Discussion on the Yama ASTHEYA - Non-Stealing

We are meeting to discuss the YAMA - Astheya (non stealing).

Dear Beautiful Moms,

This week we will discuss Astheya as interpreted from the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Even if you have never read or heard about the Patanjali Yoga Sutras (PYS), you are more than welcome to attend. This session is designed to be inclusive and beneficial for everyone, regardless of prior knowledge or experience with yoga philosophy.

WHAT IS ASTHEYA?

Astheya is a Sanskrit term that means non-stealing. While it may seem like a straightforward concept, it can be applied to many aspects of our lives. Without realizing it, we may steal someone's time, peace of mind, energy, sense of security, or even their life force (prana). This can happen when we feel a lack of something or have a fear of survival. We may also steal unintentionally.

The most important quality to cultivate within ourselves is an unshakeable faith that we will always have enough and that we are being taken care of. When we believe that we will always have enough, we develop an attitude of detachment. Whatever comes to us or leaves us does so of its own free will. This attitude becomes a magnet for all things in nature. Nature loves freedom and feels safe with us, so all of its treasures become available to us.

Let's look at some examples of unintentional stealing:
1. Intentionally leaving dirty dishes in the sink hoping for our partner to do them.
2. Sharing someone's contact details with a third person without permission.
3. Being rude to or accusing someone.
4. Intentionally killing insects, plants, etc.
5. Not keeping our commitments to time or responsibility.
6. Talking badly about someone behind their back (stealing their reputation!).
7. Feeling like a victim and stealing our own peace of mind!

These are just a few examples, but non-stealing is a broad concept that requires us to be mindful of how our actions affect others and the world around us.

JOURNAL PROMPTS

1. Can you add to the list of ways people could be stealing from others.

2. What do you tend to steal from others/ yourself? Introspect about the deeper reason you could be doing that.

3. What is the baby step you can take towards practicing Astheya?

Feel free to read up on any of your resources of PYS as well.
Even if you don't get a chance to read up, you can attend. It will still be a very valuable session for you!

What are the Patanjali Yoga Sutras?
Over 2500 years ago in India, a great sage by the name of Patanjali compiled various texts on Yoga and created an excellent 8 step process called Yoga Sutras to attain "Equanimity of Mind". This process is called Ashtanga Yoga.
In this year of 2024 we will be delving deep into the first two steps - Yama and Niyama. Yama means codes for our relationship with the world. Niyama means code for our relationship with ourselves.

There are 5 Yamas and 5 Niyamas.
YAMAS - Ahimsa (Non - Violence), Satya (Truth), Astheya (Non - Stealing), Aparigraha (Non - Hoarding) and Brahmacharya (Path of the Divine)
NIYAMAS - Santosha (Contentment), Shoucha (Cleanliness or Purity), Tapas ( to burn) , Swadhyaya (Spiritual Study) and Ishvar Pranidhan (Surrender to a Higher Power).
In my personal experience I have found that when we apply Yamas and Niyamas to our lives, we let go of behavior that 'binds the mind'. We can experience a true freedom in our mind. The freedom to love, enjoy and be happy!

Every month we will explore one topic.
Hope you can join me in this journey of self-awareness and self-introspection!
Dive into the world of yoga philosophy and explore techniques to free your mind from stress and limitations.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced yogi, this event is perfect for anyone seeking inner peace and self-transformation.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.