Aparigraha the Humane Solution

Author(s): Kamla Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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APARIGRAHA - THE HUMANE SOLUTION
is quite acceptable in the context of Yoga system of Patañjali; as nonacceptance of gifts is the basic attitude and a definite move to curb the desire for possessions at a time when in Brahamanical tradition, the giving gifts to and accepting gifts by Brahamaņas was a regular practice. This translation appears more in tune with the Brahmanical trend and also, throws light on the new trend emerging in Brahmanical thought as a confluence of Brahmanical and Sramanical thought. The Sramanical systems especially of the Jainas highlight the subtle, abstract features of aparigraha that are related to the individual mental state rather than just to the social system, ie. the internal and subjective aspects of aprigraha and not only the external or behavioural.Non-acceptance of gifts as parigraha in the Patañjala-yoga system means non-possession or nonattachment for something which is not one's own. This moral principle, therefore, obviously discourages the custom of acceptance of gifts prevalent in the Brahmanical system. Another noticeable point is that Pātañjala Sūtras seem to question the supremacy of one of the three cardinal virtues i.e dāna, and appear to take the individual on an inward journey by establishing the supremacy of Yoga. For a yogin, acceptance of gifts would be more of a hindrance than a help, for him, the right path begins with avoidance of acceptance of gifts. In this sense it means nonpossession or non-attachment to possessions.
Vyāsa in his commentary on Pātañjala Sūtras says : ‘Abstinence from acceptance of gifts is abstinence from appropriating objects, because one sees the disadvantages of acquiring them, keeping them, losing them or in being attached to them or in having them'.' The same idea is elaborated in Vācaspati Miśra's explanation. He says : 'Since passions increase because of the application to the enjoyments, the skill of the organs also increases. Although obtained without effort, objects, if unauthorised, have disadvantages when one acquires them, since the acquisition of such things is censured. And even authorised objects, when acquired, are evidently disadvantageous because they are needed to be looked after etc. Therefore, abstinence from acceptance of gifts is the refusal to appropriate them'. (Vācaspati Miśra's explanation of the same). 1. Patañjala Yoga Sūtra - Vyāsa's commentary 2, 30.