Asteya

My thought of the week is a continuation of what we've been exploring over the past couple of weeks-the yamas. 

For those who missed the past few week's blogs here's a quick review. On the path of yoga one is likely to come across the ancient text of the Sutras of Patanjali, originating in India some 2900 years ago. The text is approximately 195 aphorisms (sutras), which are short, terse phrases designed to be easy to memorize. They were originally an oral teaching passed from teacher to student until it is thought the sage Patanjali actually wrote them. This philosophical text provides the framework within my own life in two ways -  by offering a practical guideline of how to put yoga into daily action and as the foundational philosophy that I teach in yoga teacher trainings and in classes. The sutras are meant to be studied over time with their meaning unfolding as we deepen our practice.

One of the most useful parts of the sutras is found in the second of the four books which reveals the eight-faceted path of yoga or Ashtangha yoga.  The first two facets are called the Yamas and Niyamas, or external and internal observances. Within each are five elements with Asteya being the third yama and it's a vital part of any yoga practitioner's awareness.

Asteya is often translated as non-stealing, but as has been previously mentioned, simply placing a "non" in front of the word doesn't give it the full impact of what it represents. Nischala Joy Devi translates Asteya as generosity and honesty. Obviously, our society has legislated to punish people who take things that don't belong to them and as Nischala Joy Devi points out, "laws are unable to protect us from the fear of loss" (p. 191, The Secret Power of Yoga 2007). When we take from others it's a sign that we feel that what we have is lacking. That whatever it is, it's not enough, so we gather and cling to things, ideas, stuff and people. My house, her car, our country. If we think about how we enter and leave the world, with nothing, we begin to realize that the earth is what "owns" us and that we belong to the earth. We can't take our stuff with us and if we can shift from possessing to being caretakers of all we have, we realize that all things come and go. We don't really own anything.

The idea of Asteya came into my  own awareness as I felt that what I knew wasn't enough and kept studying, doing courses and reading. Finally, the day came when I had to trust that what I knew was enough to share with others. What I knew was enough to teach. That's not to say that I don't continue studying, reading and learning, but there definitely had to be a jumping off point where I could share what I had been embodying with others. It was the point of realization that I no longer had to "steal away" more knowledge in order to validate what I was doing

While speaking about this idea in classes this past week, one student asked, "What is it that we steal from others or ourselves?". Have you ever made an appointment with someone and arrived late? Have you ever burned a CD for a friend so they wouldn't have to buy it? Have you ever looked at someone else in a yoga class and compared yourself to their practice? Have you ever felt that if you could just do one more __________ (vinyasa, errand, phone call, email) that I'll be able to check that off the list? Or tried to do a pose based on someone else's ideal of what the pose should look like and mold yourself into that shape? Taken credit for something that didn't come from you?

All of these are examples of stealing from ourselves and others. When we step into the present moment, we know that the moment is enough. It allows us to be where we are, not reaching out for more, amassing more and perhaps feeling less. When we connect into the idea and practice of generosity, it begins to not only feel good on a soul level but it starts to be a great return on investment. We get back what we send out.

So to be in the practice of Asteya this next week give yourself time to do less. Arrive early. Show up and offer your full attention to the person you're in conversation with. Respect the other person's schedule and time. Nurture your own needs and feel that there's plenty for everyone.

What you are is enough.

What you know is enough.

Abundance exists for all.