Asteya: Non Stealing

Asteya is the third of the Yamas, following Satya. Asteya means non-stealing. Asteya is the opposite-to take nothing that does not belong to us. Lack of gratitude can fuel an unhealthy desire for things that we don't currently have, such as name brand clothes, or the most supped up car.

The need to steal essentially arises because of the lack of faith in ourselves to be able to create what we need by ourselves. The moment we feel a sense of "lack" in life; desire, want and greed emerge. This steals our own contentment away from the things that we have now that are bringing purpose and happiness to our life.

Woodcutter and his axe

The Story of woodcutter shows that how a woodcutter's non-stealing attitude makes him rich.

Kalidas was a humble woodcutter. He was living in a village named Udayapur. The village was near by a dense forest. All the villagers were depending upon the forest for their livelihood. Kalidas was going regularly to collect firewood. He was selling the wood in the near-by market. With that little earning he was managing his family.

Like usual routine, one day he had gone to the forest to collect the firewood. He was cutting a tree near the river and misfortune struck him on that day. His axe slipped away from his hand and was lost in the river. He was a poor woodcutter and he had only one axe. On that day he lost his only axe in the river.

Thinking about the future he started weeping. His crying was so intense that it disturbed the water goddess. The river goddess came in front of  Kalidas and asked the reason for his crying. Kalidas explained everything in detail to the river goddess. After listening to everything the water goddess plunged into the river.

After a while she came out from the water with a golden axe. She showed the golden axe to Kalidas and asked "Is it yours?" Kalidas examined the golden axe and said "No my lord, it’s not mine."

Keeping the axe aside, the river goddess plunged into the river a second time. This time she came with a silver axe. She showed the silver axe to Kalidas and asked again "Is it yours?" Kalidas examined the axe again and said "It is not mine. I am a poor woodcutter. How can I own a golden or silver axe! I have only an iron axe."

Listening to this the river goddess plunged once again inside the river. This time she came back with the iron axe of Kalidas. When Kalidas saw his axe he became very happy. He showed his gratefulness and respect to the river goddess.

Seeing the honesty of Kalidas the river goddess gave the golden and silver axe as a gift to him with his original iron axe.

Conclusion

Woodcutter who followed the attitude of non-stealing got a boon from God.

Thief and Merchant

A diamond thief who stole only the most precious gems spotted a well-known diamond merchant purchasing the most beautiful diamond and decided to steal it. He started following the merchant catching a train, and shared a compartment with him for three days.

He spent his entire time, trying to find the diamond, but despite all his endeavors he failed to locate it. When the train reached its destination the thief, restless in his incapacity, could not contain himself and told the merchant the truth; "Sir, I've been following you everywhere for the last three days trying to find the rare gem you purchased. But to my despair I have not been able to get my hand on it. Please tell me where you hide it and put me out of my misery!"

The merchant said: "When I first saw you, I suspected you were a pickpocket and so hide the gem where I thought you'd never look-in your own pocket!" And with that he reached into the thief's pocket and brought out the amazing gem which was in the thief's possession all along.

Conclusion

The above story of the thief and merchant shows that whatever we want to steal and are desperately seeking, is in our own pocket. All we have to do is look!