Yoga Philiosphy Asteya — Non-Stealing/ Giving

Yoga Philosophy Week 3 Asteya/Non-Stealing

What is Yoga Philosophy?

Part 3 of 10 Yama/Niyama (Ethics for Life)

Asteya/Non-Stealing or a Sense of Abundance

Yoga Philosophy/ Lifestyle

Quotes:

"When we feel connected to the vastness of life and are confident of life's abundance, we are naturally generous and able to practice the third yama, non-stealing (asteya)."

Donna Farhi

" When the opposite of stealing (asteya) is established, all jewels, or treasures present themselves, or are available to the Yogi.

(yoga sutra 2.37)

"Asteya reminds us that greediness that goes beyond the resources that we actually need, robs us of our ability to be content and feel abundance"

Judith Hansen Lasiter

Teaching
Yoga Ethics/ Yama and Niyamas

Just like Ahimsa (non-harming/ the opposite of harming), the "a" in front of the word indicates the "opposite of."  Asteya, while often translated as "not stealing," actually means the opposite of stealing.  That could be giving, gratitude, generosity, being open to the jewels or treasures in front of us, contentment,

a sense of abundance.

Often, Asteya is translated as abundance.  This is a good translation, however, the step beyond that is (as the opposite of stealing) giving.

Like our first quote asserts a sense of abundance leads to generosity.  

When we feel we have enough, or even recognize that often we have more than enough, we do tend to feel we can give more, we may give away some of our things or make donations.

What about when we feel we are enough?  How might this show up in our life? In our yoga practice?  What if we practiced with the belief that we are flexible enough, strong enough, balanced enough, right now?  What mental scripts would play in our head when we do a pose or try to meditate or relax?  

It's okay if we want to improve and grow but what about how we treat ourselves as we are right now? What about gratitude for our Now?

Asteya is also often translated as non-coveting.  When thinking of yoga physical practices it means to not covet what other people can do on the mat beside you or in the yoga magazines or on Instagram, etc. but beyond, that, again, it means feeling and knowing that we have abundance in our own practice, we have enough, we are enough.

When it comes to life, it means the same thing: to not covet other people or things, but also beyond that it means feeling and knowing we have abundance in our life, we have enough, we are enough. That is not to say there aren't times when we are in need.

A sense of gratitude, abundance, and the ability to be giving doesn't mean we might not need basic human needs like food, water, and shelter. It means knowing that it is not what objects we possess; its not how our body feels; it is not the love we get; it is not whatever we feel we must possess or have that makes us whole, it is what we believe about ourselves that does.

There is treasure right in front of us. Asteya helps us see it and know we do not have to seek or take it from some place else. And more than that, Asetya helps us feel abundant in our life and helps us be more giving in many ways from being generous with gifts and charity, to feeling more free to give love, to give others a break or forgiveness, to feeling more peace and contentment.

Perhaps, we can be generous with ourselves and in turn more generous with others.