Gandhi saw nonviolence as an active and powerful thing—not just the absence of war

[marmar]

from YES! Magazine:


Peaceful Revolution? Gandhi’s Four Paths to Get There
The Indian leader saw nonviolence as an active and powerful thing—not just the absence of war.

by Madhu Suri Prakash
posted Jul 12, 2013


Gandhi lived Ahimsa as a daily practice, waging peace to stop war and violence. His lifelong “experiments” with truth proved that truth force is more powerful than brute force.

Ahimsa reveals forms of peace that extend far beyond mere absence of war. For Gandhi, peace means walking with truth and justice, patience and compassion, courage and loving-kindness. Ahimsa actively promotes universal well-being and encourages the flourishing of all life, not just humans. It is the art of living in the present and opening our imaginations to a good life for all.

Gandhi offers four sustaining pillars for Ahimsa.

1. Sarvodaya: Justice for all creatures

This is Gandhi’s central pillar: the practice of economic, political, and moral justice. All creatures are included in a quest for universal well-being; all take their just share of the abundance of our Mother Earth.

Sarvodaya means the end of injustice and hunger. There is enough for every being’s needs and not enough for even a single person’s greed. Sarvodaya societies and communities ensure that all enjoy the dignity of sharing their skills and talents.

Sarvodaya serves to remind us, moment by moment, of our entire Earth family—interdependent, made of each other, inextricably interconnected. ..........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/love-and-the-apocalypse/peaceful-revolution-gandhi-s-four-paths-to-get-there

[chervilant]

1. I especially like

Satyagraha, and hope that more of us will undertake to pursue Gandhi's strategies to effect change.