Find Your Middle Ground

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Understanding Violence

“When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent.

Do you see why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind.
When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence.

So a person who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.”

~ Jiddu Krishnamurti
In yoga we honor the practice of ahimsa, or non violence. There is also the understanding that we are all connected and are not separate beings. It is the persona or ego that keeps us separate and fearful. The path of yoga is to awaken to our interconnectedness and to see ourselves in others.
May we all continue to plant seeds that bring us together instead of tearing us apart.
Val T Boyko
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32 responses to “Understanding Violence”

  1. IreneDesign2011 Avatar
    IreneDesign2011

    Lovely post Val.
    Namaste ❤

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Namaste dear Irene 💛🙏💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Jill Weatherholt Avatar
    Jill Weatherholt

    ❤

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Coming back at you Jill 💕

      Like

      Reply
  3. Marty Avatar
    Marty

    We are on this journey together some need assistance, like kindness

    We are not in competition but most people think we are

    It is like we live in scarcity and need to grab all the happiness we can get before it runs out

    Kindness and love are bottomless

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Love your words and the open heart behind them. Thank you Marty 💛

      Like

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  4. Karen Lang Avatar
    Karen Lang

    The Mayans greet one another with ‘In Lak’ech. Which means, ‘I am another you’ A beautiful post to remind us of this truth Val. 🙏🏻💕

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thanks Karen. I feel an other viewing of Avatar coming on 🤗

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Karen Lang Avatar
        Karen Lang

        Yes! 👏

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply
  5. Vicki Avatar
    Vicki

    Wise words indeed.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Vicki 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Live & Learn Avatar
    Live & Learn

    So timely. Thanks Val

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you David 💛

      Like

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  7. ladyfi Avatar
    ladyfi

    Yes – totally agree! Lovely post.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you fellow Fiona 💛

      Like

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  8. Carrie Cannady Avatar
    Carrie Cannady

    Beautiful post, Val. This quote is particularly helpful as we consider all of the ways humans identify themselves with or as. I am a citizen of the Universe…and have always felt that way…even feeling at times, like I do not belong here. This quote is powerful. Thank you. 🙏🏻💕

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you for sharing this Carrie. Recognizing that we all belong to something bigger than we can imagine, brings a new perspective and possibilities for peace.💕🌍💕

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Hariod Brawn Avatar
    Hariod Brawn

    अहिंसा परमॊ धर्मस तथाहिंसा परॊ दमः।
    अहिंसा परमं दानम अहिंसा परमस तपः।
    अहिंसा परमॊ यज्ञस तथाहिस्मा परं बलम।
    अहिंसा परमं मित्रम अहिंसा परमं सुखम।
    अहिंसा परमं सत्यम अहिंसा परमं शरुतम॥

    H ❤

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      SO good to see you! Thank you Hariod for sharing this text. There is no higher dharma than non-violence 🙏
      Where is this taken from?

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Hariod Brawn Avatar
        Hariod Brawn

        The Mahabharata in Sanskrit. Book 13. Chapter 117. Lines 37-41.

        37 ahiṃsā paramo dharmas tathāhiṃsā paro damaḥ
        ahiṃsā paramaṃ dānam ahiṃsā paramas tapaḥ
        38 ahiṃsā paramo yajñas tathāhismā paraṃ balam
        ahiṃsā paramaṃ mitram ahiṃsā paramaṃ sukham
        ahiṃsā paramaṃ satyam ahiṃsā paramaṃ śrutam
        39 sarvayajñeṣu vā dānaṃ sarvatīrtheṣu cāplutam
        sarvadānaphalaṃ vāpi naitat tulyam ahiṃsayā
        40 ahiṃsrasya tapo ‘kṣayyam ahiṃsro yajate sadā
        ahiṃsraḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ yathā mātā yathā pitā
        41 etat phalam ahiṃsāyā bhūyaś ca kurupuṃgava
        na hi śakyā guṇā vaktum iha varṣaśatair api

        Think that’s right, Val.

        H ❤

        Liked by 2 people

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        1. Val Boyko Avatar
          Val Boyko

          Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. Its been a while 😉

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  10. insearchofitall Avatar
    insearchofitall

    I had never thought of it that way. Quite the revelation for me. Thank you.

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Opening up to things we have taken for granted is enlightening. Thank you Marlene 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. nrhatch Avatar
    nrhatch

    I don’t agree with Jiddu Krishnamurti’s definition of violence. As long as we are stuck here in our human bodies, there is a need (at times) to differentiate ourselves from all the other bodies.

    Using a few convenient labels to describe our upbringing, experiences, etc., standing alone, is NOT violence.

    If the definition of violence is that broad, then the Dalai Lama must shed his robes and run around naked so that he cannot be identified as a Tibetan Monk. Or a Buddhist.

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      I love your analytical brain Nancy.😊
      I would interpret it as bringing awareness and understanding to how we label others. They can create an attitude of “Them” and “Us” and this is where violence takes seed.
      The Dalai Lama is a human being first connected to all human beings. He is a part of the “we” not “them and us”. He also happens to be a man and a Buddhist monk, and wears spectacles, so we can recognize him at the supermarket. x

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. nrhatch Avatar
        nrhatch

        And we don’t wish to see him running around naked in those spectacles. 🙄

        Liked by 2 people

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        1. Val Boyko Avatar
          Val Boyko

          “Not in my back yard” 😉

          Liked by 1 person

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          1. nrhatch Avatar
            nrhatch

            Hahaha! Good one.

            Liked by 2 people

            Reply
  12. mitchteemley Avatar
    mitchteemley

    Sorry, Jesus follower here. I’m not clear how that makes me violent, and the follower of the Hindu-based practice of yoga non-violent.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      I love Jesus too. He never excluded and chose to encompass all. It’s when the labels we use become “us “ vs “them” that sow the seeds of violence. I’m a woman and I am part of the greater human kind. Thanks for joining me here Mitch🙏

      Liked by 1 person

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  13. Debra Avatar
    Debra

    Such an interesting perspective! I will enjoy thinking this through. I have long believed that we are all connected and that respect and “difference” can co-exist beautifully, if we have the openness to see how much we share. I never thought of difference as particularly a negative thinking, or as violence. But I do think this is an on-going dialogue we need to have within ourselves. I like to think that I’m capable of fine-tuning my perspectives. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you for your thoughtful response Debra 💛

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