The First Yama: Ahimsa, Non-Harming

November 21,2007

The first limb of Yoga’s eight limbed path towards Enlightenment is Yamas or ethical restraints. There are five ethical restraints. The first one is Ahimsa, which means non-violence. This means non-violence on all levels, from the gross to the subtle. If we were all practicing this in earnest, it would be the end of any of the serious problems, with which the world is afflicted. We would all be practicing peace and generosity.

It’s easy to think that it is “those people out there” who are the problem and that there is nothing much I can do about it. I am practicing non-violence. But I think we have to look a lot more deeply at the human condition, because the seeds of violence are in us all. Obviously the grossest form of violence is taking another person’s life, and most of us never come close to perpetuating this kind of extreme violence. However, this Yama is asking us to examine the instinctive and primitive impulse within us to be aggressive and defensive (of our own ego's). It can be quite subtle. We might be in a bad mood and snap at someone, without meaning to. We can lose our temper whilst driving. Even just looking at someone the wrong way, can have a strong effect on the other person. We can sometimes be quite mean, especially to those closest to us. In order never to cause harm to another living being, we need to be constantly vigilant with our own egoic tendencies. This is an ongoing meditation. By doing this, and endeavoring to have a high standard for oneself, we up the ante for everyone else around us. This will have a profound effect on the whole, however small it seems. It may be a cliché at this point, but changing the world, can only start with changing yourself. Someone, who is sincerely practicing non-violence, will be a transformed human being.

We should also consider the environment as a living organism and practice non-violence towards it. Each of us needs to consider for ourselves the impact we are having on the environment. Have I bought a hybrid car yet, and if not, why not? (When will Subaru make a hybrid?) Have I changed my light-bulbs? Do I use a cloth shopping bag? Do I only use recycled paper products. Some of these things seem small, but if a significant number of us did these things, a lot would change. It’s important to make our life-style choices consciously and to be aware of what we can do to be part of the solution-and then just choose to do it.

Another aspect of Ahimsa to consider deeply is the non-harming of animals. Yogis are traditionally vegetarian, as they consider eating meat to go against the principles of Ahimsa. I talked more about this in my previous article on Yogic Diet.

It is helpful to consider the opposite of causing another harm, which would be acting with warmth and kindness towards others, at all times, even when you don’t feel like it. Smiling at someone, letting someone pull out in front of you, when driving. It’s these small and simple acts of kindness, which slowly and surely change the world. So yogis unite and practice random acts of kindness!

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