What is aparigraha?

Aparigraha is freedom from greed, possessiveness, or covetousness. To define and understand the underlying meaning of aparigraha, let’s look at its three parts: the first is “graha”, which means to reach for, accept, seek, or crave; the second is “pari”, which means from all sides; and lastly there is “a”, which is used for negation and means “non”. Bringing the three together, the word aparigraha means not taking more than is needed, practicing non-acceptance (including gifts), and non-accumulation–all of which, when practiced together, can help in developing an attitude of detachment or non-dependence, trust, and self-reliance.

The virtue of aparigraha helps us learn to take only what is truly necessary and no more. One should not attempt to keep or attempt to own anything beyond the very necessities of life, or that which is required in the moment.

Benefits of practicing aparigraha

1. Access to the higher knowledge of life

According to Maharishi Patanjali,

Aparigraha sthairye janmakathamta sambodhaha

Aparigraha = non-accumulation; Sthairye = established; Janmakathamta = of how births happen; Sambhodhaha = knowledge.

Being established in non-accumulation gives knowledge of how births happen.

When the yogi no more wishes to have possessions, he frees himself from the material world. This gives him a perspective of the purpose of his birth, both in this life and in past ones. He receives comprehension of the law of Karma, and understands what lessons are there to be learned before attaining Realization. Patanjali states that “when aparigraha is established, one gets awareness of past life events”.

He describes next, “Attachment, and the anxiety which accompanies attachment, are obstacles to knowledge. Freedom from attachment will result in knowledge of the whole course of our journey. Who was I? How was I? What is this? What shall I be? How shall I be? In this shape comes to him the knowledge of his own experience in the past, present and future. He becomes independent and free. His mind becomes pure. Everything becomes quite clear to him. He gets a memory of past life also.”

2. Self-reliance

Non-accumulation and non-attachment can just mean that you don’t depend on someone or something external for your own happiness and stability.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. When I let go of who I am, I receive what I need.” This insightful quote by Lao Tzu describes the whole essence of aparigraha in a very nice way.

“The yogi feels that the collection or hoarding of things implies a lack of faith in God and in himself to provide for the future….By the observance of aparigraha, the yogi makes his life as simple as possible and trains his mind not to feel the loss or the lack of anything. Then everything he really needs will come to him by itself at the proper time.” ~ Dr. BKS Iyengar, Light On Yoga.

“Non-accumulating simply means confidence in one’s existence and in one’s abilities. It is knowledge of one’s self. You know how to make bread and know you can earn it. So you will not make bread for a whole year and store it. It will become stale,” explains Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

3. A greater enjoyment of life

This quote of Henry David Thoreau sound the bell of truth and freedom: “It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly.”

Paying attention to how much we take and how much we hold on to can bring a lot of change in our habit of hoarding. If we can free our space—the outer as well as the inner—letting energy move easily and freely, then we make room for whatever the Universe has for us to offer. We then allow free flow of energy and we can live in the flow of the moment.

“What we try to possess, possesses us”, says Deborah Adele, ERYT500. This is so true. Without us even realizing it, our possessions start possessing us and start controlling and dictating our lives, demanding so much of our attention. Storage, repairing, maintenance, anxiety, attachment, all of these can imprison us and rob us of our freedom and the joy of the moment.

4. An understanding of impermanence

In words of Lao Tzu, “If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to.” The sooner we allow this idea of impermanence to sink in, the simpler, balanced and happier our life will become.

5. Unconditional love

“Love is what is left when you’ve let go of all the things you love”, explained Swami Jnaneshvara of Abhyasa Ashram, Florida.

Aparigraha teaches you not to make attachment with anybody, even your loved ones. This sense of non-attachment helps you to have a sense of belonging to everyone without becoming possessive, jealous, and codependent.

Aparigraha is the art of letting go and living life with open palms, open minds, and an open heart, so that all things, concept, or people enter, exist, and exit effortlessly without creating any bondage or dependency.

Aparigraha on the mat

It is on our mat—with our breath—that we start to learn the lesson of aparigraha. During our asana practice we have the chance to watch how fear and insecurity can restrict our life force, through our habit to hold the breath in challenging moments. Whereas through breathing deeply, we can flow smoothly from one posture to the next, and enjoy the transitions and challenges that come with it.

Mat practice also allows us to see whether we are attached to reaching a certain level of success in our asana practice, in the wayf how it will make us look or feel, or if we are clinging to our fears and holding ourselves back from giving 100% to the enjoyment of the posture.

In all of these cases, we can realize that in order to have a deeper experience, we must be prepared to let go—of our attachments, our fears, our fixed ideas, and our past experiences.

When you have boldly started to watch aparigraha on the mat, you may also begin seeing a similar approach reflected in your life: to the success of your career, or feelings of unhealthy attachment to your spouse, or wish for material goods or wealth. The first step both on and off your yoga mat is simply to notice. Real change begins when we see our patterns and tendencies clearly and objectively.

5 ways of incorporating aparigraha (non-attachment) into daily life

The practice of aparigraha may look pretty hard at first, but following these tips may help you to apply the practice in your daily life.

1) Downsize, declutter, and practice minimalism

Unlike the last few years, with consumer culture at its peak, resulting in an overwhelming habit to hoard and accumulate, recently there has been a distinct change in mindset of population at large. The habit of having things and possessions is shifting to a celebration of downsizing and living simply and minimally. These are becoming the newest trends for living a better life. Some things that you can do to start to shift your mindset:

- Be specific on your desires and how they vary from your needs.

- Become aware of discontentment and bottomless wishing.

- Be careful of your wants, as they can bring you into a vicious cycle of wanting more and more. Instead, attempt to remain in the here and now.

- Be watchful of accumulating just for the sake of having.

- Appreciate and cherish what you have, but let go of the fear of losing it.

- Move to smaller, more comfortable homes. Keep you rooms spacious by having minimal furniture.

- Do not cling to things too tightly. Give away or toss out all things you do not use or need anymore. Be balanced and judicious in how much you take, use and keep.

- Just like your physical space, take some time to declutter your mind, too:

-- Let go of any ideas, concepts, patterns, habits, etc, that are not doing any good anymore.

-- Don’t allow praise and compliments to hold space in your mind, and don’t allow hurts and insults to hold any space in your heart. Neither hold on to successes or failures.

-- Don’t even cling on to your name, reputation, or identity.

-- Be present, rather than living in your regrets about the past or your dreams for the future.

Try some of these tips, and see how light and free you feel. See how much time and energy you suddenly have for the things you love to do. See how much life becomes more joyful.

2) Share with gratitude

While gifting, the giver is always thankful. This is because whenever a receiver accepts the gift, he or she is not just taking the gift; but is also taking away your mind’s attachment to it. The receiver is taking away certain impressions or karma of the past from the giver. When someone offers you something, respectfully accept. And with gratefulness, you can choose to share the gifts you recieve with others, or pass them on to one more in need of it than yourself. In addition to the gifts that you get, share your talents, knowledge, wealth, resources, and time.

3) Forgive and let go

The practice of aparigraha teaches you to see how you hold on to memories, prejudices, past hurts, events, and people, and how these attachments can keep you from experiencing simplicity and joy. The practice of aparigraha encourages forgiveness and letting go, and brings so much healing. Forgiveness heals your wounds, whereas non-forgiveness only keeps them open and bleeding. What can help here is to not look for the intentions behind others’ mistakes. Nobody plans to hurt you or to make mistakes, these things simply occur due to lack of awareness. See a mistake as just a mistake, not yours and not mine. Clear the space between you and the other, forget, forgive, move on, and become the light and love that you are.

4) Prioritize self-care

When we are scared and insecure, we might feel a necessity to cling to and control those who are closest to us, not letting them experience life as they wish or respecting their individual ideas and truth. Instead, find ways to nourish, love, and center yourself so that you feel independent and strong in your own being, and give space to others to be who they need to be. Dedicate some time daily to your asana, breathing, and meditation practices.

5) Share and give away your rights too

“Those who fight for their rights are weak for they do not know their inner strength, their magnanimity. The weaker you are, the more you demand your rights. You need to recognize that no one can take away your rights. They are yours. The courageous will give away their rights. The degree to which you give away your rights indicates your freedom, your strength. The stronger you are, the more you give away your rights. Demanding rights does not really bring you the rights, and giving them away does not really take them away.

Poor are those who demand their rights. Richer are those who know their rights cannot be taken away. Richest are those who give away their rights.

Demand for rights is ignorance, agony. Knowing no one can take away your rights is freedom.

Giving away your rights is love, wisdom.”

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s these profound words convey so much insights, inspiration and clarity. To me this is the highest practice of aparigraha that can make you totally free, hollow, and blissfully empty.

Enjoy your practice

Practicing aparigraha and living a life of simplicity does not mean that we don’t care for our loved ones or that we deprive ourselves of the comforts, pleasures, and joys of life. Neither does simplicity mean poverty. On the contrary, aparigraha frees us up to be immersed in appreciation and reverence for our life and relationships. We are asked to let go of the craving and clinging, but not the enjoyment. If you feel a lack in any area of life, immediately start practicing aparigraha. It will not only bring abundance and freedom but will also nurture sharing and caring.

In short, go with the rhythm of life, and enjoy the ebb and flow of the moment. Take only what you need. Love with all of your heart. But know that only constant factor in life is change and to experience life to the fullest, we need to stay present. Let go. Breathe.