Towards Absolute Harmlessness

Ahimsa, commonly interpreted as non-violence, is a powerful and transformative tool that can reform us and society, provided each of us digs deep within ourselves to uproot not just physical violence but emotional, mental, and spiritual violence as well

-  Suma Varughese

I will start with a story. I love stories. I assume you do too. Dharam Das was a virtuous man who spent all the money his father left him in aiding the sick and the poor. When his money was over, his beneficiaries deserted him. Dharmadas was content, though he could no longer help people as he once could. One day, he had a dream in which a holy man told him that he would come to rest under the tall tree of the local temple and that Dharamdas could take the opportunity to beat him to death with a staff. His body would turn to gold, which Dharamdas could then use to disperse to charity.

The next day as predicted, a holy man came at the appointed time and stretched out and went to sleep under the shade of the tall tree, setting aside his staff and a big sack. Here was Dharamdas's opportunity.

No one was around. And besides, the victim had permitted him to murder him. But Dharamdas could not. He watched over the sage sleeping calmly under the tree for several hours until he awoke.

"You missed the chance of a lifetime," the sage said, shaking his head.

Dharamdas responded that he could not kill him even if he had asked him to do so for all the gold in the world because an act of violence was an act of violence. He invited the sage to join him at home for a simple meal. Smiling, the sage declined and got up to leave. Dharamdas bent down to touch his feet. When he straightened up the sage was gone, but the sack had been left behind. A sack full of gold coins.

Makes you think, does it not? Someone permits you to kill him so you can become rich.

Moreover, the money is not for you but for the betterment of people. Irresistible, save for one thing. Once you kill, you become a killer. And nothing can redeem you.

For killing violates the concept of oneness, the central truth of existence. If all is one, killing another is tantamount to killing oneself.

From head to heart