Hinduism Today Magazine Issues and Articles Peace by Peace
Category : July/August 2001   Peace by Peace  We can change the
way all mankind behaves when each one of us works step by step
toward ahimsa, nonviolence in thought, word and deed   Hindu
wisdom, which inspires humans to live the ideals of compassion
andnonviolence, is captured in one word,ahimsa. In Sanskrit
himsa is doing harm or causing injury. The "a" placed before the
word negates it. Very simply, ahimsa is abstaining from causing
harm or injury. It is gentleness and noninjury, whether
physical, mental or emotional. It is good to know that
nonviolence speaks only to the most extreme forms of forceful
wrongdoing, while ahimsa goes much deeper to prohibit even the
subtle abuse and the simple hurt.  Devout Hindus oppose killing
for several reasons. Belief in karma and reincarnation are
strong forces at work in the Hindu mind. They full well know
that any thought, feeling or action sent out from themself to
another will return to them through yet ano