Non-violence

In search of focus of mind, I started practicing the Non-violence. Tried to calm my mind and stopped reacting to the situations. Initially it went well. I was pretty impressed by the results. Specially when I was at home and was surrounded by people who care about me, my thoughts and thus my behavior. I started feeling that I can continue this till the time I got exposed to some situations. Someone overtaking the car at very wrong place, people taking turns without switching indicators, someone carelessly crossing the road and above all cows and buffaloes on highway. It’s actually very usual in country like India but now I started feeling very stressed by not expressing my anger. I experienced situations where people didn’t care and just ditched me and went ahead. At ATM, at gas pumps, at parking lots and many other places.

How selfish is this world? Why do people do not care? I said. Oh! I am reacting. I couldn’t laugh at these situations and thought if my actions were cowardly. Not reacting started seeming difficult. Now even the kids started taking me for a ride. Everyone around was aware of my situation and was taking advantage.

I asked the Buddha (The Master) Am I making a mistake by following these ethics? I am not getting any peace but have started feeling low.

He looked at me with a subtle smile on his face and said, “let me tell you a story”.

Once there was a deadly snake, a king cobra. He used to bite anyone crossing his territory. Soon that road was abandoned by people of the village. One day Buddha went to that village for a lecture and after lecture headed on the same road where this snake used to reside. People of the village told and warned him not to take that road but Buddha didn’t listened. The snake came out and Buddha asked him not to bite anyone, anymore. Having a powerful aura and being Godly soul Buddha could change snake’s mind.

After some days Buddha returned to same village by same road and saw the snake wounded and in very bad condition. Now the kids were irritating him. Buddha went near him and with all his compassion asked him about his condition. The snake said, “You only told me not to bite!”. Oh, poor fellow, I told you not to bite but didn’t tell you to suffer and not to protect yourself. You should have hissed and rattled your tail so to keep people away. There is nothing wrong in doing right things. Very soon the snake was healed and could live his life in better way.

Hmmm…I understood the story. We need to think of the consequences before acting. There should be a analysis of the reaction before we give it out. And above all, non-violence should start with the self.

Soon the conditions got better. I could act and react with thoughtful mind. I think that’s non-violence :)