September 23: “The contrast between the rich and the poor today is a painful sight.” –Gandhi (Harijan, March 31, 1946) Very often, when people associate others with Gandhi, they think of Mother Teresa. But what is it that they have in common? While she was not leading a political or even economic movement, we might… read more
Tag Archives: daily metta
“My duty to love you”–Daily Metta
September 22: “I do not love you because you agree to love me. I love you because I feel it is my duty to love you.” –Gandhi (Day to Day with Gandhi, Volume 4) In the Dhammapada, the Buddha points out a sad but familiar dynamic between us human beings; namely, “people will blame you… read more
“International Day of Peace”–Daily Metta
September 21: “I can say with confidence that if the world is to have peace, nonviolence is the means to that end and no other.” –Gandhi (Harijan, July 20, 1947) On International Day of Peace, what better way to celebrate than to remember that peace is something we can–must–learn. It is not a question of… read more
“People can change for the better”–Daily Metta
September 20: “My faith in human nature is irrepressible and even under the circumstances of a most adverse character.” –Gandhi (Young India, January 1, 1920) Faith in human nature sounds naive and foolish. But why should it be? For those who long for a nonviolent alternative to our educational, political, and even criminal justice systems,… read more
“Hidden depths of nonviolence”–Daily Metta
September 19 “I am but a humble explorer of the science of nonviolence. Its hidden depths sometimes stagger me just as much as they stagger my fellow-workers.” –Gandhi (Young India, November 20 1924) To explore the science of nonviolence is more than a study of books or movements. When you get down to it, really,… read more
“Can kids learn non-cooperation?”–Daily Metta
September 18: “Power rightly exercised must sit light as a flower; no one should feel the weight of it.” –Gandhi (Towards New Horizons, Pyarelal, from Mahatma Gandhi, The Last Phase) If society is to learn the art of non-cooperation, education for it should begin in childhood. Well, actually, it already does, but most of us… read more
“Transforming a school with dignity”–Daily Metta
September 17: “I refuse to suspect human nature. It will, is bound to, respond to any noble and friendly action.” –Gandhi (Young India, August 4, 1920) When Andrew Bott became the sixth principal in seven years at of one of the worst performing public schools in Massachusetts, he did something crazy: he fired the security… read more
“The education of a lifetime”–Daily Metta
September 16: “The child should never feel that he is being taught.” –Gandhi (Navijivan, June 2, 1929) When Narayan Desai, fondly referred to by Gandhiji as “Babla,” decided to quit the village school running on the colonial education system in favor of the “school” of working for Gandhi at the ashram, he was convinced it… read more
“A devoted student”–Daily Metta
September 15: “Childhood is the most important period of one’s life.” –Gandhi (Speech at the second Gujarat Educational Conference, in Broach, 1917) Narayan Desai, though he was the son of Gandhi’s secretary, Mahadev, called Gandhi ‘bapu’ or father, while his own dad was his ‘kaka’ or uncle. As a little boy living in the ashram… read more
“One reality, many names”–Daily Metta
September 14: “In my opinion, Rama, Rahaman, Ahuramazda, God or Krishna are all attempts on the part of man to name that invisible force which is the greatest of all forces.” –Gandhi (Harijan, August 18, 1946) Gandhi was a great fan of music, especially devotional hymns. One of his favorites, Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram, a… read more
