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Chapter 17
Ahimsa:- Total lack of violence is Ahuhsa. A man, commits violence out of selfishness, anger, greed and delusion. Usurpation of others property, is violence out of selfishness, hurting or murdering others is violence out of anger, killing an animal, for meat and leather, or murdering a person in order to get money, is violence out of greed, and striking a dog or plucking a branch of a tree or kicking anyone, is violence out of delusion.
Sariram tap ueyate:- Worship of the gods etc., purity, uprightness, celibacy and non-violence—this is penance (tapa) of the body. Pilgrimage, vows and self-control, should also be included in the penance of body. Penance, in which a body is tortured, is not a noble type of penance, because such a person, who performs violent penance, is known to be, demoniac in his resolve[1]. Noble penance, consists in following the path of self-discipline, according to ordinance of scriptures and family traditions etc., and also in tolerating the unfavourable circumstances happily. It involves, control over the body, senses and mind.
In Yoga, where there is description of its eight parts, there is description of 'Yama', first of all. Yama (self-restraint), consists of harmlessness, veracity (truthfulness), continence, non-stealing and non-acquisition of property[2]. These are also five Niyamas (religious vows). They are purity, contentment, askesis, study of Vedas and self-surrender to God[3]. Out of these two, more importance is attached to Yama, because in it there is control over body, mind and senses etc., while in Niyama, a man has to follow religious vows.[4]
A layman may regard, bodily torture as bodily penance. But actually having been detached, from the mundane, one who practises self-restraint or renunciation, is superior to him, who tortures his body, because, peace immediately follows renunciation[5]. External penance, does not lead to God-realization, but it can be conducive to God-realization, through internal purity. So a striver, besides practising Yams (self-restraint), should also practise Niyamas (religious vow), as and when, required.
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