Not a word that would normally noodle into our everyday conversation, ‘covetous’ is one of those loaded terms, heavily weighted with religious nutso associations and lifestyle demands that seem to leave little left for living. It shows up in yogic philosophy, too, tagged onto the last of the yamas, or best-life behavioural tips, recorded by yoga philosophy powerhouse Patanjali (more on him below). It’s used in association with Aparigraha.


The yama Aparigraha can be understood as not getting a bunch of stuff just because we want it—i.e. we covet it.