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THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF HIMSA
Himsa can be classified into several broad categories, in increasing order of severity and harm and also for binding of karmas and thus increasing the karmic load:
TYPES OF HIMSA (VIOLENCE)
Necessary/ unavoidable
For body functions
To earn a living
For state
(law &
order)
80
For defense of self, country, culture
LEVEL OF HIMSA (VIOLENCE)
Intentional/ premeditated
Terrorism,
wars, murder,
rape, trafficking, animal abuse
Low
High TYPES OF HIMSA (VIOLENCE) AND WHY IT IS COMMITTED Anivaarya/ swaroopi is unavoidable himsa. This refers to himsa that occurs when living beings are doing such basic things as breathing, speaking, eating, walking, and sleeping. Here, the person should observe all the care to avoid himsa and to reduce it as much as humanly or otherwise possible. This kind of himsa is the least severe in terms of inflow and binding of karmas. Generally, Jain monks adhere to the observance of this kind of ahimsa.
Aarambhi/ uddyogi is himsa that is ethical for the purposes of earning a living. Every householder has to support life by earning a living and producing food, clothing and shelter. Here, one must look at all the alternatives and at doing the least possible himsa. One must question whether something is a want or a need. One must determine how to make a living with ethics, with morality, with the least harm to the environment and to the fellow beings (humans and nonhumans). Also, one must limit and exercise control over
An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
