Asteya: Non-Stealing in All Aspects of Life
Asteya: The Yogic Principle of Non-Stealing
In Yoga philosophy, the Yamas are ethical guidelines that form the foundation of how we relate to the world and others. These principles, outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, are a crucial part of the path to inner peace, wisdom, and compassion. One of these guiding principles is Asteya, which translates to non-stealing.
In the context of yoga, wisdom, and compassion, Asteya doesn’t just mean not taking things that don’t belong to us—it’s an ethical principle that extends into many aspects of our lives. It’s an invitation to cultivate respect, honesty, and integrity in our interactions with others and with the world around us.
Stealing Ideas and Intellectual Property:
In today's fast-paced, highly connected world, it's all too easy for ideas to be appropriated without acknowledgment. Your thoughts and creations are a reflection of your time, energy, and unique perspective. Asteya teaches us to honour others' intellectual work by not stealing their ideas. This means offering credit where it’s due, supporting the efforts of fellow creators, and ensuring that your contributions are genuine and original.
Respecting Time:
Time is one of our most precious resources. This could manifest in the form of constantly being late to, overburdening others with your responsibilities, or taking advantage of someone’s willingness to help. Asteya encourages us to be mindful of how we ask for others’ time and attention, and to be as considerate and respectful as possible when we need support or collaboration.
Emotional Space and Energy:
Non-stealing also includes the emotional energy we exchange with others. Just as we wouldn’t take someone’s physical belongings without permission, we should also refrain from taking emotional energy without consideration. This could be seen in situations where we drain others emotionally without giving anything back, or when we expect people to sacrifice their well-being for our own gain. True respect for others means recognising their emotional needs and boundaries, and ensuring that we are not taking more than we’re giving in our relationships.
Material Resources and the Earth:
Asteya extends to the way we interact with the natural world. This includes how we use resources, whether it's the environment, the products we consume, or the physical space we occupy. Taking more than we need, over-consuming, and contributing to waste are all forms of “stealing” from the earth and future generations. Practising Asteya encourages us to be mindful of how we use resources and to live in harmony with the planet, taking only what is necessary and being conscious of sustainability.
Respecting the Self:
Finally, Asteya calls us to practise non-stealing of our own potential. How often do we steal from ourselves by not honouring our true capabilities or denying ourselves the time and space to grow and learn? We might self-sabotage, feel unworthy of success, or hold back from pursuing our passions due to fear of failure. By practising Asteya, we allow ourselves the freedom to step into our full potential, knowing that we deserve the opportunities we are working toward.
In all these areas, Asteya teaches us to live with awareness and respect, making sure that we don’t take more than what is rightfully ours. It reminds us that everything is interconnected, and by stealing from others—whether physically, emotionally, or intellectually—we could be harming others and showing a lack of respect and compassion. By embodying Asteya, we move toward a life of integrity, respect, and mindfulness, creating a space where we and those around us can thrive.
The true practice of Asteya asks us to consider: Are we truly honouring the people and things around us? Are we giving back as much as we take, or are we unknowingly taking more than what’s fair?
I will soon be writing a blog about asserting boundaries and protecting what we share with others to extend on this subject more deeply…
Namaste!
Kim xxx