Practicing non-stealing in logic by ensuring all mathematical conclusions arise legitimately from premises without hidden assumptions.
Asteya—non-stealing, or taking only what is rightfully earned—extends beyond physical property in Patanjali's yoga ethics. Applied to mathematics, asteya means refusing to steal intellectual shortcuts or accept conclusions unearned from proper reasoning. Every mathematical claim must be fully justified; no conclusion should be assumed without rigorous derivation. This ethical principle prevents logical fallacies, hidden assumptions, and false shortcuts that compromise the integrity of mathematical language as universal truth. A mathematician practicing asteya respects the inherent structure of problems and doesn't impose artificial solutions. This honesty aligns mathematical practice with universal principles rather than personal convenience. When we honor asteya in reasoning, we acknowledge that mathematical truth belongs to reality itself—we are merely discovering it, never inventing it. This ethical dimension elevates mathematics from technique to spiritual practice, where integrity of thought becomes a path to accessing universal understanding.
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