Asteya

Asteya (Non-Stealing) is a vital virtue mentioned in Hinduism texts as well as Jainism. Asteya refers to a quality of being non-stealing of one’s thought, speech, and act. Asteya or non-stealing is a must for a yogin. The tendency for stealing is innate in the subtle body. A yogin has to work with himself to eliminate it. This requires vigilance. Asteya means non-stealing. Asteya means not taking anything that rightfully belongs to others. Stealing can hurt others monetarily and emotionally. It can be considered as a kind of violence and hence violates the first principle of dharma, i.e., Ahimsa. Life is about to give and take. If one unduly or deliberately takes more than what one gives, then also, it can be termed as Asteya. Cheating, fraud, piracy, etc. are all various types of stealing. In the practice of Asteya, one should take only what one earns for himself. Even if a resource is free (like nature) one should take only what one needs and should never covet what is rightfully claimed by another. One can also notice that the Yamas are extensively covered by our legal systems. Our legal systems, no matter which country we belong to, are aimed at the protection of the citizens from the violation of these ethical principles.