We’ve spent the past six weeks exploring the Yamas and we have now come to the Niyamas. The Yamas alone will keep you busy with how you conduct yourself in society, but equally important and challenging is how you treat yourself, body and mind, when you’re alone. This is where the Niyamas come in.
There are also 5 Niyamas in this second limb of the Eightfold Path and they are: Read the rest of this post»
Since parigraha is Sanskrit for hoarding, aparigraha, is the antithesis of that – the abstention of hoarding. John Philp defines it as the abstention from possessiveness, greed, selfishness, and acquisitiveness. Examples of aparigraha are: eating food that has been acquired justly and consuming only what’s essential for healthy survival (i.e. eat organic and don’t overeat), getting fewer clothes without regard to the whims of fashion or going without a car and walking to work. Aparigraha can also extend to more subtle energies such as restraining one’s hunger for power, status, and bliss. This concept is present in many philosophies or religions (in Buddhism it’s known as non-attachment) because possessions are seen as an obstacle to liberation. In simple terms, how many times did the t.v., telephone, computer, cell phone, or books (yes, even spiritual ones) get in the way of your Yoga or meditation practice?
