Gandhi 's concept of ahimsa offers a guiding principle for navigating the unruly waves of contemporary challenges. Ahimsa, non-harm or nonviolence , was central to Gandhi's philosophy and instrumental in his approach to social and political activism. Often, parties to conflicts seek to settle matters by force, which escalates the issue or sows the seeds of future strife. Ahimsa advocates for an approach that involves understanding, empathy, and dialogue. It encourages seeking common ground and addressing grievances without inflicting harm. The principle of ahimsa goes beyond the absence of physical violence to encompass social justice and human rights. It allows individuals and societies to confront injustice, inequality, and discrimination through nonviolent means. Gandhi's vision of ahimsa also encompassed the global environment, emphasising respect for all forms of life and the natural world.
In the context of contemporary environmental issues such as climate change, deforestation, and the loss of biodiversity, ahimsa advocates for sustainable practices that minimise harm to the planet. This includes adopting lifestyle changes that reduce unnecessary resource consumption and help us live in love and harmony with nature.
The application of ahimsa on the personal level involves fostering kindness and compassion in our interactions with others. In a world of increasingly prevalent interpersonal conflicts, adopting ahimsa in daily life enhances our relationships and overall well-being. Practising nonviolence involves refraining from physical aggression and avoiding verbal abuse, emotional manipulation, and other forms of harm.
Ahimsa also encourages self-compassion, urging people to extend the same kind of kindness, understanding, and treatment they expect from others. This principle is increasingly relevant in today's fast-paced, high-pressure environment, where stress and mental health challenges are widespread. But many of the benefits of ahimsa can be reaped only when it becomes a part of our lives and does not just remain a concept eulogised in books and seminars.
Ahimsa starts with each one of us. Just as wars begin in men's minds, ahimsa also originates in our minds. We must recognise the roots of violence, which arise in the mind due to inner vices such as anger, ego, hatred, and lust. The Bhagwad Gita tells us that vices cloud our judgment, leading to vicious actions and a circle of suffering.
The first act of violence is committed against the conscience, which is often ignored or suppressed when it alerts us to the harm our negative thoughts may cause. When a chain of damaging thoughts is created, the negative feelings gain intensity and are expressed in various ways, ranging from an angry look to harsh words and wrong or criminal tendencies. The soul loses self-control and ends up scarred.
To regain its self-sovereignty and self-respect, the soul must first recognise its spiritual identity . When we accept and remember that we are souls, children of the Supreme Soul, and part of one spiritual family, the soul's core qualities of peace, love, purity, and truth come to the fore.
Regular practice of soul consciousness brings the realisation that true contentment, lasting peace, and pure love are within. Soul consciousness enables us to connect to and remember the Supreme Soul, our spiritual father. As His love, power, and virtues begin to flow into the soul - healing and empowering us through meditation - vices lose their hold on our minds, enabling us to transcend destructive emotions, and realise the Self. Ahimsa provides a framework for fostering peace. Gandhi's timeless wisdom reminds us that true peace and well-being are achieved not by force but through nonviolent means. 
Authored by: BK Brijmohan
(The writer is chief spokesperson, Brahma Kumaris Organisation, Mount Abu)
In the context of contemporary environmental issues such as climate change, deforestation, and the loss of biodiversity, ahimsa advocates for sustainable practices that minimise harm to the planet. This includes adopting lifestyle changes that reduce unnecessary resource consumption and help us live in love and harmony with nature.
The application of ahimsa on the personal level involves fostering kindness and compassion in our interactions with others. In a world of increasingly prevalent interpersonal conflicts, adopting ahimsa in daily life enhances our relationships and overall well-being. Practising nonviolence involves refraining from physical aggression and avoiding verbal abuse, emotional manipulation, and other forms of harm.
Ahimsa also encourages self-compassion, urging people to extend the same kind of kindness, understanding, and treatment they expect from others. This principle is increasingly relevant in today's fast-paced, high-pressure environment, where stress and mental health challenges are widespread. But many of the benefits of ahimsa can be reaped only when it becomes a part of our lives and does not just remain a concept eulogised in books and seminars.
Ahimsa starts with each one of us. Just as wars begin in men's minds, ahimsa also originates in our minds. We must recognise the roots of violence, which arise in the mind due to inner vices such as anger, ego, hatred, and lust. The Bhagwad Gita tells us that vices cloud our judgment, leading to vicious actions and a circle of suffering.
The first act of violence is committed against the conscience, which is often ignored or suppressed when it alerts us to the harm our negative thoughts may cause. When a chain of damaging thoughts is created, the negative feelings gain intensity and are expressed in various ways, ranging from an angry look to harsh words and wrong or criminal tendencies. The soul loses self-control and ends up scarred.
To regain its self-sovereignty and self-respect, the soul must first recognise its spiritual identity . When we accept and remember that we are souls, children of the Supreme Soul, and part of one spiritual family, the soul's core qualities of peace, love, purity, and truth come to the fore.
Regular practice of soul consciousness brings the realisation that true contentment, lasting peace, and pure love are within. Soul consciousness enables us to connect to and remember the Supreme Soul, our spiritual father. As His love, power, and virtues begin to flow into the soul - healing and empowering us through meditation - vices lose their hold on our minds, enabling us to transcend destructive emotions, and realise the Self. Ahimsa provides a framework for fostering peace. Gandhi's timeless wisdom reminds us that true peace and well-being are achieved not by force but through nonviolent means. 
Authored by: BK Brijmohan
(The writer is chief spokesperson, Brahma Kumaris Organisation, Mount Abu)
