Ahimsa

This article needs attention. Need to include Theravada explanation

Translations of Ahimsa
English	non-violence, non-harming, refraining from harm
Pali	avihiṃsā
Sanskrit	ahimsa
Tibetan	རྣམ་པར་མི་འཚེ་བ་། (Wylie: rnam par mi ‘tshe ba; THL: nampar mitsewa)

Ahimsa (Sanskrit; Pali: avihiṃsā) is translated as "nonviolence", "non-harming", or "refraining from harm". It is defined as an attitude of loving kindness belonging to non-aggression.

Within the Buddhist teachings, Ahimsa is identified as:

• One of the three constituents of right intention (sammāsaṅkappa) within the Theravada tradition
• One of the eleven virtuous mental factors within the Mahayana abhidharma tradition

Explanation

Theravada

tbd

Mahayana

The Abhidharma-samuccaya states:

What is non-violence? It is an attitude of loving kindness belonging to non-hatred. Its function is not to be malicious.

The Necklace of Clear Understanding states:

Non-violence is patient acceptance which expresses itself in the sentiment of how wonderful it would be if suffering sentient beings could be released from all their frustrations. Patient acceptance is an attitude not marred by the slightest idea of inflicting suffering.

This non-violence and the rejection of harming others is the central idea of the Buddha's teaching.

The Khenjuk states:

Non-violence is a compassionate attitude belonging to non-aggression. Its function is to avoid causing harm to others.

See also

• Mental factors

Sources

• Primary Minds and the 51 Mental Factors, StudyBuddhism
• Bhikkhu Bodhi (2003), A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma, Pariyatti Publishing
• Guenther, Herbert V. & Leslie S. Kawamura (1975), Mind in Buddhist Psychology: A Translation of Ye-shes rgyal-mtshan's "The Necklace of Clear Understanding" Dharma Publishing. Kindle Edition.
• Kunsang, Erik Pema (translator) (2004). Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1. North Atlantic Books.
• Cetasikas by Nina van Gorkom

External links

• rnam_par_mi_'tshe_ba

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