JVBL - Souvenir 2007 - Non-Violence : Against The Current

JVB London - Souvenir 2007
on
Ahimsa
Non-violence 

Non-Violence: Against The Current 

Never before was violent behaviour in all its facets so widely spread as in 21st century. More frequently than not, the top news is on violence. Although the majority of people are frightened to watch or witness it, they nevertheless feel attracted to it. Though we cannot change the world, we can change our own attitude towards it. We can create a balance to the violence surrounding us by living in a way, where violence takes a backseat. How can we translate our decision into action?

In the material world, we are part of supply and demand and have to stop spending any money on products made by violent means against living beings. In the immaterial world we have to be aware of the traces and shadows of violence inside. Violence starts in our mind. This means that we have to accurately watch our thoughts initiated by violence instead of reacting to it. We should banish every thought lacking respect to life in all its forms and friendliness to living beings. We then need to encourage ourselves to proceed on the path towards non-violence with fearlessness, even if we recognise ourselves to be alone.

Violent thoughts are negative thoughts reacting to situations we dislike. To banish violence has nothing to do with negating it. We simply leave violence as is, where it is, without reacting to it, either in a negative way by opposing to it, or in a positive way by supporting it. This is not easy. Our intellect is so accustomed to commenting on every impact the sense organs are delivering. This is its natural function. Therefore, we have to start by watching our thoughts just before we act. When we mentally turn our backs to violence, we know that it exists, but its influence to concern or move us decreases.

To turn our backs on violence is a gesture of being detached and fearing nothing. What will happen might happen, but without our interference. Subsequently, we no longer are at violence's disposal and can stay cool. At the beginning of our project to be non-violent, there may be unexpected and unwanted thoughts. It is then most important to respect ourselves for every little step we do realise.

The first step into a non-violent world is to become conscious of every single thought without judging it, just controlling if it is worth the non-violence passport. If not, we simply have to expel it from our mental territory. We do not ignore it - we notice and expel it. And bear the consequences - like ahimsa warriors do.