2-25 Ahimsa

I've been hearing about 'ahimsa' for as long as I can remember. This to me was a term and notion that was popularized by Gandhi. His nonviolent means brought an end to the British regime, and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi became Mahatama Gandhi. I was just a little kid, but I wanted to be 'Mahatama' Sharma. I chuckle at the thought, but what Gandhi did was simple. He stuck to his ideals, so I wanted to follow his. Ahimsa was still a mystery to me though. Finally, after ages of confusion, I have stumbled across an unglamorous ahimsa. In our Anthology, ahimsa was just a word, not Gandhi's legacy. Ahimsa is "not merely non-killing. In its comprehensive meaning, Ahimsa or non-injury means entire abstinence from causing any pain or harm whatsoever to any living creature, either by thought, word or deed" (Anthology, 235)

The Symbol for Ahimsa


This definition has the essence of a religious doctrine within it. The message is so powerful that I believe it should be it's own religion, the religion of love and compassion. When I say this, I think slightly of Jude the Obscure, right after Farmer Troutham beats him. Jude "was a boy who could not himself bear to hurt anything" (Anthology, 228). If you've read the story of Jude, it's apparent that he is filled with compassion. He is a true disciple of ahimsa.

Jude the Obscure


There are other true disciples of ahimsa in the east as well. As I said, Gandhi transformed this mere word into a symbol, and now, this symbol appears to be sparking its own religion, but what of Jainism, the religion that found the meaning of ahimsa powerful and moving enough to invent a new word? The simple answer to be look at the Jain guideline for ecological crisis.

Guideline 1: Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life (Anthology, 245).

Gandhi's Experience with Violence


It appears that the guideline if followed to the word would be an amazing feat, but how to do it?

Guideline 5: There is no absolute truth. No doctrine, theory, or ideology is perfect (Anthology, 245).

So even Jainism isn't perfect. How am I to follow something with flaws? Here St. Matthew deserves profound attention. "But I say unto you, that ye resist not the evil one: but whosever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also" (St. Matthew 5:39). So ahimsa is a must, but you also need love. I've heard that love is known as the 'Spirit of God.'

What is Love??


How amazing are humans as a species? We have the power to emulate the spirit of God and live with his peaceful essence, ahimsa. The journey to discover the true meaning of one word led me to the spirit of God. Truly, there is great power in words. In my opinion, there are two words that accompany an individual from obscurity to 'Mahatama,' ahimsa and love.