I'm Engaged...Now What: Yoga Philosophy, Asteya (Non-stealing)
When exploring yoga, one moves from the grosser to the more subtle level. Most people couldn't fathom stealing at the grosser level, like a car or from a store. Where, then, does the line blur between what is acceptable to steal and what is not? For example, how often do you begin a conversation on the telephone with "Do you have a minute?" or do you launch into a full assault on how terrible your day was? Asteya asks us to be mindful of others possessions, time, natural resources, etc.
Hosting an eco-friendly or green wedding is one way to practice asteya as you are trying to minimize your impact on mother nature. Another way to incorporate asteya into your wedding is by registering for gifts with a fair trade company such as Ten Thousand Villages or Global Exchange. Fair Trade means workers will be compensated fairly for their wages. In China, workers are paid, on average $.12 to $.14 cents per hour. Another way to practice asteya is by providing fair trade or eco-friendly wedding favors. The company plantamemory.com offers seeds & saplings (a gesture to give back to mother nature rather than taking from her) while terrasourcechocolates.com offers fair trade gourmet chocolates.
Asteya reminds us how interconnected we are. If we are to steal, it not only harms another (which violates the first yama, ahimsa) it ultimately harms ourselves. A wedding is a celebration of the union between two people. It can also be an opportunity to show your commitment to others less fortunate, but equally deserving, and mother nature.
Love & Light,
Carrie
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