“…there was a continuous stream of pilgrims who ‘retired from the household life to the houseless one.’” ~ Gandhi, Satyagraha in South Africa, p. 263 As with his famous quote on satya, Gandhi here shows how vividly he saw the eternal, or religious significance of everything he was doing both in South Africa and later… read more
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Humility: Daily Metta
“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 We sense that Gandhi is here speaking from “bitter personal experience,” as he said elsewhere.… read more
Supporting Others: Daily Metta
“Society is sustained by several services. The bhangi (scavenger) constitutes the foundation of all services.” ~ Gandhi, Mahatma, 4.104 Disunity, especially prejudice or disrespect of another caused Gandhi personal pain. Because widows in traditional society were feared and rejected he would write: “God created nothing finer than the Hindu widow.” He of course strove with… read more
Le Chambon and Prague Spring: Your Daily Metta Weekend Video
In this video, Michael wraps up Chapter 4 of Search for a Nonviolent Future, “Work” vs. Work, with two stories: Le Chambon and Prague Spring. 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 share Gandhi’s spiritual wisdom and… read more
Priceless Worth: Daily Metta
“Towards the end of my second year in England I came across two Theosophists, brothers, and both unmarried. They talked to me about the Gita.” ~ Gandhi, Autobiography, p. 67 The Gita, which was as a “mother’s milk” to Gandhi for his adult life, was not something that he drew upon as a child. It… read more
No Disadvantage: Daily Metta
“I must say that, beyond occasionally exposing me to laughter, my constitutional shyness has been no disadvantage whatever.” ~ Gandhi, Autobiography, p. 62. If you have ever stood before a group of strangers and been unable to speak; or sat in a group of colleagues, listening intently but not sure about how to get a… read more
Inward Relish: Daily Metta
“These difficulties were only passing, for the strict observance of the vow produced an inward relish distinctly more healthy, delicate and permanent.” ~ Gandhi, Autobiography, p. 57 When Gandhi went to England to study law, his mother, who some believe was his spiritual teacher, asked him to take three vows: to abstain from women, alcohol… read more
Freedom & Agency: Daily Metta
“There would be no one to frighten you if you refuse to be afraid.” ~ Gandhi, Mahatma, 2. 302 Because of his spiritual orientation, Gandhi was often able to reorient us; for we constitutionally look at the outer world—other people, difficult circumstances—as inhibiting us. But however dire they may be, he discovered, we are always… read more
Scriptures: Daily Metta
“The Scriptures of the Christians, Mussalmans, and Hindus are all replete with the teaching of ahimsa.” ~ Gandhi, CWMG, xxv. 522 As are those of the Jains, Buddhists, Jews, etc. The differences are only of degree, with the Jain scriptures (and practices) carrying their ahimsa teaching to the furthest and most demanding degree. This should… read more
Civil Disobedience Made Legal: Your Daily Metta Weekend Video
Nonviolence can work from any direction, including from governments. In a town in PA, civil disobedience has been made legal, protecting protestors from crackdown while defending their community from large corporations. (Read more about it here) Please add your comments below. About Daily Metta Stephanie Van Hook, the Metta Center’s executive director, launched Daily Metta… read more
