Non violence, at the heart of buddhism - Veneux - 2011
OVERVIEW
Non-violence, or ahiṃsā in Sanskrit, which was known in the West by the action of Mahatma Gandhi, has actually been at the heart of Buddhism for almost 2600 years. The Buddha for instance declared: "Whoever harms others is not one of my disciples". Violence is indeed considered by Buddhists as harmful not only to others but also to oneself. Rinpoche invites us to discover the foundations of this inner attitude, by showing us that authentic non-violence comes from an inner work, which alone is capable of removing toxic factors from our mind such as anger, resentment or jealousy, and to develop qualities like patience, wisdom or compassion.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THESE TEACHINGS?
With simple words imbued with profound wisdom, Rinpoche invites us to a reflection contributing to :
- Better identify our negative impulses, such as irritation or jealousy as well as their multiple toxic effects on ourselves and others.
- To see how giving in to violence is harmful, including for ourselves, by making us unhappy and reinforcing our aggressive tendencies.
- Discern more clearly that some seemingly pleasant factors of our mind such as attachment, distraction or laziness are nevertheless detrimental to us.
- To understand that the essence of the spiritual path is to reduce the factors of suffering in our mind and to develop qualities such as respect for others and understanding.
- To recognize that ethics and wisdom are the foundations of a happy life.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
This profoundly human teaching will undoubtedly touch your heart, reinforce your conviction that non-violence is not simply a principle but a path, that it constitutes the right attitude and a source of happiness in everyday life.
