“The humility of a satyagrahi knows no bounds. He does not let slip a single opportunity for settlement, and he does not mind if any one therefore looks upon him as timid.” ~ Gandhi, Satyagraha in South Africa, p. 265

What Gandhi is actually getting at here is the tendency to take it personally, or in terms of spiritual dynamics, to get attached to something we’re engaged in and therefore become unduly concerned about how we look and lose sight of the actual forces at play. It is closely connected to the ability to compromise and, as he mentions first, the ability to stay focused on the quest for a successful resolution without being taken off course by a desire to “win.” These are all critical elements that help us address ourselves to satyagraha with the right attitude, the one that leads to long-term results that benefit all.

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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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