Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Aparigraha

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.