Ahimsa

Ahimsa is the practice of doing no harm to living beings, even in ones thoughts. As these things go, it’s been defined and analysed in different ways, and various systems have slightly different interpretations, but to me, it’s a way of life, the right way to live one’s life.

It’s a principle rather than a rule (you know what’s meant to be done with rules), and, as with food, where some stress about whether they’re vegan, vegetarian, and whether borderline products such as wine and cheese are permitted, I avoid boxes. If I inadvertently eat some liver pate, or drink some wine made from animal rennet, so be it. I am grateful for the wine (maybe not the liver pate).

So, if in a frenzy I squash a mosquito, or accidentally stand on a snail, or shout at my son, it’s not time for self-flaggelation. Rather, to bring awareness to the situation. What was it about my mind that allowed the mosquitoes to disturb the tranquillity? Where was my mind rather than the moment when I mindlessly stood on the snail? What was my son reflecting back to me?

A vow can mean different things to different people. Some tend to treat it as an intention – one that the person aims to follow through, but if not, so be it. I tend to treat it more strictly – a vow is something I will go to the ends of the earth to meet. Which is probably why I make so few vows…

So when, a few years ago, Deepak Chopra took a vow of ahimsa, I was awed by the state of a mind that could take such a vow. To do no harm to any living beings, not even thinking harm!

Every taxi driver that I behead on the road, every politician I wish humiliation upon, every imaginary criminal I am heroically hacking to pieces – there’s a long way to go before I can feel ready to take a vow. It wouldn’t last long, and I know, unlike others, I would be too hard on myself after having broken it.

A vow feels too harsh on myself, an impossibility – I prefer a principle. However, when Chopra took the vow, and encouraged others to follow him, many did, many of whom were a lot less likely to keep to the vow than him.

But some are gentler on themselves, can break the vow, but get back up on the horse again and keep trying.

The best examination of ahimsa I’ve come across is a fictional account, from David Zindell’s “The Broken God“. The main character has taken a vow of ahimsa, and it gets explored and tested to the extreme. That, more than anything else I’ve read, has been responsible for shaping my approach.

I’m nowhere near a vow (the mosquitos circling may be in trouble in a few hours) but I’m aware of many of my harmful thoughts, and those I see shine a light on a shadow hidden in a recess somewhere, helping me to wake up a little more.