“Every man has an equal right to the necessaries of life even as birds and beasts have.” ~ Gandhi, Young India, March 26, 1931, p. 49 I recently came across an order issued by Delhi High Court, from May of 2015 on the topic of bird confinement: “all the birds have fundamental rights to fly… read more
Tag Archives: stephanie van hook
Service as Power: Daily Metta
“Power that comes from service faithfully rendered ennobles. Power that is sought in the name of service and can only be obtained by a majority of votes is a delusion and a snare to be avoided.” ~ Gandhi, Young India, September 11, 1924, p. 301 All human beings—dare I say, all living beings—need power, a… read more
A Great Cause: Daily Metta
“The cause is great, the remedy is equally great; let us prove worthy of them both.” ~ Gandhi, speech made at Madras, March 18, 1919 It’s not enough if you have a great cause; the means must also be great. Why? Because the means determine the end. Nonviolence is an ever-developing process, not an end… read more
Resentment: Daily Metta
“I would warn Satyagrahis that such resentment is against the spirit of Satyagraha.” ~ Gandhi, speech made at Madras, March 18, 1919 The nonviolence of Gandhi’s conception challenges us to transform resentment. This goes beyond our words and actions, and penetrates directly to our state of mind, what some people would call “our thoughts.” The… read more
Prayerful Consideration: Daily Metta
“I have, after much prayerful consideration, and after very careful examination of the Government’s standpoint, pledged myself to offer Satyagraha against the Bills, and invited all men and women who think and feel with me to do likewise.” ~ Gandhi, in a speech made at Madras, March 18, 1919 The key phrase here is “prayerful… read more
Person Power: Roadmap to Nonviolent Action
Person Power and the Roadmap to Nonviolent Action: A Teleseminar Hosted by Transition United States Date: Thursday, June 9, 2016 – 11:00am – 12:15pm PST Registration: To participate, register online here and you will receive instructions via email. Once you have registered you can explore these other low-cost call-in options. In this TeleSeminar, Michael Nagler… read more
Fear of Death: Daily Metta
“A nation which allows itself to be influenced by the fear of death cannot attain swaraj and cannot retain it if somehow attained.” ~ Gandhi, Navijivan, October 1921 Gandhi likes to challenge us, doesn’t he? Here he suggests we cannot fear death and achieve lasting peace and freedom. Without understanding who we are and why… read more
Freedom-in-Action: Daily Metta
“This government of ours is armed to the teeth to meet and check forces of violence. It possesses nothing to check the mighty forces of nonviolence.” ~ Gandhi, Young India, February, 1921 Nonviolence, when we maintain it in the face of repression and provocation, can be called freedom-in-action because we realize our highest freedom by… read more
Basic Dynamic: Daily Metta
“When a body of men disown the state under which they had hitherto lived, they nearly establish their own government.” ~ Gandhi, Young India, November 10, 1921 Nonviolence is the supreme law of life, is a well-known phrase from the Vedic scriptures. Gandhi must be drawing on it here to emphasize that nonviolence is very… read more
Basic Dynamic: Daily Metta
“When a body of men disown the state under which they had hitherto lived, they nearly establish their own government.” ~ Gandhi, Young India, November 10, 1921 Nonviolence is the supreme law of life, is a well-known phrase from the Vedic scriptures. Gandhi must be drawing on it here to emphasize that nonviolence is very… read more
