Anyone that turns serious about Yoga, will at some stage become knowledgeable about the Yamas and Niyamas, as this is the first step for a yogi.  Being a Yogi in no means implies living separate from the world.  Therefore, refining whom we are towards others, from the inside out, with a consciousness to purify and care, comes as the very first step in yoga.

The last of the Yamas – Aparigraha – means non-hoarding, – living free from a type of greed where one’s own material gain or happiness inflicts hurt, loss or injury to any other human being, life form or nature.

It also touches on the art of giving and receiving. Now, this in itself is a huge topic.  Only once one has been in the situation of needing charity, can one fully grasps what it means to give and to receive.

Aparigraha can also be applied to emotional wellness – the ability to let go, freeing oneself from longings, wanting and emotional dependency.

Aparigraha thus implicates, once again, self-restraint – not to hurt anyone with greed and secondly, letting go (not holding on), and also the art of becoming a giver and receiver, with fine wisdom and insight.

Our needs are different at various stages of our life’s.   How we will use money and material belongings changes as we advance in life.

Someone that take what’s not his – filled with greed to accumulate at the price of another’s well-being – is causing direct and indirect harm, as hoarding or with-holding wealth has a detrimental impact on the lives of others.  Once conscious of the extend of harm greed inflicts,  will one also realize that it is greed that turns a man into a thief.

Should you have been affected by a harmful act of greed, become grateful even for the sufferings that are calling you on and forward, in this way renewing yourself, filling your life with new experiences.  Nothing is ours, we are merely passing through.

Also, when one give it means giving.  The receiver is free to do as he pleases.   Giving implies the giver has no control or expectations in giving.  Otherwise, it is merely an extent of greed, to have control in the life of someone else.

To receive is humbling.  Be wise with what you receive.

This brings the posts on Yamas – the first steps towards social refinement and consciousness, to a close.