The fifth yama “Aparigraha” translates to non-hoarding,
non-possessiveness or non-attachment. While these ideas seem to pointing in
different directions, the ultimate lesson of aparigraha lies in our true
nature. When we say ‘Namaste’ to one
another, we acknowledge: “The Light in me greets the Light in you,” suggesting
that we are connected on an energetic level; one in the same in our true
nature.
The practice of aparigraha recognizes that in our human nature
we have a tendency to forget this energetic connectedness that is our true
self. It asks us to proactively acknowledge
our true nature by practicing non-hoarding,
non-possessiveness or non-attachment.
Non-hoarding means taking and holding only what you really
need. Eating until you’re full and no
more. Sleeping until you’re rested, and
no more. Buying the clothing and the ‘stuff’
you need, but not more than you need. “Moderation
in all things.” as counseled by Terence the ancient Roman Poet. This
practice takes a bit of faith. We hoard
things (food, money) out of fear that it won’t be there when we need it. Practicing non-hoarding asks us to be
faithful that the universe provides what we need.
(This week, my husband and I started
small. Instead of buying six cans of
soup at the grocery store this week, we only bought the two we knew we’d
eat. So far, so good!)
Non-possessiveness
also acknowledges the transient nature of our human existence. We can never really own a thing, since we can’t
take it with us past this life. Regardless
of your belief about what happens after this life, the reality is, all the
stuff you’ve acquired eventually ends up in someone else’s hands.
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” ~Native American Proverb.
When we begin to think of our physical belongings this way,
the relative importance of them might decrease in relation to other things in
our lives. It’s an interesting study, if
nothing else.
Aparigraha as non-attachment
acknowledges that change is a constant, and invites is to release our grasp
on our own notions of how things should be, and instead see them for what they
are.
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” ~ Heraclitus
We know this intuitively, and as Heraclitus also said “The
only constant is change.” and yet we get stuck in our own habits and ways of
being, ways of seeing the world, ways of seeing ourselves and seeing other people.
The practice of aparigraha is a proactive step toward
accepting what Heraclitus so eloquently summarizes for us. Nothing is ever the same, and yet we go back
to our notions of what is and how it is the way it is, clinging to ideas about
the way the world looks rather than letting ourselves see it in its true
nature.
In our study of satya, we looked at truthfulness and
bringing this in to our aparigraha practice will serve us well. When we look to truth, and are brave enough
to see it for what it is, we practice aparigraha.
