“Don’t steal, the Yoga Sutra says, and all good things will come to you. Because asteya is commonly translated to mean refraining from taking anything that is not freely offered, the first things most people think of are money, clothes, food and other tangible stuff. But there’s more to asteya than what is found on the material plane.” Yoga Journal 2/09/ 80
We have discussed some of those other ways we steal from others including, time, energy, in conversation, and ideas.
A class I taught for a teacher last week demonstrated this when a few of the students persisted in talking the entire hour, including during the resting pose, Savasana. Not only did this behavior take away from my ability to instruct effectively, it also took away from the other students ability to do yoga to their fullest expression. This class was free of charge. What does that say as well?
Much of what we are speaking of comes out as a feeling of lack. Asking good questions brings us closer to self discovery. What is it that I feel I am lacking in that would create in me a desire to do what I am doing? Am I not noticing the abundance that is already there for me? Donna Farhi says that “In constantly looking outside of ourselves for satisfaction, we are less able to appreciate the abundance that already exists.” (YBMS 10)
What do I truly need and what areas of my life can I refrain from in taking more? If I take more than I give, how do I feel? What would happen if I gave more than I took?
