Ahimsa and Elections
Ahimsa is the foundational ethical practice of Yoga.
Ahimsa is translated as nonviolence, non-harming ... and/or as "unconditional positive regard." This practice is worked through our thoughts, our words and our deeds.
One who ascribes to the Yoga philosophy and practice is in no way "perfect" -- AND YET we are constantly working toward creating a more compassionate world within ourselves and toward each other.
Here are a few thoughts:
- The 2024 U.S. election is already a long season in our lives, and will only get more all-encompassing on social media and traditional media. We must balance the necessity to be informed with the greater necessity to cultivate peace within ourselves and within our communities.
- Voting at the local, state and federal level is a wonderful example of nonviolent action. Please, make sure your voter registration is updated https://vote.gov
- Do your practice. Do. Your. Practice. Take care of your body, your mind and your emotional state daily -- with the foundation of AHIMSA at heart. Yoga may be your thing, or walking in the woods, or journaling your thoughts, or ____________. This is your practice to cultivate balance & harmony WITHIN YOU (schedule a different time for your heavy workout 🙂). Whatever practice it is, the outcome is revealing the peace already accessible to you.
- Schedule a limited time to get informed from reputable sources -- then walk away from the screen. Do not obsess. HINT: if the host is reporting what happened, how, who, when, you're probably getting informed. If the host is telling you their opinion, extrapolating, and/or inciting gossip, outrage, demeaning others, i.e. violence in thought, word or action ... **whether you agree with them or not** ... you're not getting informed, you're getting emotionally manipulated.
- Do what YOU can, within your scope of influence, to cultivate engagement while committing to non-harm as far as it is in your power to do so. That means speaking with the person in front of us, rather than speaking to the labels they may claim. That means calling out violence as unnatural, an aberration, anti-thetical to our human nature ... and reminding ourselves and others that our True Nature is compassion, joy, confidence, peace and collaboration.
- When you've done what YOU can in the spirit of AHIMSA, whether today or after this 2024 U.S. election season ... lay your head & heart to rest at the end of the day in peace. You are not the savior of this system, you are not the prophet of doom or resurrection for "the other party" or your crazy uncle. You and I and all those who take on Yoga as a practice are powerful/peaceful warriors of nonviolence, of stumbling towards our truer nature of positive regard for ourselves and others, of showing the way (not to ourselves but) toward a future where all are welcomed, all have higher purpose.
- Finally, in all these thoughts, ahimsa has no tolerance for abuse. We do not lay down or abdicate responsibility. Ahimsa is a powerful practice that requires willpower, dedication and action to resist the weakness in violence & the short-sightedness of harming. (I speak specifically to those of you/us who have experienced violence from others in word or deed. Ahimsa does NOT espouse taking abuse. Do what you need to do to protect yourself and your loved ones, without inflicting more violence.)
May we commit to our own practice of AHIMSA this season. May we uplift other Yogis to do the same.