“No awakening is possible without the people at large realizing their power.” ~ Gandhi on June, 1917: Speeches and Writings of Mahatma Gandhi, Volume 4, p. 192

Until we become aware of our power, Gandhi tells us, we are not awake. We are moving about the world in an unconscious state, which creates the conditions for violence to spring up all around us. Even if a new person is elected head of state who promises to be a “people’s candidate,” this still does not constitute a personal or social awakening. When we realize we have the ability to remove that person from power through non-cooperation and direct action, that’s when we know something has changed inside. Cultivating that consciousness, that awareness of inner security, becomes a key part of our nonviolence training.

How do you cultivate your inner security? Share your wisdom in the comments below.

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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