"When one is established in refrainment from stealing, all jewels manifest.” - Edward Bryant
In this definition of Asteya, I can’t help but think if I am honest and kind, the kings jewels will come flying towards me! I can envision people throwing jewelry and bracelets at me. I mean, that’s why I got into yoga, the jewels. ::kidding:: This definition of Asteya might be my favorite and I forgot it's gravity and meaning up until I started teaching and preparing for my meditation course.
Asteya has always been explained to me as non-stealing. Don’t take something that’s not yours be it physical or energetic. I usually see this evident in the “stealing of time” when someone is late. If you are on time, you are honoring Asteya because you aren’t “stealing” someone else’s time. You are honoring your schedule and theirs.
On a personal note, we can see this in overcommitting ourselves and the answer of "Yes, I can!" and not honoring prior commitments, me time or the moments in between the chaos. We tend to shift our schedules for other and give too much of ourselves away. It’s as if we’re stealing energy that had been dedicated to something else. Of course, in the most simple level, this can be compared to "Thou shalt not steal", the seventh commandment when observing Christianity. This means don't take something that isn't yours! But when digging deeper, we can say "Do not take what is not freely given to you."
On the yoga mat, Asteya can be as simple as not monopolizing the instructors time after class with specific questions. Asteya can also be seen by not stealing those extra few inches in deepening a pose as this could lead to injury and above all else, we are supposed to preserve and uphold Ahimsa first. We could then say that we were not being honest with ourselves by stealing those few extra degrees of movement.
Off of the yoga mat, Asteya would be not picking up a $20 bill that rolls up to you while sitting on a park bench. You know that's not your $20 so taking it would be stealing it, dishonest and also hurtful. Getting a second helping of food when someone hasn't been served yet could be a real life example of Asteya.
There is an energetic exchange of giving and receiving and when someone who is greedy or covetous gets in the mix and confuses this energy, the whole energy is thrown off. We we realize that by giving willingly, with no expectations, we will receive and others will be generous with us also. Giving is a sacrifice and an offering to another, we are allowing ourselves to let go of something. This will be closely related to the definition of Aparigraha. When we give, we open to share ourselves and our heart with others.
Next week, we will dive into the last two Yamas, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha...
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