The document discusses the concept of ahimsa in Hinduism and its meaning and importance. It defines ahimsa as non-harm and cultivating compassion for all beings. It states that without non-violence, no living being can attain salvation. It provides examples of practicing ahimsa through kindness, meditation, following yamas and niyamas codes of conduct, various yoga practices, treating others with compassion, and considering vegetarianism.

1. By
Selvakumar,M

2.  Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word that literally means
non-harm.
 We use it as a term that implies an attitude of
well being for oneself and all others.
 It expresses
 cultivating compassion,
 a reverence for life,
 a protective caring for all beings.

3.  Without non-violence no living being can attain
salvation.
 Harming living forms in any way (accept for those
which are inevitable, like breathing kills
microorganisms but we can't stop doing so) increases
our sins, and hinders the way to ultimate path of
salvation.
 Even in normal lives, harming animals or humans is
not considered good, because there is something, a
quality of being a human (humanity), which separates
humans and animals.

4.  So, finally it can be concluded that
Ahimsa is a quality which makes us
human,
 but its meaning should not be limited to
just being a vegetarian, its above that, it
clears path to salvation, the ultimate
goal of any living being.

5.  One basic Ahimsa Practice that every
one can do is to cultivate kindness:
 Kindness towards oneself;
 kindness toward others.

6.  Mindfulness meditation, whether sitting,
standing or moving.
 Develops concentration, which allows us
to calm and steady the mind.
 It cultivates our natural wisdom and
compassion.

8.  Follow Hinduism's yamas, or
observances.
 These are paired with niyamas, or
prohibitions.
 Generally, both refer to codes of conduct
or Dharma.
 Ahimsa is one of the yamas.

9.  Practice any of the Hindu tradition's
yogas.
 These include Raja Yoga (the Royal
Way), Jnana Yoga (the Way of Wisdom),
Bhakti Yoga (the Way of Devotion) and
Karma Yoga (the Way of Duty).
 Devoted practice of any of the Hindu
paths to God-consciousness will lead
naturally to the practice of non-injury and
pure love.

10.  Treat others with compassion and kindness.
 Follow the Golden Rule. Ahimsa, as practiced
by Gandhi, was not passive, however, it was
active.
 For example; if you are threatened for
peaceful protest, simply go limp in the
policeman's grip. Do not resist nor surrender.

11.  Practice non-injury with the smallest of
living beings.
 Rather than killing an insect, remove it to
the outdoors.

12.  Consider vegetarianism.
 Hindu and Buddhist traditions all embrace
non-injury by this means.

13.  Practice kindness to yourself.
 Practice Buddhism's "rainbow light"
meditation, in which you visualize multicoloured light radiating within you,
outward to the world and back to you.
 Ironically, selflessness is a loving way to
treat yourself kindly.

14.  It is the principle of the pure in heart never to injure
others, even when they themselves have been
hatefully injured.
--Tiru Kural, Verse 312.
 If a man inflicts sorrow on another in the morning,
sorrow will come to him unbidden in the afternoon.
--Tiru Kural, Verse 319
 Do not injure the beings living on the earth, in the air
and in the water.
--Yajur Veda
 If the diet is pure the mind will be pure, and if the
mind is pure the intellect also will be pure.
--Manu Samhita