by Jen “JP” Andrews

Aparigraha,which is often translated as non-greed, is one of the ethical principles given
in the Yoga Sutras as the foundation of all Yoga practice. Practicing these principles
begins in the most basic ways. Hence, non-greed is practiced first of all by refraining
from the unnecessary accumulation of possessions, and by refusing to accept bribes or
any gift that would oblige us to compromise our values.
It is not difficult to see that greed is rooted in a sense of incompleteness and lack, a
search for security, and ultimately a failure to experience the sources of fullness and
peace within. Our world is full of examples of powerful multinational corporations
monopolizing natural resources to produce more and more profit, enlarging the gap
between the rich and the poor. We can also observe how the capitalistic economy we
dwell in and the whole industry we call marketing is designed to convince us to feel lack
and consume.
Of course there is nothing wrong with having and enjoying things. But when we depend
on acquisitions as the source of our happiness, we end up in a relentless effort to
acquire that goes beyond our actual needs. On the other hand, when we experience
the joy of giving and serving others out of love, we discover a source of contentment
independent of anything outside of us.
The various ways we practice Yoga, such as selfless service, Hatha Yoga or meditation,
offer us opportunities to touch this wellspring of inner peace. Even a taste of inner
fulfillment or calm lays a foundation for moderating what we seek and feel we need.
We can practice Aparigraha in many ways. We can sort out unneeded clothing,
furniture and miscellaneous possessions and offer them to stores that will make it
available to others. We can regift things that we don’t need as acts of kindness or
expressions of love. With practice, refraining from greed can evolve into positive
actions like generosity.
Generosity arises naturally from the sense of deep connection that we experience when
we practice Yoga and free ourselves from the limiting thoughts that divide us. It can
take many forms: a warm smile, taking time to appreciate someone or a silent prayer
offered with sincerity to uplift a friend. Simply listening to someone with full attention
can be a powerful way to offer support and care.
Sharing the gifts and blessings we have received with others is a natural impulse when
we acknowledge our abundance and escape the self-centered messages of our culture.
Sharing generously opens our hearts to the love and compassion that is our true nature
and is ultimately more fulfilling than keeping things for ourselves.
Join JP for Satsang: Aparigraha and the Art of Decluttering Sat. July 6 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm PDT with Swami Ramananda. Online and in-person.
Jen “JP” Andrews graduated summer of 2022 from the Integral Yoga Basic Teacher Training and continued as a student of Raja Yoga teacher training & Meditation teacher training in 2023. She discovered Hatha Yoga about 20 years ago and committed to deepening her spiritual practices after discovering Integral Yoga Institute SF and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. For the last 4 years she has been coaching clients to find their way to inner peace and joy by organizing and decluttering their space. This process allows her to apply yogic principles in her client sessions as a way to support and help clients reconnect to their True North.