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The Yamas - Aparigraha: NonAttachment For Freedom

aparigraha/nonattachment the eight limbs of yoga the yamas

Detach & Free Yourself

“When the lack of desire to possess is firmly anchored, there is a profound understanding of the how and why of existence.” - The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sutra 2.39

The word ‘graha’ means to take, to seize, or to grab, ‘pari’ means ‘on all sides’, and the prefix ‘a’ negates the word itself – basically, it means ‘non’. This yama teaches us to observe things, people, ideas, and situations as they are, love unconditionally, keep only what serves us in the moment, and let go more.

In this blog, we'll explore the importance of Aparigraha and how it can enhance the quality of our lives.

Brief Yoga History: Yoga Sutras + 8 Limbs of Yoga

The true meaning of Yoga is the union of body, mind, soul, and spirit to reduce suffering.

According to the practice, we often suffer because of not knowing our true Self and the illusion of separation of our individual consciousness from Universal Consciousness.

So taking a step back... where do the Yamas come from?

The five Yamas are the 1st Limb of Yoga, within the 8 Limbs of Yoga, which are 30+ concepts that come from the Yoga Sutras.

If you'd like to dive deeper into the other Limbs, I have written the additional blogs below so far:

1st Limb of Yoga - The Yamas

2nd Limb of Yoga - The Niyamas

Saucha / Purification
Santosha / Contentment
Tapas / Discipline
Svadhyaya / Self Study - coming soon!
Ishvara Prandihana / Surrender - coming soon!

3rd Limb of Yoga - coming soon!

4th Limb of Yoga - coming soon!

6th Limb of Yoga - Dharana

7th Limb of Yoga - Dhyana

8th Limb of Yoga - Samadhi

The Yoga Sutras contain 196 verses, which discuss the aim of yoga and how you strive for freedom, liberation and self-realization - the 8th Limb of Yoga, also called Samadhi.

The Yoga Sutras were transcribed by a man (and most likely many of his colleagues and students) named Patanjali, presumably from India, living somewhere between the 2nd and 4th century BC, and act as a practical guide to assist you on your journey of remembering the ultimate union.

According to the Sutras, beginning the pursuit of self-realization is the most significant step in life – as they make us aware of our pitfalls and how to overcome them.

The Meaning of Aparigraha

Aparigraha is one of the five Yamas, within the 1st Limb of Yoga, that make up the 8 Limbs of Yoga and is another guideline helping us to enhance our relationship with the external world.

This Yama invites to let go and pack lightly during this journey through life, yet still caring and enjoying fully. Expectations can keep you captive and angry, so what can you detach from that causes you suffering?

Accumulation of anything, creates an issue of maintenance and this creates less time and freedom. What do you have to 'maintain' on a regular basis and how much time is it taking? What else could you be doing?

Forgiveness and acceptance for the moment is another powerful way to detach.

"The fewer attachments we carry with us, the more we are free to enjoy and engage and live every moment before us to its fullest. The more breath we let go of, the more room there is in our body for the fullness of the next inhalation. The more we generously share and give away, the more expansive and light we become. The journey of life is towards freedom." ~ Deborah Adele, The Yamas & Niyamas

How To Apply Apargraha to Your Practice & Life

ON the mat:

Letting go of any expectations about the practice, poses, teacher or others in the room
Detaching from how you think you should think or feel during practice
Releasing any aggressive physical movement and letting the breath guide you through poses
Reducing comparing yourself to others, the teacher or to a previous version of yourself
Loosen your grip on always challenging yourself physically and think about how the breath can challenge you mentally and emotionally
Allow yourself to find balance on your mat between effort and ease
Welcome the present moment and all the lessons and blessings
Let go of the goals on the mat and just practice, observe and witness the lessons

OFF the mat:

Developing generosity by giving to others, be it in the form of a prayer, a thought, a gesture, smile, or even material things.
Remember that you have enough and are enough in the present moment, reducing hoarding or gripping tightly to certain thoughts, words, actions and possessions because of fear
Focusing on spreading wealth and abundance to all and remembering the more we give the more we receive.
Everything we possess makes it harder for us to not want more. The invitation here is to let go of the need to always have more... this could be people, place, experiences, things or even expectations for our own lives or others.
Loosening your grip on how you think, feel, and what your life should look like
Loosening your grip on how others should be, think, act, and do.
When we attach to 'shoulds' it makes it difficult to continue to learn, grow and see the opportunities the present moment is offering, regardless of what its offering.

Benefits of Practicing Aparigraha

ACCESS TO HIGHER KNOWLEDGE: When you no longer attach to things, people, ideas tightly, you will feel more free. This shift in mind can give you a broader perspective.
GAIN SELF-RELIANCE: Non-attachment means less dependency on others. When we search for happiness outside of ourselves, it is only temporary.
GREATER ENJOYMENT IN LIFE: Being preoccupied collecting things, prevents us from living freely and lightly. Pay attention to how much you take in... stuff, ideas, news, people, responsibilities.
AN UNDERSTANDING OF IMPERMANENCE: The sooner we allow the idea of impermanence to sink in, the easier it is to detach. You will find yourself feeling lighter and less weighed down.
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: Try not to create attachments to anybody, including loved ones. Non-attachment will help you cultivate belonging without possession. You will find there is more love in freedom than in possession. All things, concepts, and people can enter, exist, and exit. They can do these things effortlessly without bondage or dependency. The natural flow of life makes it easier to breathe. And allows others to explore themselves while feeling unconditionally tethered to you. Allow unconditional love to seep into your life. It will provide you more freedom and peace than clinging on to something or someone.

Mantra and Active Meditation Technique for Aparigraha

Moh Mohiā Mantra to acknowledge the Divine Within. It is a mantra of Lord Vishnu. This mantra is also known as Asthakshari Mantra and first appeared in the 'Sama Veda'. The mantra helps us to cultivate Aparigraha to overcome attachment – to let go, be it mental or emotional attachment or attachment to people or material things.

Moh mohiā jānai ḏūr hai. Kaho Nānak saḏā haḏūr hai
Options include:

Sit or lay down and say or sing mantra silently or out loud.

Could wear Mala beads and move fingers along beads for each verse.

Listen HERE and sing with music

Conclusion

Practicing non-attachment helps you experience a greater sense of inner peace. By letting go of how we think things, people, situations 'should be' we allow life to be as it is in the moment, giving everything including us more fluidity and freedom.

We can also observe how we hold onto memories, prejudices, past hurts, events, or people. And by recognizing those tendencies, we can change them for the better. Notice how these attachments keep us from experiencing the present. Find your passion for life through simplicity and joy. Aparigraha inspires us to forgive and let go. It provides us a process of healing. It heals wounds whereas non-forgiveness keeps them open. If they are not serving you, they must be let go of.

Would you like to start embodying these amazing concepts to enhance your life and the lives around you?

Check out my 8 Limbs Yoga Tribe!

This is where you get access to weekly virtual classes, videos, discounts on in-person classes, events and retreats, community and support.