“I cannot conceive of a greater loss to a man than the loss of his self-respect . . .” ~ Gandhi, Satyagraha in South Africa, p. 266

Gandhi goes on, “and it is a matter of deep satisfaction to me that the labourers have realized this fundamental principle.” This conversation took place during the later phase of the satyagraha struggle (South Africa, October, 1913), when the mine owners tried to make Gandhi feel that he had misled the miners into going on strike. This primacy of self-respect and respect for others—never inflicting indignity or accepting it—was an absolutely central part of his vision, his approach to life, and his strategy. It shows up also in the second sentence, that awakening people to their dignity is a core of satyagraha. This focus of his has always seemed to me to be a key to his success with co-workers and opponents alike, a key to nonviolence.  No wonder the Philippine people termed satyagraha alay dangal, to offer dignity.

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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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