Yoga Sutra 2.35
ahimsa-pratishthayam tat-sannidhau vaira-tyagah As the one who practices Yoga becomes grounded in non-violence (ahimsa) all beings naturally lose any feelings of fear and hostility in their presence. To practice Ahimsa, a sanskrit word that means non-violence, is to actively choose behaviors, thoughts and intentions that are not violent and that do not cause others or ourselves suffering. Whe Whether we realize it or not, practicing ahimsa gives a strong foundation for our overall wellness, our release from tension, fear and suffering. Patanjali infers a great spiritual importance to the practice of ahimsa by putting it first in line in his model of awakening. It is possible that deep spiritual awakening is not accessible without first mastering this virtue. After all, violence causes fear and exacerbates suffering. Ahimsa, therefore, is a central characteristic of a yogic lifestyle. If we no longer steal, lie, or act greedily we lessen our own suffering and the suffering of others. They say in Ayurveda, the sister science to Yoga, “like increases like and opposites decrease� To invoke the opposite action when a behavior is unbalanced restores balance. This truth builds upon itself. Each moment we live with a commitment to non-harming, we reinforce the message that to cease harmful behaviors leads to the reduction, and potentially the end, of suffering and an increase in meaningful happiness and contentment. Feeling stressed? Fearful? Angry? Seeking deeper connection? Chant OM 108 times. Om is the mantra of universal consciousness. OM is the mantra of unity and when that mantra becomes the predominant focus of our minds, it fully supports our understanding and practice of ahimsa.
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