June 29: “Nonviolence of the strong is any day stronger than that of the bravest soldier fully armed or a whole host.” –Gandhi (Harijan, November 19, 1938) If you have never heard of Krishnammal Jagannathan, you may never forget her now. ‘Courageous’ doesn’t begin to describe her. Born into the Dalit caste during the… read more
Posts by Stephanie Van Hook
“Equal Respect for All Religions”–Daily Metta
June 28: “Science of war leads one to dictatorship pure and simple. Science of nonviolence can alone lead one to pure democracy.” Gandhi (Harijan, October 15, 1938) Rajmohan, the son of Gandhi’s fourth son Devdas, did not spend a significant time with his grandfather as a young man, yet each moment with the Mahatma was… read more
“The discipline of bravery”–Daily Metta
June 27: “Exercise of nonviolence requires far greater bravery than that of swordsmanship.” –Gandhi (Harijan, August 4, 1946) Burmese nonviolence icon and political leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been a great admirer of the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. Like Gandhiji, nonviolence is not an intellectual pursuit or a strategic posturing for her, it is a firm conviction,… read more
“A grain of wheat”–Daily Metta
June 26: “I can say with confidence that if the world is to have peace, nonviolence is the means to that end and no other.” –Gandhi (Harijan, July 20, 1947) According to his grandson, Arun, Gandhi enjoyed telling the following story about peace: Once there was a great king and he wanted with all of… read more
“No one beyond redemption”–Daily Metta
June 25: “No human being is so bad as to be beyond redemption, no human being is so perfect as to warrant his destroying him whom he wrongly considers to be wholly evil.” –Gandhi (Young India, March 26, 1931) In the days following September 11, 2001, Rais Bhuiyan, a Bangladeshi citizen studying in the United… read more
“The real victory of the Salt Satyagraha”–Daily Metta
June 24: “The moment we are able to ensure nonviolence, even under circumstances the most provoking, that moment we have achieved our end, because that is the moment when we can offer complete non-cooperation.” –Gandhi (Young India, January 19, 1921) One of the most pivotal moments of the Indian Freedom Struggle was the great Salt Satyagraha… read more
“Living the future now”–Daily Metta
June 23: “Every one of you should, from this very moment, consider yourself a free man or woman and even act as if you are free and no longer under the heel of this Imperialism. This is no make-believe.” –Gandhi (Selections from Gandhi, N.K. Bose, p. 241) Constructive program, I’ve said it once and I’ll… read more
“Move the heart”–Daily Metta
June 22: “I have come to the fundamental conclusion that if you want something really important to be done, you must not merely satisfy reason, you must move the heart also.” –Gandhi (Young India, October 14, 1926) Tell a smoker all the good reasons to quit smoking, show them facts and statistics, and watch what… read more
“Yoga and nonviolence”–Daily Metta
June 21: “The object of the various exercises [of Hatha Yoga] was to strengthen and purify the body in order to secure control of the mind.” –Gandhi (Harijan, October 13, 1940) Before yoga was a quasi-spiritual, multi-billion dollar global industry of pants and other products, it was a sacred practice, developed to move the body… read more
“World Refugee Day”–Daily Metta
June 20: “I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of… read more
