at is not yours, to use something only the way it is supposed to be used or the way it is permitted to be used. Therefore, Asteya requires lack of greed. Wishing obsessively to have something that somebody else has, even it is necessary or valuable for us, leads to lack of balance and unhappiness. If somebody obsessively wants something that belongs to another person and takes it, he is a thief. If he does not take it, then he is not a thief, but he doesn’t follow Asteya either. Asteya is when you do not take as well as do not desire something valuble that belongs to another person. Asteya also requires cultivating an ability to be happy for other people and this is how I try incorporate into my life. Instead of getting jealous or envious of a person whose accomplishments or possessions are superior to mine, I try to accept my shortcomings, suppress my pride, and feel genuinely happy for the other person’s achievements or possessions. For example, when my friend Shruti achieved a perfect score of 1600 on her SATs, I was very envious of her. I greatly wished that I had her gift and level of intelligence even though her score was only one hundred points higher than mine and my score still something to feel proud of. However, I soon came to realize that such covetousness and envy were producing feelings of bitterness towards my friend rather than genuine love. By releasing my feelings of want and jealousy, I have come to a sense of satisfaction with myself and true happiness for her.The fourth yama is Bramacharya, whose translation from Sanskrit is moderation in all things. This yama guides us by telling us to practice self-control and restraint. It emphasizes that by avoiding excess and squandering along with not allowing one single thing to dominate our lives, we can remain focused on our goals and be at peace with ourselves. This does not mean that we can not enjoy little pleasures in life. Rather it tells us ...
