“अहिंसा परमो धर्मस्तथाहिंसा परो दमः।
अहिंसा परमं दानम अहिंसा परमस्तपः।
अहिंसा परमो यज्ञस्तथाहिंसा परमं बलम्।
अहिंसा परमं मित्रम अहिंसा परमं सुखम्।
अहिंसा परमं सत्यम अहिंसा परमं श्रुतम्॥”

Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva 13.117.37–38)

As per Mahabharata, this verse meant

Ahimsa is the highest Dharma, Ahimsa is the highest self-control,
Ahimsa is the greatest gift, Ahimsa is the best practice,
Ahimsa is the highest sacrifice, Ahimsa is the finest strength,
Ahimsa is the greatest friend, Ahimsa is the greatest happiness,
Ahimsa is the highest truth, and Ahimsa is the greatest teaching.

The path of Ahimsa/Non-violence is that powerful as you can see the sloka stated above. It gives a person immense strength. But do we actually know what this sacred practice actually is?? Or, we just completely unaware of it. As stated by various Sages, this is the very first step towards spirituality. And every other practices follows If one practices it wholeheartedly.

The biggest question, what is AHIMSA/Non-Violence?

As per Sage Patanjali, Ahimsa is not to cause any violence by Verbal/Word, Intention/Thought or Action/Deed all the time to any living creature. And he also says, In the presence of that established in non-harming, animosity is forsaken.

What Srimad Bhagavat Gita Says about Ahimsa,

“अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः।
भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः॥”

Non-injury, equanimity, contentment, austerity, beneficence, fame, infamy all these different qualities of beings arise from Me/Divine alone.

This practice is that powerful, but Do we know it properly?? Being coward and being established in Non-violence are two different things. Lets understand how?

When it says Non-violence not to be caused to any living creature, we mostly exclude our own self. We tend to forget that the Divine is present within us so as in others. What our scriptures always advised that,

आत्मनि दिव्यसान्निध्यं पूजय। Honour the divine presence within yourself.

When someone harms you, is it not your primary duty/dharma to protect yourself. You are not intending to harm others but when you are not protecting yourself, are you not causing Violence towards yourself?

Let me give you an example, I have been trying to follow path of Ahimsa for last few years. One fine day, someone very close person said very harsh words to me to defame/demean (Just to satisfy his false ego). At first I got so puzzled what has happened, did I do any wrong, NO. And that day I do not know how the first word that came out was “you are doing Adharma. And let me be very clear I have not done anything wrong so there is no chance that I will ask for forgiveness or take these harsh words silently and you do not have any rights to disrespect me. And I strongly believe that divine is present in everyone so in me.” I strongly retaliated that day. And the very next day, the same person suffered in the same way as he was trying to do with me.

Did I ask for his suffering? No Absolutely not .. My job is to do the work and not to harm anyone in any form, that’s it and rest lies on the Divine. You know if someone is established himself in Ahimsa then even the Universe protects that person when needed.

Let’s say, some unpleasant situation is happening around you, is your Dharma/duty to watch??

As per the Scriptures, Your Dharma/Duty is to protect who cannot protect himself. And, if you are thinking of following AHIMSA/NONVIOLENCE being silent, then You are wrong. By not taking any action, you are also supporting the same cause (मौनं सम्मति लक्षणम्) and You are too doing the same Violence even if you are not a part of it physically.

In this age of having incomplete knowledge, we mostly get misunderstood about this sacred knowledge and path, in the end Let me say,

When you start giving respect It must start with SELF. So, when You start implementing Ahimsa / Nonviolence, it must start with YOURSELF. No harm to self or others not verbally, not physically, not in thoughts.

As mentioned in Chandogya Upanishad
A person who refrains from causing harm to any living being, including oneself, progresses toward liberation. Self-inflicted harm is seen as an obstacle to spiritual growth.