AHIMSA

Ahimsa is a term meaning to do no harm. The word is derived from the Sanskrit root hims – to strike; himsa is injury or harm, a-himsa is the opposite of this, i.e. non harming or nonviolence.  It is an important tenet in both Buddhism and Vedanta.

Ahimsa means, specifically, kindness and non-violence towards all living things including animals.  It respects living beings as a unity, holding that all living things are connected.

Since the beginnings of the Buddhist community, monks and nuns have had to commit themselves to the Five Precepts of moral conduct, with the very first Precept being to not kill.  Lay persons are encouraged, but not obliged, to commit to any of the Precepts, even as, in both codes, the first rule is to abstain from taking the life of a sentient being. 

Buddhist monks are furthermore to avoid cutting or burning trees, since some sentient beings rely on them.  Monks and lay persons alike are permitted to eat meat and fish, on condition that the animal is not killed specifically for them. 

Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi strongly believed in ahimsa, which included the avoidance of both verbal and physical violence.  Ahimsa recognizes self-defense when necessary, but stipulates that any kind of violence entails negative karmic consequences.