Ahimsa
is a religious concept which advocates non-violence and
a respect for all life. Ahimsa is Sanskrit for avoidance
of himsa, or injury. It is interpreted most often as meaning
peace and reverence toward all sentient beings. Ahimsa
is an important doctrine of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism.
Its first mention in Indian philosophy is found in the
Hindu scriptures called the Upanishads, the oldest dating
about 800 BCE.
Ahimsa
was introduced to the West by the Mahatma Gandhi. Inspired
by his actions, Western civil rights movements, led by
such people as Martin Luther King Jr., engaged in non-violent
protests. The more recent popularity of yoga and meditation
in the West has also served to introduce many westerners
to ahimsa and other Hindu concepts. Nonviolent Communication,
developed by American Dr. Marshall Rosenberg and practiced
and taught around the world, is inspired by Gandhi's example.
Mahatma Gandhi drew many of his concepts of truth, nobility
and ethics from the Bhagavad Gita and his personal love
of Lord Rama, a Hindu God. Gandhi's concept of life and
ahimsa, which led to his concept of satyagraha, or peaceful
protest, primarily stem from his association with Hindu
and Jain philosophy.
Quotations
from Gandhi on the subject:
Nonviolence
is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is
mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised
by the ingenuity of man. Literally speaking, ahimsa means
non-violence towards life but it has much 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.
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.
