In times of uncertainy and turmoil, the only way to rebuild — rather than regress — is to have an alternative strategic plan. They had set the bar pretty high. The science students around the world who wanted to enter the contest to see whose rubber-band powered airplane would fly furthest saw that even to… read more
Tag Archives: constructive program
Infrastructure of Peace: Daily Metta
Training for military revolt means learning the use of arms, ending perhaps in the atomic bomb. For Civil Disobedience it means the Constructive Program. ~ Gandhi, Constructive Program, forward to 1945 edition, p. iii It is very interesting how Gandhi locates Constructive Program (CP) in a parallel but opposite position to training in the use… read more
Constructive Program (Wrap-up): Daily Metta Weekend Video
In this episode, Michael Nagler wraps up his thoughts (for now) on Constructive Program as he covers it in Search for a Nonviolent Future. 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… read more
Rights: Daily Metta
“The true source of rights is duty.” ~ Gandhi, Mahatma, 2. 179 This concept, here stated so clearly, is one of the great insights Gandhi offered which could, if taken to heart and implemented, change the face of most progressive politics. There is a parallel to Constructive Programme: first build what you want and then,… read more
Bread Labor: Daily Metta
“The idea [of bread labour] is that every healthy individual should labour enough for his [or her] food, and his [or her] intellectual faculties should be exercised not in order to earn a living or amass a fortune but only in the service of mankind.” ~ Gandhi, Ashram Observances in Action, p. 32 Gandhi certainly… read more
Constructive Strategy: Daily Metta Weekend Video
What are some of the strategic elements of constructive program that were implicit in Gandhi’s approach to it? What can we learn from them, especially in terms of approaching opposition? 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… read more
Action vs. Program: Daily Metta Weekend Video!
In this Daily Metta, Michael Nagler discusses the spinning wheel movement in India and distinguishes constructive action from what is known as “constructive program.” Learn more at www.mettacenter.org 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… read more
Stealth Action: Daily Metta
“[Unless we] rid ourselves of our dirty habits and have improved latrines, swaraj can have no value for us.” ~ Gandhi, Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol.14, pp. 56-58 A well-known and highly unfortunate aspect of prejudice against a given group is that the group itself tends to take on the low opinion of it… read more
Gandhi’s Basics on Constructive Program: Daily Metta Weekend Video
In this video, Michael Nagler offers some key ideas related to Gandhi’s method of using constructive means for dismantling the British rule in India. How can we apply these ideas today? Listen for more! About Daily Metta Stephanie Van Hook, the Metta Center’s executive director, launched Daily Metta in 2015 as a way to share… read more
Gandhi’s Not-So-Secret Weapon: Your Daily Metta Weekend Video!
In this episode of Daily Metta, Michael Nagler discusses Gandhi’s not-so-secret discovery–constructive program. What is it and how does it work? What is its promise? Tune in to find out! Please add your comments below. About Daily Metta Stephanie Van Hook, the Metta Center’s executive director, launched Daily Metta in 2015 as a way to… read more
