“I send out the rain of blessings to all, that love be nourished in hearts that, heretofore, have known only hate.”
(from Affirmations for Self-Healing by Swami Kriyananda)
On the Road to Ahimsa
a personal reflection by Nayaswami Pushpa
Ahimsa, or non-injury, requires consciously being aware of the impact of our thoughts and actions on ourselves as well as others. It takes inner strength and commitment to regularly examine our thoughts, identifying which ones expand or contract our consciousness.
For example, I had just been thinking recently how smoothly things were going in my life. (I should know by now what follows that thought, because it bears a repetitive pattern. Divine Mother waits patiently for that thought to surface. It indicates to her that I am starting to rest on my laurels, and that I’m ready for my next challenge or spiritual test.)
And so it began. . . . Suddenly, my emotions imploded! I felt an intensity of anger I hadn’t felt in years. Unkind thoughts passed through my mind. Then I was sad and disappointed in myself for being out of harmony. Then I got upset with myself for beating myself up! Round and round it went–I thought I was done with reacting that way. But apparently there were more levels to traverse–it was indeed a downward spiral! As I was mulling over these thoughts I became aware that I was starting to feel sorry for myself. That got my immediate attention. I realized I was injuring myself with my own thoughts!
I asked myself, Is thinking this way making me happy? The universe answered with a resounding “No!” So I asked myself why I was continuing to go down the road to unhappiness. And I had a long talk with Divine Mother. I gave all judgmental, angry, and unkind thoughts back to God and took the road to ahimsa. And—lo and behold!—all of God’s creation surrounded me with love and joy.
Prayer
“Divine Mother, when others seek to hurt me, give me the wisdom to see that victory lies in blessing them, not in revenge. If I respond with anger, the loss will be mine, even if mine also is the outward victory, for inwardly I will have been hurt indeed. But if I return blessings for their blows, I shall remain ever safe within the impregnable walls of my inner peace.”
(from Affirmations for Self-Healing by Swami Kriyananda)
Non Injury - Affirmations for Self Healing
An affirmation by Swami Kriyananda
Non-Violence
by Nayaswami Pushpa
In Autobiography of a Yogi Paramhansa Yogananda relates the following story:
“‘It was the gentle hour of dusk. My guru was matchlessly interpreting the ancient texts. At his feet, I was in perfect peace. A rude mosquito entered the idyl and competed for my attention. As it dug a poisonous hypodermic needle into my thigh, I automatically raised an avenging hand. Reprieve from impending execution! An opportune memory came to me of one of Patanjali’s yoga aphorisms — that on ahimsa (harmlessness).”’
“Why didn’t you finish the job?”
“Master! Do you advocate taking life?”
“No; but the deathblow already had been struck in your mind.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Patanjali’s meaning was the removal of desire to kill.” Sri Yukteswar had found my mental processes an open book. “This world is inconveniently arranged for a literal practice of ahimsa. Man may be compelled to exterminate harmful creatures. He is not under similar compulsion to feel anger or animosity.”
In Swami Kriyananda’s book Demystifying Patanjali, he states, “The important thing is not to wish harm to anyone—not even . . . to inanimate objects.” He goes on to say, “Paired with harmlessness, of course, is the quality of kindliness, for as one ceases to wish harm, there naturally appears in the heart a feeling of deep benevolence for all.”
May we all be aware of this benevolence, and consciously direct it to all who are in need.
One Comment
Ah, Kindness- a beautiful and noble quality. Swamiji said kindness was one of his legacies. As for the downward spiral, I think we can all relate! Thank you for the humorous and humble sharing, Pushpa.