Yoga Sutra II - 32 - SAUCHA SAMTOSHA TAPAH SVADHYAYESVARAPRANIDHANANI NIYAMAH - Niyam consists of purity, contentment, accepting but not causing pain, study of spiritual books and worship of God [self-surrender].The next and second limb of yoga which is niyama, concerning the observances. Swami Satchidananda tells that with the five points of yama and the five points of niyama can be likened to the ten commandments of the Christian and Jewish faith, as well as the Buddhist ten virtues. Swami Satchidananda reminds us that there is no religion that does not have " moral or ethical codes." "All spiritual life should be based on these things. They are the foundation stones without which we can never build anything lasting."
There is a little more commentary on this sutra from "How to Know God - The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" translated and commented on by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood in regard to purity. Purity is spoken about as cleanliness of both physical and mental. If man regards his body as the dwelling- place of the Self or Atman, he would want to naturally keep his body and mind clean. The external cleanliness of the body makes us feel better, thus affecting the mind. Then there is commentary regarding the internal organs being cleansed and using proper diet. "We must regulate our reading, our conversation, and indeed, our whole intake of mental 'food.' " They state in regard to cleanliness, what matters is our own attitude and keeping constant alertness and discriminative awareness.
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