May 14: “Openness of mind strengthens the truth in us, and removes the dross in us if there is any.” –Gandhi (Mind of Mahatma Gandhi, p. 342) One day I received an email with a very generous offer: Would the Metta Center like to acquire my father’s Gandhi collection? This man’s father happened to be the author… read more
Tag Archives: Nonviolence
“A child’s devotion”–Daily Metta
May 13: “Without devotion, action and knowledge are cold and dry, and may even become shackles.” –Gandhi (The message of the Gita, p. 26) When Gandhi was a little boy, he notes, while in school, he rarely had the time or the inclination to read books that were not assigned for class. One book–a play–… read more
“Charlie Chaplin meets Gandhi”–Daily Metta
May 12 “If God ever sent me to the West, I should go there to penetrate the hearts of the masses, to have quiet talks with the youth (…) and have the privilege of meeting kindred spirits–lovers of peace at any price save that of truth.” –Gandhi ( Mahatma, vol II, p. 417) In his… read more
“Into the arms of nonviolence”–Daily Metta
May 11: “Whatever cannot be shared with the masses is taboo to me.” –Gandhi (Harijan, 11-2-1934, p. 303) While popular figures and politicians today fly around in private jets and claim to be servants of the people, Gandhi wanted to show his dedication to the principle we would today call “servant leadership” by living with… read more
“Gandhi had a mother”–Daily Metta
May 10 “The outstanding impression that my mother has left on my memory is saintliness.” –Gandhi (Autobiography, p. 4) (See photo below of Gandhi with his mother.) While Gandhi had many influences in his life, none was greater in his spiritual development than his mother, Putilbai. A very earnest spiritual aspirant, Putilbai upheld in… read more
Who We Are: The Spirit Behind Mothers’ Day
There was a time years ago when I was reading Plato very closely – I was studying at Heidelberg at that time – and had a flash of insight about who Socrates really was. What I saw was not something I could easily share with my fellow students, then or now: that both Socrates and Jesus were at… read more
“Rescuing Peace from War”–Daily Metta
May 9: “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, 7-20-1947, p. 243) Aristophanes, the Greek comic playwright, used his craft as a means for opening the hearts and minds of his ancient audience to urgent truths, and his work remains… read more
“An insight from Kasturba Gandhi”–Daily Metta
May 8: “The pursuit of Truth is true bhakti (devotion).” –Gandhi (Yeravda Mandir, p. 4) The night before morning prayer meetings, Kasturba Gandhi used to memorize the prayers shared from the various religious traditions. During prayer time, she would close her eyes as words were slowly, purposefully recited, and let them sink deep into her… read more
“Unknown Peacemaker”–Daily Metta
May 7: “My seventy years’ experience has taught me that the truly great are often those of whom and of whose greatness the world knows nothing during their lifetime.” –Gandhi (Harijan, 12-10-1938, p. 77) We have all heard of the grave of the Unknown Soldier, but have you come across a national monument to… read more
“We want healers of souls”–Daily Metta
May 6: “We want healers of souls rather than of bodies.” –Gandhi (Young India 9-29-1927, p. 327) There is no better time to plant the healing seeds of nonviolence than during early childhood. Children need examples of how to transform their frustration into words and other creative channels, and they are looking to us… read more
