Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह, in Sanskrit) is a concept that refers to non-possession. Often translated as detachment or non-greed, it is the last yama of Patanjali’s eight steps or sutras of yoga.
The yamas are a kind of universal moral rules that apply to both people and society, to live better with ourselves, with the others and with the world around us.
Apariraja, as it is also known, invites us to take only what we need, keep only what serves us and, above all, let go at the right time, when we no longer need it.
The main obstacle to letting go
We live in the “society of more”, a culture obsessed with possessions that only contemplates addition. This generates great anxiety and forces us to work exhausting days to buy things that we don’t even have the time to enjoy.
Therefore, one of the biggest obstacles to practicing aparigraha is attachment, the inability to let go of the things we have accumulated or the relationships we have established. When we leave something behind, we often experience a kind of vertigo. We have the sensation of being suspended in the air, as if we had one foot on the precipice.
That feeling makes us feel uncomfortable. We dislike not having our feet on solid ground, a security that often comes from things and relationships. For this reason, and because we have identified ourselves too much with the things and relationships we establish, it is so difficult for us to practice aparigraha and let go of everything we do not need.
The fear of the uncertain
We don’t like to get rid of the past without having solid ground ahead. We find it difficult to deal with uncertainty, but if we want to practice aparigraha we must prepare to leave the past behind and move forward into what the future holds. We cannot retain and receive at the same time.
For example, if we have a small house and we want to enjoy a new sofa because the old one is falling apart, we need to get rid of it. Of course, we may have become attached to that old sofa and it may even have our shape, but until it leaves the house we will not be able to have a more comfortable and solid sofa on which we will build new experiences.
That sofa is a metaphor. Aparigraha warns us that if we do not get rid of what we do not need, we will not have room for the new things that life brings us and can bring us more happiness, wisdom or satisfaction. Furthermore, if we tie ourselves to outdated things or relationships, we will not be able to experience that incredible feeling of freedom that implies leaving behind what binds us because it has lost its reason for being.
Aparigraha, the ability to immerse yourself in the flow of life
The virtue of aparigraha lies in the fact that, on the one hand, it encourages us to take only what is necessary. Nothing else. This helps us get rid of the need to have more and more, with the consequent stress that this generates. It frees us from the power that possessions end up exerting over us.
On the other hand, it motivates us not to retain and even let go of what we do not need. It frees us from material ties and the tendency to cling to relationships that hurt or block us. When we assume that attitude, we live each moment more fully.
Letting go allows us to open ourselves to new opportunities, but it also teaches us that happiness depends on ourselves. It also teaches us that we don’t need a thousand and one things to feel happy or satisfied with our lives.
This continuous flow also helps us understand the concept of impermanence. It allows us to accept uncertainty as part of the world, so we take nothing more for granted than the present moment.
However, aparigraha does not only apply to possessions or relationships, but also to our expectations, thoughts, and goals. It teaches us not to hold on to rancor or resentment, to let go of negative thoughts and anger, as well as the goals that obsess and consume us but that have lost their original meaning. Holding on to that only creates a mental prison that prevents us from taking advantage of all the other wonders of the world.
As a result, the practice of aparigraha leads to a simpler life. It encourages us to focus on the here and now, retaining only what we need and letting go of everything unnecessary. This frees us from many useless and inconsequential things so we can dedicate our energy and time to what really brings us inner peace, well-being and balance.
