Ahimsa…

Hello all,
    Today, I would like to share with you a few thoughts about Ahimsa, nonviolence. I am a supporter of ahimsa though I’m not able to follow it strictly in every sphere of my life. Ahimsa is the great philosophy which arose in India. Later, made popular by Mahatma Gandhi and Sir Vivekananda, this principle deals with a-himsa, meaning, prevention of violence.

    Gandhiji, on being questioned about ahimsa said thus,

Literally speaking, ahimsa means non-violence. But to me it has much higher, infinitely
higher meaning. It means that you may not offend anybody; you may not harbor
uncharitable
thought, even in connection with those who consider your enemies. To one who follows this
doctrine, there are no enemies. A man who believes in the efficacy of this
doctrine finds in
the ultimate stage, when he is about to reach the goal, the whole world at his feet.
If
you express your love- Ahimsa-in such a manner that it impresses itself indelibly upon
your so called enemy, he must return that love.

This doctrine tells us that we may guard
the honor of those  under our charge by delivering our own lives into the hands of
the man who would commit the sacrilege. And that requires far greater courage than
delivering of blows.

    So what is actually ahimsa and why practice it? Simple. Following the principle of ahimsa promotes love. In the more practical sense, it produces peace; something really essential in our world today.

There is one religion - the religion of love, of peace. There is one message, the
message of Ahimsa. Ahimsa is a supreme duty of man.

    You can read more about ahimsa, its principles, and how to practice it  in this article written by Sri Swami Sivananda. I will quote a few lines from the article…

In the regeneration and divinisation of man, the first step is to
eliminate his beastly nature. The predominant trait in beasts is cruelty. Therefore, wise
sages prescribe Ahimsa (non-injury). This is the most effective master-method to
counteract and eradicate completely the brutal, cruel Pasu-Svabhava (bestial nature) in
man.

Practice of Ahimsa develops love. Ahimsa is another name for truth or love. Ahimsa is
universal love. It is pure love. It is divine Prem. Where there is love, there you will
find Ahimsa. Where there is Ahimsa, there you will find love and selfless service. They
all go together.

The one message of all saints and prophets of all times and climes, is the message of
love, of Ahimsa, of selfless service. Ahimsa is the noblest and best of traits that are
found expressed in the daily life and activities of perfected souls. Ahimsa is the one
means, not only to attain Salvation, but also to enjoy uninterrupted peace and bliss. Man
attains peace by injuring no living creature.

There is one religion - the religion of love, of peace. There is one message, the
message of Ahimsa. Ahimsa is a supreme duty of man.

Ahimsa, or refraining from causing pain to any living creature, is a distinctive
quality emphasized by Indian ethics. Ahimsa or non-violence has been the central doctrine
of Indian culture from the earliest days of its history. Ahimsa is a great spiritual
force.

    What is ahimsa?

Ahimsa or non-injury, of course, implies non-killing. But, non-injury is
not merely non-killing. In its comprehensive meaning, Ahimsa or non-injury means entire
abstinence from causing any pain or harm whatsoever to any living creature, either by
thought, word, or deed. Non-injury requires a harmless mind, mouth, and hand.

Ahimsa is not mere negative non-injury. It is positive, cosmic love. It is the
development of a mental attitude in which hatred is replaced by love. Ahimsa is true
sacrifice. Ahimsa is forgiveness. Ahimsa is Sakti (power). Ahimsa is true strength.

    How do you practice ahimsa?

When thoughts of revenge and hatred arise in the mind, try to control the
physical body and speech first. Do not utter evil and harsh words. Do not censure. Do not
try to injure others. If you succeed in this by practice for some months, the negative
thoughts of revenge, having no scope for manifesting outside, will die by themselves. It
is extremely difficult to control such thoughts from the very beginning without having
recourse to control of the body and speech first.

First control your physical body. When a man beats you, keep quiet. Suppress your
feelings. Follow the instructions of Jesus Christ in his Sermon On The Mount:
“If a man beats you on one cheek, turn to him the other cheek also. If a man takes
away your coat, give him your shirt also.” This is very difficult in the beginning.
The old Samskaras (impressions) of revenge, of “a tooth for a tooth”, “tit
for tat”, “an eye for an eye”, and “paying in the same coin” will
all force you to retaliate. But you will have to wait cooly. Reflect and meditate. Do
Vichara or right enquiry. The mind will become calm. The opponent who was very furious
will also become calm, because he does not get any opposition from your side. He gets
astonished and terrified also, because you stand like a sage. By and by, you will gain
immense strength. Keep the ideal before you. Try to get at it, though with faltering steps
at first. Have a clear-cut mental image of Ahimsa and its immeasurable advantages.

After controlling the body, control your speech. Make a strong determination, “I
will not speak any harsh word to anybody from today”. You may fail a hundred times.
What does it matter ? You will slowly gain strength. Check the impulse of speech. Observe
Mouna (silence). Practice Kshama or forgiveness. Say within yourself: “He is a
baby-soul. He is ignorant, that is why he has done it. Let me excuse him this time. What
do I gain by abusing him in return ?” Slowly give up Abhimana (ego-centred
attachment). Abhimana is the root-cause of human sufferings.

Finally go to the thoughts and check the thought of injuring. Never even think of
injuring anyone. One Self dwells in all. All are manifestations of One God. By injuring
another, you injure your own Self. By serving another, you serve your own Self. Love all.
Serve all. Hate none. Insult none. Injure none in thought, word and deed. Try to behold
your own Self in all beings. This will promote Ahimsa.

    Why practice Ahimsa?

The power of Ahimsa is greater than the power of the intellect. It is easy
to develop the intellect, but it is difficult to purify and develop the heart. The
practice of Ahimsa develops the heart in a wonderful manner.

He who practices Ahimsa develops strong will-power. In his presence, enmity ceases. In
his presence, cobra and frog, cow and tiger, cat and rat, wolf and lamb, will all live
together in terms of intimate friendship. In his presence, all hostilities are given up.
The term ‘hostilities are given up’ means that all beings - men, animals, birds and
poisonous creatures will approach the practitioner without fear and do no harm to him.
Their hostile nature disappears in them in his presence. The rat and the cat, the snake
and the mongoose, and other beings that are enemies of each other by nature, give up their
hostile feelings in the presence of the Yogi who is established in Ahimsa. Lions and
tigers can never do any harm to such a Yogi. Such a Yogi can give definite orders to lion
and tigers. They will obey. This is Bhuta-Siddhi (mastery over the elements) obtainable by
the practice of Ahimsa. The practice of Ahimsa will eventually culminate in the
realization of unity and oneness of life, or Advaitic (non-dual) Consciousness. The Yogi
then enjoys the highest peace, bliss and immortality.

    Is ahimsa really “practicable”?

Absolute Ahimsa is impossible. It is not possible to the most
conscientious Sannyasin or monk. To practice that, you must avoid killing countless
creatures while walking, sitting, eating, breathing, sleeping and drinking. You cannot
find a single non-injurer in the world. You have to destroy life in order to live. It is
physically impossible for you to obey the law of non-destruction of life, because the
phagocytes of your blood also are destroying millions of dangerous intrusive spirilla,
bacteria and germs.

According to one school of thought, if by the murder of a dacoit many lives are saved,
it is not considered as Himsa. Ahimsa and Himsa are relative terms. Some say that one can
defend oneself with instruments and use a little violence also when one is in danger; this
is not considered to be Himsa. Westerners generally destroy their dear horses and dogs
when they are in acute agony and when there is no way of relieving their sufferings. They
wish that the soul should be immediately freed from the physical body. Motive is the chief
factor that underlies everything.

A renunciate or monk should not defend himself and use violence even when his life is
in jeopardy. To an ordinary man, Ahimsa should be the aim, but he will not fall from this
principle if, out of sheer necessity and with no selfish aim, he takes recourse to Himsa
occasionally. One should not give leniency to the mind in this respect. If you are
lenient, the mind will always take the best advantage of you and goad you to do acts of
violence. Give a rogue an inch, he will take an ell: the mind at once adapts this
policy, if you give a long rope for its movement.

Ahimsa is never a policy. It is a sublime virtue. It is the fundamental quality of
seekers after Truth. No Self-realization is possible without Ahimsa. It is through the
practice of Ahimsa alone that you can cognize and reach the Supreme Self or Brahman. Those
with whom it is a policy may fail many a time. They will be tempted to do violent acts
also. On the contrary, those who strictly adhere to the vow of Ahimsa as a sacred creed or
fundamentals cannon of Yoga, can never be duped into violence.

    And finally, the Swami gives this message, which is the very same I wanted to share…

Ahimsa is a Mahavratam or “great universal vow”. It should be
practiced by all people of all countries. It does not concern the Hindus or Indians alone.
Whoever wishes to realize the Truth must practice Ahimsa. You may encounter any amount of
difficulties; you may sustain any amount of losses, but you must not give up the practice
of Ahimsa. Trial and difficulties are bound to come in your way to test your strength. You
should stand adamant. Then alone will your efforts be crowned with sanguine success.

There is a hidden power in Ahimsa which protects its practitioners. The invisible hand
of God gives protection. There is no fear. What can pistols and swords do ?

Even now there are people who do not give the least pain to any living creature. They
carry sugar and rice for distribution to ants in their holes. They do not use lights at
night for fear of killing the small insects. They are very careful while walking in the
streets, as they do not wish to trample upon small insects.

Blessed are these men. They will soon see God as they have very soft hearts.

    Yes ladies and gentlemen, let us join hands to practice, promote and develop ahimsa. The words above are the words of wise men. Let us follow their words, and let us make this world a better place!


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February 22, 2007 | Filed Under Emotion,Literature,Philosophy, General World | 1 Comment 

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