Living ethically, according to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, is the first step on the true path of yoga. In the Yoga Sutra, Ahimsa or “nonviolence” is the first of five specific ethical precepts called yamas. The yamas give us basic guidelines for living a life of personal fulfillment that will also benefit society. Ahimsa refers not only to physical violence, but also to the violence of words, of thoughts and actions. An article from the Yoga Journal gives a few very straightforward examples on how we can invite ahimsa in our daily life, doing less harm to the planet. While we are not “actively dumping dioxin into rivers or otherwise behaving in a blatantly violent way toward the environment, there are smaller ways in which we do more harm to the planet than we’d like” says the article.
How to practice ahimsa in daily life:
** Unplug electronic devices (like your DVD player) when you’re not using them. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power electronics is consumed when they’re turned off but plugged in.
** Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones. True, the light isn’t as inviting. But compact fluorescents use 60 percent less energy and reduce the emissions for which you’re personally responsible.
** Recycle, and buy products made from recycled materials.
As we head towards Winter, we will be using more energy than during the warmer months of the year. Though we can still minimize our impact on the environment. If we all live consciously, each one of us can make a little contribution to protect our beautiful and so far resourceful planet, but we can also educate others and teach people to be more responsible. Food for thoughts! ;-)