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Non-possessiveness - a universal framework
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He who takes the vow of non-possessiveness must be steadfast in setting the boundary of his possessions. One can set as ambitious a limit as one wishes. For example, you may own one mansion, but you can take a vow to restrict your ownership of property in the years to come to five or ten or even twenty mansions - but not more. Imagine that there is a poor man who has not even bread to eat. While establishing his boundary, he has the foresight to think that although at present he has nothing, he may earn some wealth in the future. Thinking thus, he establishes a boundary of striving to earn rupees one lakh only. He vows not to acquire beyond that. He has now restricted his desire, and his desire is equivalent to a drop in the ocean. From the unlimited wealth in this world, he establishes a boundary and becomes detached towards the rest of the wealth in this world. Such a man is said to be non-possessive.
When one realizes that possessiveness is the cause of restlessness and discord, he then adopts the vow of nonpossessiveness so that he may never tread the path of unnecessary accumulation. One who continues to think of accumulation even after adopting the vow has adopted it only to earn fame and position in society.
Once a vow is taken, it must make a tangible difference in one's life. The greed and restlessness that resides in the heart before adopting the vow must diminish after the vow is adopted. If not, the vow has failed to create any positive influence on his life. An Ācārya has said:
Possessiveness is the cause of violence, which in turn leads to the cycle of birth and death. 2
Man indulges in different kinds of sins only because of his possessiveness. Therefore, one who has become an aspirant and adopts the vow of icchā parimāņa must gradually reduce his possessiveness.
If attachment to possessions has not diminished from the
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sansāra-mülamārambhāsteṣām hetuh parigrahah tasmādupăsakaḥ kuryādalpamalpam parigrahe
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