There appears to be a deep-seated misunderstanding in the yoga community about Non Violence or what we call Ahimsa. Ahimsa is one of the yamas or the personal code s of conduct for yogis. There are five codified by the Sage Patanjali. Generally, Ahimsa is translated as non-violence in thought, word, and deed. It’s really “non-injury.” Yama is “control.” Like all of yoga, it is a daily practice. Like all of yoga, it becomes easier and ultimately naturally arises with daily practice and then it becomes your first response. Until this happens, you will struggle to be non-violent.

Before I continue I would like you to understand three things about yourself. You are human. You are angel. You are demon. This never changes regardless of your practices. The human you is rajistic (heated). The angelic you is sattvic (pure). The demonic you is tamasic (dark). All energies are purified through yoga, meditation, and pranayama.

Ahimsa is collectively “up” for yogis because of the violence seemingly sweeping the world right now.   When, where, and how do we create actionable change? When, where, and how do we express ourselves? Ultimately, what do we do with the violence in our own heads? The answer to all is revealed in the last. Your violence (and theirs) lives in your head. It doesn’t live in your (or their) heart. Now you want to argue about this because some 20-year old violently ran down a bunch of peacefully protesting people, but you would still be wrong. When the truth reveals, if it ever does, we will find out the kid whose frontal lobe doesn’t fully even develop until age 25 was mentally ill, addicted to internet, lonely, and/or suffering. He attached to an ideology which gave him an identity. In his heart it probably felt like belonging and he mistook this for some odd form of love. That’s really how all of this happens. Brotherhood feels like love. Love connects us all. The brotherhood of all is universal truth or love.

Now most are angry at this kid, but it’s the aberration that drives through a crowd of people. You might look at those unhooded white, disenfranchised, and arguably spoiled men and be disgusted, but they too are the aberration. In fact, I would argue if you disengage them from their growing presence on the internet, the violence in their disturbed minds would settle and their heart’s longing for peace, love, and harmony would prevail. They are not different than you or I as hard as this is to swallow.  You are as dark in your heart as they are.  Your mind is simply less disturbed.

Much confusion is coming from the misperception we are supposed to sit with our emotions as they arise. Yogis don’t do that. We don’t sit with emotions and let them dissipate.  Sitting with anger might make the anger feel like it’s going away, but it’s not.  Yogis eat life. We are active and create actionable change utilizing Kundalini or the creative manifest force of the divine. The same sage who codified yoga, Patanjali, and came up with the yogi code of conduct also gave you the practices so your first response without thought…without sitting in your emotions…would be nonviolence. It’s called “ACTING in opposition to.” Otherwise known as fake it until you make it.  And you must have a daily meditation practice.

Just to make a subtle point here:

MOST people will fail to self-realize because they fail to

move beyond the relaxation benefits of meditation and yoga. 

Here’s the practice:

CONTROLLING YOUR THOUGHTS….Do this for a week

  1. At all times, monitor your thoughts and notice if you have a theme. There is usually 1 – 3 overriding themes.
  2. In the moment, notice what you are thinking about.
  3. Classify as “past, present, or future”
  4. Take any one thought all the way to completion and put a “.” at the end of the sentence.  Rest in the silence that follows.

ADD TO THE ABOVE PRACTICE BY FURTHER CATAGORIZING YOUR THOUGHTS….do this for a week

So, steps 1 – 4 and and now we add step 5

  1. Ask yourself if the completed thought was
    1. painful — not painful
    2. not useful — useful
    3. impure — pure
    4. troubled — not troubled
    5. negative – positive
    6. away from enlightenment — towards enlightenment
    7. resulting in bondage — resulting in freedom

ADD TO THE ABOVE PRACTICE BY FURTHER CATAGORIZING YOUR THOUGHTS….do this for a week

So, steps 1 – 5 and and now we add step 6, 7 &  8

6. Ask Yourself if your completed thought is

  • RIGHT: Based on proper perception, inference, knowledge
    • some thought are factually accurate or you can trust the truth as a guru told you.
  • WRONG: Based on incorrect perception
    • is it a snake or a stick on the path?
  • IMAGINED : Not Real
    • fantasy.  You freak out because your friend doesn’t text you back because the last friend who did this to you was mad at you…they must hate you.  Your friend actually lost their phone.
  • SLEEP: In a dream
    • too esoteric to discuss here.
  • MEMORY:  Based on the past
    • All thoughts arise from past experience.  Are you projecting?
  1. Act in opposition to the thought. (Fake it until you make it) Example, if thought is angry the opposite is acceptance. If thought is anxious the opposite is surrender to outcome. If thought is aggressive, the opposite is peaceful.
  2. if thought is useful it becomes either mantra or critical thinking resulting in actionable change.

In closing, let us all learn and heal together.  Blessings and peace to all who are suffering.  Blessings to Heather who peacefully resisted through nonviolent actions.   Pamela

Learn to be a yogi.

 

 

 

*The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda, yoga, and meditation. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.