Let's enjoy our life - Aparigraha

In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali laid out the yamas (things to avoid, codes of self restraint, moral restraints) and niyamas (things to observe, observances)

One of the yamas is aparigraha, which means

1. abstaining from attachment or

2. greedlessness, non-greediness or

3. not having unnecessary things around our self and not longing for what other people have or

4. avoid the accumulation of unnecessary possessions or

5. keeping only what you need and wanting only what you need

Each time we buy a new article, we feel happy, but after few hours or days the emptiness come back and then we buy something else.

We buy new clothes and more clothes, shoes and more shoes, furniture and more furniture.

Consciously focus on what is good for us.

Consciously avoid the accumulation of unnecessary possessions.

When we go to a tourist place, even though we are very tired, we hop from one place to another to have a photo shot to show to our friends and relatives that we have been to such and such spots at the tourist place. We make our vacation tour into another stressed and tiring activity. Actually vacation tour are to relax ourselves.

Sometimes we do not feel like going to a movie, but we go to see the movie, so that our friends and relatives may not say that "What!! you have not seen this movie".

Some countries are at war with other countries as they need more and more gasoline and petrol for more and more big cars and private jets.

We destroy environment with our own excess consumption and than talk about Global Warming.

Due to wrong and excess consumption of ideas and living style, we are unable to pursue things which we love to do.

The desire for wrong and excess consumption causes unhappiness.

Due to wrong and excess consumption and accumulation of unnecessasy possessions, we have to work long hours, leaving less time for what we really enjoy.

If we reduce our desire for wrong and excess consumption, we can lead more satisfying lives.

Buy consciously.

Conscious buying would lead you to eat better and healthy food, wear better and comfortable clothes, give you more time to enjoy your life, will de-clutter your life.

Rajesh