The Fifth Yama: Aparigraha, Freedom from Greed and Desire

September 18,2008

Practicing Aparigraha means becoming aware of the endless craving and dissatisfaction of the egoic self and choosing to renounce it. The true Self needs nothing, is always profoundly fulfilled and content just resting in its true nature. The ego is always hungry, always feeling like something is missing, always in a state of dis-ease.

The part of you that thinks "if only had a bigger house, a better job, a loving relationship, a vacation in Costa Rica, a new car etc, etc……I will be happy" is the ego. For the ego, happiness is always that elusive state in the future and never now. It thrives on wanting. We all know that the moment one of our desires gets fulfilled, pretty soon we take it for granted and start wanting something else we don't have yet. Nothing outside of ourselves will ever make us happy for more than a few fleeting moments.

The whole of the Teachings of the Buddha rests on understanding the nature of desire and the human suffering it creates.

Practice renouncing unwholesome craving and feelings of dissatisfaction. Through meditation we can experience the perfection of our true nature, which is free from craving, deeply at ease and blissful.

Of course, some desires are wholesome or natural. To have a wholesome level of ambition, is a natural human experience. To want to study more, do your masters degree, have a job which is in line with your interests, to travel, etc. These are natural ambitions and as long as one doesn't think…."I need this to be fulfilled" these ambitions are not harmful. Also, there are many people on this planet who desire food and shelter, and do not have their basic human needs taken care of. These people understandably have a strong desire for these basic necessities, which is also natural. When contemplating Aparigraha, one has to make a distinction between the endless craving of the ego and natural wholesome ambitions and fundamental needs.

Niyamas

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