Ahimsā - The Foremost Duty

 Ahimsā - The Foremost Duty

Misunderstood Ahimsā

Ahimsā was popularised and propagated by Mohandas Gandhi during India’s Freedom movement. Mr. Gandhi’s suggestion was that violence should not be countered with violence - “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.” That’s why, he encouraged people to remain non-responsive when the British resort to physical violence.

However, this popularised interpretation of Ahimsā is flawed. Ahimsā, as per Gandhi’s definition, is actually allowing Himsā.

Due to this mispreaching, Ahimsā is popularly misunderstood as non-violence and wrongly perceived as weakness. Whereas in truth, it is a very powerful virtue.

Our scriptures declare “Ahimsā Paramo Dharma” - which means Ahimsā is the foremost duty.

If it was a weakness why would it be suggested as a foremost duty?

To understand this, let’s first understand Himsā.

What is Himsā

Himsā has been loosely translated in English as a physical act of violence. However, it has a much deeper meaning than just physical violence.

Spiritually speaking, Himsā means causing any kind of harm to other beings for a selfish interest. 

Which means Himsā can be caused either through Shareer (Body), Mana (Mind), Buddhi (Intellect) or Vāni (speech).

Shāreerik Himsā is when we cause harm to others through our physical body.

Mānsik Himsā is when we cultivate ill feelings / emotions for others.

Bauddhik Himsā is when we think of causing harm or ill for others.

Vāchik Himsā is when we speak ill about others.

What is Ahimsā

Ahimsā is not non-violence; it is practising restraint when there is every possibility of violence.

In Mahabharata, the Pandavas tried all possible means to avoid the war. They proposed peaceful resolution multiple times, including Sri Krishna himself going as a messenger of peace on behalf of the Pandavas. But Duryodhana & Kauravas wanted a war.

What the Pandavas exercised was Ahimsā - restraint in an environment of war.

Why Ahimsā

The goal of human life is self-realisation. Adhyātma or spirituality is the practice of self-realisation.

In spirituality, every vice which is a deterrent in your internal journey of self-inquiry has to be removed. Cultivating Himsā towards other beings is one of the most destructive vice in the path of self-realisation as it boosts ego by cultivating negative thoughts about others. This ego overshadows the intellect, resulting in an inability to think rationally. And when we act without awareness, we surely cause more damage to ourselves than anyone else.

When you know the other person is weaker than you, and yet you choose dialogue over action, that shows that you don’t just understand your strength but also are aware of the consequences of using it. 

Strength is not in the show of power, but in practising restraint.

Hence, Ahimsā helps in strong character building. 

How to practice Ahimsā

Ahimsā is practising restraint in each of the Himsāk vrittis, which we have seen above.

When you encounter a situation where there is a possibility of physical altercations, try and use dialogue to restore peace. Or if you realise that moving away is a better option, choose that. This not only de-escalates the situation but also gives both the parties time to reflect on the situation in a calm and rational manner. Thereby giving an opportunity to act with awareness rather than with impulse.

To be able to pause and reflect in a situation which is triggered by ego and emotions, you need the mental awareness. And that can be developed by practising meditation and mental affirmation. These help in training your mind to stay calm and cultivate positive and peaceful thoughts.

Alternatively, engage yourself in activities which keep you closer to nature - like gardening,  community service, volunteering, etc. These help cultivate a feeling of harmony and peaceful community existence.

Silence is a very powerful tool. Practice Mauna (silence) to develop a habit of speaking with clarity and restraint. Silence helps us reflect on our thoughts and distinguish the positive thoughts from the negative.

These are suggestions based on my own practice. You can cultivate your own habits to practice restraint against each of the 4 types of Himsāk Vrittis.

Ahimsā - the foremost duty

Ahimsā should not be misunderstood as not acting against violence. 

In fact Ahimsā is actually about fighting for what is right - defending the weak, fighting against oppression, discouraging hateful voices and protecting the society. Anything that threatens the harmony in society needs to be countered with equal action. Because not acting against Himsā makes us a part of it.

Pandavas too had to fight the war, after all attempts at a peaceful resolution. But their war was for Dharma (righteous duty). 

Ahimsā is not mere non-violence, it is a way of life to maintain harmony.

So, while Ahimsā helps in character building through practice of restraint, it also promotes peace and harmony in the creation. And that is the reason why it is declared by our scriptures as the foremost duty - ‘Ahimsā Paramo Dharma’.