Paint colors and Aparigraha or non attachment

The last of the five Yamas, or self restraints on the first limb of yoga is Aparigraha - directly translated to "non-grasping". I remember Jeff Scios of Powerflow often saying this was one of his favorites to think on. He admitted to having a propensity to buy multiple guitars, which is not in adherence to this yama. He called aparigraha, non-hoarding.

It can be applied to non-attachment as well, which I consider to be one of the most difficult concepts to internalize along the yogic path. I mean, as human beings we attach to things. We attach to people, places, favorite foods, and the list goes on.

I'm reading the Bhagavad Gita translated by Eknath Easwaran as a requirement for my teacher training program. In the Bhagavad Gita, Prince Arjuna is speaking with Sri Krishna about a wide range of spiritual topics. As Arjuna becomes lost on the battlefield - he and Krishna discuss the ethical dilemmas that face him and how to once again find the yogic path.

This text is so dense with material, I'm sure I will have to read it a few times in order to have even a cursory understanding of its meaning. Non attachment comes up a lot though.

A person who has no desire for sense gratification, who lives free of desires, who has given up all the sense for controls and proprietorship, and is egoless, can alone attain ultimate peace. (Gita 2.71)

The way I understand it, non attachment can apply to non-material or material possessions - the latter of which calls to mind the idea of hoarding or collecting "things". Krishna explains to Arjuna that these material things will prevent one from attaining peace. I am reminded of the Bible verse that says, 'it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God'. Seems like we have a basic agreement about worldly possessions interfering with inner peace.

A very simple example I recently observed happened at my beloved yoga studio in Clifton. The Powerflow Yoga studio recently underwent a slight makeover, a "spruce" if you will. New paint colors adorn the lobby, hallway, and main studio.

There was no shortage of opinions on this change. Granted, it hadn't been repainted for five years - so we'd had ample time to grow accustomed to the hues that were there so long. Gone was the deep reddish color. Or is it wine or burgundy? I'm not up on my paint chip nomenclature.

The new color - many voiced - impacted the way they felt the room. I heard more than one regular state adamantly for the record that he (or she - I'm not naming names) "hated" the new color.

Really? Hate?

What a small thing to attach to. Small in importance, yet large in the ability to simply enjoy a space that for all who visit there - provides sanctuary, community and the best of all - YOGA.

So if you want my advice, attach not to the temporary things of our human existence and the color of the walls will have little to no impact on you.

I do get it, though. I mean, I'm no aparigraha master when a favorite teacher leaves (it has happened to me a couple of times) but like the Pincha Mayurasana pose in the photo above, I'm working on it.