“Worship or prayer is not to be performed with the lips but with the heart.” ~ Gandhi, Mind, p. 78 The hallmark of mysticism wherever it arises is its recognition of inner realities, the priority of states of mind over outward acts (though no one disputes their importance). What we call principled nonviolence actually springs… read more
Tag Archives: prayer
“Public prayer as a tactic”–Daily Metta
October 19: “The prayers of peace-lovers cannot go in vain.” –Gandhi (Harijan, February 24, 1946) Public prayer can be a powerful form of nonviolent action when used with discernment within a broader nonviolent strategy. One of Gandhi’s first calls to action in India, for instance, was a hartal, or ‘strike’, but in his interpretation a… read more
“When we lose hope”–Daily Metta
May 2 “A sincere prayer can work wonders.” –Gandhi (Young India, 3-24-1920, p. 1) Let us be clear: there will be times when we seem to come to the end of our capacity for love, for forgiveness, for service, for nonviolence. There will be days when we want to lose our temper, strike back and… read more
“Hating Systems, Not People”–Daily Metta
January 30 “By a long course of prayerful discipline, I have ceased for over forty years to hate anybody. I know that this is a big claim. Nevertheless, I make it in all humility.” –Gandhi (Young India, 6-18-1925) While Gandhi said that he ceased to hate anybody, he never denied hating the acts of people.… read more
“Heart’s earnest and pure desire”– Daily Metta
January 5 The heart’s earnest and pure desire is always fulfilled. -Gandhi (Autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, p. 110) If you were alive during Gandhi’s day and you wanted to listen to him speak, you would likely attend one of his interfaith prayer meetings. Prayer for Gandhi was more than an empty… read more
Gandhi’s Prayer (on Syria)
By Stephanie Van Hook “I am praying for the light that will dispel the darkness; let all those with a living faith in nonviolence join me in the prayer.” M.K. Gandhi Gandhi was once given a seemingly impossible scenario: what would he do if a plane were flying over his ashram to… read more
