Aparigraha: Learning to let go.

Non-greed & non-grasping

Aparigraha is the last of the five yamas, translated as non-greed or non-grasping. Through practicing aparigraha we learn to only keep what we need & let go of what we don’t.

The practice of aparigraha calls us to simplify our lives, to not hoard material things but rather become mindful to only take what we need. In relation to the environment, we can see how our greed depletes our natural resources, depriving future generations of things we may take for granted. 

When we begin to let go of our desire to own & accumulate things beyond our needs, we become more content with what we already have, cultivating this kind of non-attachment to material things then allows us to share from a place of abundance. In a world of finite resources, where our greed may deprive others of opportunity, this becomes a practice of compassion. 

The philosophy of aparigraha could also be applied to our own thought processes, teaching us to let go of thoughts, emotions & mental patterns that do not serve us, that instead serve to complicate & distract us, so that we may hold on to only those that align us with our greater purpose. Through mindful awareness of our own mental space, we can start to notice our own patterns & choose not to give space & energy to that which does not serve us, slowly peeling away layers of conditioning.