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What is possessiveness?
Neither does he have to plan constantly on how to collect heaps of wealth to satisfy his needs. Therefore, one who is satisfied with his basic needs remains free - far from the clutches of possessions. Such a man may have fewer luxuries but he has the wealth of peace and contentment in abundance. Sankarācārya has praised such a person by saying that he who is content at all levels is a truly wealthy man. This is because he does not burn in the fire of dissatisfaction and discontentment. His mind is not obsessed with plotting and deceiving others for the purpose of filling his own coffers. Thus he leads a life full of peace.
Possessiveness is not just accumulation of unnecessary wealth and objects; it also includes the accumulation of insignificant thoughts. Gandhiji has remarked that one who crams his mind with insignificant knowledge is also possessive. Just as unnecessary objects cause clutter, so also useless and lowly thoughts clutter the mind and cause unrest. They give rise to perversions in life. Since objects of necessity and noble thoughts are the true wealth of man, an aspirant should keep his mind free of conflict and lust, and remain content in the lap of true happiness.
Let us now examine the definition of possessiveness. What is parigraha? The meaning of the word 'parigraha' is: to accumulate. From this viewpoint, not just wealth and comforts, but other essentials of life, including our very bodies and karmas fall under the purview of possessiveness. If to accumulate an object is possessiveness, a three-fold classification can be made regarding possessions:
1. body 2. karmas 3. upādhi (the means of enjoyment)
Now, let us examine the above classification. The body is a possession, which is acquired by the soul. There is not an instant when the soul is free of the living body. It is true that the physical body does not exist when the soul traverses from one form of existence to another, but the subtle bodies of fire and
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