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The Work Is A Path Of Ahimsa (Non-Violence)

cow
A cow is one of the most non-violent creatures. Yet, even cows are violent towards grass.

Non-Violence Seems Like An Impossibility

You can become vegetarian in an attempt to be non-violent. You can carry the spiders out of your house. You can be kind to others, and do your best to avoid harming them.

But if you identify as anything in this world, then you will be forced to be violent in some way just to survive. That’s the way it is on this planet. Survival of the fittest.

You couldn’t even eat anything or do anything if you wanted to truly be non-violent. The best you can do is minimize the damage you do.

This Is Non-Violence On The Material Level

At best it’s a compromise.

But there is a level where true non-violence can be lived. It can only be lived on the level of being, which is beyond identities of any kind.

The telltale sign of an identity is wanting something. If I want something, I want it for a reason. Because I want to feed my identity.

And that wanting is what leads me to violence, even the subtle violence of taking advantage of someone or something for my own good.

Here’s How The Work Roots Out Violence

The Work of Byron Katie roots out violence by inviting me to question what I want. When I question what I want, I often find that not-getting what I want is equal to getting what I want.

Then I’m not so attached to what I want. The neediness and greediness goes away. And the identity that I was trying to feed by getting what I wanted starts to loosen.

And as identities fall away, I become kinder, more selfless, and less violent.

It’s Very Simple

I question what I believe and violence drops away.

It doesn’t mean I stop eating on the gross level. It’s that I no longer need anything on the inner level. I stop trying to get. Trying to get is where all the violence comes from.

Each time I free myself of another need to get something, I become a less violent person.

And That Means I Become A More Peaceful Person

Wanting something is not peace. Needing something is not peace. Peace happens inside me when I am free of wanting and needing. When I no longer believe my needy thoughts.

Or when I no longer identify with what I want.

In that freedom, I may still act in a way to take care of my body, or to take care of any other agenda I may have. It may even look like violence on the outside. But inside there is no violence because deep inside I really don’t care if I get what I want or not.

I’m playing the game, but no longer taking it seriously.

Have a great week,
Todd

“All I have to offer is the four questions and turnaround. I offer them so that you can disassemble your own identity. People say, “I am so-and-so, I am solid, I am real,” and though I respect that, I can never believe it.” Byron Katie, A Thousand Names For Joy

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Todd Smith has been doing The Work of Byron Katie on an almost daily basis since 2007. He is just as excited about this simple process of self-inquiry today as he was when he first came across it. He also enjoys writing about The Work, and training others in the subtleties of this meditative process. Join Todd for The Work 101 online course, private sessions, virtual retreats, and his ongoing Inquiry Circle group.