Ahimsa means “non-violence”. For thousands of years, this concept has inspired many oriental cults including the Hindu religion. Today in our western society, non-violence is a first step on the path to yoga trend.

A peaceful notion

The term “Ahimsa” literally means “non-violence” in Sanskrit. This Indo-European language was once spoken in the Indian subcontinent. It remains used in Hindu and Buddhist religious texts as a liturgical language. More precisely, “himsa” translates to “action to cause damage” and “a” is a private prefix. Ahimsa is a peaceful concept which encourages not to harm others or any living being.

A religious and oriental concept

Ahimsa is a concept that has inspired several oriental religious currents. This is first of all the case of Hinduism which is one of the oldest polytheistic religions in the world (the founding texts having been written between 1500 and 600 BC). The Indian subcontinent remains today its main center of population and it remains the third most practiced religion in the world. In Hinduism, non-violence is personified by Goddess Ahimsa, wife of God Dharma and mother of God Vishnu. Non-violence is the first of the five commandments to which the yogi (Hindu ascetic who practices yoga) must submit. Many upanishads (Hindu religious texts) speak of non-violence. In addition, Ahimsa is also described in the founding text of the Hindu tradition: the Laws of Manu, but also in Hindu mythological accounts (such as the epics of the Mahabharata and Râmâyana).

Ahimsa is also a central notion of Jainism. This religion was born in India around the XNUMXth century BC. J.-Cet broke away from Hinduism in that it does not recognize any god outside of human consciousness.

Ahimsa also inspires Buddhism. This agnostic religion (which is not based on the existence of a deity) originated in India in the XNUMXth century BC. AD It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama known as the “Buddha”, spiritual leader of a community of wandering monks who will give birth to Buddhism. This religion is to date the fourth most practiced religion in the world. Ahimsa does not appear in ancient Buddhist texts, but non-violence is constantly implied there.

Ahimsa is also at the heart of sikhism (Indian monotheistic religion which emerges at 15^st century): it is defined by Kabir, a wise Indian poet still revered to this day by some Hindus and Muslims. Finally, non-violence is a concept of sufism (an esoteric and mystical current of Islam).

Do not hurt

For the practitioners of Hinduism (and in particular the yogis), non-violence consists in not injuring morally or physically a living being. This implies abstaining from violence by deeds, words but also by malicious thoughts.

Maintain self-control

For the Jains, non-violence comes down to the notion of self-control : the self control allows the human being to eliminate his “karma” (which is defined as dust that would pollute the soul of the believer) and to reach his spiritual awakening (called “moksha”). Ahimsa involves the avoidance of 4 types of violence: accidental or unintentional violence, defensive violence (which can be justified), violence in the exercise of one’s duty or activity, intentional violence (which is the worse).

Do not kill

Buddhists define nonviolence as not killing a living being. They condemn abortion and suicide. However, some texts tolerate war as a defensive act. Mahayana Buddhism goes further by condemning the very intention to kill.

In the same vein, Jainism also invites you to avoid using lamps or candles for lighting at the risk of attracting and burning insects. According to this religion, the believer’s day should be limited to the times of sunset and sunrise.

Fight peacefully

In the West, non-violence is a concept that has spread from pacifist fights (which do not use recourse to violence) against discrimination by political figures such as Mahatma Ghandi (1869-1948) or Martin Luther King (1929-1968). Ahimsa is still spread all over the world today through the practice of yoga or the vegan lifestyle (non-violent eating).

Yogi food

In the Hindu religion, the veganism is not obligatory but remains inseparable from the good observance of Ahimsa. Clémentine Erpicum, teacher and passionate about yoga, explains in her book Yogi Food, what is the diet of the yogi: ” Eating yoga means eating in a logic of non-violence: favoring a diet that has a beneficial effect on health but which preserves the environment and other living beings as much as possible. This is why many yogists – myself included – choose veganism, ”she explains.

However, she qualifies her remarks by explaining that everyone must act in accordance with their deep beliefs: “yoga does not impose anything. It is a daily philosophy, which consists in aligning its values ​​and its actions. It’s up to everyone to take responsibility, to observe themselves (do these foods do me good, in the short and long term?), To observe their environment (do these foods harm the health of the planet, of other beings alive?)… ”.

Vegetalism and fasting, practices of non-violence

According to Jainism, Ahimsa encourages veganism: it implies do not consume animal products. But non-violence also encourages avoiding the consumption of roots which could kill the plant. Finally, some Jains practiced peaceful death (that is to say by stopping food or fasting) in case of advanced age or incurable disease.

Other religions also encourage non-violent eating through veganism or vegetarianism. Buddhism tolerates the consumption of animals that have not been intentionally killed. Sikh practitioners oppose the consumption of meat and eggs.

Ahimsa is one of the five social pillars (or Yamas) on which rests the practice of yoga and more precisely of raja yoga (also called yoga ashtanga). Apart from non-violence, these principles are:

• truth (satya) or being authentic;
• the fact of not stealing (asteya);
• abstinence or staying away from anything that can distract me (brahmacarya);
• non-possessiveness or not being greedy;
• and not take what I don’t need (aparigraha).

Ahimsa is also a notion that inspires Halta Yoga which is a discipline consisting of the sequence of delicate postures (Asanas) that must be maintained, including breath control (Pranayama) and a state of mindfulness (found in meditation).