Yamas of Patanjali and path of Advait, what is the correlation?

What is the correlation between the Yamas of Patanjali and the path of Advait?

Yamas are the first step in Patanjali yoga, meant for self-discipline, which purified mind -still mind -sthirhpragy and
This is also the foremost requirement, i.e., the still mind, for Advait self-knowledge 🙏. Control over the gyanendry is important in both.

It is a widely held but false belief that Patanjali’s steps should be followed in sequence.

Nothing can be further from the truth.

The path of spirituality ultimately leads to wholeness, the totality.

In the wholeness, numbers, sequence, etc., do not exist.

Only the mind (the dual state) knows numbers, not the soul.

So, making these Yamas a foremost requirement before taking a spiritual path will be a major hindrance in one’s spiritual growth.

Yamas of Patanjali are something one needs to be AWARE of while pursuing the spiritual path, not an absolute requirement BEFORE starting.

Control over Gyanemdrys (sense organs) is important, but control is the wrong approach.

Control will only make your mind more active and the soul will be forgotten.

Our focus should be on awareness (the reality), rather than constantly analyzing how to live in Sansar (which is not a reality).

All the mentioned Yamas will HAPPEN as a consequence of your inner path, not vice versa.

Awareness is a pure entity that provides you with peace and contentment.

But it is not just a single point destination.

It is a gradual process.

As one becomes aware of the rising awareness, his interest in the Sansaric activities will naturally start to fade.

Now, here, one has to realize that spirituality sees no difference between mental and physical activity.

One on a spiritual path who has begun to become aware will notice the mind’s subtle activities as soon as they arise.

For example – Asteya – non-stealing.

Whether one physically steals or not, it doesn’t matter; even if he thinks about stealing, the act already happened.

Whether one commits violence at a physical level or not, it doesn’t matter; even if an idea of violence arises in the mind, they have already committed the violence.

Whether the police know about it or not, the consciousness does.

Yamas are very important in cleansing the mind by becoming aware of them.

The awareness will work as your laundry detergent, cleaning out the dirty spots on your charitra (character).

Just the contact with the consciousness is enough, just how a good friend will always guide you in the right direction.

If awareness gives you complete contentment, why would you want to steal?

If awareness gives you an equanimous state (all souls are equal), why would you want to hurt anyone? ( At Maan ( mind ),vachan (speech), or kaya(body) level. )

After enjoying the stillness of awareness, one would not want to have storms of sexual or other sense organs.

When one is content, Aparigrah becomes a practice – automatically.

Consumption will become limited- “Do not consume what you do not need.”

One would stop desiring anything beyond their basic bodily needs.

So, Yamas are very important, but not as goals but as part of the spiritual path.