How to Practice Hindu Ahimsa

Ahimsa, a Hindu concept, is commonly understood to mean non-violence. Ahimsa really means non-injury and pure love. Famous practitioners of Ahimsa are Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Hindu sacred texts
• Buddhist sacred texts
• The writings of Gandhi
• The writings of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Practicing Ahimsa

1. 

   Follow Hinduism's yamas, or observances. These are paired with niyamas, or prohibitions. Generally, both refer to codes of conduct or Dharma. Ahimsa is one of the yamas.

2. 

   Practice any of the Hindu tradition's yogas. These include Raja Yoga (the Royal Way), Jnana Yoga (the Way of Wisdom), Bhakti Yoga (the Way of Devotion) and Karma Yoga (the Way of Duty). Devoted practice of any of the Hindu paths to God-consciousness will lead naturally to the practice of non-injury and pure love.

3. 

   Treat others with compassion and kindness. Follow the Golden Rule. Ahimsa, as practiced by Gandhi, was not passive, however, it was active. For example; if you are threatened for peaceful protest, simply go limp in the policeman's grip. Do not resist nor surrender.

4. 

   Practice non-injury with the smallest of living beings. Rather than killing an insect, remove it to the outdoors.

5. 

   Consider vegetarianism. Hindu and Buddhist traditions all embrace non-injury by this means.

6. 

   Practice kindness to yourself. One practical way to do this is to be kind to others. Practice Buddhism's "rainbow light" meditation, in which you visualize multi-colored light radiating within you, outward to the world and back to you. Ironically, selflessness is a loving way to treat yourself kindly.

Tips & Warnings

• Never behave in any form of violence. Violence can lead only to more violence.

Resources

• Ahimsa
• Sri Swami Sivananda on Ahimsa
• Gandhi's Non-Violence
• Yamas
• Buddhist Rainbow Light Meditation