The third yama is called Asteya, which translates as non-stealing. Maybe we can also consider this to be generosity or availability.

An obvious example is to not steal what doesn't belong to you or not taking what is not needed, which we are probably all guilty of in our culture of consumerism and excess. We try to live by this principle so that there are no desires to attach to. I remember living in my little bubble in the hills for a long time and then finally going into the city for something, with no other desire in the world, but as soon as I saw all the sales and the display windows of the shops, I felt like I needed what was being sold. I would not even think about stealing the items, but perhaps I've desired for something what isn't needed an in a way that is stealing from my state of being previously content with what I already have.

What other ways might we steal? How about stealing someones time, or their space, their energy, or claiming recognition for something that belongs to someone else. Perhaps stealing might also mean leaving a job for someone else to do because you can't be bothered (definitely guilty of that many times over). We do all of these things for self-serving motives, or a fear of a perceived lack.

We can flip this translation into a positive way with the word generosity. Abundance and generosity are tied together. Abundance is a by-product of generosity. In generosity, we seek to serve with our skills, our energy, our time, our money, our patience, our love, or whatever else that you can. It does not come from an ego reward or a sense of pride, but from the pure genuine delight of giving. Our intention matters in the way that we give. The joy of giving IS the fruit of good intentions.

Maybe you are an expert in giving to others. But do you steal from your own self-care needs because of giving to others? Put your own safety mask on before attending to another (I'm sure you have seen the airplane safety video back when we used to be allowed to fly). Generosity is also about giving to yourself, listening to what you need and paying the respect to yourself that you deserve. Self-care to me is the most generous thing because I have so much more energy for others when I recharge my own batteries in the way that I know I need to.

In generosity, a prosperous heart is nurtured and more opportunities become apparent. An abundant viewpoint rather than one of lack means that you have the reserves to share because there is always more where it comes from. When we live in a scarcity viewpoint, we feel like we need to take more (like the toilet paper issues of the lockdown). So to close, if you don't actually physically steal, what behaviours do you engage in that are stealing behaviours?

Reflect:

How can you be more generous? With time, work, service, money, attentiveness, material items, availability...?

How or what do you steal from others?

Which thoughts or behaviours or people steal your energy?