Asteya

Reading from Tuesday and Wednesday, January 27 and 28, 2015 yoga class

From the book "Guiding Yoga's Light" by Nancy Gerstein

"The third yama is asteya, the yama of nonstealing in the broadest sense of the word.  Let me give you an example.

Carolyn was a copywriter for an advertising agency.  She worked with an art director, named Brian, to create ad campaigns.  One Monday morning, as Carolyn shuffled passed the agency staff and into her office, she overheard the office clamor: "We were robbed over the weekend!"  "What did they take?" How did they break in?" Abuzz with the news, the staff was shocked and frightened.  As Carolyn sat at her desk to take a quick inventory of her belongings, her partner, Brian, who was known for his wit as well as for his designs, came into her office and screamed, "They stole all my ideas!"

Although Brian's whimsical remark made light of the tense situation, this is an accurate definition of how asteya works in our lives.  Asteya means much more than just not taking what isn't ours.  But it also refers to not taking credit for actions that aren't ours, not accepting too much change from a cashier, not being late and thus not, in a sense, stealing time from the person who is waiting for us, and yes, not stealing ideas. 

Think about the ways that asteya may relate to our asana practice.  In yoga class, we often compare ourselves to others, and we want what others have, whether it's their flexibility, strength, body shape, or an advanced forward bend.  Sometimes, when the body cannot perform a finished pose, we might strain or injure ourselves.  We are violating the first yama, nonharming, as well as the second yama, truthfulness.  As a result, we begin to see how the yamas build on one another, creating a foundation for life. 

From the book, "The Yamas and the Niyamas" by Deborah Adele

If we are living in fear and lies, our dissatisfaction with ourselves and our lives leads us to look outward, with a tendency to steal what is not rightfully ours.

An outward focus leads us to compare ourselves to others.  When we do this, we either find ourselves lacking, which makes us feel inadequate, or we find ourselves superior, which makes us feel arrogant. 

We steal from others by no paying attention or discounting them. 

Imagine what would happen if each time we took something we gave something back!!

We steal from the Earth.  Don't take more than you need.

Everything in our possession is on loan to us, and during that time, we are asked to care for it. 

To live and see the sacredness of our own lives, and the sacredness of lives that will cover after us. 

Notice how you steal from others:   time, attention, one-upmanship, not being able to celebrate others successes.  Notice when you do this. 

Notice where you are stealing from the earth.  Where are you taking without returning something of at least equal value?

This week live as a visitor to this world, rather than an owner.  Notice how much is available to you to use and enjoy without needing to own them:  parks, libraries, sunsets.