The meaning of aparigraha in yoga and in modern life

THE MEANING OF APARIGRAHA

Let us now talk about the fifth yama i.e. APARIGRAHA

In the literal sense Aparigraha means “Do not grasp things”; Graha means “grab” and “apari” means “things”.

But we can translate with “non- possessiveness”.

In yoga in fact the fifth yama refers to non-attachment, to non- possession.

Learn to eliminate or reduce the negative influence of the accumulation of objects, to live a healthier life by enhancing the awareness of being instead of having.

It is an opportunity to understand why we identify ourselves with objects; to become free from the slavery of possession, to fight the greed and deepen more and more the path of inner research.

The meaning of the fifth yama Aparigraha is: “All things in the world are to be used, but not owned or possessed”.

Every time we are possessive, we in our turn are possessed. We try to retain with anxiety our things and want more and more, but if we learnt how to make good use of the objects and of what life offers us, then we can calmly enjoy them, we do not identify ourselves with the same objects, we do not become dependant and they do not exercise power over us.

This attitude is great to get rid of the greed and be happy with what we have, even if sometimes it does not seem much.

Usually it seems that it is not enough when your attention is directed towards what you don’t have. Every time that your mind goes on things you would like to have, try moving the focus from what you don’t have and what you would like to what you have.

I am sure that you will appreciate more what you have and it will allow you to fight greed.

THE MEANING OF APARIGRAHA

There is nothing wrong in the appreciation of material things, enjoy their beauty, their usefulness and being grateful for all that life offers us, the problem arises when the simple appreciation leaves it place to greed and let us always want more, when we fill ourselves with the superfluous and invest all our energies in trying to accumulate things.

Just look at our relationship with food, sometimes we want more of what we really need only for the possession or desire of possession and we end up by compromising our physical health for it.

Learning to be happy with what we have and we really need therefore changes the perspective also in respect of life and of ourselves.

Aparigraha applied in everyday life: If someone gives us something of which they abound and that to us is missing, we must ask ourselves if possession will have positive effects for us, if it is essential, if it brings good to our condition then we can accept it, but if this is not the case then it is good to let it be.

The purpose of Aparigraha is to ensure that we do not become slaves of possession of material objects and that we reduce the influence that possession creates in us.

We must observe ourselves in the same way as we do in meditation. Modern man has an innate tendency towards possession and it is not always easy to know the origin, but it is not necessary to eradicate it. What can we do to begin our practice of Aparigraha is decide on what to attach ourselves and hence where to turn our attention towards a direction rather than the other: knowing how to choose.

If you want to deepen go to the other articles in this category SPORTS & EXERCISES.