Ahimsa

Definition

Ahimsa is the practice of non-violence in thought, word, and action. It constitutes the first and most fundamental of the five yamas, the ethical restraints that form the first rung of Patañjali’s Ashtanga Yoga.

Etymology

The term comes from Sanskrit: a- (negation prefix) + hiṃsā (harm, violence). It literally means “absence of desire to cause harm.” The verbal root han means “to strike” or “to kill,” from which hiṃsā derives.

Context in the Yoga Sutras

Patañjali presents ahimsa as the first of the yamas in Sutra II.30. In Sutra II.35, he describes its fruit: ahiṃsā-pratiṣṭhāyāṃ tat-sannidhau vaira-tyāgaḥ — “When ahimsa is firmly established, hostility ceases in the presence of the practitioner.” This suggests that genuine non-violence transforms not only the individual but also their environment.

Vyasa, the classical commentator, considers ahimsa as the foundation of all other yamas and niyamas. Without it, the other practices lack grounding.

Practical Application

In daily life:

• Observe thoughts of judgment and criticism toward oneself and others
• Choose words that do not wound, even in disagreement
• Consider the impact of consumption choices on other beings
• Practice self-compassion, avoiding mental self-punishment

In relationships:

• Listen without interrupting or preparing defensive responses
• Express disagreements without attacking the other’s dignity
• Respect one’s own and others’ boundaries

In difficult situations: Ahimsa does not mean passivity nor allowing abuse. Danilo Hernández notes that sometimes firm action is necessary to prevent greater harm. The key lies in acting without hatred or desire for revenge.

Relationship with Yoga Practice

In āsana practice, ahimsa manifests as respect toward the body: not forcing postures, accepting the day’s limitations, avoiding competitiveness. Every time the ego pushes beyond what is safe, ahimsa invites us to step back.

In prāṇāyāma, it means not forcing the breath or creating tension in the attempt to control it.

The Bihar School of Yoga emphasizes that ahimsa begins with oneself. Without inner peace, it is difficult to radiate peace outward. The practitioner first cultivates kindness toward their own mind and body, and from there extends it to the world.