I love yoga philosophy! I love it because it has so many rich applications for how to live our lives. In my local classes, we are currently exploring the yamas (moral restraints), the first limb of the aṣṭanga (8-limbs) yoga laid out by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. In coming weeks we will explore each of the five yamas, then maybe move on to the second limb, the niyamas (observances). It seems like a sweet exploration as we head into the holiday season.
So this week we’ve been considering the first of the yamas, ahiṃsā. Literally, ahiṃsā means non-harming. As the first yama listed in the first limb of aṣṭanga yoga, it is of foremost importance. This was one of Mahatma Gandhi’s primary practices, leading to a non-violent independence movement in India, and was later adopted by Martin Luther King as an approach to civil rights activism in the United States.
It is a huge topic, worthy of extensive reflection and practice. For now, let’s consider a few approaches to its practice, and I’ll leave you with some considerations to contemplate and further your practice.
First of all, what does non-harming mean to you? Is it the same as pacifism? Is it possible to be completely non-harming? Where do you draw the line? For example, what if someone attacked an innocent child? Is it OK to kill another being to sustain your own life? These are challenging questions to consider, because sometimes it does seem to be necessary to do one being harm in order to not bring harm to another being. That’s one reason I prefer “respect for life” as a definition for ahiṃsā. It adds a nuance that I feel is important to my decision making.
It is important to remember that all of these qualities we seek to cultivate on the path of yoga come more naturally when they arise from our connection to a greater or higher or more essential part of our self, rather than some moral edict. We have all heard the command, “thou shalt not kill.” Yet killing other beings is rampant. One reason I think this is so is because we are disconnected from our hearts, our essence, from who we really are. When we have cultivated a strong connection to our hearts through our practices, we begin to understand that essence that flows through others as well, and we are less likely to hurt others as it would be like hurting ourselves.
As we start to delve into this practice of ahiṃsā, we will uncover layers of our actions, how our actions (or inaction) affect different layers of our being, and of other beings. Speech is one such consideration. Words have energy behind them, and what and how you say something to another can be more or less respectful or harmful. Have you ever been talking about someone when they walked into the room? Given the content of your words, how did it feel? If it was disrespectful, likely it felt icky. And it wasn’t icky just to get caught gossiping, but when confronted with the actual humanness of the person, you realize more clearly your essential connection, and you feel less compelled to talk negatively about them.
What about our thoughts, including those toward ourselves? Often we have habitual thought patterns about ourselves that are harmful. For example, I sometimes think I am not expert or skilled enough to present these philosophical teachings to others. That thought squelches some part of myself that sincerely wants to help others with these teachings. So if I allow those thoughts to dominate, it creates harm not only to myself, but to those who might benefit.
Likewise, we can create a lot of harm in relationships by the way we think about them. There have been instances in my life with particular individuals who rub me the wrong way. I find myself obsessively thinking about how to win an argument with them or get back at them in some way, which can escalate conflict. When I started shift the way I think about them, and even purposefully creating a more loving thought pattern, the whole conflict dissolved.
Obviously there is much to reflect on, so much that it can be quite overwhelming. The most important point is to consider for yourself how you think about ahiṃsā, and to start practicing it in a mindful way. It is facilitated by creating that connection with your innermost self, then allowing that connection to guide you in refining your thoughts, words, and deeds. Like any practice, you begin where you are, and then start shifting your life to align with the value of ahiṃsā.
I leave you with a long list of considerations, as this is quite a deep practice. Pick any of them that stir your interest, and please leave a comment here, or on my Cindy Lusk Live Your Yoga Facebook page post of this article, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
CONTEMPLATE and PRACTICE and JOURNAL
Contemplate ahiṃsā, and write down a definition for yourself, and keep that definition in mind as you complete any of the following.
Commit to a mindful practice of ahiṃsā for some period of time, like a week or a month. Consider whether each of your thoughts, what you say, and how you act is in line with your definition. Journal about your experience each day.
What helps or hinders the practice of ahiṃsā?
What is the effect of practicing or not practicing the ahiṃsā?
What do you do when know someone is behaving out of line with the ahiṃsā?
How does gossip relate?
Why is ahiṃsā listed as the first yama?
Is anyone exempt from the practice of ahiṃsā?
How is your practice of ahiṃsā reflected in actions that affect the planet?
How does your practice of ahiṃsā relate to actions done on your behalf? For example, killing an animal for you to eat or drone strikes by our government.
