Yesterday, we saw an introduction to the don’ts and dos as codified in ashtanga yoga. Let us begin by starting with the Don’ts or the Yamas. It comprises of 5 codes. They are
- Ahimsa (Non Violence)
- Sathya (Truth)
- Astheya (Non coveting / non stealing)
- Brahmacharya (controlling the senses)
- Aparigraha ( Non greed)
These are loose translations of the words, based on the essence that the code talks about. In this post, let us reflect on the first code…Ahimsa.
AHIMSA
(Non Violence in thought, speech and action)
Being an Indian, this is one word that we all are familiar with. We won our independence through non violent movement. How to translate this in our day to day lives? Himsa, means to trouble or inflict pain – on all levels -physical, mental emotional. So, to observe ahimsa means to not inflict pain -not only on fellow humans, but on all forms of life and even the elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) from which this gross body of life forms manifest. The sages say that even being a silent witness to an act of violence, without taking any effort to stop it, is also an act of violence by itself! Whew!
So, I can safely say that ahimsa not just means that I don’t go and hit someone or torture someone physically, but I restrain myself from speaking harsh words, having violent thoughts or desires to inflict pain, from acting in such a way that I purposefully hurt someone. I try and intervene whenever violence or pain is inflicted on others. This means, I automatically place a filter between my thoughts and actions (physical and verbal), so that I consciously avoid inflicting pain on others.
The easy part here is, to restrain myself from not initiating pain. But how do I react to the pain that I am subjected to? The most instinctive reaction in us to inflict pain on those who inflict pain on us. Hit the person who hit us. Throw back harsher words at those who pained us with harsh words. It is this instinct that has to be conquered. Any instinct in humans is an animal tendency -driven purely by self preservation.
While it is only natural to present arguments about how it is necessary to protect oneself and ahimsa in this day and age automatically means that you become a sitting duck for all the evil and atrocities that are out there. But on a little deeper reflection, one can understand that it is not so. Why should I invent an imaginary scenario where I am being harassed or picked up on and at that time, I am sitting like Buddha without any reaction and suffering silently? It is enough to know that, right now, if it is within my capacity, I practice non violence.
Also, Ahimsa is one of the reason why yoga lifestyle advocates a vegetarian lifestyle.
One big issue I face with this code is when I have to deal with pests. So, what helps to some extent is to adopt repelling tactics than to resort to killing tactics. Or as my Acharya puts it, “killing with compassion and not hatred.”
What do I aim to achieve by practicing ahimsa?
Develop kindness and compassion. To rid myself of the lower tendencies fueled by hatred, anger etc. It makes one large hearted. Practicing compassion is impossible when I don’t attempt to “understand” why a person is behaving the way he behaves. Only with understanding, can love and compassion have a true meaning. Else, I am only paying lip service and trying to only “feel” or invoke the feeling of compassion and love, without actually experiencing it.
Ahimsa helps in raising above the animal instincts that are deep rooted in mental tendencies and make the mind more subtle and calm.
Om…peace!! peace! peace.