T Ram Sewak

AHIMSA

Furthermore, in Shri Ramcharitmanas 7.121, Kakabhushundiji addresses Garuda's fifth question, "Which is the greatest virtue ( param punya)?"

param dharma shruti bidit ahimsa

"Vedas declare Non-violence to be the param dharma."

While the question was about param punya, Kakabhushundiji states that Ahimsa is the param dharma. Why? Because he believes that practising Ahimsa yields the greatest punyathe positive spiritual credit that originates from a righteous mental, verbal, or physical action. Shri Krishna designates Ahimsa as a divine attribute in Gita 16.2, and the Mahabharat (Anushasan Parv) asserts, "Ahimsa paramo dharma".

Ahimsa means refraining from hostility or ill will (jealousy) and causing harm to any living being without distinction at all times in mansa (thought), vacha (speech), and karmana (action). This would lead to a mind devoid of anger, and as Shri Krishna explains in Gita 2.62-63, it implies an absence of desire, since anger arises from unfulfilled desires. This further implies a lack of attachment to objects that provide sensual pleasure or pain and greed. On the Gyan Marg, it signifies a mind that is free from the shat vikar (six internal enemies of the mind viz; anger, desire, greed, attachment, jealousy and ego). A mind that is pure, stable, and ready for the Vigyanmaya deep (lamp of knowledge) to be ignited to realise the ultimate truth.

On the Bhakti Marg, practising Ahimsa, i.e., the absence of hate, ill will, or any desire to harm others, leads to a realisation of oneness with all. There is no other. The bhakt thereafter feels only love and compassion for everyone. The bhakt sees only his Aaradhya (the Supreme) in everyone, everything, and everywhere, becoming immersed in that highest form of loveBhakti. Shri Ram designates this as the seventh form of Navadha Bhakti in Shri Ramcharitmanas 3.36.

Therefore, whether on the Gyan or Bhakti Marg, the sine qua non to reach Him is Ahimsa - the param dharma that results in param punya! / DAILY WORLD /

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com