Mindfulness Meditation (For Everyday Life)

something about the sincerity with which my friend
made his comment, coupled with the incongruity of
the person I thought I knew saying it, that impressed
me. It struck me as a good way to relate to the world
and to oneself. Why not try to live so as to cause as
little damage and suffering as possible? If we lived
that way, we wouldn't have the insane levels of
violence that dominate our lives and our thinking
today. And we would be more generous toward
ourselves as well, on the meditation cushion, and off
it.
Like any other view, non-harming may be a terrific
principle, but it's the living of it that counts. You can
start practicing ahimsa's gentleness on yourself and
in your life with others in any moment.
Do you sometimes find that you are hard on yourself
and put yourself down? Remember ahimsa in that
moment. See it and let it go.
Do you talk about others behind their backs? Ahimsa.
Do you push yourself beyond your limits with no
regard for your body and your well-being? Ahimsa.
Do you cause other people pain or grief? Ahimsa. It is
easy to relate with ahimsa to someone who doesn't
threaten you. The test is in how you will relate to a
person or situation when you do feel threatened.