Ahimsa is more than do no harm, cause no violence and ‘just be nice’. It encompasses a proactive stance of compassion, empathy, and action towards all beings.
It encourages us to cultivate deep compassion and empathy, enabling us to understand the struggles and injustices that others face. When we see through other’s eyes and feel their pain as our own, it leads us from being passive observers to active participants in the fight against all injustices.
It asks us to look inward and find our own biases and prejudices. The ways we may even now be accidentally causing harm through our tiny lens of only the life we’ve lived, the lessons we have learned, what we have experienced. We confront and transform these biases to compassion, to understanding, and this makes us more effective allies to those who need them. We are able to support others in a genuine way, informed by our commitment to equality and justice.
Ahimsa is not silent. Compassion is not passive. Using the voice we have been granted to speak out from a place of kindness and respect teaches us to use our words and actions to heal, instead of harm.
What could this look like? We are called to nonviolent actions as the means to bring social change. Peaceful protests, advocacy, calling or emailing our lawmakers, supporting organizations that fight discrimination as well as continually educating ourselves and others about these issues. It's hearing or reading that bigoted or racist comment and choosing love instead of comfort, and speaking up. Voting for laws that do not enable violence and discrimination against anyone.
We stand with the oppressed and the hurting and work together to dismantle injustice and inequality.
In its truest form, ahimsa dictates standing up for those who are powerless or voiceless... This is not an option, but a moral imperative. It compels us to act with courage and love, using our voices, our actions, and our lives to create a world that reflects the values of justice, equality, and compassion for all.
If we lived Ahimsa, we would not place judgment on those who don’t look like us, who don’t love like us, or who don’t live like us. Because none of that matters. We are all interconnected, linked by our very existence, our humanity.
If we lived Ahimsa, we would teach our children and they would not be harming other children simply because they’re different.
If we lived Ahimsa, lawmakers wouldn’t be making laws that actively harm others.
If we lived Ahimsa, we would not judge other people by putting them in our spot, determining whether that’s what YOU would do bearing in mind the experiences you’ve lived. Instead, we would put ourselves in their shoes and find compassion in what THEY have experienced instead.
Ahimsa is action.
What action are you taking every day to make this life one step closer to one of love, harmony, justice and equality?