Practicing Ahimsa

fuckyeahyoga:

An excerpt. Love the idea of feeling a negative thought through sensation of the body before the thought manifests itself. 

Ahimsa is often translated as non-violence or non-hurting.   Pattabhi Jois (my go to guy for the most austere and conservative interpretations) notes in his book, Yoga Mala, that ahimsa is “no injury at any time for any reason, including in word or thought.”  So, the practice of ahimsa is not only to not hurt anyone or anything to the best of our ability but also to not think hurtful thoughts.   When I practice ahimsa, I need to eliminate injurious thoughts, potentially judging or critical thoughts- not only of another but of myself as well.
As a long time yoga practitioner, I am interested in the guidance of yoga as applied to all aspects of my life.  As Desikachar says, “we can understand yoga as a process of examining our habitual attitudes and behaviors and their consequences.”  Just with the intention of ahimsa as one of my vows, I have the ability to work with my mind-stuff, watching the thoughts roll in, examining them for worthiness.  I’ve found with my practice of ahimsa that I can generally catch a physical sensation just prior to the formation of an injurious thought, or, a thought that does not embody the qualities of ahimsa.  Being aware of this physical sensation I can often stop the thought before it forms.
Tags: yoga ahimsa pattabhi jois nonviolence desikachar