‘Ahimsa’ or Non-violence are words that are typically associated with Gandhiji. And the Independence struggle. But that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m not talking about Ahimsa as a policy – I’m talking about it as a way of life.

I was in Rishikesh a few weeks ago and had the good fortune of meeting Swamini Mayatitananda. I’d read her book long ago and have great respect for her. Hearing her speak was a dream come true. The main topic of her talk was Ahimsa, bringing non-violence into our lives.

Violence is prevalent in three main forms. The most violence is in our FOOD. This is followed by thoughts, words and actions.

Violence in Food
Food? So I must be talking about becoming vegetarian, right? Wrong. Although Mayaji strongly suggests that path, the views I’m expressing here are a wee bit different.

‘The Tiger is not a violent animal – it kills only when it is hungry’. Hunger is a natural urge – nature meant you to fulfil it. Carnivores are not violent, because they are only satisfying their hunger, and playing their vital role in retaining and maintaining nature’s balance. So what does all this mean? It means that Whenever you over-eat, you are being violent. If you pride yourself on being vegetarian, and you overeat – remember that every grain, every leaf you eat, is a morsel of food snatched from a hungry mouth, whether animal or man. How can you claim to be a ‘vegetarian’ then? You still kill!

It doesn’t matter what you eat – what matters is how much. If you eat to satisfy your hunger, very good. But the moment you start eating to satisfy your appetite, eating to satisfy your gastronomic desires – you are doing something unnatural and violent.

Plants do get hurt. Plants scream when a leaf is plucked insensitively. But here’s news – they’re silent when animals come to eat their leaves! Nature meant to feed every hungry mouth. Yours too. But it didn’t provide for over-indulgence, for insensitive satisfaction of desires. The next time you overeat, come online, and google for some pictures of the starving children in Africa. Why, even the plastic bags that you dispose off carelessly end up getting stuck in cow’s throats and killing them. Please be more sensitive and responsible!