Day 19. Pride and Prejudice - 4

Ahimsa is considered as the greatest virtue, which is repeated time and again at least in our country. A country which was born with lot of Himsa, the actual reality today is nothing great to recount.

          अहिंसा परमो धर्मः

But in Mahabharat it is addressed as the virtue of a Brahmin, meaning one who has taken birth in that caste or one who is seeking Brahman, i.e., a sanyasin. For them Ahimsa is paramo Dharma.

( However , Ahimsa is not definitely  prescribed for kings/rulers , soldiers/ policemen, householders etc., more so in a terrorist ridden world of today).

What is ahimsa= non- injury to other beings.

 No injury should be caused to any one by manasa, vacha, karmana…. Thinking, speech, or actions.

This is indeed a very tall order for normal people. even if one is not causing physical or oral harm, how many can say that they are free of harmful thoughts?

How many were truly happy with others progress in life= their education, promotions, children, cars, houses, foreign postings, wealth, marriage celebrations, vacations- list can be extended. How many had heart burns on account of others progress- be they are relatives’ siblings, neighbors, colleagues in office or persons at large.

That is the true test of Ahimsa.

All will be mostly guilty of such thinking violence at one time or other. Honest self analysis only will reveal the truth. One has to do that patiently.

And as, indicated in the book- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne—which only reiterates the vedo-upanishadic declarations of yore, the bad deeds/thoughts will come back to harm, or haunt as that is nature’s way. Hence the said book cites that one should not have bad thoughts in life.

Ahimsa is the first Yama from Patanjali’s yoga sutras for manana and abhyasa—reflection and practice.

Hence, the need to ponder--- deeply and long… hurrying will not help in the spiritual quest. slow and steady will reach the goal.

Be happy. Be safe.

 8.30 AM