Of course asteya means not stealing money or objects, but it can also mean not appropriating other people’s ideas and calling them your own, not stealing away someone’s affections when you have no intention of reciprocating, or even not taking advantage of someone’s generosity. So much of this, the wise old yogis say, happens when you feel insecure, lonely, or fearful. That’s when you may try to fill the void by pretending to be someone you’re not, hoping to gain the attention and approval of others. You steal from yourself when you minimize your own troubles, shaking them off as no big deal;
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