Ahimsa, often translated as non-violence or non-harming, is the disciplined refusal to injure any living being in thought, word, or deed. The term itself means “without harm,” and it extends beyond merely avoiding physical aggression to include subtle forms of injury through intention, speech, or attitude. In this vision, humans, animals, plants, and, in some traditions, all forms of life are embraced within a single moral horizon. Ahimsa thus calls for a reverent stance toward life, in which compassion and restraint guide every interaction with the world.

Its centrality in Hindu ethics arises from the understanding that the same divine reality, Atman or Brahman, pervades all beings. To harm another is therefore to violate the deeper unity of existence and, in a real sense, to harm oneself. This insight is closely tied to dharma, the principle of righteous order: non-violence is regarded as a core expression of one’s moral duty, supporting both social harmony and inner integrity. Texts in the tradition praise non-harming as a supreme virtue, presenting it not as a mere prohibition but as a positive commitment to care and respect.

Ahimsa also has a direct bearing on karma and spiritual liberation. Harmful actions, whether gross or subtle, generate negative karmic impressions that bind the soul to cycles of suffering and rebirth. By practicing non-violence, one lessens these burdens, purifies the mind, and creates the inner clarity needed for meditation and self-knowledge. As anger, fear, and hatred are gradually reduced, the heart becomes more receptive to the realization of moksha, the freedom that comes from knowing one’s true nature.

On a practical level, this principle undergirds many ethical ideals, such as compassion, truthfulness, self-restraint, and, for many, the adoption of non-harming lifestyles like vegetarianism. It shapes attitudes toward animals and the natural world, encouraging a way of life that seeks to heal rather than wound. In this sense, ahimsa is not only a moral rule but a spiritual discipline: a continuous training of perception and conduct so that every action, however small, reflects the recognition of the sacredness of life.