Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word meaning "no violence" or "no harm." It is a term commonly seen in yoga circles to describe one of the yamas, or codes for one to live by. But what does "no harm" mean, when applied to our lives?
For many, ahimsa is interpreted to mean living life in a pacifistic manner, and a corollary to this is living a vegetarian lifestyle. For many devout Jains, even the killing of an insect when walking through the street is a sin to be avoided. This concept can be taken to various levels of extremes, from the use of a broom to sweep the ground before one walks or to being vegan. Many yoga practitioners simply stick with a vegetarian diet.
Yoga is more than a set of physical exercises. It is a way of thinking and a means to approaching life. The word means "yoke," and refers to the act of uniting the self with God through action and thought. The yamas are not simply restrictions imposed for superstitious reasons, or by an outside religious entity intent on controlling its congregation. They are codes for living life in a manner that emphasizes the sacred in every act, as the external world is a part of that one true Self of which the ego is simply an extension. A goal of yoga is mindfulness, and right actions help to ensure that our approach towards life is fully intentional.
In a modern world, how does one approach life with an eye towards ahimsa? Is vegetarianism a requirement? Is war out of the question? Perhaps ahimsa means to approach life in a manner that is devoid of intentional hurt. Inflicted cruelty, for instance, imposes on the freedom of an individual, whether animal or human, of living life in happiness. Is killing an animal for food, that is to rightfully sustain the body, incompatible with this thought if done so in a humane manner? Do actions find themselves met with reaction, and does aggression against a defenseless country by an outside force deserve to be met with like force, simply for the sake of neutralizing its threat against humanity? These are not easy questions to answer, and are largely subjective in nature. However, it should be noted that there are some gray areas when it comes to finding a definition to ahimsa, and the reader is encouraged to reflect further on the potential contradictions and exceptions to this yama as provoked in the questions above.
