Ahimsa
In Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism, ahimsa (Sanskrit for 'nonharm') is the ethical principle of not causing harm to other living beings.[1] Although one of the ten commandments of Christianity is thou shalt not kill, a majority of Christian clergy interpret their commandment as applying only to other human beings, but not necessarily to the animals. Thus, followers of religions that believe in ahimsa are generally vegetarian, whereas Christians may be meat-eaters.
Ahimsa's precept that humans should 'cause no injury' to another living being includes one's deeds, words, and thoughts.[2] Indeed, the Buddha taught that, since thought is prior to action, it is of paramount importance to cleanse one thoughts of harmful impulses. The Buddha also considered words capable of inflicting great harm; thus, the priority of attention to ahimsa, in Buddhisms, is in this order: 1) thoughts, 2) words, 3 deeds.
Classical Hindu texts like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, as well as modern scholars,[3] disagree about what the principle of ahimsa dictates when one is faced with war and other situations that require self-defence, as reflected in theories of just war.[4] While both the Buddha and Jesus advocated complete non-violence even when personally attacked, Buddhist and Christian leaders and followers have often chosen to stray from those teachings.
Notes
- ↑ Encyclopedia Britannica [https://www.britannica.com/topic/ahimsa article on ahimsa, last access 12/4/2020
- ↑ Kirkwood, W.G. (1989). "Truthfulness as a standard for speech in ancient India". Southern Communication Journal 54: 213–234. DOI:10.1080/10417948909372758. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Struckmeyer, F.R. (1971). "The 'Just War' and the Right of Self-defense". Ethics 82: 48–55. DOI:10.1086/291828. Research Blogging.
- ↑ (2012) "Violence in the Vālmı̄ki Rāmāyaṇa: Just War Criteria in an Ancient Indian Epic". Journal of the American Academy of Religion 80: 659–690. DOI:10.1093/jaarel/lfs036. Research Blogging.