Ahimsa

‘Ahimsa’ can de defined as non-harming.

‘A’ meaning not or against and ‘Himsa’ meaning harm, injustice or cruelty. ‘Ahimsa’ – do no harm. It is the basic act of loving yourself and being kind to yourself. John Kabat Zinn said it perfectly in his book, Wherever You Go There You Are:

Why not try to live (in such a way as) to cause as little damage and suffering as possible.

Ahimsa is the first and most important Yama of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras; it is the foundation that underpins the Eight Limbs. It asks that we think and say kind-hearted things to ourselves and others. Before we speak we can pass our words through these three helpful gates:

• is it necessary?
• Is it honest?
• Is it kind?

It begins with each of us: how we speak to ourselves, our thoughts, how we speak to others, our words, how we behave, our actions.

If we think and believe the world is a friendly place then we see more love around us; we give, we forgive and we act from spontaneous kindness and compassion. If we think the world is unkind then we build walls and barriers to love, which leads to disconnection, separation  and isolation. It really is all about love. Loving ourselves, loving each other and the world we live in.