Ahimsa
First Yama of Ashtanga Yoga
Ahimsa, or non-injury, implies non-killing. But non-injury is not only non-killing, it is much more than that. More comprehensively, ahimsa means ...
...entire abstinence from causing any pain or harm whatsoever to any living creature, either by thought, word or deed. Non-injury needs a harmless mind, mouth and hand. Ahimsa is not mere negative non-injuring. It is positive, cosmic love. Swami Sivananda, Bliss Divine
So, in practical application, ahimsa should be applied in thought, word, and deed. It also includes development of the attitude whereby hatred is replaced by love. This message of pure love is the message that all saints and prophets of all times, and from all religions, agree on.
The application of true ahimsa is much easier said than done. One must become aware of more subtle forms of himsa*, such as thoughts of hatred or dislike, frowning, speaking ill of others, harsh and rude speech, lying, hurting someone's feelings or being deliberately discourteous towards someone.
Thankfully there are methods whereby we can learn to gradually apply ahimsa to our daily life. First, one can begin by trying to control the physical body, by not hurting anyone or anything physically. After controlling the body, you can learn to control your speech by determining not to say anything harsh or unkind and to forgive the faults of others. Lastly, one can learn to check the thoughts themselves, by never even entertaining a thought of injuring anyone, instead replacing negative thoughts with thoughts of love and forgiveness.
*The opposite of Ahimsa is Himsa.
