Ahimsa
अहिंसा
uh-HIM-sah
Non-violence or non-injury, an ethical principle in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions.
Meaning & usage
Ahimsa is the principle of non-violence, expressed in thought, word and deed. It is central to Jain ethics, prominent in Hindu and Buddhist morality, and became internationally famous as the bedrock of Mahatma Gandhi's political philosophy of satyagraha — non-violent resistance. The Sanskrit prefix "a-" negates "himsa" (harm), so the word means literally "not-harming".
In a sentence
Gandhi made ahimsa the foundation of his political method.
Common spelling variants
- Ahinsa
Ahimsa is the canonical English spelling used in MG Mini puzzles.