Ahimsa Paramo Dharma
In the great epic The Mahabharata, “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma” is mentioned several times. Simply translated, ‘Ahimsa Paramo Dharma’ means non-violence is the highest duty or way of life. Bhishma, [grand-uncle the Pandavas and the Kauravas cousins] states that ‘abstention from eating meat is a great sacrifice and provides many benefits. He explains “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma” as the highest religion; the highest self-control; the highest gift; the highest sacrifice; the highest friend; the highest happiness; the highest truth. Ahimsa is greater than gifts made in all sacrifices, ablutions performed in all sacred waters. The person that abstains from cruelty is the father and mother of all creatures’. Here ahimsa is translated as abstention from cruelty in relation to killing for the sake of eating the flesh of the killed animal for personal pleasure. In essence, Bhishma is stating that it is very beneficial to be vegetarian because thereby there is no cruelty to animals1.
I translate Ahimsa as ’cause no harm to self, others, Mother Earth and Her inhabitants’. Let’s take a look at how eating a plant based diet is beneficial to self, others, Mother Earth and her inhabitants.
To read the full article, download pdf here: Ahimsa Paramo Dharma – Vegetarianism May 2017