Non-stealing and Relaxation

In one of my yoga classes, we talk about asteya, the Sanskrit word for non-stealing. Asteya is one of the five universal observances or - in Sanskrit, yamas - of classical yoga.

What does asteya, non-stealing have to do with relaxation, rest, and renewal?
A lot.

We all know that we are not supposed to steal somebody's wallet, jewelry, ideas, or even his/her energy and time. Most of us, however, are less aware of how much we steal from Mother Earth. By contaminating and exploiting her resources we have put ourselves in an extremely stressful place to live!

The concept of asteya goes even one step further and encompasses non-hoarding. Now this may hit home right away. Look around at your home. What do you hoard - or "collect"(to use the more common word)? Books, magazines, shoes, garments, DVDs, ice-cream, cookies, keepsakes, square footage? Not only becomes moving more arduous, but you probably don't travel lightly through life!

Ultimately, asteya points to the root cause of why we appropriate what does not belong to us: Desire and wants. Ultimately, we are asked to practice contentment and to live a simple life.

The societies here in North America and in the Western part of Europe cherish a different paradigm: More is better. We are asked and persuaded to spend more on things we do not need. And if we have already everything, then there are more countries to travel to, more pleasures to pursue, more adventures to seek.

The drive for more traps many of us in debts and unfulfilling jobs. We begin to compromise our values.

Notice how desire and wanting increases your sense of dissatisfaction. Iyengar, one of the most influential yoga teachers of our time, says, "Craving muddles the stream of tranquility."

To live by asteya is liberating. Or, as Walter Henry Thoreau's put it: "I make myself rich by making my wants few."