Yoga_and_Total_Health_July_2017

(^18) YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • July 2017
the village. Everybody gave something
and left the place. One very old, poor
looking lady, walking with a stick, came
to Swamiji (who thought this old lady
may ask for some money from him)
and said, “I also want to contribute
something in kind. Can I do that?”
“Why not?” said Swamiji.
“Please call the Sarpanch (Head of
town). I want to donate in his presence,”
the lady requested.
The Sarpanch was called. The old lady
said, “I have two fertile fields, where
grains are grown. I don’t need two, I
am donating one to a needy person. I
stay in a small hut where there are two
rooms, one poor person can stay with
me. I have four goats with me. I am
donating two of them. Lastly, when I
die, my field, goat and hut may be given
to deserving poor persons.”
After donating all the above, the poor
old lady went away, leaving Swamiji and
the Sarpanch dumbstruck. This is called
Aparigraha or non-possessiveness.

Simplifying Aparigraha and Karuna

Vikram Trivedi

Aparigraha

Aparigraha is one of the Yamas (Yama

is the first step in ‘Ashtanga Yoga’ or the

eight limbs of yoga. Yama deals mostly

with our external ethical behavior -

ethical restraints (or don’ts) that a

spiritual practitioner must follow).

Aparigraha means non-accumulation

of unwanted things; neutralizing the

desire to acquire and hoard wealth. Yoga

feels that the collection or hoarding of

things implies a lack of faith in God

and in the individual himself to provide

for his future.

This story on Aparigraha is about an

old lady who lived in a small town in

Saurashtra, a part of Gujarat. One day

a Swamiji, who was a regular visitor to

the town, came there and conducted

Bhagawat Saptah for a week. Many

people attended the religious discourse.

On the last day when the Bhagawat

Saptah got over, Swamiji asked the

devotees to contribute generously for

a noble cause. The money collected

would be used for construction of

wells, building roads and a school for