Beyond Vegetarianism - The Real Meaning of Ahiṁsā
While the world often views ahiṁsā simply as a refusal to kill, Śrīla Prabhupāda elevates the concept to a spiritual standard. He defines ahiṁsā not merely as the absence of violence, but as the active protection of a living entity's right to spiritual evolution. True nonviolence means living in a way that does not impede the progressive journey of the soul, whether that soul inhabits a human body or an animal form.
The Real Meaning of Nonviolence
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that every living entity is transmigrating from one body to another in a process of evolution. To kill an animal is to check its progress in that particular body, forcing it to take birth again in the same species to complete its term. This interference with the soul's evolutionary journey is the true definition of violence.
- Ahimsa means not arresting the progressive life of any living entity.
- Real ahimsa means not checking anyone's progressive life. The animals are also making progress in their evolutionary life by transmigrating from one category of animal life to another.
- So their (animals) progress (of life) should not be checked simply to satisfy one's palate. This is called ahimsa.
Lord Buddha and the Greatest Sin
The concept of ahiṁsā was prominently propagated by Lord Buddha to stop the rampant and unrestricted killing of animals. Śrīla Prabhupāda affirms that killing is the greatest sin and that Lord Buddha's philosophy was designed to save humanity from the severe karmic reactions of such violence, establishing ahiṁsā as a supreme religious duty.
- Ahimsa. "Don't kill." That is the greatest sin. So Lord Buddha is propagating that "Let these people be saved from the greatest sinful activities."
- His (Lord Buddha's) philosophy is that to make the people sinless. Ahimsa: "Don't kill." That is the greatest sin. So he is propagating that - Let these people be saved from the greatest sinful activities.
- Lord Buddha... Ahimsa paramo dharmah is also Vedic religion, but they stressed especially on ahimsa.
The Dilemma of Survival
Despite the ideal of nonviolence, Śrīla Prabhupāda addresses the reality of the material world where one living being is food for another. He argues that absolute nonviolence is physically impossible because even plants have life. Therefore, the spiritual solution is not just vegetarianism, but the offering of food to Kṛṣṇa (prasādam), which immunizes the devotee from sinful reactions.
- Mean on the basic principle, the ahimsa paramo dharma, where is ahimsa? You have to kill. Either you kill vegetable or animal, you have to kill. Then where is the standing of ahimsa? That is my point.
- This is natural, that one jiva is the food for another jiva. So how ahimsa is possible?
- We are not propagating the philosophy of ahimsa, or nonviolence, because in some way or other, there is violence, either you take fruit or grain or animal. But the principle is that you have to take prasadam.
The Qualification of a Devotee
For a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, ahiṁsā goes beyond the body; it is a state of mind where one is a friend to all living entities. Śrīla Prabhupāda states that a devotee does not put others into misery or confusion. While a king may use violence to punish criminals for the greater good, a sādhu cultivates nonviolence as a primary qualification for returning to Godhead.
- The devotees are saintly persons or sadhus. The first qualification of a sadhu, or devotee, is ahimsa, or nonviolence. Persons interested in the path of devotional service, or in going back home back to Godhead, must first practice ahimsa, or nonviolence.
- Ahimsa, nonviolence, means that one should not do anything which will put others into misery or confusion.
- Krsna claims in Bhagavad-gita to be the father of all species of living entities; consequently the devotee of Krsna is always a friend of all. This is called ahimsa. Such nonviolence can be practiced only when we follow in the footsteps of great acaryas.
Conclusion
True ahiṁsā is a dynamic spiritual practice. It involves refraining from the sinful act of animal slaughter, recognizing the inevitability of violence in nature, and transcending it through Kṛṣṇa consciousness. By refraining from arresting the progressive life of others and by training humanity in the full utilization of the human form of life, the devotee practices the highest form of nonviolence.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Ahiṁsā. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience his teachings in their direct, verbatim form.