Asteya - Generosity

Even after all this time

the sun never says to the earth,

“you owe me.”

Look what happens with a love like that.

It lights the whole sky. ~ Hafiz of Shiraz

The other yama I have been working with this past six weeks has been Asteya - non-stealing or generosity. Just as Ahimsa stands for non-violence towards ourselves and others, Asteya must be practiced towards myself as well as outward.

 

When I find I am being generous with my time outwards, I must remember to be generous with time for myself.  If I'm not generous with myself, it may be harder to be generous outwards. This was a great combination with Bramacharya - Balance. It would have been easy for me to practice generosity outwards and forget that I have to give to myself as well. The more I give to myself the more I feel able to give to others. I find that when I'm not able to be generous in some way, I must check where I am being less than generous with myself rather than force myself to be generous for the sake of being generous. That would not be true generosity.

 

In Yoga, I'm reminded to be generous with all parts of my body and my breath in order to "be" in a pose. If I am over generous with energy or strength in one part of my body it will tire out and may cause injury there or another part that was being forgotten. Or at the very least for that body part to be a little cranky with me.

 

In sessions, I am reminded to not only give to my client, but to be sure that I give thought to how I use my body. When I take generous breaths for myself this allows them to do the same. When I am kind to my body and able to relax, they can also relax more.

 

In life, when I give, both to myself and to others without asking anything in return, we all benefit. My body is asking for lunch and a break from typing as I just finished another assignment before this. I will give that to myself before I prepare for my afternoon Hatha class and pack for my trip to Vermont for Midterm.

 

To you, I give love and a short video for your body... Lunch Yoga. Feel free to request other postures.

 

Core assets... generosity for self and others.