TODAY, June 6, marks the anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944. It is also, given the time difference, the day in 1893 (June 7th, over there) that Mohandas Gandhi was thrown off a train at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The former event marked the beginning of the end of World War II. The… read more
Gandhi
What Gandhi Means to Me
I didn’t learn about Gandhi until I was in graduate school. I joined a Master’s program in Conflict Resolution at Portland State, after spending two years in the United States Peace Corps (Benin 2005-2007). Nothing in my education before then, nothing in my upbringing in the Shenandoah Valley, rural Virginia, mentioned him. When I was in… read more
Gandhi vs. Coronavirus
Plagues and illnesses played a significant role in Gandhi's life. Here's how some leading scholars — including his grandson — think he might have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. … read more
Re-organizing the future
In "Gandhi the Organiser," author Bob Overy offers an excellent in-depth study of the critical phase in India's freedom struggle that saw Gandhi become a national leader. … read more
Meditation and the Challenge of Peace
A piece from the Metta Center archive by Michael Nagler on meditation as a foundation for nonviolent action.… read more
NV Radio: Shashi Tyagi and NV News
We’re joined by Shashi Tyagi, internationally recognized rural development leader in Rajastan, India and founder of GRAVIS International. She shares stories of life as a student of Gandhi’s disciple, Vinoba Bhave, with an emphasis on her nonviolent practice in communities where she works. Plus our important segment: Nonviolence in the News with Michael Nagler, reviewing key nonviolent… read more
“Into the arms of nonviolence”–Daily Metta
May 11: “Whatever cannot be shared with the masses is taboo to me.” –Gandhi (Harijan, 11-2-1934, p. 303) While popular figures and politicians today fly around in private jets and claim to be servants of the people, Gandhi wanted to show his dedication to the principle we would today call “servant leadership” by living with… read more
“Gandhi had a mother”–Daily Metta
May 10 “The outstanding impression that my mother has left on my memory is saintliness.” –Gandhi (Autobiography, p. 4) (See photo below of Gandhi with his mother.) While Gandhi had many influences in his life, none was greater in his spiritual development than his mother, Putilbai. A very earnest spiritual aspirant, Putilbai upheld in… read more
Who We Are: The Spirit Behind Mothers’ Day
There was a time years ago when I was reading Plato very closely – I was studying at Heidelberg at that time – and had a flash of insight about who Socrates really was. What I saw was not something I could easily share with my fellow students, then or now: that both Socrates and Jesus were at… read more
“Sparks of the same fire”–Daily Metta
April 27 “None can be born untouchable, as all are sparks of one and the same fire.” –Gandhi (Yeravda Mandir, p. 19) While working to free India from external oppression, Gandhi also dedicated himself to reform within the Indian culture itself, particularly of what was known as “untouchability,” the doctrine that some people by birth… read more
