All One: Practicing Ahimsa in a World of Many

“All One” was the essential teaching of my Guru, Neem Karoli Baba Maharaji. He taught that all beings—without exception—are included in the One. Every soul, every sentient being, all that we perceive in the physical world, even our thoughts… all are facets of the same indivisible Presence. What we see as differences are only surface-level ripples in a vast ocean of unity.

My teacher Sharon Gannon, co-founder of the Jivamukti Yoga method, reminds us that since we are One, to harm another is to harm ourselves. She says: The best way to uplift your own life is to uplift the lives of others.

This is one of the reasons I fell in love with the Jivamukti method. It’s not just a physical practice—it’s a path steeped in compassion, rooted in philosophy, and powered by devotion. It’s grounded in five tenets, and the very first is Ahimsa, or non-harming.

Ahimsa is also the first of the yamas—ethical precepts offered by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra. And that placement is not accidental. According to yogic wisdom, becoming firmly established in Ahimsa is the first step toward the realization of Oneness.

I became a vegetarian when I was 18. At that time, the work of the Rainforest Alliance and PETA opened my eyes. From them, I learned about the destruction of the Amazon rainforest to raise cattle and the cruel, inhumane suffering of animals trapped in factory farms.

About sixteen years ago, after discovering Jivamukti Yoga, I chose to become fully vegan. I stopped consuming dairy and eggs. I no longer purchase products tested on animals or wear clothing made from skins. I also try not to support any business that profits from animal exploitation.

Is this always easy? No. But to me, it's worth it. Because this practice of conscious, compassionate living is not a burden—it’s a form of love in action.

Choosing a diet of compassion is one way to live Ahimsa. But the invitation is much broader: to practice non-harming in all our thoughts, words, and actions. If we truly seek Yoga—not just the poses, but union with the Divine, with the One—then Ahimsa must be at the core of our path.

And here is the grace: the more we do our sadhana—our conscious spiritual practice—the more our capacity for compassion grows. As compassion deepens, so does our longing to relieve the suffering of others. And with steady practice and heartfelt intention, we begin to walk the same path walked by the great ones. Perhaps it will take lifetimes, but eventually, we too will come to love unconditionally, as did my beloved Guru Maharaji.

Through our sadhana, may we come to be In Love with all beings everywhere.

Love & blessings,

Sharada

Thanks to Jay Mac for the inspiration in his July Jivamukti Yoga Focus-of-the-Month essay, “What is Extreme?”