Aparigraha: Letting go of greed

Do we need to live without any possessions to reach enlightenment or to be spiritual? I think not. It's more about having what we need and not taking more than our share.

When we are little, we learn that we need to share. Patanjali explains to us in YS 2.39 अपरिग्रहस्थैर्ये जन्मकथंत संभोधः aparigrahasthairye janmakathamta sambodhah. "One who is not greedy is secure. He has time to think deeply. His understanding of himself is complete," translated by TKV Desikachar. 

Does this mean that we can't have nice, pretty or expensive things? No. Alistair Shearer says, "When we are established in nonattachment, the nature and purpose of existence is understood." We can have what we need and want, whether it's a relationship, a car or a job, yet we need to remain unattached to possessing it. 

When a loved one passes, we are sad, hurt, and angry, but we go on. When our car is in a wreck, we get it repaired. When the job changes, we change with it or we move on.

Aparigraha- non-attachment, non-greediness, non-covetousness, generosity

If we can remained unattached to our possessions, only gather what we need, and share with others our bounty, we will begin to understand ourselves, our nature, our purpose and our connection to the universe. 

What can you let go of in your life? Maybe clean out a closet and donate what you don't use. Do you give when the urge arises or when you see a need? As a family we make regular donations. I still have places where I don't want to share. 

Recently when visiting my sister, she pointed out that I wasn't sharing my favorite crackers with the kids. While I was embarrassed to be confronted, she was right. I always tell my children to share, and I need to practice what I preach.

Where can you make a change?

Brahmicharya: Moderation

Tanzanian sunset by Laurel Steele

Moderation is not a word that most people like to hear or adhere to. Especially in the West, I am surrounded and some times find myself consuming way more than my share of food, space, and energy.

Of course science explains that Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, yet how we use our energy is key to how we feel.

Patajali's fourth yama found in Yoga Sutra 2.38 ब्रःमचार्यप्रतिस्थायं वीर्यलाभः brahmacarya-pratisthayam virya-labhah is translated, "Vitality appears in one who is firmly set in moderation," according to Bernard Bouanchaud. Many times this sutra is translated as meaning abstinence from sex or not using your sexuality inappropriately, yet I agree with many yogis who have translated this on a grander scale to include how we use our energy in all endeavors--not just sex.

How in our hyped-up, fast-paced world do we live in moderation?

• eat until we are 3/4 full
• limit our use of electronics
• honor our commitments in sexual as well as non-sexual relationships
• think before we speak
• exercise moderately (we tend to over or under do this one)
• use products we NEED not just want
• reuse, renew, recycle
• pay attention to ALL substances we put into our bodies including the amounts

There are many ways to live moderately. They are good for our health, our relationships and the health of our planet. How do you live moderately? If you don't, what changes can you make in this moment?

Asteya: Cash-register honesty, abundance and more

Some of my favorite jewels

One of the important things we learn early in life is to not take things that don't belong to us. 

I remember taking a package of Sugar Babies from the drug store when I was little--maybe 5 years old. When we got out to the pick up, my step-father asked me where they came from and I told him. There was some part of me that knew I shouldn't have taken them, but i really wanted them. I've had a sweet tooth since I can remember. He made me return them and pay for them out of my very small stash of cash. I'll never forget it!

Asteya means non-stealing and that is the third principle presented by Patanjali in Yoga Sutra 2.37 अस्तेय प्रतिस्थायं सर्वरत्न उपस्थानं asteya pratisthayam sarvaratna upasthanam. "When we are firmly established in asteya (non-stealing, truthfulness), people will trust us and all jewels [jewels of character as well as valuables] stay near." When I am honest and think and act in a way that I use material and intellectual things that only belong to me, an abundance of riches (material and spiritual) are drawn to me. Give credit for using someone's photos, ideas, materials and information and you will have all that you need. 

Charlotte Bell refers to this Sutra as "practicing abundance" in her book, "Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life." When we think and act correctly, good things come to us.

Today we can access tons of data and information. Personally, I find it challenging knowing where I have acquired all the information I have in my head. The translation for this yoga sutra came from a workshop I did with Kausthub Desikachar years ago and can be found on the internet and in various books by various authors. Who gets credit for it? Is there an agreement that says we can use the material? 

Once we post something on our blog does anyone have the right to claim the information? This is a great article by Lisa Barone on, How Not to Get Sued for Stealing Content on the Internet. Read More. I am happy to share information with people, which is the main reason that I blog; I would like to receive credit for how I put my information together. I do my best to give credit when I know the source. Of course, you can get expelled from school for plagiarism and get sued for stealing content.

It's easy to be cash-register honest. Ideas are a bit different especially when brainstorming in a group or when that synchronicity around the planet of people getting the same ideas at the same time.

There is the concept of intent here. What was your intention when you were "borrowing" what ever wasn't yours? When I was a waitress while attending college, I filed my taxes incorrectly. I received a bill from the IRS 3 years later with some big fines. When I called them, I was told by a not very nice man that "ignorance is not a good enough reason for not paying your taxes." I was not very happy. Lesson learned though, I look things up about taxes and other items I don't know about now.

So--long story short, what's mine is mine and what's yours is yours. We can share as we like and we can ask permission. When we are clear and honest with our stuff, abundance flows to us--whether it be love, money, ideas, or jewels.

Ahimsa--what does it really mean to be nonviolent?

Ahimsa (nonviolence) is the first moral principle that Patanjali presents to us in the Yoga Sutra, and therefore, ahimsa is the foundation with which we can choose to live and build our yogic lives around. What does this nonviolence thing entail?

How we think, act, speak, treat ourselves as well as others can be respectful or harmful. Does it really hurt someone to think bad thoughts? Science tells us yes, absolutely.  Just look at the work of Dr. Masaru Emoto and how water responds to harsh thoughts and words.

Some yogis become vegetarians become because they want a lighter diet, for some it's a preference and still others want to choose a non-violent lifestyle (not eating flesh because of killing animals). I have a number of yogi friends who are committed to a life of ahimsa (non-violence) who need to eat meat because of their constitution and/or body type. They can look for animals that have been treated humanely, say a special blessing acknowledging their gratitude for the animal's life or find another protein source.

So what was Patanjali suggesting in Yoga Sutra 2.35, अहिंसा प्रतिस्थायं तत् संनिधौ ahimsa pratisthayam tat vaira-tyagah, says that, "When we are established in non-violence, those who come into contact with us will do the same [be nonviolent]." If I learn to think, speak, act and live a life without harming myself or others, those I come into contact with, over time, will do the same. The opposite who also be true. Violence begets violence and peace begets peace.

How do we become agents of peace and respect?

One thought, one action, one word at a time is the place to begin. I often think of something that seems insurmountable, "How do you climb a mountain?" Well, with lots of preparation and then one step at a time, we can do most anything. I spend a lot of time talking, writing, thinking about changing habits. Being kind, respectful and nonviolent is a choice. We can change our behavior once we become aware of what we are doing.

Pay attention to your thoughts; notice the people around you; and choose to take the least harmful action. When you find yourself speaking, thinking or behaving in a way you don't like, don't beat yourself up. Choose to do it differently.

As always, I would love to hear what you do to bring ahimsa into your life.