‘Ethics in Vedanta’ is a series of blogs we will be publishing from the book, ‘The Choice is Yours‘ by Swami Chinmayananda. Our choices should be based on some ethics and values. Here we understand what are the ethics mentioned in Vedanta. After reading and understanding each value we will be better equipped to make the ‘Right Choice.’

Noninjury (Ahimsa)

Noninjury (ahimsa) in its spiritual import means never having cruel intentions. Noninjury is the spirit that should dominate all our motives. Our intentions should not be polluted by even a trace of cruelty or hatred. Harmlessness consists not so much in never causing physical injury to any being, as in never contemplating to do harm to any living creature. Physically, noninjury is impossible. To continue living, some kind of physical harm is unavoidable. But even while bringing about unavoidable disturbances around ourselves, if our motives are pure and clean, the harm so brought about is not regarded as injury.

If you protect yourself against a robber in your own home or protest against aggressors, you are not transgressing ahimsa. To smash a serpent or a scorpion, you are not transgressing ahimsa.  To smash a serpent or a scorpion in your house is not an act of cruelty. On the contrary, to allow these to flourish in the name of nonviolence is weakness sanctioned only by a misinterpreted culture. 

Thus, noninjury is a value of life to be applied at the level of our motives. Our motives must be non injurious and pure.  This purity of intentions can arise only out of a deep sense of oneness with the Lord’s creation and compassion toward all beings, good and bad alike.