Ahimsa as the Ground of Yogic Ethics: A Philosophical Study of the Yoga Sūtras

Abstract

This article argues that ahiṃsā, or non-violence, is the basic principle of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras and the central ethical claim that forms the entire framework. Present-day discourse frequently reduces Yoga to physical postures and individual well-being, consequently neglecting its core as a philosophical discipline oriented toward ending mental disturbances and achieving liberation. Ethical transformation is presented as essential for purifying and stabilizing consciousness. The Yoga Sūtras position ahiṃsā as the foremost of the five yamas and assert that when a practitioner is firmly established in non-violence, hostility ceases in their presence (YS 2.35). This article interprets this as a substantive philosophical claim regarding the revolutionary capacity of moral consciousness. It contends that ahiṃsā functions at psychological, interpersonal, social, ecological, and spiritual levels, transforming the practitioner from one governed by fear, aggression, and egoism into an individual whose presence promotes trust and peace. Furthermore, the article maintains that ahiṃsā provides the ethical context to understand truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-possessiveness. The yogic ethical system is thus presented as an integrated discipline aimed at reducing harm and overcoming the mental afflictions that precipitate violence. Through an examination of Patañjali’s account, drawing on primary sources and modern interpretations, this study positions ahiṃsā as the moral foundation of Yoga and a resource for current discussions on peace, conflict, human dignity, and responsible coexistence.