Foundations of Yoga Part 2 Ahimsa Harmlessness
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Health Fitness -> subcategory Yoga.
Foundations of Yoga, Part 2: Ahimsa (Harmlessness)
Summary
Ahimsa, originating from Sanskrit, has various interpretations but fundamentally means not causing harm to any being, including animals.
Keywords
meditation, yoga, yama, niyama, ahimsa, harmlessness, non-violence, satya, brahmacharya, asteya, aparigraha, tapas, swadhyaya, ishwarapranidana, shaucha, santosha, dharma, spirituality, dhyana, samadhi
Ahimsa: Non-Violence and Harmlessness
In his commentary on the Yoga Sutras, the sage Vyasa defines ahimsa as avoiding injury to any living being at all times. Shankara expands on this, including injury by word and thought, asserting that ahimsa must be practiced through body, speech, and mind. This principle aligns with teachings from various spiritual traditions, such as Jesus’ assertion that anger is akin to murder and the idea that hatred is a form of harm.
Understanding the law of karma, or sowing and reaping, highlights the severe repercussions of violence. Vyasa illustrates that taking life leads to profound personal loss and suffering for the perpetrator.
While Sanskrit allows various interpretations of ahimsa, it principally means causing no harm, even to animals. Wanton destruction of plant and mineral life also violates ahimsa, as it ultimately affects animal life. For yogis, violence and injury are inconceivable, and all other practices, or yamas and niyamas, are rooted in the principle of ahimsa, as they prevent harm to ourselves and others.
The Centrality of Ahimsa
Ahimsa encompasses abstaining from any form of harm in thought, word, or deed. This includes avoiding verbal and physical violence as well as negative behavior towards physical objects. Ahimsa represents a mindset recognizing life's unity, which naturally leads to non-injury. Shankara notes that observing ahimsa renders the cause of harm inoperative. Meditation aids in dissolving the ego, which is the source of harm, but until then, we must consciously avoid harmful actions.
Though it’s challenging to live without causing some form of harm due to unavoidable circumstances like breathing or walking, true ahimsa is a mental state. Nonetheless, we should strive to minimize harm in our actions. Paramhansa Yogananda recalls his guru teaching that ahimsa is the absence of the desire to cause injury.
The Yogi's Responsibility
Observing ahimsa requires abstaining from consuming animal products, including meat, fish, and eggs. Interestingly, many commentaries on the Yoga Sutras overlook the importance of non-injury to oneself. A yogi should avoid harmful substances such as alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, and should embrace practices that benefit the body, mind, and spirit. Failing to observe these principles is a form of self-harm.
Being a yogi is a complex commitment, encompassing both abstention from harmful activities and the adoption of beneficial ones.
Next: Satya (Truthfulness and Honesty)
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