Seeds of violence sown in the mind

VIOLENCE is often viewed from a pedestal of aversion, but none can deny that every one of us has some percentage of violence within ourselves. We don’t realise it because violence is often seen only in its extreme sense.

It is only when we have a better understanding of violence that we can begin to make a difference. This needs introspection.

Though you may not have stabbed your horrible boss with a sharp knife, you would have killed him a dozen times in your mind! You may even have replayed the scene umpteen number of times in your mind.

Is this a form of violence? Definitely yes! But often we excuse ourselves by saying: “Oh, after all, I didn’t murder him literally!”

Violence is not necessarily just the act of harming others; the seeds of it are sown in the mind and one invariably harms oneself before harming others.

Dr Lisa Firestone, the director of research and education for The Glendon Association, who has been involved in clinical training and applied research in suicide and violence, reports in her research paper: “After years of researching, interviewing and assessing violent individuals, I began to recognise certain voices (negative thought processes) that flood the minds of these individuals, influencing them to engage in acts of violence.”

She clarifies that these ‘voices’ aren’t experienced as hallucinations but rather are a systematic pattern of negative thoughts against the self, and hostile and suspicious behaviour towards others.

Our scriptures also clearly state the true meaning of non-violence: gentleness in all respects, whether physical, mental or emotional.