“Swaraj of a people means the sum total of the swaraj of individuals.” ~ Gandhi, Harijan, March 25, 1939, p. 64 “Person power” is a term coined by the Metta Center for Nonviolence to describe the vision of swaraj, or self-rule, that Gandhi propounded. Large masses of people do make an impact and can uproot… read more
Posts by Stephanie Van Hook
Motivated by Justice: Daily Metta
“The corresponding duty is to labor with my limbs and the corresponding remedy is to non-cooperate with him who deprives me of the fruit of my labor.” ~ Gandhi, Young India, March 26, 1931, p. 49 Here Gandhi elaborates on his theory of rights and duties. A right, he says, comes with not only a… read more
Rights for All: Daily Metta
“Every man has an equal right to the necessaries of life even as birds and beasts have.” ~ Gandhi, Young India, March 26, 1931, p. 49 I recently came across an order issued by Delhi High Court, from May of 2015 on the topic of bird confinement: “all the birds have fundamental rights to fly… read more
Service as Power: Daily Metta
“Power that comes from service faithfully rendered ennobles. Power that is sought in the name of service and can only be obtained by a majority of votes is a delusion and a snare to be avoided.” ~ Gandhi, Young India, September 11, 1924, p. 301 All human beings—dare I say, all living beings—need power, a… read more
A Great Cause: Daily Metta
“The cause is great, the remedy is equally great; let us prove worthy of them both.” ~ Gandhi, speech made at Madras, March 18, 1919 It’s not enough if you have a great cause; the means must also be great. Why? Because the means determine the end. Nonviolence is an ever-developing process, not an end… read more
Resentment: Daily Metta
“I would warn Satyagrahis that such resentment is against the spirit of Satyagraha.” ~ Gandhi, speech made at Madras, March 18, 1919 The nonviolence of Gandhi’s conception challenges us to transform resentment. This goes beyond our words and actions, and penetrates directly to our state of mind, what some people would call “our thoughts.” The… read more
Prayerful Consideration: Daily Metta
“I have, after much prayerful consideration, and after very careful examination of the Government’s standpoint, pledged myself to offer Satyagraha against the Bills, and invited all men and women who think and feel with me to do likewise.” ~ Gandhi, in a speech made at Madras, March 18, 1919 The key phrase here is “prayerful… read more
Fear of Death: Daily Metta
“A nation which allows itself to be influenced by the fear of death cannot attain swaraj and cannot retain it if somehow attained.” ~ Gandhi, Navijivan, October 1921 Gandhi likes to challenge us, doesn’t he? Here he suggests we cannot fear death and achieve lasting peace and freedom. Without understanding who we are and why… read more
Freedom-in-Action: Daily Metta
“This government of ours is armed to the teeth to meet and check forces of violence. It possesses nothing to check the mighty forces of nonviolence.” ~ Gandhi, Young India, February, 1921 Nonviolence, when we maintain it in the face of repression and provocation, can be called freedom-in-action because we realize our highest freedom by… read more
Basic Dynamic: Daily Metta
“When a body of men disown the state under which they had hitherto lived, they nearly establish their own government.” ~ Gandhi, Young India, November 10, 1921 Nonviolence is the supreme law of life, is a well-known phrase from the Vedic scriptures. Gandhi must be drawing on it here to emphasize that nonviolence is very… read more
