´The more you fly from nature, the more she follows you, and if you do not care for her at all, she becomes your servant. ´ Patanjali Sutras 2:27 I am of the opinion that every guideline, practice and ethical rule was carefully selected by Patanjali and placed within the Yoga sutras to help us increase our perception of freedom so that we experience greater happiness and joy in BEING. One of these ethical practices outlined in the Yoga Sutras to help us achieve that is Aparigraha- non attachment. With all the chaos, loss and uncertainty surrounding COVID 19, now more than ever, the ancient practice of Aparigraha (Non- Attachment) is fundamental to our psychological and physical wellbeing. Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह) : Non – Attachment ´That effort, which comes to those who have given up their thirst after objects either seen or heard, and which wills to control the objects, is non-attachment.´ Patanjali Sutras 1:15. Aparigraha or non–attachment is the last Yama in Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga. Aparigraha is the yogic injunction for non-possessing, non-grasping. It is the negation of Parigraha (परिग्रह): taking possession or holding onto things. It is giving up the notion of mine-ness in everything and for that reason is also translated as generosity. Perception of Freedom As expounded upon in previous blog posts the perception that we are in control of our own life experience is fundamental to our levels of life satisfaction and joy. Humans beings who feel trapped and unable to make their own decisions, just like any other animal in captivity, suffer not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Loss Aversion ´Attachment is that which dwells on pleasure. Aversion is that which dwells on pain ´ Patanjali Sutras 2:7-8 Loss aversion is a psychological term used to describe the perspectives and actions we take to avoid the loss of some object, ideal and/or identity. According to Kahneman and Tversky (1979) if we lose something that we define as OURS than we suffer twice as much than if we lose the something that we never claimed ownership to. This is not limited to physical objects. Many of us lay claim various identities or ideals and get very upset if they are threatened or questioned. What is more, the more we have suffered or invested in achieving said object, identity or idea, the more averse we are to letting it go. Freedom from Loss The psychological result of grasping onto objects, relationships or identities results in suffering as our aversion to loss to any or all of the above, especially if we have invested a lot of time or money, results in a decrease in the perception of freedom. Fear of loss controls us rather than freedom of choice. Patanjali observed that practicing the art of Aparigraha provides a way out from such a circumstance. By freeing ourselves from the fear of loss we gain greater control over our life experience. With nothing to lose, the world becomes a playground of limitless possibilities. —————————— Trauma ¨The child is instinctively afraid because the past experience of pain is there…these feelings (fear, anger, hate etc.) have to be controlled in the germ, the root, in their fine forms even before we have become conscious that they are acting on us. Then alone will we be able to burn out their very seed…the ability to detach ourselves from our thoughts is the only way to freedom (2:9/1:15) According to researchers Dr. Von der Kolk and Dr. Peter Levine trauma results from the incapacity to be able to respond to a threat by either fighting or running away . The nervous system response to the incapacity to fight off or escape a possible threat is to freeze. This results in a state of paralysis and disassociation from the body. Trauma is often viewed as something physical that is experienced but it can also result from abandonment, group exclusion and loss. This is because, from an evolutionary perspective, in the wild, without the protection of the group, a lone human is very vulnerable to attack and death. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) results when the perception of control and safety is taken away and then revisited again and again through memories, nightmares and bodily tension. Trauma and Aparigraha Yoga has been proven to be very effective in releasing and healing trauma. It is though the practice of Aparigraha we can learn how to nullify the very chemically stress responses of trauma and stress before they even begin. Instead of getting defensive, anxious or shutting down emotionally when we are faced with the possibility of losing something or someone, we are able to short circuit the usual biological defense response by remember it was never ours to begin with. This allows us to respond with compassion and logic rather than with fear and ego. In the middle of a storm, Aparigraha allows us to remain still in contemplative observation. Aparigraha, Karma and relationships ´Work incessantly but give up all attachment to work. Do not identify yourself with anything. Hold your mind free. Misery comes through attachment, not through work´(1.2.7 Karma) The law of Karma (work/action) dictates that the energy, intention and action you put out moves in an eternal loop to come right back to the you. The erroneous interpretation of this work/action loop is that the subject benefiting or receiving said action is somehow obligated to return the favor to the supplier. This erróneas interpretation, especially in relationships, is the root cause for all kinds of suffering and unhappiness. The attachment (Aparigraha) to various codes of behavior and expectations makes our happiness and satisfaction dependent upon the response of others. The practice of non-attachment to the result of our actions (karma) offers us a way out of bondage from these relational expectations. Confirming this theory, various psychological investigations have shown that when we do selfless acts of kindness, our levels of well being increase and are longer lasting then when we act WITH the expectation of compensation. Aparigraha, the soul and death
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