Aparigraha

This week’s word or yama (virtue) is Aparigraha. It is the last of the yama’s in the 8 limbs of yoga, but not the least. It is often translated as non-attachment, but I prefer Jennie Lee’s flip on the script to a more positive connotation “the cultivation of appreciation” i.e. attitude of gratitude. (This is why it is such a good reason to read different books on the sutras, to get translations from different perspectives).

I used Jennie Lee’s translation of Aparigraha to consider how often I don’t have an attitude of gratitude and how that is holding me back from my word for 2020, “abundance.” By which the very definition of abundance is prosperity, plentifulness, having a large quantity of something.

Why is there so much of a sense of lacking, limited? Deficiency? Not enough? Grasping? Attachment? A constant search outside ourselves for more? Even though we (those of us reading this) have been blessed beyond measure with abundance? Perhaps it’s because of our search for our true Self, our connection with Divinity, God, or Source (whatever you choose to call It). Or maybe it’s our culture? Our upbringing? A feeling of not understanding who we are. How can we instead flip our perspective and look at our situation, whatever it is, as personal growth? Change the mindset to trust the lesson in the situation? Change our perspective from a place of fear to a place of curiosity and a space of self-development? What if we took a leap of faith and looked at a situation we saw as lacking and instead trusted that there was enough energy to go around, enough abundance?When we start appreciating all that we have, all that is, all that was, and all that will be, we trust in the flow. Like Buddha we exude happiness, peace, and love. We have limitless energy to serve our dharma, our purpose, which ultimately gives us more fulfillment than any material thing we think we need to be happy. If we can truly understand in this moment we are all perfect, whole and complete just as we are, there will be no need to reach out for something more. It is with that we would see life’s trials and sufferings, instead as life’s blessings. And thus, abundance would poor forth and our cup would runneth over.

Sit, where ever you are as you read this, close your eyes in introspection, take a deep breath, and then open your eyes. Look all around you. What do you see? Do you see your abundance even during a social distancing order? Offer a silent prayer of gratitude for every object, every person, every sound.