Integral Ahimsa, and The
Dharma of Disruption: Anti-Speciesism Activism in
Pan-Dharmic Communities Philip Murphy, Founder, Ahimsa Dharma Anti-Speciesist Action (ADASA) entire phrase, which reads: “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma/ Dharma himsa tathaiva cha.”
T
he concept of dharma is held in common by Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism – and by extension, the practice of yoga. While the meaning of the term varies to some degree in each of these traditions it can be characterized generally as “norms of behavior and ethical rules; one’s righteous duty or any virtuous path.” By extension, then, for a person to “live out their dharma,” is for them to act in accordance with this path. Ahimsa Paramo Dharma, commonly translated as “Harmlessness is the Ultimate Path, or Duty,” is a Sanskrit phrase popularized by Mahatma Gandhi and used as a slogan by social justice movements advocating for change by nonviolent means. However, the often-ignored fact is that these words are but half of the
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FORCA VEGAN
“A… work of love and beauty will not come to order, can not be compounded by the best rules, but is always a new and incalculable result, like health. Don’t rattle your rules in our ears; we must behave as we can.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson The quote from the great Transcendentalist is relevant, and necessary in this context as it reflects the fact that the circumstance of a profoundly speciesist culture -- which, inexplicably, extend to pan-dharmic
traditions in spite of teachings that are explicitly to the contrary as is exemplified by the quote from one of Buddhism’s foundational texts, referenced on the facing page – dictates a translation of the Sanskrit phrase that reflects the imperative, with regard to anti-speciesist activism, to generate “a work of love” that is a “new and incalculable result.” To wit:
“Integrity is the ultimate dharma. So too is disruption, in the service of dharma.” Ahimsa Dharma Anti-Speciesist Activism (ADASA) was founded as a vehicle for the
