Aparigraha is the last yama, and is translated as non-greedy or non-coveting. When a person is not greedy of any possessions or needing worldly aspirations, then they can be happy and satisfied. This reminds me of a movie we just put on this evening called "The God's must be Crazy". It is a film of a tribal culture in Africa who lives simply but then a coke bottle gets thrown out of a plane by a pilot, and the whole village starts to desire this object because it is unlike anything they have seen before. This leads to everybody desiring the object, therefore leading to arguing and unhappiness, so one guy has to go on a mission to throw it off the edge of the earth.

On the flip side of this, is to recognise abundance and blessings. By recognising blessings, we gain insight into the purpose of our existence. If we feel that the world's riches are limited, that initiates fear, which lessons joys, and then our hopes and dreams will shrink to those proportions.

Greed is like a hungry ghost, and when it is unchecked, it shows up as an insatiable yearning and feeling unfulfilled. Even if this particular moment right now is not painful or irritating, there sometimes is this background feeling that is wanting something to be different, or wanting more or less of something. I notice that in myself when I am constantly changing the temperature in the car and the volume of the music and the song I'm listening to. It's a slight dissatisfaction, and a greed for something slightly different. I also remember being on a gorgeous beach in Thailand, reading a book under a tree, and thinking to myself, where will I go next? As if that moment wasn't offering me enough of something, which is ridiculous because it had nothing to do with being in a shitty situation that I needed to get out of. It was a wonderful situation where my mind wanted more.

Appreciation and gratitude brings abundance regardless of circumstances. Like when your camping, and its rainy, and your tent and belongings are soaked, and you ate all your food except for your cheese which is soggy in the bottom of the eski. Regardless of this, you think, damn I'm lucky to be on this great camping trip with a few inconveniences, but the beautiful damp mornings are worth it! Affirming the abundance brings the wellspring of inexhaustible opportunities.

This is a practiced attitude of trust and openness. This could be the subtlest yama and hardest to master. Maybe you don't covet material possessions, but perhaps its particular experiences, or even rigidity of thought. Holding onto thoughts are like possessions in a way, and opinions can create walls. Not needing to possess anything is freeing for the mind. They say that for the richer you are, do you own your possessions or do they own you? That is so true in our culture.

I used to like the term "time-poor" because I could really relate. But I noticed that I wasn't actually time-poor, I was just not present. When you're present, time is completely abundant.

We know that our cravings and desires causes suffering. If we can approach our life, even amidst stress, struggles and frustration, with open curiosity, then there is an abundance of resources to draw upon inside.

Reflect:

Where does fear constrict and limit your ability to practice gratitude?

What are your greedy tendencies?

How can you show/feel/practice gratitude right now?