Asteya

Asteya is one of the five Yamas. And if you are into Yoga you might know that the Yamas and Niyamas are guidelines for living, set out by Pantanjali in his Yoga Sutras.  Asteya means, literally, non-stealing.

As my Yoga school homework last week (oh actually it might have been the week before, I am a bit behind in my homeworks!) We had to verbally commit to Asteya everyday and write up our experiences.  With reference to -  yogic things like "moving in and letting go"  and "resistance.

It has been interesting. Initially I found it all slightly irrelevent (my resistance?) as I am not one to steal stuff.  But that is just the surface of it.  Another interpretation of Asteya is "not taking that which is not freely given" which is a little deeper.  It can apply to asana practice, as in not going too far into a pose, forcing the body into it.  Or it can mean something like, not taking the piss, hogging someone's time or attention, or taking more than you need at an eat all you want restaurant.  Also there is this idea that if you are not fully present you are stealing from yourself.  That being distracted, not giving your full attention to what is happening right now, or falling into worry about the future, or regret about the past, takes away from the fullness of pleasure in the moment,  which is all that truly exists.....

And then there was this; stealing reveals an underlying belief that you do not have enough already.  That there is lack.  That we must take what we can because there might not be more.  We are afraid of being without what we need.  We have no faith or belief in abundance.

And there for me it got more interesting.  Last week was meant to be a whole week of catching up with myself.  I had lots of admin, and tasks that I had been putting off while I had been busy.  You know, I knew this 'empty' week was on its way, no visitors, no going to London for work.... time to do all the things I hadn't been able to do.... But then we had a snow day, and Bub's school was closed.  And I lost 7 hours.  And then Hub was really ill, and that threw us all too as he was not functioning fully in the running of the household.  And somehow last week, instead of being this vast stretch of time to catch up on myself, it became me just about managing to do what was really crucial and little else.  At least it felt like that.

About half way through last week I suddenly realised that this "not having enough time" was a belief - a lack of trust in abundance - and that it was Asteya to feel that way.  So instead I began to practice a belief in abundance.  And say to myself, "I have plenty of time available".  Its true I didn't finish some stuff.  But it didn't matter. Nothing fell apart.  I did what was needed.  All was fine.  And today I read this.  I love it! "Actually, I am not that busy"!  Wow.  YES! 

So I come out of that week more aware, able slow down, and give attention to the present moment.  I feel released from this fearful striving, that it is all race to get somewhere when all I need is here already.  I am enough.  There is plenty of time.