Aparigraha
Yama, the first limb of Ashtanga, Part 5
By Baba Prayag
Aparigraha, the last principle of Yama, completes the first limb of Ashtanga by offering us the fruits of our labor in practicing Brahmacharya. Let us pause here though, and consider the notion that we must harvest the fruit before we can enjoy it. Aparigraha however, is not the fruit itself but instead the opportunity to harvest — it’s the ripening of the fruit.
Instead of getting lost on figuring out what this fruit is, we should figure out what Aparigraha means. As with many words from ancient languages, Aparigraha has ended up meaning several different things, although this time I wouldn’t chalk things up to a misguided translation or interpretation. However, we should still put emphasis on the essence of what the word is meant to convey.
Aparigraha is translated to mean “non-greed,” “non-desiring/coveting,” “non-selfishness/possessiveness,” and “non-attachment.” It’s fairly easy to understand and agree that the inverse of these definitions - greed, desire, selfishness and attachment can tend to cause problems. More specifically, the types of problems these things result in are violence, lying and stealing — precisely what the first three principles of Yama advised us against.
Giving in to greed for example, means we are 1. harming ourselves or others, 2. when we are likely aware that we have more than we need, and 3. in taking more than we need we are taking away from another. In our practice of the first few principles, Ahisma (non-harming), Satya (truthfulness), and Asteya (non-stealing), we can find ourselves prepared should our practice of Aparigraha run into bumps along the way.
A true practice of Aparigraha means letting go of desires, possessions and attachments. This is of course easier said than done, and much time could be spent on what each of these ideas mean, their implications and what it looks like to actually do that. Some comfort might be found in practicing the fourth principle, Brahmacharya, as its application practically alleviates any conflict that a lack of Aparigraha might result in, as being part of the One True Self, you already have everything you could ever need, want or desire.
With peace and loving-kindness. Namaste.
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