The Teachings on Ahimsa

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Ahimsa means non-harmfulness, which represents the first precept.

The following sutra gives a clear exposition of the Buddha's views:-

"Creatures without feet have my love and likewise those that have two feet and those that have four feet I love, and those too have many feet".

A true and sincere Buddhist therefore cannot but cultivate boundless love and compassion for all creatures. Any other attitude is incompatible with the meditation of Maitri which all Buddhist need to cultivate.

A Buddhist therefore cannot offer an animal for sacrifice, he cannot kill one for sport or for meat. Nor can he take meat diet, even though it has been offered to him as a gift as this would indirectly encourage the act of killing.

He also cannot participate in war, for that is even a greater sin or crime. The Buddha's teaching on this point, a few of which are reproduced here, admit of no doubt or compromise on this most important issue: "Thou shall not kill, nor shall ye injure".

The adherent of the teaching does not kill or cause to be killed of any living thing, neither does he approve of killing in others. He refuses to hurt or harm any creature whatsoever, those that are strong as well as those that are weak.

Whoso belongs to the Order of the Buddha being a member thereof, will avoid taking the life of any creature, were it only an ant or a worm. It is abundantly clear from the Buddha's teachings that he exhorted humanity to recognize its kinship as an elder brother to lover animals. Nothing could be more emphatic than the following:

"As I am so are these. As these are so am I. Thus identifying himself with others the wise man neither kills nor causes to be killed".

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