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A LECTURE ON AHIMSA
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place required boating them, cutting the limbs of animals, overburdening them, giving them insufficient and untimely food and the like.
Ahimsa is the highest Dharma as Himsa is the greatest Sin. Because, life is dear to all and every living being cares for its life first and foremost. Nobody loves anything more than his life. The greatest and the most valuable possession of a man, animal or bird is his life. So to deprive one of that possession is the greatest sin. Speaking falsehood, stealing, unchastity and excessive attachment for worldly things are also said to be forms of himsa. Because in all these cases as also in the case of committing himsa a man does injury to his self before he does any injury to others.
There is nothing impossible for a man who follows the doctrine of Ahimsa perfectly. Mahabharata says, “Ahimsa is the highest Dharma, Ahimsa is the control of Senses, Ahimsa is the greatest Gift and Ahimsa is the greatest Penance.” The soul of a man who practises Ahimsa becomes purer and purer and gradually attaius Divine Perfection. All the living beings derive pleasure in his presence and are friendly towards one another. Having realised godhood he becomes emancipated. Ladies and Gentlemen,
I fear I have taken much of your time. Let me conclude with a brief summary. There are infinite souls in the universe. They are existing from eternity and will continue to exist for ever. Every soul is potentially divine. But according to its karma it is born as a celestial, human, sub-human or hellish being. When the soul becomes free from karmas, it realises the Divinity in itself and becomes emancipated. The first step towards this realisation is Ahimsa or NonInjury. Himsa is hurting any of the vitalities of a living being. Abstention from himsa is Ahimsa. Practice of Ahinisa purifies the soul and helps one to realise the Divinity in him.
Sisters and Brothers, Before I resume my seat, I thank you for your patient hearing.
29 Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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