Yama and Niyama: Ethical Foundations for AI Knowledge Design

Yoga begins not with technique but with ethics: yama (restraint) and niyama (observance) establish the moral ground for all practice. Patanjali's framework—ahimsa (non-harm), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (integrity), aparigraha (non-greed)—directly translates to AI design principles. Current platforms often treat ethics as constraints on profitable features; wisdom platforms would make them foundational. Satya demands transparent AI limitations and uncertainty quantification. Ahimsa requires protecting vulnerable users from manipulative algorithmic design. Asteya means fairly attributing and crediting knowledge sources. Brahmacharya invokes responsible resource use and honest representation. Aparigraha rejects endless user data extraction and attention harvesting. These aren't constraints but invitations: ethical commitment creates long-term user trust, sustainable business models, and knowledge systems that support human flourishing. The future of AI knowledge belongs to platforms where ethical principles precede technical architecture, where every design decision flows from commitment to non-harm and truth-telling.