“I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and non-violence are as old as the hills.” Mahatma K. Gandhi

Gandhi-ji in Union Square. (part of an old photo of mine)

Ahimsa, Sankskrit for non-violence, is a strong component of the ethical foundation of yoga. Non-violence, of course, is part of the moral fabric of many ethical or theological systems. The observer of ahimsa, be it in a yogic tradition or not, tries to make his or her thoughts and thus words and actions as non-injurious as possible.

Ahimsa is one of the 5 yamas, or restraints and social disciplines, that Patanjali writes about in the Yoga Sutras. The others are satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (celibacy), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness). In many ways, ahimsa is the base of each yama. We act truthfully in an effort to not harm another, just as we choose not to steal or be possessive. The observation of bramacharya requires a nurturing shift of how the body and mind are treated on a physical, emotional, and energetic level, which changes externally channeled energy.
The following aphorism from the Yoga Sutras quite directly addresses the importance of ahimsa:

Ahimsapratisthayam tatsannidhau vairatyagah (Part II, sutra 35)

B.K.S. Iyengar provides the following translation of this sutra in his work Light on the Yoga Sutras:

“When non-violence in speech, thought and action is established, one’s aggressive nature is relinquished and others abandon hostility in one’s presence.”

An enormous Buddha in a temple near Leh, Ladakh (photographed by Sophie in 2005). Ahimsa is a significant element of Buddhism.

I have been thinking about ahimsa a lot since returning to this fantastic, high energy, and sometimes stress-filled city. As I’m trying to maintain a comfortable level of mental and physical balance and flexibility, I’m realizing how invaluable yogic and other teachings on ahimsa can be. One’s calm is constantly tested in New York… the competitive environment, the rising cost of living, and the rest-defying schedules we can easily stumble into. Rush hour commutes aren’t always a cup of tea, tensions can easily mount, someone bumps into without saying excuse me, you spill coffee all over your shirt while rushing from here to there… Where’s the tipping point of losing composure? Does there even have to be one?

I was walking home from my yoga class the other day and thinking about how crucial inner ahimsa is in order to generate external ahimsa. Now that I am back in this busy environment, I am trying to find practical discipline to strengthen and nurture my mind and body. I believe this will assist my effort to make my words and actions as peaceful as possible. While I would not consider myself a particularly violent person, I sometimes catch myself releasing unnecessary and unbeneficial thoughts. I am trying to explore how I can navigate myself away from producing negative responses. To do so, I am attempting to recognize, objectively accept, and overcome potentially injurious thoughts and impulses before they surface externally. I am sure I will be tackling this goal throughout this life and beyond…Recognition of change, however, is a beginning.

Over the past few years, I have been realizing how important self-forgiveness and acceptance are, and how both go hand in hand with taking responsibility for one’s actions. I have noticed that inability to forgive myself has affected my ability to forgive others. Excessive guardedness has also inhibited my faculty to objectively process my thoughts before they materialize into actions. I am finding that being able to laugh at myself has made me better able to genuinely laugh with and not at others.

I admit that I sometimes can have a big mouth and say things that might be better left unsaid. I can forget to take that extra second (or even fraction of a second) to ask myself “Is what I am going to say necessary?” or “Is it peaceful?” It seems that the more this wise decisiveness is attempted, the more natural it becomes. The more compassionate our words and actions, the more energizing and less exerting they are.

On that note, I am realizing how important it is to find a compromise between emotional/physical consumption and exertion. A disciplined and balanced, yet still flexible, lifestyle is essential. Respecting the body by getting adequate sleep, performing moderate exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet will make us more able to observe inner and outer ahimsa. It will help generate the space needed to become more aware of the greater repercussions of our actions and how they affect the environment.
These are just a few personal thoughts on ahimsa. I wish to write more on the subject (and balancing ideals and reality) soon!
Thank you for your eyes!