“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 upshot, and the hypothesis for nonviolence is this: our states of mind affect the quality and impact of our words and actions.

So, if you are going to try to benefit someone or some situation, don’t neglect the mind. The Buddha said it beautifully 2,500 years ago: “He cheated me; he struck me; he robbed me. Those who harbor resentful thoughts never find peace. He cheated me; he struck me; he robbed me. Those who let go of resentful thoughts surely find peace. For hatred will not cease by hatred at any time. Hatred ceases by love. This is an unalterable law.”

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About Daily Metta

Stephanie Van Hook, the Metta Center’s executive director, launched Daily Metta in 2015 as a way to share Gandhi’s spiritual wisdom and experiments with nonviolence.

Our 2016 Daily Metta continues with Gandhi on weekdays. On weekends, we share videos that complement Michael Nagler’s award-winning book, The Search for a Nonviolent Future: A Promise of Peace for Ourselves, Our Families, and Our World. To help readers engage with the book more deeply, the Metta Center offers a free PDF study guide.

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