Aparigraha means non-hoarding and is another facet of asteya (non-stealing). We are to receive only what is appropriate, no more. If we take more than what we have earned, we run the risk of exploiting someone else. There is no need to get greedy. When we collect or hoard, it implies a lack of faith in God or in ourself to provide for our own future.
B.K.S. Iyengar in "Light on Yoga" says,
By the observance of aparigraha, the yogi makes his life as simple as possible and trains his mind not to feel the loss or the lack of anything. Then everything he really needs will come to him by itself at the proper time.
Swami Kriyananda, in "Raja Yoga" says aparigraha "leads one to become non-attached even to his own body. It is by such perfect non-attachment that the blindness of temporary identifications is overcome..." Aparigraha prompts us to learn to let go and surrender, and not hold on to, or identify with, the past and that which is not for our highest good.
This week, your assignment is to look at your life. Is there anything you are holding on to? Have you been greedy? Look at your physical environment first, then your emotional, mental and spiritual environments. Try journalling about it and make a plan to let these things go. I assure you, you create a vaccuum by letting go of your "stuff." It allows space for even better things to come your way.
This concludes our discussion of yama, the first limb of Ashtanga yoga philosophy. The next limb is niyama.
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