Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word that means "nonviolence," and it's a central tenet of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Ahimsa is about
respecting all living beings and not taking away life. The word can also be translated as love and kindness. It's one of the most important principles in yoga, but we don't often talk about within our western studios. In this article, I'll simply explain what Ahimsa means, some historical context of Ahimsa, a few ways we can practice it, and why it's so important to us.
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali states that ahimsa is the first step on the journey to enlightenment. Ahimsa is the very first of five yamas (ethical restraints). The other four Yamas are: satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (continence) and aparigraha (non-hoarding).
The yamas are ethical guidelines for the practice of yoga and life more broadly. They are not commandments, but rather a list of guidelines that can be used as a tool to guide your actions. The yamas are universal and apply to everyone; there is no hierarchy or ranking system involved within them, however ahimsa is mentioned first in the Yoga Sutras.
There are many ways we can practice Ahimsa every day, whether it's in your home or at work. Some simple ways to do this include:
Being kind and compassionate in your interactions with others.
Avoiding violence of any kind, physically or verbally.
Practicing compassion for yourself by treating yourself well instead of beating up on yourself for mistakes made along the way.
Keeping an open mind when meeting new people - try not to judge them based on their appearance or background.
Following a vegetarian diet, or not over consuming meat.
Be a positive influence in the world around us
When we practice ahimsa, we will feel better about ourselves because we are making a conscious effort to improve our life and the lives of others. We'll also be healthier because you're not at cognitive dissonance regarding the violence that our actions are causing. Ahimsa therefore develops our compassionate practice by removing cognitive dissonance and internal frustration from our lives. It keeps us balanced by teaching us patience when dealing with challenging situations, and provides a sense of purpose when we're feeling lost or overwhelmed by stressors like work deadlines or financial concerns.
If you are looking to gain back your health and well-being, take a closer look at the Ahimsa lifestyle, and how it will benefit your life. You might also find yourself seeing new things about the world around you.
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