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
Tag Archives: Nonviolence
“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
“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
“The Sound of Music”–Daily Metta
September 13: “There can be no Swaraj where there is no harmony, no music.” –Gandhi (Young India, April 15, 1926) If you were around Gandhi, you would experience music: from hymns at prayer meetings to the rhythmic sounds of spinning wheels. His appreciation for music, however went beyond our traditional understandings of instruments and rhythms;… read more
“Nonviolence is in our hands”–Daily Metta
September 12: “For me nonviolence is not a mere philosophical principle. It is the rule and breath of my life.” –Gandhi (Young India, September 13, 1928) Ok, ok, I know what your burning question about Gandhi has been this entire time: Was Gandhi a “lefty” or a “righty”? In other words, which was his dominant… read more
“Never Forget, 9/11”–Daily Metta
September 11: “The Satyagrahis never used physical force, and that too although there were occasions when they were in a position to use it effectively.” –Gandhi (Satyagraha in South Africa, Chapter 13) “Never forget.” These are the words that we see broadcast across television advertisements, billboards, and news programs across the American landscape whenever we… read more
“A meeting of soul with soul”–Daily Metta
September 10: “You have very truly remarked that if we are to reach peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children.” –Gandhi (Young India, November 19, 1931, from his speech at the Montessori Training College) Very often Gandhi is the… read more
“Religion: a practical matter”–Daily Metta
September 9: “Just as preservation of one’s own culture does not mean contempt for that of others, but requires assimilation of the best that there may be in all of the other cultures, even so should be the case with religion.” –Gandhi (Young India, December 6, 1928) A “reverential study” of the religions of the… read more
