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Ahimsa - Non-Violence
Ahimsa is our first yama. Yama’s are guidelines for how we interact with the outer world. Social disciplines to guide us in our relationships with others.
Ahimsa is awareness and gentleness in action, thought and speech. Violence arises out of fear, anger, restlessness and selfishness.
Practice: compassion, love, understanding, patience, self-love, and worthiness.
Think of violence within the body. If a friend acted towards you the way your own mind does, he probably wouldn’t be your friend anymore. So, view yourself with tenderness and compassion. Build bridges with people. This is NOT "how to be a doormat." One side of non-violence is creating boundaries for peace if someone is acting violently towards you. "NO" needs to be in your vocabulary to practice Ahimsa. Ahimsa can be powerful. Gandhi's whole life was based on the principle of Ahimsa, but he used that as a potent tool.
We live in a world that seems, at times, to be engulfed by violence. Guns, wars, rampant crimes abound. It is important to remember that in studying yoga, the goal is not to change the world around us, although it may appear to be in desperate need of change. By looking instead at our inner world of thoughts, words, and deeds, we begin to regain control over our lives. The way to truly change the world... starts from within. Let us look at ways of incorporating non-violence into our lives through our actions, words, and thoughts.
The first yama is Ahimsa or non-violence. How we practice non-violence? Towards insects perhaps...instead of killing them, taking them outside. Or towards ourselves when we treat ourselves kindly and how we might treat ourselves kindly. Doing yoga postures in a way so we are being kind to ourselves. Perhaps being a vegetarian as a way of practicing non-violence. Or bringing peace into others lives by treating them kindly in business. Ahimsa is a biggy and one that we can do some sharing about.
Things to focus on
I will keep my actions focused on a loving
awareness. I will hold an attitude of loving
kindness to myself and to others. I will be
aware of the presence of fear, anger, selfish-
ness, or other uncomfortable mental states .
without being carried away into an aggressive
expression of the energy.
Do we listen to gossip or gossip saying harming things about others
How many times have you spoken harshly.
Are my thoughts about things and people preponderantly pessimistic, overly optimistic, or simply realistic?
When I have to correct someone’s behavior do I merely criticize or also encourage?
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