Ahimsa is a religious concept which advocates non-violence and a respect for all life. Ahimsa (अहिंसा ahiṁsā) is Sanskrit for avoidance of himsa, or injury. It is interpreted most often as meaning peace and reverence toward all sentient beings. Ahimsa is the core 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. Those who practice ahimsa are often vegetarians or vegans.

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.

Ahimsa in Jainism

In Jainism, the ahimsa-vrata, or vow of ahimsa, is the first of the five mahavratas, or

The ethical code of Jainism is taken very seriously. Summarized in the Five Vows, they are followed by both lay people and monastics. These are:

1. non-injury (ahimsa)
2. non-lying (satya)
3. non-stealing (asteya)
4. non-possession (aparigrah)
5. chastity (brahmcharya)

The Jain conception of ahimsa involves three times three—the three actions (karanas) of himsa in the three modes (yogas)—observances:

Neither by action or by speech or by thought:

1. do injury oneself (krita)
2. cause injury to be done by others (karita)
3. approve injury done by others (anumata, mananat, or anumodana)

External links and references in Jainism

Ahimsa in Hinduism

Yoga

Yoga is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy, and as codified by Maharishi Patanjali in the seminal work Yoga Sutra, the foundation of ashtanga and Raja Yoga, ahimsa is the first of the five yamas, or eternal vows or restraints of yoga.

Gandhi

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

Quotations from Gandhi on the subject:

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.

See also

• Turn the other cheek
• Nonviolence
• Pacifism

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