Ahimsa
Also known as: Non-Violence, Non-Harming
Sanskrit: ahimsa, from a (not) and himsa (harm or injury).
Ahimsa is non-harming, the first and foundational yama in Patanjali's eightfold yoga path, extending beyond physical violence to include harm caused through speech, thought, and intention, toward oneself as well as others. It is also central to Buddhist and Jain ethics and was applied as a political principle by Mahatma Gandhi.
Traditional yoga teaching treats ahimsa as foundational to the other yamas and to the whole eightfold path, on the reasoning that ethical harm, whether through action, speech, or a harsh inner voice toward oneself, undermines the steadiness of mind the later limbs depend on. In modern practice, ahimsa is often extended to include self-compassion, examining habits of self-criticism or overexertion as a form of self-directed harm worth addressing alongside harm toward others.
As the first and most emphasized of the five yamas in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, ahimsa extends well beyond physical violence to speech and thought, including the harsh self-criticism many people direct at themselves during a demanding practice or a difficult season of life. Gandhi's use of ahimsa as satyagraha, organized nonviolent resistance, brought the word into global political vocabulary in the 20th century, a specific application that draws on the older yogic-ethical concept without being identical to it.
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Related Terms
Yamas and Niyamas
The yamas and niyamas are the first two limbs of Patanjali's eightfold yoga path, forming its ethical foundation. The five yamas, including ahimsa, non-harming, and satya, truthfulness, govern conduct toward others, while the five niyamas, including santosha, contentment, and svadhyaya, self-study, govern personal discipline and inner conduct.
Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga is the path of selfless action described in the Bhagavad Gita, teaching that one can attain spiritual liberation by performing one's duties and work without attachment to personal outcomes or reward, offering the fruits of action rather than grasping at them.