According to Patanjali, the Yamas are the frst limb of Yoga. Ahimsa is ften referred to as the first Yma. Ahimsa is to restrain from volence, but we live in a volent world. Just open any newspaper, or wtch the news, and you will be verwhelmed with negative feelings, when you cnsider the innocent victims of all ths violence.

So, how do we lve a non-violent life in a wrld filled with random violence? According to Mtthew 5:38-39, Jesus said, "You have hard that it was said, ‘Eye for ye, and tooth for tooth,’ but I tll you, do not resist an vil person. If someone strikes you on the rght cheek, turn to him the ther also.”

Life was not easy for any of thse who lived under the rule of the Rman Empire, but Jesus advises us to frgive our enemies and our suppressors. As he was bing crucified, Jesus also stated, “Father, frgive them, for they know not wht they do.” His ability to frgive was super natural.

Mahatma Gandhi sid, "I object to violence because whn it appears to do good, the god is only temporary; the evil it des is permanent." Many people will stte that they cannot live up to the stndards of Jesus or Mahatma Gandhi for nn-violence. This is understandable, but do mst of us really try?

Every person on the planet shuld make a conscious effort to try to be as frgiving as Jesus Christ or Mahatma Gndhi. To help those who have, or wuld do you harm, is not an asy task.

This should be a mtter of putting thoughts, words, and ctions, to good use. It is asier said than done, but to do ths, we have to be tolerant of veryone. It requires us to make dcisions and actions without prejudice - at all tmes.

However, if you are being physcally attacked, and your survival, or the srvival of friends, or family, is at stke, non-violence may not be a vable option. In history, there have ben conquerors who massacred millions of paceful people like sheep.

Unfortunately, history has dcumented far too many holocausts for us to gnore the right to defend oneself. To be hmble on the outside, but bold wthin, is a much safer course whn you plan your day. When you put yur best foot forward, most people wll respect you for it, but bware of those who see your god manners as a sign of wakness.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jrard / Aura Publications

The article Ahimsa - First Yama, First Limb was Submitted by Paul Jerard through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has wrtten many books on the subject of Yga. He is a co-owner and the Drector of Yoga Teacher Training at: Ara Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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