Getting Yoga Ready (1) - Ahimsa

There are many things / activities that are touted not just as an activity, but as a lifestyle by itself. Like, "running life style", or "Page 3 lifestyle" or the "corporate life style", to name a few. But all these lifestyles have an unwritten code of rules that one has to adhere to, so that they can fit in and function well. I can't be a runner if I don't adhere to the basic discipline of strengthening my body. I can't be a socialite if I don't understand and play with the social etiquettes and power politics.

But when we say yoga as a life style, it comes with a well defined, codified set of ethics that one must follow to call himself / herself a true yogi. They are the first two limbs of the 8 limbs or "ashtanga" of yoga, codified by Saint Patanjali. The restraints and observances, or the don'ts and dos or the Yamas and Niyamas. Complementing each other and strengthening each other, they set very high standards for any spiritual aspirant. Applying these yamas and niyamas in our day to day life will definitely make our lives more introspective, conscious and free of unnecessary disturbances. It declutters our minds and thus, our lives.

It is also interesting to note that these are the two limbs that come first, acting as a solid foundation to the third and fourth limbs -asana and pranayama (the physical postures and the breath control exercises). To expect results only from the third and fourth limbs of yoga, without diligently working on the first two limbs simultaneously is like building a tall building with weak foundation. And as with any construction, if sufficient care and effort is invested in getting the foundation right and solid, we can be rest assured that the resulting building will be strong.

Here, I attempt to reflect on the yamas and niyamas as I understand and try to apply them in my life. I draw huge inspiration from the writings of Swami Sivananda to understand and grasp the breadth and depth of these codes.

The yamas comprises of 5 codes. They are

1. Ahimsa (Non Violence)
2. Sathya (Truth)
3. Astheya (Non coveting / non stealing)
4. Brahmacharya (controlling the senses)
5. Aparigraha ( Non greed)

These are loose translations of the words, based on the essence that the code talks about.

AHIMSA
(Non Violence in thought, speech and action)

Being an Indian, this is one word that we all are familiar with. We won our independence through non violent movement. How to translate this in our day to day lives? Himsa, means to trouble or inflict pain - on all levels -physical, mental emotional. So, to observe ahimsa means to not inflict pain -not only on fellow humans, but on all forms of life and even the elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) from which this gross body of life forms manifest. The sages say that even being a silent witness to an act of violence, without taking any effort to stop it, is also an act of violence by itself! Whew!

So, I can safely say that ahimsa not just means that I don't go and hit someone or torture someone physically, but I restrain myself from speaking harsh words, having violent thoughts or desires to inflict pain, from acting in such a way that I purposefully hurt someone. I try and intervene whenever violence or pain is inflicted on others. This means, I automatically place a filter between my thoughts and actions (physical and verbal), so that I consciously avoid inflicting pain on others.

The easy part here is, to restrain myself from not initiating pain. But how do I react to the pain that I am subjected to? The most instinctive reaction in us to inflict pain on those who inflict pain on us. Hit the person who hit us. Throw back harsher words at those who pained us with harsh words. It is this instinct that has to be conquered. Any instinct in humans is an animal tendency -driven purely by self preservation.

While it is only natural to present arguments about how it is necessary to protect oneself and ahimsa in this day and age automatically means that you become a sitting duck for all the evil and atrocities that are out there. But on a little deeper reflection, one can understand that it is not so. Why should I invent an imaginary scenario where I am being harassed or picked up on and at that time, I am sitting like Buddha without any reaction and suffering silently? It is enough to know that, right now, if it is within my capacity, I practice non violence.

Also, Ahimsa is one of the reason why yoga lifestyle advocates a vegetarian lifestyle.

One big issue I face with this code is when I have to deal with pests. So, what helps to some extent is to adopt repelling tactics than to resort to killing tactics. Or as my Acharya puts it, "killing with compassion and not hatred."

What do I aim to achieve by practicing ahimsa?

Develop kindness and compassion. To rid myself of the lower tendencies fueled by hatred, anger etc. It makes one large hearted. Practicing compassion is impossible when I don't attempt to "understand" why a person is behaving the way he behaves. Only with understanding, can love and compassion have a true meaning. Else, I am only paying lip service and  trying to only "feel" or invoke the feeling of compassion and love, without actually experiencing it.

Ahimsa helps in raising above the animal instincts that are deep rooted in mental tendencies and make the mind more subtle and calm.

Om...peace!! peace! peace.