Non-possessiveness is the key to health🔗

January 4, 2011

Let me explain the word aparigraha, non-possessiveness. Usually all the orthodox translators translate aparigraha as not possessing the external worldly things. But I am translating non-possessiveness as not possessing anything which is not you. Start with the external objects like luxury items.

The outermost layer is luxury items, like too many cars which you don't use in your day-to-day life. Maybe I can give an understanding. When you first start, give away anything which you have not used for more than one year. Then, after you are settled comfortably in this aparigraha, give away anything which you have not used for the last six months. After settling down comfortably in this aparigraha, then whenever anyone asks you for whatever you have, give it away. Then go to the next level – whatever you don't feel as you, give it up. Then, whenever you feel that even your body and mind is not you, decide to give it away.

Maybe for three or four seconds, you may feel that you are not the body, with the understanding of atma vichara or the ability of unclutching. Then, in those three or four seconds, you can be non-possessive of your body. Maybe for two or three seconds, you will be able to feel you are not the mind, just by unclutching or the atma vichara gnana, which is understanding that I am not. In those few seconds, give up your mind. Be non- possessive.

Understand, if you are non-possessive of your body for a few moments, suddenly, it will alter itself and

align itself with the cosmos. It is you who is holding your body in the battered, damaged condition continuously by sitting on it.

Non-possessiveness, aparigraha, is responsible for the wellness of your body. It will suddenly align itself. Maybe it is too new for a modern man’s mind to comprehend because from the beginning, you are taught that if you possess your body and chisel it, it will experience wellness. I am telling you, for the ultimate yoga, just be non-possessive of the body.

It is great if you can bend your body, chisel it, do one hundred and eight Surya Namaskar, weight-lifting, and everything. If you feel you can’t, for that one hour renounce your body. Not by sleeping! Sleeping is not renunciation. Be in wakeful aparigraha, being non-possessive.

The first thing that will happen with being non-possessive of your body is, your digestion system will become so peaceful. How to find out whether you are non-possessive? In two minutes, your digestion system will release and excrete. For example, if you have been non-possessive of your body for more than twenty seconds within twenty minutes, your body will excrete. These are all the hatha yoga secrets. Actually, if you have the intense unclutching, you will suddenly see that the stomach is completely emptying itself and you feel like going to the bathroom. After the cleaning, when you come back and sit, a non-understandable wellness will be going on inside your body. This is one of the symptoms, because possessiveness of the body is directly connected to the digestion system. Anybody who has a problem with the liver and digestion system will be completely healed by the practice of non-possessiveness.

Possessiveness is like a blanket you put on your body. The moment you put the possessiveness blanket on your body, it means you possess your body. Then if you have any problem, your body will be caught in that problem. Your body is bolted in that problem.

You hold on to disease because of your possessiveness of your body. Have courage and lift the blanket of possessiveness. Suddenly, the body will align itself. A new kind of health, a new feeling-connection, a new settled feeling, a new joy and a new wellness will happen. You will understand the meaning of the word ‘wellness’ when you stop possessing your body.