September 16: “The child should never feel that he is being taught.” –Gandhi (Navijivan, June 2, 1929) When Narayan Desai, fondly referred to by Gandhiji as “Babla,” decided to quit the village school running on the colonial education system in favor of the “school” of working for Gandhi at the ashram, he was convinced it… read more
Posts by Stephanie Van Hook
“A devoted student”–Daily Metta
September 15: “Childhood is the most important period of one’s life.” –Gandhi (Speech at the second Gujarat Educational Conference, in Broach, 1917) Narayan Desai, though he was the son of Gandhi’s secretary, Mahadev, called Gandhi ‘bapu’ or father, while his own dad was his ‘kaka’ or uncle. As a little boy living in the ashram… read more
“One reality, many names”–Daily Metta
September 14: “In my opinion, Rama, Rahaman, Ahuramazda, God or Krishna are all attempts on the part of man to name that invisible force which is the greatest of all forces.” –Gandhi (Harijan, August 18, 1946) Gandhi was a great fan of music, especially devotional hymns. One of his favorites, Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram, a… read more
“The Sound of Music”–Daily Metta
September 13: “There can be no Swaraj where there is no harmony, no music.” –Gandhi (Young India, April 15, 1926) If you were around Gandhi, you would experience music: from hymns at prayer meetings to the rhythmic sounds of spinning wheels. His appreciation for music, however went beyond our traditional understandings of instruments and rhythms;… read more
“Nonviolence is in our hands”–Daily Metta
September 12: “For me nonviolence is not a mere philosophical principle. It is the rule and breath of my life.” –Gandhi (Young India, September 13, 1928) Ok, ok, I know what your burning question about Gandhi has been this entire time: Was Gandhi a “lefty” or a “righty”? In other words, which was his dominant… read more
“Never Forget, 9/11”–Daily Metta
September 11: “The Satyagrahis never used physical force, and that too although there were occasions when they were in a position to use it effectively.” –Gandhi (Satyagraha in South Africa, Chapter 13) “Never forget.” These are the words that we see broadcast across television advertisements, billboards, and news programs across the American landscape whenever we… read more
“A meeting of soul with soul”–Daily Metta
September 10: “You have very truly remarked that if we are to reach peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children.” –Gandhi (Young India, November 19, 1931, from his speech at the Montessori Training College) Very often Gandhi is the… read more
“Religion: a practical matter”–Daily Metta
September 9: “Just as preservation of one’s own culture does not mean contempt for that of others, but requires assimilation of the best that there may be in all of the other cultures, even so should be the case with religion.” –Gandhi (Young India, December 6, 1928) A “reverential study” of the religions of the… read more
“Teaching in Gandhi’s Schools”–Daily Metta
September 8: “The teacher of Nai Talim will be a craftsman educationist, not merely one for the sake of his pay.” –Gandhi (Harijan, November 9, 1947) What about teaching in one of Gandhi’s ideal schools? What would one need to know or do? It almost goes without saying that we can be sure of the… read more
Take Heart and Take Action—to End War
By Tord Dellsén and Stephanie Van Hook A month or so ago, many of the headlines streaming through social media emphasized the negative responses to refugees making their way into Europe for sanctuary. It was enough to make a person feel like humanity had reached a new low. And then, something happened: people began… read more
