October 4: “Compassion or love is the human being’s greatest excellence.” –Gandhi (Indian Opinion, August 9, 1913) Only a couple of days after the celebration of Mahatma Gandhi falls the “feast day” (in the Roman Catholic tradition) of St. Francis of Assisi. Two people from different times, hundreds of years apart, they realized one and… read more
Posts by Stephanie Van Hook
“Happiness: a dare”–Daily Metta
October 3: “I would like people to compete with me in my contentment.” –Gandhi (Young India, April 30, 1925) Nonviolence does not eschew all forms of competition. Not at all. Competition can be a healthy, positive technique to help us unfold our full selves. But like anything else that can quickly become narcissistic and destructive,… read more
“Happy Birthday, Gandhiji!”–Daily Metta
October 2: “The power of nonviolent resistance can only come from honest working of the constructive programme.” –Gandhi (Mahatma, vol. 5) How do you say ‘happy birthday’ to a Mahatma? Not with an elaborate meal, of course. Not with a sugary cake and candles. Beer and wine are out. And no, not even with flowers,… read more
“Belonging or belongings?”–Daily Metta
October 1: “The possession of anything then became a troublesome thing to me and a burden.” –Gandhi (Young India, April 30, 1925) For Maja When Natchiketa, the young hero from the Katha Upanishad, is sent to Death by his father, he willingly goes, curious to meet and learn from Death. Waiting for three days at… read more
“Civil Existence”–Daily Metta
September 30: “It should be obvious that civil resistance cannot flourish in an atmosphere of violence.” –Gandhi (Harijan, March 18, 1939) Civil resistance is not the full picture of nonviolence in the least. Gandhi knew this, and he maintained that people needed at times to find ways other than disobedience; for example, if you are… read more
“A great day indeed”–Daily Metta
September 29: “If India can discover a way of sublimating the force of violence…and turning it into constructive, peaceful ways whereby differences of interests can be liquidated, it will be a great day indeed.” –Gandhi (Harijan, August 31, 1947) Gandhi never maintained, even once, that violence was something other than a force that had to… read more
“Another meeting?”–Daily Metta
September 28: “History gives not a single example of Swaraj won by holding meetings.” –Gandhi (Day to Day with Gandhi, vol. 4, p. 166) Wow, even Gandhi did not love endless meetings. Not surprising actually–he emphasized that the only way to win Independence was through action; through, in his words, “blood and sweat.” He was… read more
“Deep ecology and Gandhi”–Daily Metta
September 27: “I want to realize brotherhood and identify not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identify with all life, even with such beings that crawl on the earth.” –Gandhi (Mahatma, Vol. 2) When I read these words of Mahatma Gandhi, I cannot help but think of Arne Naess, the… read more
“Lessons on disappointment”–Daily Metta
September 26: “There is no word ‘disappointment’ in my dictionary.” –Gandhi (Day to Day with Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 4) “Swaraj in one year!” This was the cry that Gandhi used to ignite non-cooperation in 1921; however, Independence did not take place that year, nor for another 26, to be precise! Someone came to Gandhi and… read more
“Finding the perfect bed-time”–Daily Metta
September 25: “I am experimenting.” –Gandhi (Harijan, July 23, 1938) One of the most rewarding things we can do to support our very busy lives is to establish a routine. An ideal one would integrate care for the health of the mind, body and spirit every day, balancing time for oneself with time with others,… read more
