Asteya

Asteya leads to awareness of non-stealing, which on the surface we begin by considering not taking anything that is not ours. “Of course, I shouldn’t steal things from others” you may be saying but haven’t you been tempted?  Asteya may be something you have been exploring in those moments of temptation and you chose to return a lost wallet or call out to someone who dropped their money. 

But as we continue to engage in this Yama many layers will unfold.  What about time, thoughts, space, attention?  Start to become aware of how you navigate conversations with others.  Do you “steal” time from them dominating the conversations?  Do you allow others to hold space or do you inhale the very air others breath?  Do you cross talk, changing the focus as someone is sharing back to you?  Or maybe you dismiss others’ sharing. A large part of this practice will reflect on how you engage with others in your personal and work life.

Asteya also helps us move from a deep driven sense of lack to recognizing abundance.  For when we feel a lack of anything it often leads us to wants and needs that can drive us to take from others that which is not ours.  We covet. We become jealous.  We live life with envy.

Delve deeper into this practice of Asteya and it opens us to the gifts of life while freeing us from envy, jealousy, and coveting that which is not ours. Contentment replaces envy or jealousy.  As we nurture the vibration of contentment in our being, the desire for what others possess falls away. 

Look around again and discover the abundance of life with all that is precious, is now available.  The sense of lack becomes the awareness of prosperity.  Be inspired to view your life without comparison to others, instead reflect in the bounty available to you.  

Ready?  Set? Let’s delve in!