The term “ahimsa” is of Sanskrit origin. It means non-harming, and is a large part of Buddhism (along with a few other eastern religions). As a long-time pacifist (and Buddhist) ahimsa means a lot to me, and it’s the most important virtue to me. I strive toward living a life free of harm to the beings around me. I didn’t learn the term until two years ago, but the ideas were swimming around my head.

A fun fact: The Jains (eastern religious group) take Ahimsa to a level unheard of anywhere else. Jain monks sweep the ground in front of them to avoid stepping on insects. Obviously this would be a bit impractical for lay people, but the idea is very respectable.

Animal rights is the strive to end animal suffering, so ahimsa seemed like an appropriate title for this blog.