Happy new year
We wish all the readers of the blog a very happy new year !
New year started on a nice note today morning. I attended the New year talk by Pujya Swami Paramarthananda, a teacher of Vedanta. The topic that he addressed was "Value of Speech", which will soon be uploaded here I guess. It was a fantastic one hour talk flavoured with the right amount of humour. What I like about these talks are that they do not preach the impossible. They are simple guidelines for leading a sensible day to day life. Guidelines which enrich the quality of our life.
One point that he mentioned triggered a series of thoughts which made me want to write this post. In the course of the talk he mentioned that insensitivity towards our family members in some very basic things, also amounts to Himsa(violence). So later my mind veered towards Ahimsa, which I am striving to make as an integral part of my life. Rather ...a way of life.
"Ahimsa paramo dharma", is a Sanskrit saying that was repeated in today's talk. You can read here some of my thoughts written a long time back on this topic. It must be two years back that some strong ideas started forming in my head and I decided to implement them. I was not too resolute about it and did not want to talk about it, since I wanted it to be a gradual and convincing change for myself, rather than a forcibly self imposed one.
On the path of Ahimsa, I first decided that I would stop buying silk sarees or silk salwars for myself. Ever since I made that decision, I have stuck to it and surprisingly I did not feel as though I was missing something ! Now I know for sure that there is going to be no temptation for me from that side. Ofcourse I have all the beautiful silk sarees that were bought by my family for the wedding and subsequent occassions. I still do wear them and plan to only retain these as long as they last. No more fresh additions (unless ofcourse it is Ahimsa silk). So family and friends, who are reading this please note - No SILK gifts for me :-).
Second is egg ! Growing up in a Tam Bram family, we never had eggs in the house or outside, except for pastries. We never really minded those. Now when I embarked on this journey, I decided to consciously avoid eggs in the pastries also. But I have not entirely got over that temptation. Desserts are my weakness ! So when I go to a pastry shop and I don't have the option for eggless pastries, I do indulge in them. So this is something I am working on and confident that my "will" will overpower my temptation !
I have avoided buying leather handbags and prefer cloth or jute. At home, we are incorporating a lot of eco friendly practices. That's the ahimsa towards our environment.
I am also consciously trying to incoporate "Ahimsa" at the thought level. This is the more difficult part and I am glad that atleast I am more aware of my thoughts and thought patterns these days, to initiate positive changes.
#posted by [ ranjani.sathish ]
What a wonderful way to begin a new year with. I agree, implementing Ahimsa in thoughts is the most tough task and often we dont even realize that we are crossing the fine line between Himsa and Ahimsa.
Posted by
Vibha |
10:20 PM
Nice thot and post Ranjani ... Have been able to follow ahimsa by not wearing silk , no using leather , no eggs or gelatin based foods , for the last 25 years ...still feel bad that I gave up this principle during my wedding ..you know the pressures of a tam bram bride right ?? I literally begged my would be M-i_L to let me wear non-silk ... even quoting periyava didnt work ..such hypocrisy in our society ..But am very proud today when my daughter says no to silk and we were able to do our sons upanayanam sans the pattu veshti ! Wasnt easy though ..had to convince even the sastrigal who are supposed to be advocating these things to us ! Sigh ...My husband went a step further and says no to diamond and gold too ! ( apparently there is some form of himsa in Diamond mining ) But Ahimsa in thoughts is
whats evading me for so long ....and your post sure has kindled a very sensitive nerve there ...Thanks !
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:29 PM
Thanks Vibha !
Anonymous, I presume it is Viji :-). Glad you liked the article. Yes I know it can be very trying to convince others of your own principles, as conformation to societal norms is more important in India.
Posted by
ranjani.sathish |
8:54 PM
Such a long time Ranjani!!! How have you been? Nice to read your last 3 posts. I too do the same - no silks - I didn't buy silks for my wedding (of course wore the one the in-laws gave me). I find avoiding himsa in the home is next to impossible - meaning to be shanthi always and not yell or get upset - I don't think I can acheive that in this lifetime. But I do keep trying! :)
Shraddha's DQ scene was cute! :)
Posted by
noon |
4:50 AM
The Jaina notion that silk involves himsa is defective w.r.t to relevant Vyavahara sutra- as per my info.
I am puzzled to know the basis behind this especially as you are not Jaina.
Posted by
windwheel |
8:46 PM
Wow R. Kudos to you!
Posted by
Choxbox |
12:13 AM