An Inner Journey of Ahimsa — 19 Feb 2022

A conversation around invasive species of flora hampering indigenous vegetation and biodiversity in a sensitive biosphere reserve had me thinking through the day about how much we have anthropomorphised nature. With that, we have also introduced our tendencies of violence and colonisation into flora and fauna that travel with us to occupy new territories. In some cases, the only feasible way to restore ecological balance in these areas is to remove the flourishing invasive species. Is that fair? If those species had a voice, perhaps they’d say it’s not. Is it violent? Perhaps, given that life forms that thrived for no fault of theirs are eliminated. What happens in biospheres is also reflected in our anti-migrant tendencies across the world, when it comes to humans. After all, how we do anything, is how we do everything.

This trail of thought makes me wonder how far do we go back on the decolonisation narrative, till it becomes violent. What if some beings — human or otherwise — have indigenised in a space over a period of time? Should they still be treated as invasive? Is there a way to practise ahimsa in migration, such that it does not become colonisation?

And while all of these are external questions, they apply as much to our inner processes. Yet again, it’s a day of questions.

· What inner invasions have you experienced?

· How do we practise ahimsa in our conservation efforts, biological or otherwise?

#AnInnerJourneyOfAhimsa #RukminiIyer #ExultSolutions #peacebuilding #nonviolence