In a previous article, I discussed Ahimsa and explained the difficulty of practicing this basic Yama. Adhering to Ahimsa is very challenging when we feel threatened or attacked. Hence, we need to uproot all the seeds of Himsa (violence, the wish to harm) within us.
Deep in our consciousness, there are different kinds of seeds: seeds of negative qualities and seeds of positive ones. The practice of yoga is about developing and nurturing the good seeds, such as Ahimsa.
It is true that most people who come to yoga have good intentions and — under normal circumstances — will not be aggressive or violent. But there are subtler forms of Himsa that may still be present, and these subtle forms may sprout under certain circumstances. Subtle forms of Himsa can also be observed in our practice. Let us look at some of them.
Expecting and Demanding
Even if you are generally a kind and good person, you may not be kind to yourself. If you are not kind to yourself, then subtle Himsa is still present within you. If you do not accept and love yourself as you are, you will not be able to fully accept and love others as they are.
If you are in a position of authority and force your views on others, demanding that they behave in ways that do not suit them or align with their values, then there is subtle Himsa. You hurt other people through your demands.
For example, parents may expect too much from their children. Some parents demand that their children pursue a vocation or field of study that conflicts with the children’s tendencies and dispositions. If the parents are not attentive to the deep wishes of their children, or if they think they know better and pressure their children to conform to their demands, then they are behaving in a Himsa-like way.
In the same way, we can say that the mind holds a position of authority over the body. The mind tells the body what to do. If, in practice, we demand from the body things it cannot do, or things it is not inclined to do, or if we go against the true needs of the body at a specific time, then we attack the body and may injure it.
I remember B.K.S. Iyengar once said: “The wanting is from the brain, but the body cannot do.”
We should be kind to ourselves in our practice, consider our limitations and needs, and not demand from the body what it cannot do. This requires mindfulness and sensitivity.
Whenever we are not sensitive to our body — or, more generally, to other people, other creatures, or even the environment — there is the possibility of Himsa.
Don’t miss Eyal’s books…
Other Forms of Subtle Himsa
Two other subtle forms of Himsa are negligence and consuming others’ time and energy.
Sometimes, not doing an action that needs to be done can itself be Himsa. Ignoring or neglecting may harm more than deliberate harm.
For example, a worker may feel insulted if a colleague greets everyone upon entering the office but ignores that one worker.
Another example is failing to invite someone to an event to which they should have been invited.
Parents can seriously hurt their children if they ignore them, or if they give one child less attention than the others.
Generally speaking, if it is your responsibility to care for certain people and you avoid doing so, you may harm them.
If you talk without paying attention to whether your speech is meaningful or welcome to the listener, then you consume the listener’s time and energy. Maybe the listener wishes to remain silent, or perhaps your talk is not interesting to them, or even annoys them. This is a subtle form of Himsa, but we all know how irritating it can be.
If you are late to a meeting and everybody is waiting for you, then you are consuming their time. Time is a valuable resource. We can buy property, but we cannot buy time; therefore, we should be careful not to waste other people’s time.
Even giving, when done without sensitivity, can become Himsa. You may give in order to improve your self-image because you want to see yourself as kind and generous, yet you may do so without considering the receiver’s needs and wishes. The receiver may not need what you offer, or accepting the offer may embarrass them or make them feel inferior. In such cases, accepting what you want to give may actually make the receiver feel worse.
One may also injure through inappropriate sexual conduct; in certain situations, even staring can be offensive.
To Sum Up
We see that goodwill, important and necessary as it is, is not always enough. Sometimes even the best intentions may cause harm.
To practice Ahimsa, one must develop sensitivity. To establish true Ahimsa, you need to be sensitive both to yourself and to others.
Sensitivity requires presence. When the mind is filled with disturbing thoughts and worries, we are not truly in the moment, and we simply do not see clearly what is happening within us and around us.
To be sensitive, the mind should be alert, open, and quiet. One should remain in the present moment — the only time in which life actually happens.
The practice of all the limbs of yoga cultivates mindful presence and therefore supports Ahimsa. All the limbs of yoga support one another and should be practiced together.
Don’t miss Eyal’s online courses…
Leave a Reply