Ahimsa In Buddhism

The Buddhist tradition is most clearly associated with non-violence and the principle of ‘ahimsa’. By eliminating their attachments to material things, Buddhists try to fight covetousness, which in itself has the potential to become a basis of anger and violence against others. In Buddhist texts ‘Ahimsa’ is part of the Five Precepts (Pancasila), such as: not to kill, not to steal, not to tell lies, not to commit adultery, and not to use intoxicants. These five principles are the cardinal tenets of Buddhist ahimsa.

This precept of Ahimsa is applicable to both the Buddhist layperson and the monk community. Some Buddhist texts do sanction taking human lives in exceptional cases to protect the ‘sangha’ or defend the innocent. However, most ‘Theravada and Mahayana’ Buddhists today reject even these exceptional justifications of

In the Vedic conception ahimsa is not applicable to enemies in war, to wicked people, offending beast and animals to be sacrificed or to be killed for one’s livelihood. Latter on the concept of non-violence developed especially as a reaction to the unrestrained killing of animals during the Vedic period. The concept widened its scope and implication and became the vital force by sixth century B.C.

1.3.2. The Concept of Ahimsa in Upanishads

In the Upanishads, the concept ahimsa is in its growing stage. We find the doctrine of ahimsa for the first time in the mystical passage in the Chhandogya Upanishads, where five ethical qualities one being ahimsa are said to be equivalent to a part of sacrifice of which the whole life of man is made an epitome.” However the sacrifice of animals was not considered as violence.

The Upanishads establish the oneness of all beings; it builds up a greater philosophy which would naturally leads to the concept of a one world. It builds up a religion of