More on: Aparigraha, focus on breath

Aparigraha is translated as non-possessiveness, non-exploitation, not taking conscious advantage of another living being, non-hoarding and non-greed.

Most teachings of aparigraha focus on neutralizing the desire to acquire and hoard wealth: hoarding, being key. A more subtler aspect of Apargraha is the concept of non-attachment. As soon as we become attached to something, we close off other avenues of possibility and begin to exist in a very narrow field of focus.

One of Aparigrha's most practical applications is the practice of breathwork or pranayama. An example:Stop what you're doing for and hold your breath, right now. Hold it for a little bit longer. Now let it go.

You probably felt tense and edgy from that. Now, take a small inhale. Hold the breath a split second, and let it go completely.

Now, take a really long, super deep inhale. Hold the breath for 5. 4. 3. 2. 1....inhale just a sip of air more. And now, let it go.

Ahhh, now that felt great.

That is a quick example of the difference between being unconscious with our breath, and holding it (as most of us are apt to do under stress) and breathing consciously, which is so much more powerful

Remember, it's not really what we do (or don't do.) It's how we do it. It's being conscious in our actions.