Yama 1 - Ahimsa (nonviolence)

Ahimsa (Non-Violence): is the ability to react in a non-threatening manner to stimulus contrary to our conditioning, controlling anger, frustration, giving positive feedback.

To understand non-violence, one must understand violence and its relationship to anger, fear, frustration, ambition and power.

Violence covers a vast spectrum, from subtle abuse to genocide where entire populations are exterminated. It also includes killing of animals, plants and all elements of nature with which we need to live in harmony. It includes injury to oneself.

Control is extremely difficult but this element is the key to progress in stress management and Situational Awareness.

Ahimsa would include the following capabilities:

• Ability to regard the other’s point of view before reacting.
• Ability to control an emotional hijack when faced with fear, anxiety, frustration and loss.
• Ability to respond in a non-threatening manner to stimulus when it is contrary to our conditioning.
• Ability to give feedback without losing control of the process.

There are 3 types of violence: Tamasic (confused), Rajasic (Passionate) & Sattvic (Balanced).  

Tamasic violence comes out of lack of knowledge and is driven primarily by fear and confusion. 

Example: All forms of segregation and separation, whether of colour, caste, religion or creed arise out of ignorance because there can be no difference between living beings. 

Rajasic violence primarily out of passion and is driven by emotions such as anger, lust, greed, ambition etc.  

Example: All forms of sexual assaults are driven by Rajas. 

Sattvic violence is very difficult to achieve and is characterized by high communication and patience. 

Example: A parent scolding a truant child. When the parent is trying to push his or her own agenda on the child, then it is Tamasic. When the parent scolds the child because he or she is afraid of what society will say, then it is Rajasic. When the parent scolds the child for deviation of a value that has been explained often, then the reason is Sattvic. This is characterized by the parent trying to separate the person from the problem. Violence is used as a tool to drive home a point after various methods such as sama (discussion), dana (inducement), bedha (discord) have failed. 

Anecdotes, experiences and situations to help understand… 

Situation 1: Citation for Param Vir Chakra (India’s highest award for gallantry in battle) awarded to COMPANY QUARTER MASTER HAVILDAR ABDUL HAMID, 4 GRENADIERS reads: 

At 0800 hours on 10 September 1965, enemy forces launched an attack with a regiment of Patton tanks on a vital area ahead of village Cheema on the Bhikkiwind road in the Khem Karam Sector. Intense artillery shelling preceded the attack. The enemy tanks penetrated the forward position by 0900 hours. Realising the grave situation, Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid who was commander of an RCL gun detachment, moved out to a flanking position with his gun mounted on a jeep, under intense enemy shelling and tank fire. Taking an advantageous position, he knocked out the leading enemy tank and then, swiftly changing his position, he sent another tank up in flames. By this time, the enemy tanks in the area spotted him and brought his jeep under concentrated machine-gun and high explosive fire. Undeterred, Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid kept on firing on yet another enemy tank with his recoilless gun. While doing so, he was mortally wounded by an enemy high-explosive shell. 

Havildar Abdul Hamid’s brave action inspired his comrades to put up a gallant fight and to beat back the heavy tank assault by the enemy. His complete disregard for his personal safety during the operation and his sustained acts of bravery in the face of constant enemy fire were a shining example not only to his unit but also to the whole division and were in the highest traditions of the Indian Army. 

Situation 2: In 1303 AD, Ala-ud-din, the Sultan of Delhi besieged Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India, (which was under the control of Rajput Rana Rawal Ratan Singh) because he desired Rani Padmini, the queen of Chittorgarh and a famed beauty. Frustrated in the siege, he ultimately agreed to have a glimpse of Rani Padmini in a mirror. But the Sultan, on seeing the image, was besotted by the queen and reneged and invaded Chittorgarh again. Realising the impossibility of the situation, the Rajputs decided to commit Jauhar and Saka. The women committed ritual suicide (jauhar) within the fort while the men sallied forth to certain death (saka).  

The Rajputs committed jauhar again on 8 March 1535 when Bahadur Shah attacked Chittorgarh and on 22 February 1568 when Akbar attacked the fortress.

• Conditioning or dharma in violence: Generally, violence disturbs peace. Can violence be used to protect dharma? 
• Is a soldiers sacrifice for his country (called veergati (veer=valour + gati = way) an act of ahimsa?  
• What is the value of fear in non-violence? How does fear change individuality? How does fear become part of our conditioning? 
• Can a fight for freedom through violence, even defensive action be termed as non-violence? 

Share your opinion and experiences: 

• Can we control anger? What is the source of anger? How do we control it? 
• What is anxiety? How does it manifest as a reaction?  
• What happens when things go wrong? How do we cope? 
• How important is communication in managing anger? 
• Importance of patience in management of violence. 
• Does our ability to control violence improve with age? 
• Is killing for food himsa (violence)? 
• Is satyagraha or non-violent protest himsa or ahimsa? Remember – a protest or strike provokes another into reacting. So, when one’s actions provokes a violent reaction, is it violence or non-violence? 
• Is killing for God or religion OK? 
• How do you convert an anger emanating from fear or confusion to justifiable anger, if such a thing is possible? Try it today...