“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”
-Lao Tzu (Chinese Philosopher and Father of Taoism)
Ahimsa is the ethical practice of compassion, of non-harming ourselves, others, or the world around us. It is about living peacefully with a non-judgmental and forgiving attitude. Ahimsa is one of the Yamas (moral values) found in the Eight Limbs of Yoga by Patanjali.
When we think negatively about ourselves, it undermines our self-esteem and self-confidence. Practising Ahimsa can help us feel more positive about ourselves, our situation and can positively impact our perspective on the world around us. We all make mistakes, that’s life. But if we do make a mistake, be compassionate, recognize the error and try to learn from the experience.
A great place to practise Ahimsa is on the yoga mat. By remembering Ahimsa on days when our practice is not what we wish it to be, we can learn to accept the situation with compassion. Ahimsa is about knowing and respecting our limits rather than pushing past them and risking injury. Ahimsa is also about knowing when to push ourselves a little more in order to stay fit. By listening to our bodies, our practice will be more sustainable as it grows more deeply and steadily.
Ahimsa in the time of Covid19
As the world grapples with the pandemic, we are learning how best to stay safe in this new environment. But the pandemic is affecting each of us differently. Extroverts who live alone risk compromising their mental health if they are too isolated. Introverts might love this time as they are happy to stay home. Families thrust together 24/7 may feel stressed and need some space. Others may be living with an immune disorder that makes the virus terrifying.
It is easy to pass judgment when some people take more risks than we are comfortable with, or when they are uncomfortable getting together when we are ready. We each have our own comfort levels. As important as it is to practise Ahimsa through mask-wearing and social-distancing, it is equally important to practise non-judgment of others. We may not agree with everyone’s choices, but we can live peacefully, while keeping ourselves safe.
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