Maybe you know that there’s more to Yoga than sun salutations.  Maybe you’ve learned somewhere that there is a whole system, a whole science or philosophy, and that part of it includes Yamas or moral restraints that give the whole thing shape and the possibility of working.

One of these Yamas is Aparigraha. Greedlessness. Basically put, in order to attain real enlightenment, you might need to let go of some striving.

Think about it in your regular, physical Yoga practice. If everything is hard, if there is no sukha to balance your sthira– no ease to balance the strength, you may find yourself feeling like you’re pushing against a wall.  You may get to a certain depth in postures and either not go any further, or you may injure yourself.  Greedily pushing toward postures that are just out of reach can be dangerous.

Of course, you can take the same principle off the mat.  All work and no play can do more than make you a dull boy, right?  Get to the bottom of it and ask, “what’s all of that work for, anyway?” Money? Prestige? The maintenance of an identity that affords certain perks?

I realize that I’m writing from a fairly privileged perspective, that there are millions of people in the world who have to work unreasonable hours  for survival.  But I also know for sure that most of us could shift our priorities a little and feel a whole lot better.

How much do you need?  How much do you have that you could honestly do without?  If there is something that you feel you desperately want, what’s behind that? Just asking the questions, just allowing yourself the chance to explore the answers takes you a little closer to your true Self, a little farther from the part or version of yourself that is drawn to disparate thoughts, ideas, people and things.

And that may be plenty!

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