|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
ahiṃsā
ahiṃsā (Skt., non-harming, non-violence). Moral principle of non-violence and respect for life found in many strands of Indian religion but particularly emphasized in the śramaṇa schools such as Jainism and Buddhism. It was on the basis of ahiṃsā that the heterodox schools opposed the practice of animal sacrifice central to Brāhmanism. The principle is pre-Buddhist and probably dates back to the Upaniṣads. It finds expression in Buddhist ethics in many moral codes, but particularly as the first of the Five Precepts (pañca-śīla) which prohibits ‘onslaught on living creatures’ (pāṇātipāta). The principle is not simply a negative one but also enjoins sentiments of benevolence, love, or compassion (karuṇā) towards living things. In Mahāyāna Buddhism the principle is widely interpreted as requiring a vegetarian diet (see diet).
|
|
|
Cite this article
DAMIEN KEOWN. "ahiṃsā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAMIEN KEOWN. "ahiṃsā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-ahis.html DAMIEN KEOWN. "ahiṃsā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-ahis.html |
|
Ahiṃsā
Ahiṃsā (Skt., ‘not-harming’). Avoiding injury to any sentient creature through act or thought, a principle of basic importance for Indian religions, but especially for Jains and Buddhists, whose emphasis on ahiṃsā reinforced their rejection of sacrifice (since sacrifice necessarily involves violence against animals). It is the first of the five precepts of Buddhist life (śīla). For Jains, it is the first of the Five Great Vows. Good conduct (car̄ita) is ahiṃsā put into practice. It was a Jain, Śrīmad Rājacandra, who greatly influenced Gāndhī, through whose teaching, practice, and example nonviolence became a powerful instrument of dissent and political action in the 20th cent.
|
|
|
Cite this article
JOHN BOWKER. "Ahiṃsā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Ahiṃsā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Ahis.html JOHN BOWKER. "Ahiṃsā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Ahis.html |
|
ahimsa
ahimsa [Sanskrit,=noninjury], ethical principle of noninjury to both men and animals, common to Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. Ahimsa became influential in India after 600 BC, contributing to the spread of vegetarianism. In modern times, the implications of ahimsa were developed in the nonviolence movement of Mohandas Gandhi . |
|
|
Cite this article
"ahimsa." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ahimsa." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ahimsa.html "ahimsa." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ahimsa.html |
|
ahimsa
ahimsa in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist tradition, respect for all living things and avoidance of violence towards others. The word comes from Sanskrit, from a ‘non-, without’ + hiṃsā ‘violence’.
|
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ahimsa." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ahimsa." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ahimsa.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ahimsa." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ahimsa.html |
|
ahimsa
|
|
|
Cite this article
"ahimsa." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ahimsa." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ahimsa.html "ahimsa." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ahimsa.html |
|
ahimsa
a·him·sa / əˈhimˌsä/ • n. (in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain tradition) the principle of nonviolence toward all living things. |
|
|
Cite this article
"ahimsa." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ahimsa." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ahimsa.html "ahimsa." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ahimsa.html |
|
ahimsa
ahimsa
•ahimsa • paisa • pulsar
|
|
|
Cite this article
"ahimsa." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ahimsa." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ahimsa.html "ahimsa." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ahimsa.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
