Ahimsa

Ahimsa is an Eastern spiritual concept of active nonviolence or noninjury, thus kindness and love towards all. It is a central tenet (perhaps the first tenet) of Jainism and yoga.

It was introduced to the West by Mahatma Gandhi; the Western civil rights movements, inspired by his actions, engaged in non-violent protests, led by such people as Martin Luther King Jr.

Ahimsa is Sanskrit for avoidance of himsa?, or injury to sentient beings.

Jainism

In Jainism, the ahimsa-vrata (vow of ahimsa) is the first of the five mahavratas (great vows). All animal life is considered sentient. Therefore, consequences of this vow, over the evident ones of the forbidding of physical violence to other people, include renunciation of animal sacrifice, liquor, eating animal food (vegetarianism), honey, certain fruits (because they may be harboring worms/flies etc.), and night-eating (eating in the dark makes it difficult to safely pluck out worms/flies etc.).

Yoga

As codified by [Maharishi Patanjali]? in the seminal work [Yoga Sutra]? (the foundation of [ashtanga yoga]?), ahimsa is the first of the five yamas (eternal vows or restraints) of yoga.

Gandhi

Quotations from Gandhi on the subject:

Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.

and

Literally speaking, ahimsa means non-violence. But to me it has much higher, infinitely higher meaning. It means that you may not offend anybody; you may not harbor uncharitable thought, even in connection with those who consider your enemies. To one who follows this doctrine, there are no enemies. A man who believes in the efficacy of this doctrine finds in the ultimate stage, when he is about to reach the goal, the whole world at his feet. If you express your love- Ahimsa-in such a manner that it impresses itself indelibly upon your so called enemy, he must return that love.

This doctrine tells us that we may guard the honor of those under our charge by delivering our own lives into the hands of the man who would commit the sacrilege. And that requires far greater courage than delivering of blows.

External links and references

[Jainworld.com Ahimsa index]
[Sri Swami Sivananda on Ahimsa]
[Ask Gandhi: Ahimsa]
[Ashtanga Yoga Yamas]