Meaning of Ahimsa Essay - 1980 Words

Meaning of Ahimsa Ahimsa is a Sanskrit term that translates roughly into non-injury to living beings or dynamic harmlessness. Ahimsa tends to evoke images of monks wearing cloths over their faces to avoid breathing microscopic beings and sweeping the insects off the path in front of them as they walk so they wont accidentally crush one under their feet. One cannot easily live in todays world without causing some harm to other beings - but that does not mean we shouldnt try to keep it to a minimum. There are some relatively easy steps you can take to reduce the suffering in your wake. Practice of Ahimsa develops love. Ahimsa is another name for truth or love.†¦show more content†¦Ahimsa is the pivot and all virtues revolve around Ahimsa. Just as all footprints are accommodated in those of the elephant, so also do all religious rules become merged in the great vow of Ahimsa. Ahimsa is soul-force. Hate melts in the presence of love. Hate dissolves in the presence of Ahimsa. There is no power greater than Ahimsa. The practice of Ahimsa develops will power to a considerable degree. The practice of Ahimsa will make you fearless. He, who practices Ahimsa with real faith, can move the whole world, can tame wild animals and can win the hearts of all his enemies. He can do and undo things. The power of Ahimsa is infinitely more wonderful and subtler than electricity or magnetism. The law of Ahimsa is as much exact and precise as the law of gravitation. You must know the correct way to apply it intelligently and with scientific accuracy. If you are able to apply it with precision, you can work wonders. You can command the elements and Nature as well. Forms of Ahimsa Only the ordinary people think that Ahimsa is not to hurt any living being physically. The vow of Ahimsa is broken even by showing contempt towards another man, by entertaining unreasonable dislike for or prejudice towards anybody, by frowning at another man, by hating another man, by abusing another man, by speaking ill of others, byShow MoreRelatedGandy and the Ahimsa Philosophy Essay844 Words   |  4 Pagesbeliefs developed in the search of truth and non violence, or ahimsa, the opposite being himsa. Ahimsa is simply defined as to not injure, and himsa defined as to injure. Ahimsa is also referred to as nonviolence, according to many religions (Indian) it applies to all living beings including. â€Å"Ahimsa is a comprehensive principle. We are helpless mortals caught in the conflagration of himsa. The saying that life lives on life has a deep meaning in it. Man cannot for a moment live without consciouslyRead MoreGandhi Satyagraha1402 Words   |  6 Pagesnon-violenc e, and finally, we will take a look at the application of Satyagraha in terms of the Indian liberation. The Roots of  ¡Ã‚ ®Satyagraha ¡Ã‚ ¯ The word Satyagraha is derived from the Sanskrit words sat which means truth and agraha, meaning firmness ¡Ã‚ ±, giving meaning to what Gandhi liked to call  ¡Ã‚ °holding on to truth ¡Ã‚ ± or  ¡Ã‚ °soul-force (Easwaran, 48). As Gandhi explains in his autobiography, the principles of Satyagraha came into existence long before the actual term was conceived. Therefore itRead MoreGandhis Philosophy of Non-Violence818 Words   |  4 Pageshistory and fittingly has a place in the pantheon of the visionaries who changed the world. His philosophies of ahimsa and satyagraha, meaning non violence and non violent resistance respectively as a form of civil resistance and disobedience is one of the most prominent and most renowned for its massive implementations throught history. This essay’s aim is to describe the basic principles of ahimsa (non-violence) as it was introduced by Gandhi and bring to light one very important aspect of his teachingsRead More Gandhi’s Key C oncepts of Passive Resistance, Non-violence, and Self-rule1344 Words   |  6 Pagesduring the Indian independence movement. He is also known as Mahatma which means â€Å"The Great Soul†. He was committed to pacifism, that there should be no violence.(1) He had three concepts to follow in his life for independence of India: Satyagraha, Ahimsa and Swaraj. Gandhi introduced the concept of â€Å"Satyagraha† that means â€Å"passive resistance†. This passive resistance also means ‘soul force’ or ‘truth force’. The words satya means truth and Agraha means insistence, or holding firmly to (2). ForRead MoreThe Five Yamas of Hatha Yoga Essay991 Words   |  4 PagesSanskrit word, yug, meaning union and it means the joining of the individual spirit with the universal spirit. The type of yoga known as Hatha Yoga, (Ha- sun, tha-moon) is what is most commonly practiced and this yoga involves the path of the mind and body and is the most physical. There are eight limbs or steps of Hatha Yoga, the first step being the five Yamas. There are five yamas and these concern your behavior to the world. The first of the yamas is Ahimsa, whose translation fromRead MoreJainism Essay1376 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent meanings. It is used in most of the philosophies or religions originating in India, like Hinduism and Buddhism. Jainism is a very strict and intricate religion and its followers are big believers in peace and non violence. Jains believed that the first person to receive the philosophy of Jainism was a person by the name of Lord Rishabha. Lord Rishabha was the first Tirthankar of the Jain religion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Rishabha). Tirthankar stands for fordmaker meaning thatRead MoreThe Influences of Nature In Hinduism1020 Words   |  4 Pagesdetail and how he feels about them. The traditions of Hindusim that are influenced by nature has an effect on everything they believe in. Ahimsa is doing good deeds or non-harm to anything in this world. Through ahimsa Hindu people can achieve moska. However, there are more rules than just being nice to work through the caste system in Hinduism. Even though ahimsa is non-harmful there are many strict ideas on what exactly is harmful. Himsa can postpone moska, himsa is the deed of doing harm or injuryRead MoreMahatma Gandhi : The Hero Of The Indian Independence Struggle1723 Words   |  7 Pages(Service) and Ahimsa (Non-violence). Mahatma Gandhi claims that by implementing and strictly following even one of these values in one’s life, they will become a good person, and â€Å"Bad Karma† can be avoided. Mahatma Gandhi, originally named Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, says he was recognised and received the title â€Å"Mahatma† (meaning great soul) by following 2 of these virtues. He practiced â€Å"Ahimsa†-- meaning non violence of one s actions, words, and thoughts-- and â€Å"Satya†-- m eaning truth. MahatmaRead MorePersonal Worldview Inventory : Spirituality961 Words   |  4 Pagesopinion, spirituality is the way of existing in the society and the world because every human being learn to adjust in the society from their religious beliefs and value systems which are unique among various people. Spirituality helps to find the meaning of different circumstances of the individual’s life, which provides better solution of any problem in their life. Similarly, spirituality explains the human boundaries which promotes the safety and belongingness among various people. Also it is theRead MoreJainism Is The Last Of The Great Teachers1575 Words   |  7 Pageswords and imagery, the Jains have put many of them into a different context. Some of the main symbols and meanings of those symbols for Jainism include the shape of human torso which represents the shape of universe. The small arc at the top of the Jain emblem representing the realm of heaven. The three dots depicting the â€Å"three jewels†, which themselves stand for major tenants of Jainism: Ahimsa: non-violence; all things deserve to live evolve as they can Aparigrapha: non-attachment, â€Å"travel light