The last of the yamas, Aparigraha means “nongrasping” or “non-greed.” It is the freedom to be content and take pleasure in what you have and to genuinely be happy for others in what they have acquired.
When this ethical principle is not working in our lives we have a desire for what others have often rooted in jealousy. When we study asteya or non-stealing, we learned that stealing happens because we have a perception that there is not enough. Likewise greed happens from the perception that somehow we are not good enough. We may feel bitterness or dissatisfaction with how things are transpiring in our life, our employment, relationships etc. We believe that somehow we can be only be “good enough” if we have …… and the list goes on.
Perhaps the first step is to recognize that we own nothing in our life and what we do temporarily possess is because of being granted a stewardship over what we have. This in turn helps us learn to be content and grateful for the things we earn, receive, and allows us room to be genuinely happy for what others earn and receive.
Joan Harrigan, a practicing psychologist suggests that “before you bring anything into your home, ask yourself: Do I need this for my role in life? as a parent? as a spiritual seeker? Or am I just accumulating stuff out of my own fear and greed?”
