Ahimsa (Non-violence)

1) At the core of its teachings the Yoga Sutras instructs us in non-violence, both in thought and action, on every foreseeable level.  It has been said that if we can fully understand and live out this tenet then all other yogic principles will fall into place organically.  Similarly, after some trial and error, most raw-foodists learn that the diet is primarily centered around living in harmony with all creatures thereby moving within nature instead of against it. Importantly, the raw food diet is a plant-based vegan one that eschews the slaughter of animals for food.  

One is dearest to God who has no enemies among the living beings, who is nonviolent to all creatures -- Bhagavad Gita


God said, Behold, I have given you every seedbearing plant on the face of the earth, and every tree that has seedbearing fruit. It shall be to you for food. -- Genesis 1:29

As students of yoga philosophy we do not have to look very far to find that as human beings we are not meant to harm other beings, including animals. Patanjali, one of the fathers of modern day yoga, outlined the eight limbs, or tenets, of yoga in his classic thesis the Yoga Sutras. The very first of these limbs is Yama (or ethical, worldly disciplines). The very first of these disciplines is Ahimsa (or non-violence). The fact that Ahimsa appears as the forerunner is of major consequence and cannot be over emphasized. I've read that within the more esoteric branches of Judaism, where meditation is a common ritual, some practitioners use Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, as a symbol for concentration and meditation. It is said that within the shape and sound of the first letter is the key to the teachings of the whole Torah. Similarly, within the Yogic traditions it is said that if we can truly take Ahimsa into our hearts then all the rest of the Yogic texts and teachings will be easily practiced and understood.

On the surface the word Ahimsa may read like any other generic religious precept that instructs us not to hurt or kill our fellow man, but going deeper it is really a thought process, one that may take a lifetime to cultivate. How often do we catch ourselves entertaining hateful thoughts about someone, if only for a second, wishing them harm or hardship based on a very tiny grudge that we will probably get over in a matter of days? This type of mental violence is much more difficult to bring under control than physical violence but is of the utmost importance, because if we can bring our thoughts under control then our actions are more likely to live up to our values. We are all practicing yoga from moment to moment each day, not just from the time that we step into a yoga center until it is time to go off to lunch. If our yoga practice is meant to teach us anything it must be a practice that we integrate into every waking moment of our lives. This is not to say that we will never make mistakes, never get angry, never go off the path, but as long as we are aware of these lapses then we can look back at what occurred and learn an important lesson.

Physical actions and outward appearance tell us very little about the true nature of a person. You may be impressed with someone who can do advanced yoga asanas or sit silently for hours at a time, but if their hearts are filled with anger, jealousy, or regret then they have very little understanding of yoga or Ahimsa. This is why yoga can never be quantified or judged, you are the only person who knows at what level you are practicing. Similarly, the asanas should not be done in an aggressive or chaotic way. On a physical level Ahimsa teaches us to be conscious of every action, making our movements smooth, measured and graceful. There is nothing yogic about moving from posture to posture with sharp, jarring movements that put a strain on the joints of the body and send signals of fear to our nervous system as a whole.

Conversely, I have known certain long time yoga practitioners who take the idea of non-aggression so literally and to such an extreme that they become apathetic about the world around them. This may come about when we get too attached to our practice, never taking the time to measure our progress in the outside world. Living an ascetics life that is devoid of challenging relationships often gives us a false sense of how far we have come, as the very act of avoiding family, friends, and lovers becomes tantamount to avoiding our own deepest issues. It can be difficult to find the balance between having full faith in God's divine plan, thereby allowing atrocities to go unchecked, or striving for personal involvement in our local, national and world community. We must all find that balance for ourselves based on what we have time for, but to use yoga as a justification for inaction is simply an excuse founded in ignorance.

Non-violence does not mean non-political anymore than pacifism means indifference. The civil disobedience of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, for example, was a carefully calculated political statement that worked because they understood the basic yogic principle of "Satya" or truth. By demanding equality for all they were forcing their oppressors and their audience to recognize this obvious truth within themselves.

So practicing Ahimsa does not mean seeking a strategy for dropping out of society. It may be fruitful to do this for a few months or years to quiet our minds and further our studies but eventually it is important to test what we have learned in communities and cultures that may not fully agree with our point of view. By living a simple lifestyle we contribute to society with our everyday choices, and while this is important it can be too easily used as a rationale for doing nothing else. Keep a sharp eye out against complacency and stagnation, which may occur when we only share our thoughts with people who agree with us already.

 

The new vegetarian

I have no doubt that it is a part of the destiny of the human race, in its gradual improvement, to leave off eating animals. --Henry David Thoreau

There are many arguments that have been put forward favoring the vegetarian diet, including cruelty to animals, environmental issues, and health concerns, to name the top three. But for me the main reason to not kill and/or eat animals is simple - it is not necessary. It can never be argued that meat eating is a necessity for any ones health and survival.

Vegetarianism is no longer the latest fad or a fringe diet, this dietary system has been increasing in popularity for generations and there are too many examples of professional athletes and high energy, healthy people among us to mention. Some very active vegetarians include Edwin Moses (runner), Martina Navratilova (tennis player), Bill Pearl (bodybuilder), Steph Davis (Rock climber), Woody Harrelson (actor), Robert Parish (NBA champion), and Spock from the original Star Trek crew (who also happens to be the strongest of all the crew members). So we start with this basic fact: whether or not you believe that vegetarianism, in all of it's myriad forms, is healthier than being a carnivore, we obviously do not need to eat meat to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

This leads naturally to the question: "Why do we consume so much meat if it is not necessary?" Over the years I've heard many answers to this question, but as there are now about six-billion humans across the planet with over twenty-billion animals being killed each year for food in the U.S. alone, we must start asking ourselves and our leaders this vital question more often. Some say it is because during the early nineteen hundreds meat, as a large main course meal, was only affordable to the wealthier upper classes. Once mass production caught up with the demand, thereby lowering the price, it was seen as a luxury that was suddenly within reach, much like when the workers that built cars were finally able to afford one themselves. Another answer is the protein argument (or myth) which says that meat has more protein than any other food and we need protein for building muscle and generally keeping fit. And then another answer I hear often, maybe the most honest of them all, is simply that "meat tastes good and vegetarian food stinks!"

When it comes to the raw food diet, carnivores and vegetarians alike are always concerned that the first thing to suffer will be their palate. With the notion that raw food equals cold, soggy salads, such as the ones found at most American bistros, I can understand why this assumption is made. The truth, however, is that the raw food diet is bountiful, practically unlimited, and full of the same flavors that we all grew up on. There are no less than twenty thousand edible plant food that grow in nature, so you will probably never get around to tasting or combining all of them. But more importantly the sweetness found in fresh fruits, the salt found in sea vegetables, and the spices found everywhere in nature make for a much more mouth watering meal than their overcooked counterparts. When carnivores (or soy based vegans) crave a certain entree or dessert it is generally due to the flavorings that are added to the meal while it is being cooked or the condiment added just after. For example, envision a bowl of pasta without a sauce, a hamburger / vege-burger without any variety of salt added, or a cake made with no sweetener of any kind. Most people would find it impossible to eat their favorite meals in this way, yet they assume that it is the initial, unflavored product that they are longing for only because that's what it is called.

With a little patience and research you can learn how to create gourmet raw entrees that satisfy every known taste craving. There are now dozens of great raw food recipe books on the market (see resources), offering everything from simple five minute creations to full blown feasts with a plethora of combinations and preparation techniques. But remember, if you have neither the time nor interest in preparing a three course raw meal every evening you can still enjoy this way of eating by simply reeducating your pallet to taste food as it was originally intended. I love to see the shocked expressions on people's faces when they eat the most basic and yet delicious raw food meal. As so many people have never tasted anything but canned vegetables or processed snack food they are often amazed at the explosion of taste that is present in a freshly picked ear of corn or an organic orange. Some may turn to this way of eating for health reasons alone but to stick with it for many years without finding recipes that satisfy you denies the basic fact that everyone wants to enjoy food, we should not feel as though we are paying penance each time we sit down for a healthy meal.

So now that vegetarianism has finally gained mainstream acceptance as a nutritious and delicious way to eat, raw foodism is just beginning the same uphill battle. My wife and I are always ready for that wide-eyed look of utter astonishment whenever we happen to mention that we subsist on raw food. We don't generally advertise the way that we eat or make it part of most conversations, as this tends to make a person one-dimensional, but we are happy to talk about the benefits to anyone who has a sincere interest. By doing this I've found that the questions we get are similar to the ones that carnivores used to ask vegetarians, but now it's often vegetarian cooked-foodists that are asking the same questions: "Don't you get tired of salads", "Where do you get your protein", "Don't you feel weak on that diet", or "Don't you crave a hot meal". These are all valid questions, but just as it became easy for long time vegetarians to stay strong and active with a well rounded diet so to is it a simple thing for raw foodists to achieve true optimal health once the initial stages of cleansing are complete.

It may take another generation or two before that wide-eyed look is no longer a knee jerk reaction, but we can be sure that as more and more people experience for themselves the vitality that this diet brings to their lives it will quickly become just as well known and more widespread than any other dietary system. It is not a matter of arguing with others about the merits of this lifestyle because the argument for a raw food diet really isn't an argument at all. When is the last time you had an argument with nature? Do you yell up at the clouds to convince them not to rain on your head or try to use logic to stop a bird from building a nest? Natural phenomena happens independent of our biased willfulness. The irrefutable fact is that everyone wants to feel good, everyone wants the best for their children, and everyone has an innate understanding of natural law, so there is simply no way to keep this way of life a secret for very long. No matter how far down the truth is hidden it will always rise to the surface.