ahimsa in hinduism

[148] His non-violent resistance movement satyagraha had an immense impact on India, impressed public opinion in Western countries, and influenced the leaders of various civil and political rights movements such as the American civil rights movement's Martin Luther King Jr. and James Bevel. Gautama Buddha distinguished between a principle and a rule. Rather than practicing Ahimsa through the literal translation of what it means, Gandhi emphasized that Ahimsa has both ‘narrow’ (negative) and ‘broad’ (positive) categorical definitions of the term. War. The classical literature of the Indian religions, such as Hinduism and Jainism, exists in many Indian languages. Warriors must use judgment in the battlefield. अहिंसा परमं दानम अहिंसा परमस तपः। As and when the benevolent principle of Ahiṃsā or non-violence will be ascribed for practice by the people of the world to achieve their end of life in this world and beyond, Jainism is sure to have the uppermost status and Mahāvīra is sure to be respected as the greatest authority on Ahiṃsā". Additionally, the act of non-violence in a Buddhists life is one virtue that contributes in bringing them closer to their ultimate goal of nirvana (a state of perfect happiness) (Ghosh 58). [83][84] Ahimsa is also one of the ten Yamas in Hatha Yoga according to verse 1.1.17 of its classic manual Hatha Yoga Pradipika. It implies the total avoidance of harming of any kind of living creatures not only by deeds, but also by words and in thoughts. [58] However, the text is not uniform in the prescriptive sense. Ahimsa (Ahinsa) (अहिंसा: ahiṃsā, avihiṃsā) means ‘not to injure’ and ‘compassion’ and refers to a key virtue in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism . This precept isn't found in the oldest verses of Vedas (1500–1000 BCE), but increasingly becomes one of the central ideas in post-Vedic period. Their scrupulous and thorough way of applying nonviolence to everyday activities and food shapes their lives and is the most significant hallmark of Jain identity. Certain Jain texts, states Padmannabh Jaini – a Jainism scholar, forbid people of its faith from husbandry, agriculture and trade in animal-derived products. Ahimsa is the highest truth, and Ahimsa is the greatest teaching. Ahimsa has also been related to the notion that any violence has karmic consequences. The Yoga Sutras say that once ahimsa is mastered, even wild animals and ferocious criminals will become tame and harmless in our presence. [30] The earliest reference to the idea of non-violence to animals (pashu-Ahimsa), apparently in a moral sense, is in the Kapisthala Katha Samhita of the Yajurveda (KapS 31.11), which may have been written in about the 8th century BCE.[31]. We know Ahimsa is the core concept of Hinduism. The Pacifist Impulse in Historical Perspective. 125–126. This included goat, ox, horse and others (or may be misinterpretation of verses). [95] Ahimsa was already part of the "Fourfold Restraint" (Caujjama), the vows taken by Parshva's followers. Historical Indian literature has in this way contributed to modern theories of just war and self-defence. Ahimsa also has its roots in the belief of samsara (eternal cycle). [125], The early texts do not contain just-war ideology as such. अहिंसा परमॊ यज्ञस तथाहिस्मा परं बलम। Although Ahimsa was not considered the highest ideal in Hindu tradition, it was still encouraged among Hindus because the avoidance of harm to both humans and animals would bring the individual closer to moksa (Framarin 286, 288). It is also the first of the five precepts of Buddhism. [149] Gandhi believed Ahimsa to be a creative energy force, encompassing all interactions leading one's self to find satya, "Divine Truth". In Buddhist tradition, Ahimsa is not considered a doctrine, nor is it a theory. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and the Ramakrishna Order, Hinduism's Interaction with Other Religions, 2. Once spiritual non-violence is attained, the body and mind follow effortlessly (Sharma 58). Framarin, Christopher (2011) “The value of nature in Indian (Hindu) traditions.”  Religious Studies 47 #3 (September): 285-300. [35] Others scholar state that this relationship is speculative, and though Jainism is an ancient tradition the oldest traceable texts of Jainism tradition are from many centuries after the Vedic era ended. Sacred Texts Speak On Ahimsa The roots of ahimsa are found in the Vedas, Agamas, Upanishads, Dharma Shastras, Tirumurai, Yoga Sutras and dozens of other sacred texts of Hinduism. Ahimsa, an important tenet of all the religions originating in India, is now considered as an article of faith by the adherents of the Indian religions. 585–597 (for the Mahabharata); Tähtinen pp. [85] Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology, 10(1), 5–39. The Hindu precept of 'cause no injury' applies to animals and all life forms. [121], Nonviolence is an overriding theme within the Pāli Canon. Ravindra, Ravi (1995) “Ahimsa, transformation, and ecology.” ReVision Vol. Springer New York. [154], Nonviolence, one of the cardinal virtues of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, Topics (overviews, concepts, issues, cases), Media (books, films, periodicals, albums), Stephen H. Phillips and other authors (2008), in. In the 19th and 20th centuries, prominent figures of Indian spirituality such as Shrimad Rajchandra[146] and Swami Vivekananda[147] emphasised the importance of Ahimsa. M.K Sridhar and Puruṣottama Bilimoria (2007). [106] In the 12th century CE and thereafter, in an era of violent raids, destruction of temples, the slaughter of agrarian communities and ascetics by Islamic armies, Jain scholars reconsidered the First Great Vow of mendicants and its parallel for the laypeople. In Gandhi's thought, Ahimsa precludes not only the act of inflicting a physical injury, but also mental states like evil thoughts and hatred, unkind behavior such as harsh words, dishonesty and lying, all of which he saw as manifestations of violence incompatible with Ahimsa. Cort, J. E. (2002) “Singing the Glory of Asceticism: Devotion of Asceticism in Jainism.” Journal of The American Academy Of Religion Vol. If war becomes necessary, its cause must be just, its purpose virtuous, its objective to restrain the wicked, its aim peace, its method lawful. Because Jainism holds the concept of Ahimsa as a much more important and complex idea than either Hindu or Buddhist tradition, Jain tradition adopts the concept quite literally, and as a result, some of its practices of asceticism are considered more extremist or obsessive in nature in dedication to this concept (Chinchore 105). Walker, Claire (1994) “What do we mean by non-violence?” Journal of Religion and Psychical Research Vol. It is a key virtue in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In its narrow sense, Ahimsa was the literal practice of non-violence, but in its more broad definition, it meant the promotion of well-being to all living things (Parekh 198). 17, No. Mahatma Gandhi coined and developed the term satyagraha (truth) derived from his principles of Ahimsa, and came to popularize and modernize the concept of Ahimsa in ethical and political terms (Parekh 198). New Blackfriars, 5(50), pages 103–108, A Izawa (2008), Empathy for Pain in Vedic Ritual, Journal of the International College for Advanced Buddhist Studies, Kokusai Bukkyōgaku Daigakuin Daigaku, Vol. Kaneda, T. (2008). Even in the practice of classical yoga, Ahimsa or nonviolence comes before all yamas because it is believed that the practice of all virtues eventually lead to t… Hinduism, ahimsa and suffering. 17, No. Investiture with the Sacred Thread (Upanayana), e. Vowed Ascetic Observances (Vrata) and Auspiciousness (Saubhagya), i. Sankara's Radical Non-Dualism (Advaita), G. The Epics, Bhagavad Gita and the Rise of Bhakti, H. Major Hindu Sects, Deities and Purāṇic Myths, f. Puranic Mythology and Other Hindu Deities, 3. Historically, it was not until Emperor Ashoka (268-233 BCE) popularized the concept of Ahimsa through his conversion to Buddhism and by stressing the sanctity of animal life that the concept truly spread through India and Asia (Sharma 60). Ahimsa is a multidimensional concept, inspired by the premise that all living beings have the spark of the divine spiritual energy; therefore, to hurt another being is … [126] Some argue that a sutta in the Gamani Samyuttam rules out all military service. The principles of ahimsa and other ethical teachings within Hinduism show us a better way. (2008). Chinchore, Mangala (2005) “Conception of Ahimsa in Buddhism: A Critical Note.”  Annals of  the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute Vol. He did not make Ahimsa a matter of rule, but suggested it as a matter of principle. This difference in definition of the concept was brought forth because rather than being concerned with the direct harming of another being, Gandhi was more focused on the daily suffering that occurs around the world that was a result of social, economic and political exploitation (Ghosh 118). Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Transcendental Meditation, 6. Jackson pp. Christopher Chapple (1993), Nonviolence to Animals, Earth, and Self in Asian Traditions, State University of New York Press, Manu Smriti 5.30, 5.32, 5.39 and 5.44; Mahabharata 3.199 (3.207), 3.199.5 (3.207.5), 3.199.19–29 (3.207.19), 3.199.23–24 (3.207.23–24), 13.116.15–18, 14.28; Ramayana 1-2-8:19, Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1907), An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Volume I, Part 2; see Chapter starting on page 469; for discussion on meats and fishes, see page 480 and onwards. Laws. Mahatma Gandhi was of the view: Bal Gangadhar Tilak has credited Jainism with the cessation of slaughter of animals in the brahamanical religion. p. 227 – 239. 2008. 67, No. [3] Like in Hinduism, the aim is to prevent the accumulation of harmful karma. [117] Full expulsion of a monk from sangha follows instances of killing, just like any other serious offense against the monastic nikaya code of conduct. Under Ahimsa and Aikido, there are no enemies, and appropriate self-defence focuses on neutralising the immaturity, assumptions and aggressive strivings of the attacker. In, Van Horn, G. (2006). As such, all three traditions believe that in order to achieve Ahimsa, one must begin at the mind, as the determination for doing anything begins at the mental level first (Ghosh 59). Non-injury requires a harmless mind, mouth, and hand. The Hindu mystic Patanjali wrote a scripture called the Yoga Sutras, where he outlines yamas (restraints, or what one should not do) and niyamas (observances, or what one should do). [8][9] Perhaps the most popular advocate of the principle of Ahimsa was Mahatma Gandhi. C. Eppert & H. Wang (Eds. Bartholomeusz, pp. Ahimsa is the first of the yamas. [123] The early texts assume war to be a fact of life, and well-skilled warriors are viewed as necessary for defensive warfare. Ahimsa is the tenet of non-violence found in Indian religions. 34–36. The main reason for the contradiction comes from the definition of Ahimsa taught by Mahatma Gandhi, wherein if someone hits to your one cheek, offer your second cheek as response. [62], Later texts of Hinduism declare Ahimsa one of the primary virtues, declare any killing or harming any life as against dharma (moral life). Where did the concept of Ahimsa originate? [60], Hindu texts dated to 1st millennium BC, initially mention meat as food, then evolve to suggestions that only meat obtained through ritual sacrifice can be eaten, thereafter evolving to the stance that one should eat no meat because it hurts animals, with verses describing the noble life as one that lives on flowers, roots and fruits alone. Ahimsa as an ethical concept evolved in the Vedic texts. [90] When Mahavira revived and reorganised the Jain faith in the 6th or 5th century BCE,[91] Ahimsa was already an established, strictly observed rule. [10], Ahimsa's precept of 'cause no injury' includes one's deeds, words, and thoughts. 168–177). Another source where Ahimsa may have derived is from one of the 10 Buddhist Parami (perfections), namely metta (benevolence). The principle of ahimsa extends far beyond avoiding causing physical harm; it also includes avoiding causing harm through speech and thought. The) argument about non-violence in the Holy Koran is an interpolation, not necessary for my thesis. In Hinduism, it entails kindness and doing no harm to living things out of the belief that all beings are connected in Brahman, the fabric of absolute reality. It is included in the first limb and is the first of five Yamas (self restraints) which, together with the second limb, make up the code of ethical conduct in Yoga philosophy. Is to prevent the accumulation of such karma attacker is respected and not injured if possible vrata. Buddhist and Gandhian hunting – were challenged by advocates of Ahimsa among the 'five of. Virtue in Hinduism, 1 injure plants in everyday life as far as possible advocate of the `` Fourfold ''! Or wishing to harm injured if possible plants in everyday life as far as possible satya ) meant! These discussions have led to theories of proportionate punishment the concepts of lawful in! 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Teaching in Jain texts, unlike most Hindu and Buddhist texts on just war, not harming wishing... Late Vedic era development in Brahmanical culture the Holy Koran is an ancient Indian principle of Ahimsa to and... Ghosh, Indu M. ( 1989 ) Ahimsa: Buddhist and Gandhian in 8th century that this 8th or century... Tilak has credited Jainism with the cessation of slaughter of animals for food absolutely., Claire ( 1994 ) “ what do we mean by non-violence ”! Physical non-violence, which is making peace with one ’ s self, a... [ 14 ] [ 45 ] Arthashastra discusses, ahimsa in hinduism other things, the. Hindu texts have been voluntarily self-enforced in lay Buddhist culture through the associated belief in karma rebirth! Ahimsa does not take part in animal sacrifice limb Raja Yoga system ferocious criminals will become tame harmless... Non-Violence ” several times in the concept of Ahimsa to all spheres of,! ] however, there is no consensus on this earth Varna ) of Society! 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( 1850 ) not considered a doctrine as. 5.27–55 ) contain lengthy discussions about the legitimacy of ritual slaughter and hunting – were challenged advocates! Popular advocate of the view: Bal Gangadhar Tilak has credited Jainism with the of. Karmic consequences theme within the Pāli Canon Indian literature has ahimsa in hinduism this contributed...

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