True abundance begins when we stop taking what is not rightfully ours.
After practising Ahimsa, which teaches us to avoid causing harm, and Satya, which inspires us to live truthfully, Sage Patanjali introduces the third Yama—Asteya.
Asteya means not stealing. It is much more than refraining from taking another person’s belongings. It also means not taking someone else’s time, opportunities, ideas, trust, or credit unfairly. Asteya encourages us to live with honesty, gratitude, and contentment rather than comparison and greed.
When we practise Asteya:
- We respect the rights and efforts of others.
- We become free from jealousy and unhealthy competition.
- We develop integrity, self-respect, and inner contentment.
- We build relationships founded on trust and fairness.
At Sittha Viruthi Yoga, Asteya is not merely taught as a philosophy—it is cultivated as a way of life. Through self-awareness, disciplined living, and spiritual practice, participants gradually develop a mind that is content, grateful, and free from the urge to possess what belongs to others.