True Ahimsa – Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar, Professor, Editor and Linguist

Gandhi International Study and Research Institute, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

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True Ahimsa – Mahatma Gandhi

 

Jamshed Mehta, a true servant of humanity, sends me a rendering, received by him from a friend, of a discourse on ahimsa in Jnaneshwari Gita Chapter XIII. I have taken the liberty of further condensing it and putting it in a form perhaps more easily to be understood, without in any way marring the sense of the original. Those who still harbour untouchability in their bosoms will do well to test it on the touchstone provided by the great saint of Maharashtra. Is untouchability compatible with his definition of ahimsa? Let the extract speak for itself: Before considering what real ahimsa is, it is necessary to see what it is not. In order to secure a good rainfall, people perform what they call sacrifices in which they kill animals. This is not ahimsa. Is it not like cutting off one’s own hands so that they may be cooked and served as food? Is it wise to cut off all the branches of a tree, in order to put a fence round it, with those branches? Then, again, to save many people from diseases, people cut away whole trees, or take out all the bark, or make extracts of living animals and take out secretions from other creatures. Is it not like pulling down a house in order to build a verandah or shed for the house, and burning your clothes in order to have a fire to warm yourself? Real ahimsa or love originates in one’s heart and is known by one’s conduct even as gold is known by its qualities.

A man who is full of love never forgets that the world is full of life like his and takes great care that he does not harm any living thing. He sees his love reflected in the eyes of those whom he meets. He is the friend of all. As a cat holds her kittens between her teeth without hurting them, so does a man of love deal with all with whom he comes in contact. He walks gently and noiselessly lest his footsteps may disturb the sleep of others. He always makes room for those who need it. He so regulates his voice as not to jar on others. He is silent when he need not speak. His speech is never intended to offend anyone. He does not want to up-set other people’s plans or to frighten them. He never utters words which lead to discussions and disputations, or which hurt the feelings of others. There is no deceit in his talk, nor doubt not ambiguity. He never stares lest his stare may offend people. He does not move his hands aimlessly as he has no desire to harm even a mosquito. He does not carry even a stick, not to speak of other weapons. His hands are used only for salutation or service. These are but the outward signs of the inner abiding love as a plant is of the seed that has borne it. His mind is the Master of all the organs. Thus, real ahimsa is an attitude of the mind expressed through the different sense organs. He alone who is filled with love for all that lives and whose mind, speech and action are in full union is truly noble.

 

Reference:

Harijan, 10-11-1933