The Yamas series - Asteya

The third of the Yamas, Asteya, focuses on non-stealing. This is beyond thinking of stealing physical things (which we shouldn’t be doing anyway!), it’s about how we focus our energy, attention or resources, so stealing can come in many forms - stealing from ourselves, others, the earth and environment. 

When we feel unsure of ourselves, or put demands and expectations on ourselves, we steal from our own enthusiasm and capabilities. In the Western world, achievements and possessions are so often linked with our identity. Can we break this cycle by living generously and with gratitude? When we compare ourselves unfavourably to others we steal from our own accomplishments.

What about our personal boundaries; are we allowing others to steal our energy and emotions? Do we find ourselves agreeing to do things we don’t want to, or agreeing with opinions we don’t share to keep the peace or avoid upsetting someone? Aside from letting someone steal from us, this also isn’t treating ourselves kindly and with ahimsa.

One thing I’ve realised about myself is that away from the mat, or outside mindfulness practice, I’m not always giving the task at hand my full attention - both stealing from myself and stealing from others. I think being mindful in everyday life can help a lot with working with asteya. If we can take our time, focus on the present, and respond rather than react then we are going a long way to non-stealing.

Over the last fortnight, many of us have faced a challenge specific to these times. Like many people, due to the lockdown in London I didn’t have the family Christmas we had planned and in fact I spent 10 days in isolation due to a close contact testing positive for Covid. I’ve been working with asteya to consider if Christmas was really stolen.

I think the key aspect here is that if you are looking forward to something and it’s denied you then you are hurt. It feels like something has been stolen from you, when actually under the circumstances, perhaps a family Christmas wasn’t something that could be promised in the first place. But it’s difficult and the challenge is to practise gratitude from a place of hurt and disappointment to see beyond the pain and fear to a place of keeping the family safe, spending time hibernating with jigsaws to do, to a Christmas unlike any other, or perhaps to experiencing a Summer Christmas later on in the year.

More information

Deborah Adele (2009), The Yamas and Niyamas, Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice

Rachel Bonkirk (2020), Flex your mind, 10 powerful Yoga principles for less stress in a busy world.