Ethical Living

In Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot series, a tea monk and a robot wander the world asking, “What do people need?” The answer isn’t a product or a fix. It’s a feeling. A sense of being heard, valued, and whole. Many of us long for that same feeling in our lives: a way to move through the world with purpose, integrity, and care.

In modern yoga culture, it’s easy to lose sight of yoga’s roots. We see poses, wellness products, and vague talk of “good vibes.” But behind all that is something far more grounded. Yoga offers a path for ethical, purposeful living.

Last week, when I renewed my yoga teaching credentials through the Yoga Alliance, I was required to agree to an "Ethical Commitment" based on values intrinsic to the practice of yoga, such as ahiṃsā (nonviolence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (not stealing), aparigraha (non-possessiveness), and santoṣa (contentment). While it might seem like such an agreement would be limited to my role as a yoga teacher, these same principles inform decisions that I make in all aspects of my life, including how I build my website.

The values and principles of the Drupal community align well with the Ethical Commitment to which all yoga teachers certified by the Yoga Alliance must agree. This article explains why I use Drupal as the ethical base of my online presence.