Aparigraha

Aparigraha means non-hoarding. It follows non-violence, truth, non-stealing, and moderation as the fifth of the five yamas, or moral restraints, required for spiritual liberation of a yogi. Non-hoarding is thought to be the most subtle of the five necessary restraints.

Aparigraha implies reducing the clutter in your life, both physically and mentally. The more “stuff” we have, the more stuff we have to worry and stress about. We think our possessions provide us comfort but really they give us more stuff to take care of, more things to worry about. The more cluttered and full our life is, the less space we have to let in the new and the less ease we have in flowing with the constant changes of this impermanent world. We become caught up with our “stuff” and overly concerned with protecting what is “mine.”

What we have will never be enough if we are living from this low frequency of fear, greed, and hoarding. We falsely believe that we need MORE, but really we need LESS. The Yoga Sutras tell us that we are inherently perfect. We are born as bodies of bliss but have gotten so lost in the clutter that we have created, that we have forgotten our true selves. 

The mind is this way. If you pack your mind with thoughts, it becomes cramped in the same way that a small room filled with stuff does. Eventually the mind gets so full, there is no space for You anymore! If you can learn to let go of stuff you no longer need (past hurts, injustices, fears, judgments, opinions), you allow space for new ideas, creations, inspirations, and love to come in. You make yourself an empty vessel to receive. You allow Spirit to think, speak, and act through you.

The opposite of stress is faith. When you have faith, you don’t feel the need to steadfastly grip on to everything, because you know the Universe will provide for you. Everything that you need will come when you need it, so there is no reason to hold on to everything that passes by you. Faith is recognizing that the Universe doesn’t always give you what you want, but it always gives you what you need.

Reflect on what you have in your life right now that is creating clutter: unnecessary material possessions, unhealthy relationships, self-sabotaging or hateful thoughts. Ask yourself why you are holding on to this “stuff.” Are you scared to allow space for the new to come in? And you afraid the Universe will not provide you with what you need? Have courage. Look inside and realize that you already have everything you need. Have faith to let go of the extraneous mess that blocks your ability to live fully. See what you can let go of this month and then notice all of the wonderful new things that enter in.

Identify with what you want, not with what you don't want

Lately it seems like everywhere I go and everyone I talk to and everything I watch is a constant reminder of how difficult life is right now. I can’t turn on the television without being bombarded with this feeling of despair. I am told the economy is shattered and that hardship is everywhere…

And then I pause. 

And I thankfully take a delicious gulp of life-giving air.

And I look up, like a child, at the immense sky, and I think of my 6 billion brothers and sisters, near and far, on this huge planet. 

And I think about the other planets, known and unknown, galaxies far, far away, space extending out further than my mind can fathom. 

And I remember, “I am not responsible for all of this.  There is a much bigger force at play here.” 

And I am comforted by how small I am in the vast, loving arms of this Universe.

The time has come for us to put what we have learned on our mats into practice in our lives.  As tempting as it is to fall into the mass fear, to identify with the struggle and with how difficult life is, NOW is the time for us to wake up and be grateful! NOW is the time to have faith! And you must do this, not only for your own sanity and wellbeing, but to uplift those around you as well.

As in our yoga practice, we learn to let go of the struggle as we hold a pose; we learn to be present with what is happening without judging it. So in life, we must remember to identify with what we want, not with what we don’t want.

Your thoughts are powerful, but YOU are NOT your thoughts. You don’t have to identify with everything that pops into your head. Focus on what brings you joy. Now more than ever, we NEED our days off.  We NEED our vacations.  We NEED our yoga.  We NEED our alone time.  Don’t sacrifice these things.  These are the things that keep you sane.  These are the things that make it all worthwhile.

As we move from a place of darkness to a place of light inside our own minds and lives, we become a guiding light to others, helping to lead them towards mental peace and freedom.

~ Brynn