you just completed. The cultivated wisdom of reflecting on a job well done, celebrating the end, and feeling grateful for the lessons learned in the process. This external clarity makes it so much easier for us to drop in to the depths that require greater attention. Otherwise, we get caught on the things that are external, and never make it to the things that matter for our spiritual transformation and evolution.

Saucha of the physical form

After our external space, we must focus on the physical body. What is purity in the physical form? First and foremost, remember that yoga doesn’t tell us what is right and wrong. The entire path of yoga is a path of discernment for the self to return to the Self. There is no single way. There is only the way. That might sound paradoxical, but it should also be a bit freeing. In other words, you choose what is best for you. Saucha, like the other niyamas, is there as a guidepost to help you in the discerning process. But the niyamas are only guideposts, not clear mandates. And so as you approach purity of the physical form, you choose what works best for you.

"Any individual act should aim to be pure on its own merit, thus limiting the amount of cleaning we need to do to be open and pure to receive light."

For most, this is some form of exercise, some form of nutritional awareness and hydration, some form of emotional and stress release and mental strengthening or mindfulness. The 3rd limb of yoga - yoga asana - is one way the yoga tradition encourages physical purity. Asana practice can include standing poses, forward folds, backbends, twists, arm balances, inversions, core cultivation, kriyas, and other movement. In my personal practice, I focus on sensation in the body, and try and discern what is needed for greater flow of breath, freedom and spaciousness. Most often, to find the greatest sense of flow, this includes some physical asana practices, applying breathwork, and mental practices enhancing concentration, withdrawal of the senses, slowly working towards meditation. Sometimes, listening to my body requires massage, more intensive body work, greater sleep, etc. Combined, these activities help build strength that supports flexibility, enhances balance and mobility, and cultivates a deep sense of presence and awareness that is supportive for personal development.

Additionally, these activities help quiet the physical agitations in the body making contemplative practices like meditation more possible. There is no requirement to do yoga asana. In fact, other Indian philosophies that have expounded on yoga think "asana" is optional. Exercise, in any form is acceptable. If you walk, run, swim, the choice is yours. Remember that the point of saucha is purity, so as you execute whatever practice for your physical form, try not to overexert or do anything that will require additional effort to purify later. For example, if your exercise of choice enhances a vicious or aggressive element to your personality, make sure to leave it on the pitch, and not take that aggression forward into the relationships whether the opponent, coach, or others involved. Any individual act should aim to be pure on its own merit, thus limiting the amount of cleaning we need to do to be open and pure to receive light.

Let’s say you play soccer, and like the competitive spirit of the team sport. But perhaps you have a rivalry with an opponent that has been leading you to be spiteful towards this person off the field. Make note of this, and clean the energy before you leave the pitch. Often, this can simply be wishing the person a good game at the end to clear the air and stay in the spirit of fun. By doing this, you don’t have to let go of the competitive nature of sport, but can make sure it is still playful and not personal. Just be cautious to be authentic in your well wishes. Clarity of speech is important too.

Saucha of the subtle body

Now we turn towards the inner realm and subtle body. Like the old adage, “cluttered space, cluttered mind,” emotions, mind, and speech must also be cleared to find the light. Of these, the easiest to manage is our breath. When we practice pranayama, we observe the quality of breath. We make note of areas of contraction, of tightness, of areas in the body that are stuffed. This awareness helps us soften into a greater sense of ease in the body.

When we cleanse the breath, we purify organs in the body. Balancing different systems, working towards homeostasis. And what that stasis is is a sense of internal clarity. When the breath is even and measured, our emotions stabilize. Rather than running around like a raging wildfire, or feeling like a lump of charcoal without a spark to get going, our internal fire becomes balanced. We are able to motivate into action, stay resilient and focused through to completion. We are unruffled by challenges, disruptions and delays. External challenges that prevent progress are easily waited out or overcome through resourcefulness. These things do not bother our internal purity. By focusing on the breath, we begin the process of cleansing the emotions, the mind, and speech.

Cleansing emotions, speech and thoughts all require careful observation, reflection, and space. When we first begin, we realize quite quickly the breadth of emotions and thoughts constantly rushing across the screen of the mind. We are unaware of how overwhelmed we are with thoughts and emotions, as overwhelm is almost normal now. But this constant barrage of thoughts prevents us from experiencing a clear, orderly and focused presence. To cleanse this unceasing flow of thoughts, we enact many different seated and contemplative practices.

When I first began meditating, I was a mess after seconds. Trying to sit for even a minute was a lifetime of torture. The only thing I could do to quiet the mind was count. I would count as high as possible until my mind couldn’t take it anymore. I felt like a proud 6 year old learning to count to 100. But even the practice of counting was powerful. I would finish feeling deeper breaths, calmer, and more grounded. Eventually, I could sit for 5 minutes counting, and only then did I have the capacity to start other meditation practices. Counting for me was an entry point into learning to quiet the mind.

Practices that cause us to learn to quiet the mind, clear the breath, regulate the emotions, and clarify our speech are numerous and I encourage you to seek out different options. On this website, I have a course coming soon on various mindfulness practices for people building a seated practice. I encourage all to listen to Pema Chodron as she wisely reminds us "to start where we are." If that is counting to 100, start there. It is simple, concise, and achievable. If it is to sit in full presence for a single breath. Do so with the full awareness of your being. We learn to watch the mind’s reactions and override it through our intellect in any mindful practice. We cultivate equanimity, no longer attached to emotional baggage. We purify our thoughts and allow our speech to be intentional, open, and concise. We stop wasting time with unnecessary things. We cultivate saucha of the internal space.

Saucha in the transcendental body

If the act of yoga is to unite, what does purity have to do with it? When something is clear, it can receive - wisdom, laughter, joy, sunlight. When one is purified, they are ready to be enlightened. One could say that the entire point of a spiritual path is to cultivate Saucha until the light hits.

"When something is clear, it can receive - wisdom, laughter, joy, sunlight. When one is purified, they are ready to be enlightened."

The Buddha, on his journey of enlightenment, slowly worked to cleanse his actions, behaviors, beliefs, until he was so clear that all that was left was for him to sit in contemplation of the divine. In his articulation of the journey, he spoke of the path as emptiness, as a path of clearing out the clutter until all that is left is your true nature. In yoga, we think of it as clearing out the clutter so you can fill up with your true nature. We think of it as giving space to your true nature. In either way, it is two different ways of describing the same thing, we have to cleanse our selves to prepare for enlightenment.

One of the most widely agreed upon components of the spiritual path, across traditions, is that once you have cultivated purity, the final step is to sit in meditation for some time. From the Upanishads, to Buddhism, to Taoism, the role of quiet contemplation before enlightenment is the same. On the spiritual path, the journey of purity is to remove the ego from the center of your experience and replace it with that which makes you divine. In the yoga tradition, they call this true nature enlivening us all Atman, the divine essence at your core. We live life constantly seeking "My healing," "My success," "My fame." Not realizing, that this experience of life is a body, mind, intellect that is exploring the experience of life for the divine. This “I-maker,” this ego, is the vehicle for the divine. Atman is the subject, and the ego is the object! Not the other way around. This is the fundamental point of spiritual cleansing - to remove the "I" from the center, and replace it with the Divine. When we understand this, the paths of yoga become so clear. Karma = service in honor of the divine; Bhakti= devotion to the divine; Jnana = Wisdom of the divine. We cultivate a life of service, devotion, and wisdom in honor of the Atman that lives within each of us. In this way, the path of Saucha, helps us along every step of the path to enlightenment. In this way, the act of daily sweeping becomes our path forward and every act, every chore, every breath becomes a path of honoring the divine.

As you move forward on your own path, I encourage you to contemplate daily:

• What requires cleaning in your external environment?

• What requires cleaning in your internal environment?

• What requires cleaning in your subtle body?

• What is at the center of your actions, words, and emotions?

Happy sweeping!